Spooled, soaked! JS, 17Mar12

TR by gemini and jaro, presented in that sequence

1. From gemini

Participants: jaro, gemini, kodaz, yakfinn
Swell: 2.1m Easterly
Wind: 8-10knt SE inside bay, 10-15knt outside
Distance: 12.3 km
Max Speed: 10.0 km/hour (Editor: going down a wave?)
Avg Speed: 3.7 km/hour

After unloading and making our way down to the beach, we assessed the launch conditions. There were decent gaps to be found in the sets of waves breaking at the end of the groyne, but it didn't look pleasant. We allowed jaro to be the guinea pig and followed him out with no incident (or even a wet bum!).

We headed towards Jew Shoal finding the conditions to be fairly lumpy, and the water close to the beach had a brown tinge to it. Before reaching Jew Shoal proper we encountered several large bustups just inside the bay. We chased these for a while, but the little buggers were moving around too fast to cast at. I managed to cast at a couple of small schools, but the most action I had was a tuna chasing the slug right up to the yak and then thumbing its proverbial nose at me. We trolled around for a while longer, but with no joy. Yakfinn managed to hook a feisty little tuna, but the tuna decided it REALLY didn't want to be caught and swam off with the entire contents of Yakfinn's spool!

It was about this time the rain kicked in with a vengeance and we made the call to head home. The trip back was uneventful, although Kodaz spotted what he suspected was a mako shark taking an impressive jump a good 6ft out of the water. The rain really hammered down and I was hard pressed to see the beach even 500m from the groyne. At least the rain took the edge off the swell for a bit!

The breakers were still hammering the groyne when we headed back in, and yakfinn had an unplanned swim. Jaro seems to think I rode a wave like a madman on my re-entry, but I was too busy trying not a have a swim myself to notice! I'll let him report what he saw. :)

Above: Matt's GPS track for today

Cheers!
Matt (Gemini)

:::::::::::

2. From jaro

Conditions: Cloudy but fine early with showers missing us to the north and south during the morning and then started to hit us as we decided to head for home.

We arrived in the car park at around 5.00am and were ready for launching at 5.25am. The tide was still high and the channel along MG was nice and quiet. I headed off first and waited at the end of MG very, very patiently as there were a few large waves that were best left alone. On seeing what appeared to be a lull I headed out at full speed with the adrenalin pumping into my muscles and found myself out safely only to look behind me to see the rest of the guys also out safe and dry.

I had absolutely no touches during the the whole time out there.

At just after 8.00am we were hit by a shower when I suggested we head for home. All readily agreed.

By the time we reached MG the tide had nearly reached its low mark making the return very intimidating indeed. Sean and Kodaz were already ashore... Kodaz safely and Sean had a lovely warm swim being well and truly rolled by a big one.

I found myself back paddling furiously as a large wave loomed above me and I only just avoided being dumped. I then positioned myself abreast of the waves so that I could chose to go for it or to seek the safety of the deeper waters only to find a large wave suddenly loom up and start breaking over me. I thought I was done for but immediately leaned into the wave as it crashed onto me. It carried me sideways towards the beach at what seemed a furious pace and then suddenly I was in the calm after the wave and paddled madly to the safety of the channel and to shore to the applause of Sean and Kodaz.

We now awaited Gemini's return. It appeared as if he made the decision to go for it when a large wave appeared behind him and we thought he was a goner but as luck or good management would have it the wave slid under him as it broke leaving him now behind the wave. Gemini continued to paddle in nonchalantly as if it was piece of cake, not even noting our applause.

Jaro