Thanks to Louis Taper who worked out how to make sence of the data from the GPS I had strapped to my back... if you are interested take a look.
http://www.sportstracklive.com/track/detail/yakernz/Kiteboarding/Bass-Strait/natalie-clarke-bass-/12086
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday 22nd March - Bass Strait Crossing
Alarms went off at the lovely Hanlon House at 4.30am.
Woke up, put my rashie and shorts on, made coffee, went to see if the others were up. Had to get the boat captain out of bed, told him we had work to do today. Last check of the weather forecast and I squeezed into my wetsuit, far earlier in the day than I ever have before. Then took it all off to go to the toilet again... so nervous.
Paul drove Stuart the boat captain over to the boat harbor so the boat crew could have breakfast. I looked at the cereal Maxine from Hanlon House put out for me, then managed one bite of the toast Graham from Hanlon House kindly made for me.. but food wasn't really possible with the nerves.
Dean and I headed to the beach with all the gear. It was pitch black outside. We carefully made our way down the road past the cemetery surrounded with little Wallaby's.
At the beach we were greeted by the Chanel 9 reporter who had interviewed me the day before and was there to capture the take off. He kindly parked with his headlights shinning on the beach so we had some light to set up the kite.
Paul and Scott came back to the beach to photograph the set up then left with Dean for the boat.
I waited on the beach in the cold and dark with the reporter and Graham til I saw the lights of the boat come around the Nut. Just writing this I can feel all the nerves I had then. I asked Graham to help launch as there was hardly any wind and what there was, was on shore in this sheltered cove. It took several tries to get the kite up. In the end I had to hot launch it and then 2 meters out it dropped into the water.
A wave went over my head so I was drenched already. Was hoping to stay dry for a little while. Finally I relaunched and didn't look back. Stared at the kite willing it to stay in the air. It was 6.30am by the time I left land. Headed for the light of the boat. I could just make out the outline of the Nut to my right and the cliff face to my left. As soon as I was away from land the wind hit me. I estimate it was around 25 knots, I depowered the 10 m crossbow I was on all the way. I was really scared that it was going to pick up more as the day went as I already felt a little overpowered. Luckily it held about that strength for the first half of the journey. The gps on my bar showed I was heading North around 30 - 35knots km hour. I thought I would travel about 25 knots so was happy to have more speed which would enable me to slow it down later if I got tired. I kited for about an hour in the dark and it gradually got a little lighter. It was very overcast and there was no sign of the sun until after midday. After a few hours I noticed the GPS had fallen off my bar. Very sad as the little arrow that represented me had just nudged its way off the little pic of Tasmania. The GPS screen was about big enough to fit 5 or 6 arrows between Tassie and Victoria so was very pleased that it had made its way clear of the pic of Tassie. Once I lost that I didn't know what direction or how fast I was going which was a real bummer. Couldn't go too far from the boat in case I went off course. I had another GPS with me taped to the backpack but I was not able to get it off to look at it. Dean has downloaded my track off it which is really cool.
I was totally stoked when the boat radioed to tell me I was over half way. This was around 11am which was so much earlier than I expected.
Suzie had to go and get the kids out of school to make it to the finish on time.
I managed to keep good speed up during the second half and reached the beach before friends and family could make it. Pretty funny and quite unexpected.
After about 5 hours I started to imagine I was seeing land. The big waves in the distance with white caps on them looked like islands. Then much to my disappointment the wave would break and the imaginary island would disappear. At about 1.30pm I saw a vague long purple shape on the horizon. LAND!!!!!!
Its funny on the GPS track you can see where I see the land as I change direction to head straight for it.
With 2 hours to go the wind dropped to maybe less than 15 knots. I had the kite fully powered up and I was working it through the wind window. By now my back, knees, feet and blisters where pretty sore. I had to concentrate really hard as I was scared if I fell off and the kite lost momentum it would fall in and not relaunch.
I put in a prayer for a little more wind and got a gust. Wind held in from then on around 15 knots. Boat was indicating I go straight ahead to Inverloch. Not having my GPS I didn't know how far away that was. I had been watching the land from Wilsons Promontory and asked on the radio if I could head for land. They said it was all cliffs. As I got closer I could see lots of sand. Worried wind might not hold out I decided to head for the beach. Left the boat and headed in. At 4pm I landed at Venus Bay. I did not realise at the time people had been there but the boat had told them to go to Inverloch. So after my moment of victory I had to head back out to the boat.
I was very thirsty, having run out of drink 3 or more hours earlier. My mouth was dry and I had been so nervous I had only managed to eat 1 and half muesli bars all day. Wish I hadn't bothered to sew on 2 extra pockets on my shorts to carry the mountain of food I didn't even consider eating. Motivated by a juice box on the boat I tried to kite back to the boat out through the break. The support boat was sitting out about 1km from shore. Got past the first few waves then got knocked off. I was having a lot of trouble steering the board or trying to jump the waves as I had broken the back foot strap an hour earlier. Back on shore the kite tumbled through the waves, got covered in a heap of wet sand and sat on the beach.
It took so much effort to relaunch it and I had to pull so hard to get the wet sand off that when it did go up I went flying towards the cliff. I was thinking i was about to kill myself after I had completed my dangerous mission. Tried to get out again, got knocked off again, used my arm to protect my head from the flying board. Having said arm x-rayed today in case I broke it. Board went between the lines and the leg rope and got tangled. Patiently untangled everything while getting hammered by breaking waves and third time lucky managed to get past the break back to the boat.
Little did I know I was only 5km from Inverloch where there were waiting reporters, friends and family and that by making it back to the boat I was up for a 3 hour tour to San Remo where the boat could dock. I spent that 3 hours being sea sick over the side, and shivering despite the kind captain piling towels and blankets on me.
On the inside I wanted to jump up and down in excitement but on the outside I was too sick.
Once on land all was well, hugged family and friends. Drank champagne. Thanks so much to those who traveled around to finally find me in San Remo.
Thank you to all those who had very unproductive day at work watching my dot travel from Tassie to Victoria.
Some more thank yous...
Dean for his help leading up to the crossing and for enduring the long journey on the boat. Thanks to my kids Bailey and Maddy for understanding all activities over the past year or so have been "dependant on wind"
Thanks to the camera crew, Scott who flew over from Sydney, and Paul from kitelife. The story will be on Kitelife soon on Foxtell. Update on this will be on twitter.
Thanks to Mike from SHQ for planting the crazy idea, and to Ivan and all the crew at SHQ for all their help and equipment.
Thanks to Bob Leighton who was the first piece of the puzzle beginning this huge project. Bob was so patient giving me a daily weather report for over a month. It has been the most unpredictable season for wind with cyclones and tsunamis and Bob was so great dealing with my frustrations of not getting the expected conditions for so long. Thank goodness Bob encouraged me to wait as I had the most perfect conditions I could have hoped for.
The next piece of the puzzle was securing the support boat.. Calypso 11. Stuart the captains was fantastic from the very 1st day we met. He took me out 3 times for practice runs in Bass Strait, each one of them having their own dramas, but that didn't deter his commitment to my mission. After a month of being on standby, Stuart gave up work and fishing charters to do the mission this Monday. Stu's crew Col and Joel were terrific too. It was heaps of fun spending the day before with them in Tassie, I might have been overcome with nerves if it wasn't for their fun antics. When the fisherman out on Bass Strait radioed through the conditions of 4 - 6 m swell out there I needed the distraction the boys provided. If anyone is entertaining the idea of a fishing charter in the Bay or out in Bass Strait I couldn't recommend a better bunch to go with.
Thanks to Hudson and Cabrinha for lending me extra kites and loads of expertise, fins and other bits and pieces that I desperately needed all at short notice!
I'd like to thank Maxine and Graham at Hanlon House for putting us up before the crossing. Their Bed and Breakfast was more than I could have hoped for. A beautiful house with slanted wooden ceilings and amazing views and most importantly for me only 100m from the beach. I'd love to go and stay there again when not under the pressure of kiting back home.
Thanks so much to Mary, Grand mother of 2 kids in our swim program who picked us up from Launceston airport and gave us a guided tour to Stanley. The ride was very squashy with 4 of us in her little car, but lots of fun.
Thanks to Ripcurl for the heated wetsuit, South Eastern Sails (highly recommend them if you want a sticker on your kite to advertise something), Seapecs for the sunnies,Garmin for the replacing Silvu's GPS that I got water in that I unfortunately lost somewhere in Bass Strait (could I have another please!)Gatorade for the drinks, and Winners for the Museuli Bars.
And finally thanks to all the friends for their encouragement and support!
Woke up, put my rashie and shorts on, made coffee, went to see if the others were up. Had to get the boat captain out of bed, told him we had work to do today. Last check of the weather forecast and I squeezed into my wetsuit, far earlier in the day than I ever have before. Then took it all off to go to the toilet again... so nervous.
Paul drove Stuart the boat captain over to the boat harbor so the boat crew could have breakfast. I looked at the cereal Maxine from Hanlon House put out for me, then managed one bite of the toast Graham from Hanlon House kindly made for me.. but food wasn't really possible with the nerves.
Dean and I headed to the beach with all the gear. It was pitch black outside. We carefully made our way down the road past the cemetery surrounded with little Wallaby's.
At the beach we were greeted by the Chanel 9 reporter who had interviewed me the day before and was there to capture the take off. He kindly parked with his headlights shinning on the beach so we had some light to set up the kite.
Paul and Scott came back to the beach to photograph the set up then left with Dean for the boat.
I waited on the beach in the cold and dark with the reporter and Graham til I saw the lights of the boat come around the Nut. Just writing this I can feel all the nerves I had then. I asked Graham to help launch as there was hardly any wind and what there was, was on shore in this sheltered cove. It took several tries to get the kite up. In the end I had to hot launch it and then 2 meters out it dropped into the water.
A wave went over my head so I was drenched already. Was hoping to stay dry for a little while. Finally I relaunched and didn't look back. Stared at the kite willing it to stay in the air. It was 6.30am by the time I left land. Headed for the light of the boat. I could just make out the outline of the Nut to my right and the cliff face to my left. As soon as I was away from land the wind hit me. I estimate it was around 25 knots, I depowered the 10 m crossbow I was on all the way. I was really scared that it was going to pick up more as the day went as I already felt a little overpowered. Luckily it held about that strength for the first half of the journey. The gps on my bar showed I was heading North around 30 - 35knots km hour. I thought I would travel about 25 knots so was happy to have more speed which would enable me to slow it down later if I got tired. I kited for about an hour in the dark and it gradually got a little lighter. It was very overcast and there was no sign of the sun until after midday. After a few hours I noticed the GPS had fallen off my bar. Very sad as the little arrow that represented me had just nudged its way off the little pic of Tasmania. The GPS screen was about big enough to fit 5 or 6 arrows between Tassie and Victoria so was very pleased that it had made its way clear of the pic of Tassie. Once I lost that I didn't know what direction or how fast I was going which was a real bummer. Couldn't go too far from the boat in case I went off course. I had another GPS with me taped to the backpack but I was not able to get it off to look at it. Dean has downloaded my track off it which is really cool.
I was totally stoked when the boat radioed to tell me I was over half way. This was around 11am which was so much earlier than I expected.
Suzie had to go and get the kids out of school to make it to the finish on time.
I managed to keep good speed up during the second half and reached the beach before friends and family could make it. Pretty funny and quite unexpected.
After about 5 hours I started to imagine I was seeing land. The big waves in the distance with white caps on them looked like islands. Then much to my disappointment the wave would break and the imaginary island would disappear. At about 1.30pm I saw a vague long purple shape on the horizon. LAND!!!!!!
Its funny on the GPS track you can see where I see the land as I change direction to head straight for it.
With 2 hours to go the wind dropped to maybe less than 15 knots. I had the kite fully powered up and I was working it through the wind window. By now my back, knees, feet and blisters where pretty sore. I had to concentrate really hard as I was scared if I fell off and the kite lost momentum it would fall in and not relaunch.
I put in a prayer for a little more wind and got a gust. Wind held in from then on around 15 knots. Boat was indicating I go straight ahead to Inverloch. Not having my GPS I didn't know how far away that was. I had been watching the land from Wilsons Promontory and asked on the radio if I could head for land. They said it was all cliffs. As I got closer I could see lots of sand. Worried wind might not hold out I decided to head for the beach. Left the boat and headed in. At 4pm I landed at Venus Bay. I did not realise at the time people had been there but the boat had told them to go to Inverloch. So after my moment of victory I had to head back out to the boat.
I was very thirsty, having run out of drink 3 or more hours earlier. My mouth was dry and I had been so nervous I had only managed to eat 1 and half muesli bars all day. Wish I hadn't bothered to sew on 2 extra pockets on my shorts to carry the mountain of food I didn't even consider eating. Motivated by a juice box on the boat I tried to kite back to the boat out through the break. The support boat was sitting out about 1km from shore. Got past the first few waves then got knocked off. I was having a lot of trouble steering the board or trying to jump the waves as I had broken the back foot strap an hour earlier. Back on shore the kite tumbled through the waves, got covered in a heap of wet sand and sat on the beach.
It took so much effort to relaunch it and I had to pull so hard to get the wet sand off that when it did go up I went flying towards the cliff. I was thinking i was about to kill myself after I had completed my dangerous mission. Tried to get out again, got knocked off again, used my arm to protect my head from the flying board. Having said arm x-rayed today in case I broke it. Board went between the lines and the leg rope and got tangled. Patiently untangled everything while getting hammered by breaking waves and third time lucky managed to get past the break back to the boat.
Little did I know I was only 5km from Inverloch where there were waiting reporters, friends and family and that by making it back to the boat I was up for a 3 hour tour to San Remo where the boat could dock. I spent that 3 hours being sea sick over the side, and shivering despite the kind captain piling towels and blankets on me.
On the inside I wanted to jump up and down in excitement but on the outside I was too sick.
Once on land all was well, hugged family and friends. Drank champagne. Thanks so much to those who traveled around to finally find me in San Remo.
Thank you to all those who had very unproductive day at work watching my dot travel from Tassie to Victoria.
Some more thank yous...
Dean for his help leading up to the crossing and for enduring the long journey on the boat. Thanks to my kids Bailey and Maddy for understanding all activities over the past year or so have been "dependant on wind"
Thanks to the camera crew, Scott who flew over from Sydney, and Paul from kitelife. The story will be on Kitelife soon on Foxtell. Update on this will be on twitter.
Thanks to Mike from SHQ for planting the crazy idea, and to Ivan and all the crew at SHQ for all their help and equipment.
Thanks to Bob Leighton who was the first piece of the puzzle beginning this huge project. Bob was so patient giving me a daily weather report for over a month. It has been the most unpredictable season for wind with cyclones and tsunamis and Bob was so great dealing with my frustrations of not getting the expected conditions for so long. Thank goodness Bob encouraged me to wait as I had the most perfect conditions I could have hoped for.
The next piece of the puzzle was securing the support boat.. Calypso 11. Stuart the captains was fantastic from the very 1st day we met. He took me out 3 times for practice runs in Bass Strait, each one of them having their own dramas, but that didn't deter his commitment to my mission. After a month of being on standby, Stuart gave up work and fishing charters to do the mission this Monday. Stu's crew Col and Joel were terrific too. It was heaps of fun spending the day before with them in Tassie, I might have been overcome with nerves if it wasn't for their fun antics. When the fisherman out on Bass Strait radioed through the conditions of 4 - 6 m swell out there I needed the distraction the boys provided. If anyone is entertaining the idea of a fishing charter in the Bay or out in Bass Strait I couldn't recommend a better bunch to go with.
Thanks to Hudson and Cabrinha for lending me extra kites and loads of expertise, fins and other bits and pieces that I desperately needed all at short notice!
I'd like to thank Maxine and Graham at Hanlon House for putting us up before the crossing. Their Bed and Breakfast was more than I could have hoped for. A beautiful house with slanted wooden ceilings and amazing views and most importantly for me only 100m from the beach. I'd love to go and stay there again when not under the pressure of kiting back home.
Thanks so much to Mary, Grand mother of 2 kids in our swim program who picked us up from Launceston airport and gave us a guided tour to Stanley. The ride was very squashy with 4 of us in her little car, but lots of fun.
Thanks to Ripcurl for the heated wetsuit, South Eastern Sails (highly recommend them if you want a sticker on your kite to advertise something), Seapecs for the sunnies,Garmin for the replacing Silvu's GPS that I got water in that I unfortunately lost somewhere in Bass Strait (could I have another please!)Gatorade for the drinks, and Winners for the Museuli Bars.
And finally thanks to all the friends for their encouragement and support!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday 21st March .....Not Long now.
Hi, once again this is Suzie writing Nats blog for her whilst she is busy with her epic crossing.
Nat sms'd me this morning , the Herald Sun had been in contact, and I needed to find photos of her to email to the Herald by 4.00pm. So I'm assuming there should be an article in tomorrows paper.
After speaking with her later in the day she said she was about to do an interview with Ch 9, apparently she has another interview with them tomorrow before she starts the crossing. She has all the kites set up and ready to go and remarked on how strong the winds were today. She is excited but concerned as there might be 4m waves tomorrow.
In the evening she rang again to speak to Maddy and Bay, as it was the last opportunity to talk with them before she leaves at daybreak tomorrow.
I passed on everyones well wishes from the Facebook messages posted for her and mentioned that her segment on Coxy's Big Break had aired today.(she had completely forgotten about that)
I will be calling the satellite phone on the support boat every hour from when she begins and posting these progress updates on her Twitter. Lizzy will use these updates and post them on Nats Facebook page.
Nat sms'd me this morning , the Herald Sun had been in contact, and I needed to find photos of her to email to the Herald by 4.00pm. So I'm assuming there should be an article in tomorrows paper.
After speaking with her later in the day she said she was about to do an interview with Ch 9, apparently she has another interview with them tomorrow before she starts the crossing. She has all the kites set up and ready to go and remarked on how strong the winds were today. She is excited but concerned as there might be 4m waves tomorrow.
In the evening she rang again to speak to Maddy and Bay, as it was the last opportunity to talk with them before she leaves at daybreak tomorrow.
I passed on everyones well wishes from the Facebook messages posted for her and mentioned that her segment on Coxy's Big Break had aired today.(she had completely forgotten about that)
I will be calling the satellite phone on the support boat every hour from when she begins and posting these progress updates on her Twitter. Lizzy will use these updates and post them on Nats Facebook page.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Saturday 20th March. Planes, Painted cows and Automobiles
Hi all, as Nat has finally left the state to embark on her epic quest I have been asked to blog and tweet on her behalf, my name is Suzie (an official honorary Clarke, as I have been known to make their home my own at times.)
After Nat said her farewells to Bay and Lizzy, I drove her, Dean, Maddy and Paul (Paul is the official photographer/film maker) to the airport this afternoon. It was a journey fraught with danger from the very onset, picking up Paul proved quite dangerous.....for him. We nearly lost him right outside his own home due to me being more preoccupied with discovering how to actually drive Deans Prius with all it's wondrous gadgets than actually noticing if Paul had fully made it into the vehicle. After Paul entered the car instead of precariously hanging off the opened back door,( by the way not a recommended way to ride in a Prius as the drag this causes totally negates any fuel economy gained from it's hybrid engine)he forgave me stating if he was going to be lost on any part of this adventure being lost outside his home was far more convenient than somewhere in Bass Straight.
I dropped them off at the airport, Nat was in in very high spirits, all excited and nervous at the same time. She gave Maddy a big hug goodbye and they entered the airport terminal. I yelled one last piece of advice at Dean as they left, "good luck with the sea sickness!", a statement that drew some confused onlookers at an airport.
Upon arriving at Launceston they were met by Mary, her grandchildren are Swim4All students. She kindly drove them to Stanley and showed them some sights along the way.
Some painted cow sculptures took Nats fancy at the Ashgove Cheese Factory, an electric fence didn't prevent her from riding a few of them.
After meeting up with the support boat and it's crew at Stanley it seems decided that Monday is the best day to make the attempt.
When I spoke with her last she was about to have dinner and was enjoying her magnificent accommodation at Hanlon House, which she describes as being like Little House on the Prairie, so I know she's very happy!
After Nat said her farewells to Bay and Lizzy, I drove her, Dean, Maddy and Paul (Paul is the official photographer/film maker) to the airport this afternoon. It was a journey fraught with danger from the very onset, picking up Paul proved quite dangerous.....for him. We nearly lost him right outside his own home due to me being more preoccupied with discovering how to actually drive Deans Prius with all it's wondrous gadgets than actually noticing if Paul had fully made it into the vehicle. After Paul entered the car instead of precariously hanging off the opened back door,( by the way not a recommended way to ride in a Prius as the drag this causes totally negates any fuel economy gained from it's hybrid engine)he forgave me stating if he was going to be lost on any part of this adventure being lost outside his home was far more convenient than somewhere in Bass Straight.
I dropped them off at the airport, Nat was in in very high spirits, all excited and nervous at the same time. She gave Maddy a big hug goodbye and they entered the airport terminal. I yelled one last piece of advice at Dean as they left, "good luck with the sea sickness!", a statement that drew some confused onlookers at an airport.
Upon arriving at Launceston they were met by Mary, her grandchildren are Swim4All students. She kindly drove them to Stanley and showed them some sights along the way.
Some painted cow sculptures took Nats fancy at the Ashgove Cheese Factory, an electric fence didn't prevent her from riding a few of them.
After meeting up with the support boat and it's crew at Stanley it seems decided that Monday is the best day to make the attempt.
When I spoke with her last she was about to have dinner and was enjoying her magnificent accommodation at Hanlon House, which she describes as being like Little House on the Prairie, so I know she's very happy!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday 17th March... nice day despite the stress of not knowing
Was invited to do a downwinder this morning which would have been wonderful given i havent kited in ages.. but needed to work out if i was flying out on thurs or not first.
By 12 noon it was decided to wait for the evening forecast so I went to the beach. Wind had died off, but i needed to try my new waterproof radio pouch anyway, so went for a swim. Swam out to the little boat that rescued me not long ago and said hello. They invited me for a goblet of wine on the sun deck. Being a stressed athlete, I declined but it didn't take too much to twist my arm.
So radio worked and a very pleasant 10 minutes later I felt less stressed.
Then I picked up the kids new little kittens and made them at home before school pick up.
They are soooo cute.
Evening forecast still not definite so have to wait til the morning.
OMG
Stressed again... another glass of wine maybe??
By 12 noon it was decided to wait for the evening forecast so I went to the beach. Wind had died off, but i needed to try my new waterproof radio pouch anyway, so went for a swim. Swam out to the little boat that rescued me not long ago and said hello. They invited me for a goblet of wine on the sun deck. Being a stressed athlete, I declined but it didn't take too much to twist my arm.
So radio worked and a very pleasant 10 minutes later I felt less stressed.
Then I picked up the kids new little kittens and made them at home before school pick up.
They are soooo cute.
Evening forecast still not definite so have to wait til the morning.
OMG
Stressed again... another glass of wine maybe??
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tuesday 16th March - fitness training on land, not my preference!
Wind outlook improving... trying to keep up the fitness.
Did Bay's school drop off by foot... ran there while he scooted (it was like he was my personnal trainer scooting along next to me) and then rode the scooter home. Bike ride to Suzies in Parkdale to do some swim stuff on her computer then rode back again just in time to do Maddy's school pick -up by foot - run/power walk...very tired legs, then weight training on the way home carrying all their stuff.
Legs so sore need a bath and massage...
The days exercise was fueled by Gatorade...thanks Kim from Pepsico and Winners Bars ...thanks Sharon.
So nervous waiting and helping with the decision on what day to go...
All support crew have something on one of the good days, wont be able to please everyone, I want to go on the first good day but told it might be better next week... but that could change... arhhhhhh
Wish I liked a non weather dependent sport, but all the exciting ones require the right conditions. Sky diving was soooo amazing, but you need the right weather for that too don't you?
Wed wind might come up at Brighton, might go down and see if the shark shield repells that 3m shark or lures it to me!!
Did Bay's school drop off by foot... ran there while he scooted (it was like he was my personnal trainer scooting along next to me) and then rode the scooter home. Bike ride to Suzies in Parkdale to do some swim stuff on her computer then rode back again just in time to do Maddy's school pick -up by foot - run/power walk...very tired legs, then weight training on the way home carrying all their stuff.
Legs so sore need a bath and massage...
The days exercise was fueled by Gatorade...thanks Kim from Pepsico and Winners Bars ...thanks Sharon.
So nervous waiting and helping with the decision on what day to go...
All support crew have something on one of the good days, wont be able to please everyone, I want to go on the first good day but told it might be better next week... but that could change... arhhhhhh
Wish I liked a non weather dependent sport, but all the exciting ones require the right conditions. Sky diving was soooo amazing, but you need the right weather for that too don't you?
Wed wind might come up at Brighton, might go down and see if the shark shield repells that 3m shark or lures it to me!!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monday 15th March - 3 m shark at Brighton Beach
There was a 3 meter shark spotted 50m from the shore at Brighton beach today. I would have been there if there was any wind... but Nick was planning on going for a swim so I asked if he would wear my new shark repellent tail so we could see if it attracts or repels sharks... he wasn't up for it.. chicken!!?
With various opinions on weahter it scares them away or brings them closer and no one to verify how do I know if I should use it?
I want to use it cos I've always liked the idea of having a tail, but don't want to lure in the little bities... even thought the boat crew would be happy for some tasty lunch on board.
Latest news on wind is Saturday looks good... Wed morning I will get confirmation and book flights... OMG
With various opinions on weahter it scares them away or brings them closer and no one to verify how do I know if I should use it?
I want to use it cos I've always liked the idea of having a tail, but don't want to lure in the little bities... even thought the boat crew would be happy for some tasty lunch on board.
Latest news on wind is Saturday looks good... Wed morning I will get confirmation and book flights... OMG
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sat /Sun 13th & 14th March - Maddy's birthday weekend
Lots of special lunches and dinners and presents for Maddy this weekend.
Wind free for me... but good to be able to spend the time getting everything sorted at the Swim School for the next few weeks and next term.
New teachers booked in to replace those going overseas and those with study commitments next term.. whewww.
Great to catch up with some Uni friends Sat nite also.
Now just hoping that the wind forecast for Fri, Sat, Sun stays as is... cos its looking good for a crossing this weekend.
Wind free for me... but good to be able to spend the time getting everything sorted at the Swim School for the next few weeks and next term.
New teachers booked in to replace those going overseas and those with study commitments next term.. whewww.
Great to catch up with some Uni friends Sat nite also.
Now just hoping that the wind forecast for Fri, Sat, Sun stays as is... cos its looking good for a crossing this weekend.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Friday 11th March- thanks Gatorade
No wind to train in ... gotta keep fit on the bike and in the pool.
Gatorade sent me 6 x 18 litre bags of Gatorade mix... that should keep me going for up 20 laps of the strait... thanks Kim :)
Still hopeful for the right wind late next week :)
Gatorade sent me 6 x 18 litre bags of Gatorade mix... that should keep me going for up 20 laps of the strait... thanks Kim :)
Still hopeful for the right wind late next week :)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tues 9th feb doing it solo
This morning the sick girl can't manage to be vertical and therefore concedes that school is not an option. She is watching a kids news show that was explaining that a monsoon was resonsible for melbournes worst ever storm that we had on the weekend. That was my 1st false alarm date. Imagine being in the middle of BS in a storm getting pelted by hail stones the size of golfballs. It was bad enough being at work where it was so loud you couldn't hear the person next to you and going outside to protect your car wasn't an option. As frustrating as the wait for the right weather is I am lucky to have a wise weather man and boat captain watching out for me.
After lunch apointment drop off sick girl at Suzies for a bit of Simpsons therapy and go out in the 30+ westerly. Take the 10m I plan to use during the crossing probably to make a point that I could have done it today. I leave from Ricketts point and must kite a far way out before going down wind to make sure I can get around the point before heading to port melb. As I head away from land all I can see is water. I have an overwelming urge to head to tassie on my own. Not impossible in a westerly and I was wearing everything I plan to have on the crossing although not all fully charged. Begrudgingly decide to head for port Melbourne. Still fantasizing about how cool it would be to arrive unannounced in Tassie I get knocked over by a wave and nearly hit the Cerbrus. Try to turn back out to sea and am faced with reef sticking up. ( Now know why it crashed and sank there) I end up negotiating my way around the beach side of the Cerbrus as carefully as possible on a 10 m in 35 knots. Bloody scary. Decide to keep my mind on the job and have a great ride to port Melbourne. As I approach the Spirit of Tasmania I am tempted to knock on a port hole and ask if I can tag along to Tassie. They would be big enough to be my support boat in these less than favourable conditions. I laugh at myself when it occurs to me that it will be dark in a couple of hours. Dean calls and says he will be finished work in half an hour if I want a lift back to the car. Being a westerley I said I would see if I can kite back. I am rather pleased when he calls to say he is ready to leave and I have made it all the way back to Ricketts. Had a dream run, held about 30 km the whole way, no turns ... Got to love a westerley. Would have liked to do that run again, but must get small girl and get more medicine into her. I do hope the weather was worse as forecast across BS today, as I'm still feeling a little low that it couldn't happen this week. People starting to ask if I'm going to pospone til next season... Please give me the right wind next week so I don't need to consider that nasty option.
After lunch apointment drop off sick girl at Suzies for a bit of Simpsons therapy and go out in the 30+ westerly. Take the 10m I plan to use during the crossing probably to make a point that I could have done it today. I leave from Ricketts point and must kite a far way out before going down wind to make sure I can get around the point before heading to port melb. As I head away from land all I can see is water. I have an overwelming urge to head to tassie on my own. Not impossible in a westerly and I was wearing everything I plan to have on the crossing although not all fully charged. Begrudgingly decide to head for port Melbourne. Still fantasizing about how cool it would be to arrive unannounced in Tassie I get knocked over by a wave and nearly hit the Cerbrus. Try to turn back out to sea and am faced with reef sticking up. ( Now know why it crashed and sank there) I end up negotiating my way around the beach side of the Cerbrus as carefully as possible on a 10 m in 35 knots. Bloody scary. Decide to keep my mind on the job and have a great ride to port Melbourne. As I approach the Spirit of Tasmania I am tempted to knock on a port hole and ask if I can tag along to Tassie. They would be big enough to be my support boat in these less than favourable conditions. I laugh at myself when it occurs to me that it will be dark in a couple of hours. Dean calls and says he will be finished work in half an hour if I want a lift back to the car. Being a westerley I said I would see if I can kite back. I am rather pleased when he calls to say he is ready to leave and I have made it all the way back to Ricketts. Had a dream run, held about 30 km the whole way, no turns ... Got to love a westerley. Would have liked to do that run again, but must get small girl and get more medicine into her. I do hope the weather was worse as forecast across BS today, as I'm still feeling a little low that it couldn't happen this week. People starting to ask if I'm going to pospone til next season... Please give me the right wind next week so I don't need to consider that nasty option.
Monday 8th March public holiday crazy weather as usual
Spent the morning trying to get a dr to c maddy on a public holiday and get some antibiotics for her ear ache. $140 and an episode of little house on the Praire and maddy was feeling well enough for me to go for a kite. Not feeling very inspired after my false alarm the day before but wanting to try out the new foot pad arrangement. At the beach I pump up my 10m then can't pile enough sand on it to keep it on the beach. As others scurry for cover I pump up my 7m and go out overpowered. I am amused to see a bunch of guys loose control of a trainer kite and chase it down the beach. Less than 10 min later I am underpowered and come in to dig out my burried 10m and go back out. After another 10 min I end up swimming the last bit. Walk back up the beach worried about people coming out on 12m kites. I go for another run and wind picks up big time again, I make it back in OK with some guys surfboard as he is resued by lifesavers. Back on the 7m I see a few more rescues. Crazy northerly wind kept me on my toes for about 4 hours. Then made it to swim training. After all that kiting, did have a little trouble making 25's on 20 sec!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sunday 7th March - another false alarm
Today started so well.... wind still forecast good for Wed. Forecaster a bit worried about the swell size which is still forecast at 4+ meters but I'm willing to give it a go. 1st time we have had a whole day of wind in the right direction... how bad can big waves be?
Then I chat to the boat captain who explains how bad big waves can be... for instance if I crash the boat will struggle to come back to me as it cant be hit side on by the waves that size, and if they are predicted to be that big near shore what will we get in the middle? Even though I'm willing I must consider the safety of the boat and crew..
So we wait again... captains suggestion to wait til next season didn't go down well!!!
We went to visit Bay at his camp for a picnic lunch today which went really well. He is doing so well.
Then wine with friends until I couldn't take the commiserating any longer.. now I'm going clean up all the mess that I've been putting off until after Bass Strait :(
Not quite as fun as driving down the coast in this storm to pack the boat ready for Tassie, but at least its something productive.
Then I chat to the boat captain who explains how bad big waves can be... for instance if I crash the boat will struggle to come back to me as it cant be hit side on by the waves that size, and if they are predicted to be that big near shore what will we get in the middle? Even though I'm willing I must consider the safety of the boat and crew..
So we wait again... captains suggestion to wait til next season didn't go down well!!!
We went to visit Bay at his camp for a picnic lunch today which went really well. He is doing so well.
Then wine with friends until I couldn't take the commiserating any longer.. now I'm going clean up all the mess that I've been putting off until after Bass Strait :(
Not quite as fun as driving down the coast in this storm to pack the boat ready for Tassie, but at least its something productive.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday ... false alarm.. bloody weather
Today was the most exhausting day so far... and all I did exercise wise was a few laps with my squad.
In the morning got a tentative green light for this weekend. Spent the morning madly packing everything up to go on the boat... including getting the foot straps back on the board. For those who have seen my foot strap step-up its kind of like solving the rubix cube under time constraints.
Alison my x swim teacher now paramedic dropped off the first aide kit to take and ran me through the procedure for all things that could happen. Advice for shark bite was call the helicopter ambos!!!
While I had a spare set of hands we stuck logo stickers on the little 7m kite that will come on the boat in case the wind gets insane and I have to switch to a smaller kite.. but hey the wind isn't likely to change while I'm out there is it?... it has proved so reliable and predictable so far...NOT
Then wind forecaster rings at lunch time as I'm mixing up Gatorade and we look over the data on the computer that shows the SW forecast for the weekend has switched to a NE... WHAT?? How does it do a complete back flip??
He says maybe its a glitch and it will go back to the previous forecast... so I continue packing and making arrangements for work if I am away for the weekend.
While at work at night next update comes through... no go on the weekend, maybe Mon or Tues. Is it me or does it always seem promising 5 days away and then that changes just when I think I better get flights sorted???
OK time to concentrate on some swim school things and maybe some dishes even and try not to curse the weather, after all it is causing serious havoc in other people's lives in QLD and Chile, and for me its just an inconvenience. Got to try to keep things in perspective.
In the morning got a tentative green light for this weekend. Spent the morning madly packing everything up to go on the boat... including getting the foot straps back on the board. For those who have seen my foot strap step-up its kind of like solving the rubix cube under time constraints.
Alison my x swim teacher now paramedic dropped off the first aide kit to take and ran me through the procedure for all things that could happen. Advice for shark bite was call the helicopter ambos!!!
While I had a spare set of hands we stuck logo stickers on the little 7m kite that will come on the boat in case the wind gets insane and I have to switch to a smaller kite.. but hey the wind isn't likely to change while I'm out there is it?... it has proved so reliable and predictable so far...NOT
Then wind forecaster rings at lunch time as I'm mixing up Gatorade and we look over the data on the computer that shows the SW forecast for the weekend has switched to a NE... WHAT?? How does it do a complete back flip??
He says maybe its a glitch and it will go back to the previous forecast... so I continue packing and making arrangements for work if I am away for the weekend.
While at work at night next update comes through... no go on the weekend, maybe Mon or Tues. Is it me or does it always seem promising 5 days away and then that changes just when I think I better get flights sorted???
OK time to concentrate on some swim school things and maybe some dishes even and try not to curse the weather, after all it is causing serious havoc in other people's lives in QLD and Chile, and for me its just an inconvenience. Got to try to keep things in perspective.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Mon 1st March - still in melb
Finding the unpredictability of the weather very difficult. On the plus side when I was competing at the Nationals only days before my scheduled departure for Tassie, I was unsure what board I was going to use, what kite, I didn't have a working radio or GPS, my kite lines had a knot in them and I hadn't fixed that, my favourite kite decided to spontaneously deflate (right before my last heat)on the beach and lots of other issues that I now have mostly sorted. It was funny one of the girls at Nationals said Kirsten (world champ chick) said I was such a happy energetic person, shame she didn't get to meet me when I wasn't super stressed. Hopefully there will other chances in the future. I still want to learn that aeriel handle pass Kirsten!! Sorry to those who do know what I am like and had to put up with stress head me.
I am at peace with my choice of board and kite now. Of all the experts I talked to no 2 people agreed on the board I should use. But at least I have time on the board I have chosen and feel good that it will be the best for the job. I did loose a fin and broke the box it goes in following a fairy penguin too close to the reef so its now a 2 fin not a 4 fin set-up, but I am actually happier with the 2 fins. It doesn't go upwind so well but it turns much better, and I might see something out there that makes me want to change direction quickly!
Seems I still have a few days up my sleeve to do some last minute changes, took all the foot pads off my board last night and couldn't get them back on where I wanted them before falling asleep at midnight. I have chopped footpads unscrewed bits added new holes to the bit that goes over your feet... all things I never imagined doing.
I had a good 2 hours kiting out at Mentone yesterday before coming home and freaking out that the kids weren't safe walking home with a scary kidnapper in the area. But all is ok now and we spent the night chatting and packing as both of them are going to camp on Tuesday. I have a bad feeling about them going away when I might take off to Tassie, but hope I can shake that.
Tassie trip still up in the air... I wish I had a day.. its so hard not knowing... I can only be nervous and put the rest of my life on hold for so long..
I am at peace with my choice of board and kite now. Of all the experts I talked to no 2 people agreed on the board I should use. But at least I have time on the board I have chosen and feel good that it will be the best for the job. I did loose a fin and broke the box it goes in following a fairy penguin too close to the reef so its now a 2 fin not a 4 fin set-up, but I am actually happier with the 2 fins. It doesn't go upwind so well but it turns much better, and I might see something out there that makes me want to change direction quickly!
Seems I still have a few days up my sleeve to do some last minute changes, took all the foot pads off my board last night and couldn't get them back on where I wanted them before falling asleep at midnight. I have chopped footpads unscrewed bits added new holes to the bit that goes over your feet... all things I never imagined doing.
I had a good 2 hours kiting out at Mentone yesterday before coming home and freaking out that the kids weren't safe walking home with a scary kidnapper in the area. But all is ok now and we spent the night chatting and packing as both of them are going to camp on Tuesday. I have a bad feeling about them going away when I might take off to Tassie, but hope I can shake that.
Tassie trip still up in the air... I wish I had a day.. its so hard not knowing... I can only be nervous and put the rest of my life on hold for so long..
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