Helmy had been nagging me since last year to come up to Merimbula.
As I have only been paddling a bit over a year, and have surf skills best described as "Limited", I was very hesitant.
I thought it was a full on competition, and would be too much to take on.
After falling in to Westernport Bay the Sunday before, which has now "warmed" to about 15 degrees, I decided there had to be a better way. Told Helmy I was in, and tried to get a room. Nothing available until the Thursday night, but not a problem as Helmy had a spare bed in his unit. By the way, accommodation is cheap - $230 for a 2 bedroom apartment for 4 nights.
Put my 17' Naish and 10'6" Fanatic on the roof of the troopy, and set off behind Helmy and Sluggo with their trailer load of 5 boards.
Easy trip apart from having to herd them back on to the right road at every opportunity there was to take the wrong road.
Got there and headed to the bar for a surf in not ideal conditions - fairly windy and too big for someone of my skills.
Caught 2 1/2 waves, probably doubling my lifetime wave count, and when I got slammed it was like getting slammed in to bath water.
Back to the unit and dinner at the Sapphire Club. (event sponsor).
Although we drove to the bar, from most of the accommodation it was possible to walk to the surf or the inlet carrying your board with no problems.
The next morning we headed to Pambula River to surf the river mouth.
Perfect (for me) knee high waves, sun, warm water.
Back up to Merimbula for the event briefing and registration.
For $110 you got all race entries, insurance, a t shirt, cap and sticker, free bbq for the four day event running from about 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, meaning breakfast and lunch is taken care of, a social event most nights, presentation dinner, and every entrant wins a prize - mine a jacket retailing at $120. This is unbelievable value.
And everything is close enough to walk to.
There is also a beer tent, and most manufacturers have demo boards to try over the four days. You can try pretty much any board or paddle you like in real surf of flat water conditions.
After perusing the stands, we went back to our unit and got the "big" boards, and carried them down to the inlet. Paddled under the bridge and out to the bar beach. An impromptu meeting of the Viccos took place, with maybe 20 of us showing up. Lots of kites out, and we took 12'6", 14', and 17' boards out in to the surf.
Thursday afternoon was invited by Helmy to move to my own unit as soon as possible amid allegations of snoring.
Friday morning saw another surf at Pambula followed by a scenic cruise of the bay when the waves died. DJ appeared and said that main beach was the spot to be, with big glassy waves, but maybe 60 paddlers on the main beach and 40 on the bar.
Headed back up there and Helmy and Sluggo tried some demo boards for a couple of hours. I decided a man needs to be aware of his limitations, and socialised and took some photos.
At this time, there are board demos going on, sup surfing, kite surfing, and windsurfing comps, so plenty to watch.
And the man running the beer tent is called Kerry, and very good at his job.
After the board demos and lunch, we loaded the big boards on the trailer and headed for a planned Pambula River paddle, planning to launch in the lake and paddle to the river mouth. When we got there, the wind was blowing up the river, so we reversed direction for a "downwinder" up the river.
Apart from getting a bit confused about where we had left the cars, and paddling a bit further than we needed, a great trip.
Saturday morning saw us up at 6.00 to walk to the main beach.
I was very hesitant about my ability to handle the surf, so watched from the beach for a bit.
Paddled out and watched from the water a bit, fairly crowded and a bit of yelling coming from longboarders.
Decided I could stick to the edges and have a go and not get in anyone's way, and tripled my lifetime wave count. Also got some coaching from DJ, telling me I needed to get in to surf stance sooner after getting on a wave. Told him when I get on a wave, all I think of is 'Hey, I got a wave", but managed to concentrate a bit and do it.
Later that morning was the team relay Beach to Bar race, that has been well covered in the videos, but drove Helmy around to take up his position as final paddler in the girls team. DJ was the third girl paddler.
Returned to the unit and carried the big boards down to the inlet to paddle up to the Bar Beach and meet DJ for a paddle along the cliffs to the aquarium. The paddle up was a huge upwind slog in the inlet, but we made it around. On the way back we met the crew coming out for the downwind race to Pambula. Watched them get ready and leave.
Headed back along the north side of the inlet in shelter of the cliffs, a very nice gentle paddle in the mangroves.
Headed along the town front, now out in the breeze doing a no paddle downwinder in flat water.
Carried the boards back up to the units after another great day.
Sunday morning got up 10 to 6 for a surf, and body cried "enough" - I was paddled out.
Headed up later for breakfast and to watch the BOP team relay, and marvel at Team RPS taking on the might of the factory Naish and Fanatic Teams for a fine third place.
Brief presentation for the sup racing at the oval, followed by main presentation at the Sapphire Club.
It's a great weekend, really well organised, and great fun for us mere mortals as well as the supermen.
My thanks to Merimbula Sailboard Club and it's members for a great weekend, and I highly recommend anyone goes no matter what your skill level.
My accommodation is booked for next year already.
Thanks Nozza, great photos and comments.
Nice to see that average Joes can join in and have a great time. sounds like a great time was had by all.
ET.