NSW Lads Ripping OR The boys are back

OK - I am a little bored with UK articles to push me through a rather windless autumn, winter so here is a little summary from Saturday's session at Long Reef. (Sydney). It was like Pizza - even when it's bad, its still good!

Early in the morning Real Surf's Don Norris was calling for a 8 hour window of large, long period south swell generated from far, far, away. He predicted some long gaps inbetween sets and combined with a stregthening SW showing on Seabreeze, my thoughts turned to Long Reef and the chance of scoring some DTL perfection off Lugga. And there would be enough time between each set to slogg back out if the breeze turned out to be a little lightish.

At 9:00am I pulled into the carpack and greeted with a sight not seen for a long time. About 1/2 dozen sails already on the water with overhead waves looming onto the Back bommie. Brett, Nico, AK, Andrew G, The Doctor, and other familar faces of the more mature kind, were out in about 10-18knots picking up some nice shoulder high sets just south of the lagoon entrance. (The Lagoon is not Blue but a dark brown with 'things' in it). While pulling a 5.2 out of the car I watched a beautiful 3/4 mast high wave peeled down the beach, nicely sliced up with two bottom turns and 3 top turns (a cut back, a big spray, and an aerial) by one of the 'old guard' showing his skills had not deteriorated under the pressure of inconsistent wind, kids, work and SUPping.

So I launched across the lagoon. The freshwater was absolutely freezing but the ripples comming down the water showed that there was enough wind from the right direction. Inshore the rips generated by the rapidly rising waves created a washing machine, but out the back the outside, outside (the one that breaks when its truly, truly big south swell) bombora was pitching up mast high sets breaking in glorius Hawaiin perfection. We watched in awe as we stalled around the back thinking that if the wind was a little more consistent an attempt could be made on one of these mountains. Out the front, sets of 2-3 waves were building up in front of the Pole offering a long bottom turn into a bowling section offering aerial action. Or in my case, wait just a little too long and get the lip smashing into the sail for a quick trip through the rinse cycle. In truth, the bigger sets were pretty infrequent and closing out in front of the lagoon but the occassional one was just unreal, holding up with a long vertical wall and well worth the wait. I only wanted one.....

The wind was .. well .. a little challenging. Unfortunatly everthing that makes cross offshore DTL perfect also makes it very hard. Gusty, 17knots dropping to 9-10knots combined with holes inshore meant getting out was all about timing. From the beach, getting a lucky gust and avoiding the heavy closeouts in 2' of water was the other key to glory. Keeping upwind was hard but crucial to maintaining the ideal position at the 'bus stop'. Being constantly in and out of the harness meant there was little time to rest and at times the wind just dropped leaving sailors bobbing just a little too inshore as the sets marched in. But if you were patient, a little lucky and had a few years experience then....

As the wind deteriorated Nico went off to do his own thing - inspired by the 3-4m sets marching up the coast and pitching up on the outside bombora. Gustsy considering the conditions. The wind was light but his custom, self developed gear was perfect. I saw him pick up some nice rides all the way into sh't rock from what could have been 500m out to sea. Maybe he's onto something with his big floaty thruster waveboards and soft sails.

By 11:00am the infilling tide and inconsistent wind had taken its toll on bodies and the waves. The window was closing! A few nice little peelers were still ridable inshore - no longer closing out. But after 5 attempts to relaunch I called it a day and returned to the carpark. Knowing that NSW still has some great sailors who have enough local knowledge and experience to make the best of great conditions.

Ok - a little cheezy and mixing lots of metaphors. Here's hoping that August (the month of wind's) brings more ... there may even be a little SE later in the week and there a nice quad I'm hoping to try out!

See you on the water.

yeah I'm free from about 9:30am Longy seems like a good starting point - I will have the phone on

I saw you get 3 or 4 beauties in a row and you seemed to make it alright. Are we really that 'old' guard?

Those 18 year olds you refer to are kitesurfers, aren't they? I'm afraid not many windsurfers in that category any more.

TIM
When and where are the Scout try windsurfing days going to be held?

And jelly wrestling. ( just seeing if krusty checks the forums from the snow)