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Not a bad run. Got up early, made the journey down to Sandy Point, and poked our heads on the beach at 9:10am To be greeted by no wind, and sea fog. "Well, the wind is ment to turn." I said to Junior. So, we decided that at least we could assemble the buggyies and use them as chairs, while we waited for the wind to arrive. A big "Hi" to forum lurker Ross, who had seen my post about going down, and decided to join us. Rocking up not long into our buggy assembly. Got junior to go back and see if the wind had arrived, and it was blowing with white caps he said. Put back the 5knot kites, and got the 10knot kites out. Off to the beach we all go!! On the beach the wind was almost straight down the beach from the South East, not quite what we wanted. But it was wind, and use it, we did. Decided to head to the point, so we started tacking back and forth to get there. The wind slowly started to swing more to the South, and more onshore, but also varied in strength as well over the next few hours. I shadowed Junior and Ross, while we headed to the point. Passing backwards and forwards through them throughout the day. Making sure that help wasn't too far away if they needed it. But the only person to need help was me. About 45 minutes into the session, I was coming back through the two of them, when, Bang! One handle went limp, and the line was winding it'self around my wheel. Did I snap a line? Did I catch the line on the rear wheel? Once out of the buggy and able to have a look at the 4.5m Century Soulfly, the bridal had decided to let go! I now had no connection to the left side of the kite, even the brake line bridal had joined in. The lines we in one piece, so I had to take the wheel off to remove the lines around the axle. So in the buggy bag, size up 5.6m, or size down 3m? Size up, silly question. Out with the 5.6m PL Twister. Not the quickest kite, but a solid performer. I have a new 5.5m HQ Prodigy kite that I would like to try, but it was back in the car. Well, I don't have to work the kite as hard now, just hold on. No more tacking for us all by now, and we started to get some inroads towards the point (about 10km from our starting point). We got the standard wind increase (+1-2 knots) when we passed the dunes and hit the spit. And then with the end of the point in sight, the wind lulled off a bit. But we got there!! Congrats to Ross for making it that far without a harness, and fighting a kite that just didn't seem to want to perform. After a little break, we turned around and headed back. With the wind behind us, it was a much faster run home. I clocked 56kph, and Junior got a new PB!! Only 0.1km quicker than last time, but quicker none the less. So his new PB stands at 45.8kph A big thanks to John for the 3.5m Long Star, Junior loves it!! Got back to the Life Saving club at Sandy Point, and called it a day. It was just after 1pm, and the tide was coming in fast. Might have got in another half an hour, but Junior was tired, and lunch called. So we all headed off the beach after a testing run, but quite happy with the results. Hey Ross, if you want to catch up some time, I'd be happy to give you some lessons on the use and setup of your ARC. Or even come and have a go with a harness and pully for your fixed bridal kites. Photos. First 3 are when we arrived 1. Left of the beach, with Wilson's Prom in the background (sea fog around the Prom). 2. Out front on the main beach (notice, the flat sea). 3. Right, down towards Waratah. 4. At the Point. With Ross to the left about to get to us. 5. 180 degrees from the last one, the Prom and last of the sand at the spit. 6. Some of the the damage on the 4.5m Century, they all snapped at the very end of the sewing point. The 4.5m Century is second hand, and has been in storage in not so perfect conditions for 10 years. So I suspect the lines might have "rotted". Will have to see if PKD are still in business, and can get a new bridal. Or even the measurements? Could fix it by using the other side as a template? But the other side would go "pop" if I only re-bridaled one side. A new bridal required...........

Well, what a fizzer....... Got down there for 11:30. But it wasn't any more than 6-7 knots. Set up, decided that the forecast said it would build, and turn. So got a 4.5 Century out, and junior has a 3.5 Was enough to move, but not fast. After about 2 km up towards Sandy Point, the wind started to drop. We both had to size up. I moved to a 5.6 Twister. Junior didn't pack a bigger kite, as the wind was ment to build..... So a slow trundle back to the car for his favourite kite, the 10m Manta. Off towards Sandy Point we went, again. Junior was powered on the 10m Manta, but after he passed me about 3km up the beach, I switched to the 6.5 Vapor. By this time he was another 200 meters ahead. The problem though, was the wind was getting less and less by the minute. After trundling up to him, and finding him basicly becalmed, we had to try and get home. The wind was about 2-3 knots, so not even I was able to move. We rolled up the kites and did another walk of shame....... 4km back to the car......... 4pm at the car, with 2 hours left of an awesome beach, the sun shining, and a 2 knot Southerly , we packed up. In all my years of kite buggying (27), today marks the first time I have had to really do a walk of shame. With two walks of shame in two outings, I am wondering if my junior buggy pilot is a wind theif? The first two shots are set up. Third, becalmed. Fourth, the flat sea.

Any takers for a buggy run at either Sandy Point, or Venus Bay? Tides are very good from the 27 Dec. low tide 11:45am To the 31 Dec. low tide 3:03pm There might be one day in there I have to miss, due to a kite making workshop. But I am keen to get out for another run while I am on holidays. Fingers crossed the weather gods play ball.

Love those pictures! 4km walk of shame! I bet you slept that night! Happens to the best of us.

Heading down to Sandy Point tomorrow. Low tide at 10:17am A South West change is expected to hit the state early morning, so it should be a nice on shore. I intend to arrive around 9am, and should finish up some time after 1pm. Any takers??

Good read Nigel. I enjoyed that. Shame about your bridles. Most unusual. Like you say they could have been weakened by long term storage or perhaps too much grip from those disc wheels in soft sand? Love those pictures. The perfect post, and congrats on Juniors PB. 👍

Low tide for Sandy Point Wednesday is at 3:03pm With a big Southerly expected to blow through on Tuesday, we will be blessed with nice onshore winds. Winds look to be almost perfect onshore at 10 knots. The wind will slowly swing to the SSE late in the day. So a good move is to get there and be ready for around a 12 noon start. Taking my junior buggy apprentice along, so come and join us for a beach run!!

Hey Nigel. Not sure if you both got down there? Conditions were great and I would have had a great landboarding session ... but 30 mins in my two downwind wheels decided to leave this world. I happened to be half way between Warratah Bay and Sandy Point. Managed to somehow limp back to WB, and that was the end of the session. Pretty sure the rubber was past its use-by date. Fun, but short!