Well it was a hot one today.... 30deg C before lunch time and zero wind. A stinker - could have fried and egg on the footpath I reckon.
Got home (to my parents) after the 'big shop' for the camping trip tomorrow and was met with a solid NW wind out in the bay.
I wasn't fooled. These things can blow in and disappear within 20mins so I gave it the 40min test..... and it got stronger.
Ok I was mildly interested now so I packed the car and headed down to the beach. It was hot, the ground was hot, even the wind was hot. I was still in Wellington mode so I rigged my 4.5m and 78l Global... Craig and Steve L thought I was a bit mad... "you'll need at least an 85L for around here.... 4.5m !? "
Anyway I was more than ready to get wet so I headed out. 4.5m was bang on so I did the classic long run out to the green shipping marker, nice gybe around it beared off on a downwind run back to the beach. It was a fast run and I was trying hard to keep the old pink wave fin from spinning out (I've been spoilt by my usual MauiUltra fin but there was no way I was taking that my small board to the east coast).
The chop was pretty steep and close together in the usual 3-4 set groupings it tends to make out there. Nearly ate it big time at full throttle so I buttoned off for the rest of the session.
No Waves = attention span of 10 mins.
Got kinda bored so I tried a few Vulcans (wrong tack) and a couple of Shuv-its (right tack), a couple were nice and floaty but I couldn't get back under the gear to land them.... maybe more shuving is needed.
Steve L and the kite boys were ripping. They made average (for Welly) conditions look like loads of fun. Spins back and front, nice one handed chop slashes and spins all without a wave in sight.
If I had to live in Napier again I'd be kiting. Its a perfect spot for it.
Later on Owen and Neil came out for a sail, but I was kinda done. Got wet, cooled off, objective met.
Off to Mahia tomorrow... Gale winds, 2-3m swell and we're camping. choice!!
