How do you guys come back from a downwind session? Do you wait until the wind changes direction or do you paddle upwind? If you paddle upwind, do you skip days that are too windy?

We all meet at the end (finishing place) and load onto one or two cars and drive to the start.. Unload.. Downwind to the finish.. and someone gives the people who drove a lift back to their cars that are up at the start.. It's not as big a hassle as it seems..

Or go solo, and get the wife or someone to pick
You up at the end and take you back to your car,
Or like I have to many times lock board up to something at the end, catch a bus back to car then drive back and get board.

All worth it when it's a day off work and it's 20knots or more and you don't have anyone else available to go with.

Or use a bike trailer like the Mule. Lock up bike and trailer at the end point, drive to the start, downwind to the bike and cycle your board back (or cycle to the start and leave car at the end).

DJ has probably got a really good DW set-up where he lives, but for most of us, the shuffle is a hassle for sure. The general rule around where I live is that you spend about twice (sometimes three times) as long in logistics as you do paddling, in terms of door to door overall time. This of course varies hugely according to your local setup, and the time expands greatly according to how many people there are with you because at each stage you can only go as fast as the slowest person. And someone has always forgotten something (..like a leash, eh, DJ?). I also live in a cold climate so there's a lot of fannying around with wetsuits and other equipment to slow you down. So you may do better than we do. But in general, if you are looking for a quick paddling experience, downwinding is probably not for you. You have to view the shuffle and the consequent camaraderie/banter as part of the experience. In practice, each big DW paddle seems to turn into a mini road trip somehow, and all kinds of crazy crap happens both on and off the water.

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shuffle said..
How do you guys come back from a downwind session?

Pissed usually if Stimo has the esky in the back of his ute

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jenkz said..

shuffle said..
How do you guys come back from a downwind session?

Pissed usually if Stimo has the esky in the back of his ute

I think I'm downwinding in the wrong State...

Although if I took a few cans with me at the start I could get pissed in the time it takes DJ to tape his cameras on...!!!

You can go solo by using a bike..

or come to Cape Town - put in, paddle to the finish and catch the Naish Shuttle back to your car......

We all meet at the get in, unload all boats, get changed and then drive as many cars to the out point. Leave cars then get drivers into one car and drive back to start. Do the run....most cars now at the end point and then someone takes the person back to the start to pick his or her car up.

thanks guys

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Area10 said..
Or use a bike trailer like the Mule. Lock up bike and trailer at the end point, drive to the start, downwind to the bike and cycle your board back (or cycle to the start and leave car at the end).

Is anyone rocking the mule?

I have thought of getting one but i wonder if the breeze won't flip it? i mean, the idea of DW is to go out when its nuking, so you would be biking back against the wind... i would be worried about the board taking off and flipping...

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chucktheskiffie said...

Area10 said..
Or use a bike trailer like the Mule. Lock up bike and trailer at the end point, drive to the start, downwind to the bike and cycle your board back (or cycle to the start and leave car at the end).

Is anyone rocking the mule?

I have thought of getting one but i wonder if the breeze won't flip it? i mean, the idea of DW is to go out when its nuking, so you would be biking back against the wind... i would be worried about the board taking off and flipping...

I had a home made one rigged up and Yep riding back into wind and cross wind seem to want to try flip it over. It never did but could feel the resistance and made for a **** **** ride back. Also was really hard navigating bike paths that have those poll type gates at road crossings that stop cars getting up there etc, oh and the many other people on the foot paths that would see you but not realise you have 14 foot of board behind you, made for a couple too many near misses.

Easier for me to just leave the board and go get it after.

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AndyR said...

chucktheskiffie said...

Area10 said..
Or use a bike trailer like the Mule. Lock up bike and trailer at the end point, drive to the start, downwind to the bike and cycle your board back (or cycle to the start and leave car at the end).

Is anyone rocking the mule?

I have thought of getting one but i wonder if the breeze won't flip it? i mean, the idea of DW is to go out when its nuking, so you would be biking back against the wind... i would be worried about the board taking off and flipping...

I had a home made one rigged up and Yep riding back into wind and cross wind seem to want to try flip it over. It never did but could feel the resistance and made for a **** **** ride back. Also was really hard navigating bike paths that have those poll type gates at road crossings that stop cars getting up there etc, oh and the many other people on the foot paths that would see you but not realise you have 14 foot of board behind you, made for a couple too many near misses.

Easier for me to just leave the board and go get it after.

I made a new axle for my mule that is longer and heavier, but still just wide enough to get through gates. Yes, it's a pain, and sometimes I leave my board at the start and then take car and bike to the end instead. But during the summer I can't leave my board at the beach because tourists let their children and dogs jump on it while I'm gone...every frickin time I leave it I come back to find some strange ding...or the deck pad scratched up etc.

I'm lucky that on the most common DW run I do on my own, my house is not far from the start so if I'm going solo I can take car and bike to the end point and then bike to my house and then only have to Mule my board the last bit.

The board can flip in a really strong side-wind (eg. 40 knots), but I keep it in a board bag on the Mule and so far it hasn't been damaged when it does. 20-35 knots doesn't flip it, but as I say, I have a wider axle than normal. It it's hell windy I use a two-wheeled child's trailer on the back of the bike and then attach the mule to that, and then it won't flip. It makes a long load though.

So, your point is well taken. Using a Mule is best for fairly mild wind conditions (up to 25 knots) and where the terrain isn't too tough.

Good idea with the axle area10.

I'm lucky too area10. I live 500m from the beach. So if it's a southerly wind I simply drive
To start point. Paddle back and walk the 500m with the board home. Then either bus or get a lift back to Car after showered and refuelled the body. If it's northely run take car over to finish point and bus or lift back to home then grab board and walk to beach and paddle to car.

I'm a shift worker so more often than not have random days off during the week when everyone else is at work and the wind is perfect so I get out solo more than anything.
It is a full half day of 14-17km paddling and sorting out logistics before or after but worth it every time.
Not entertaining the idea the wife has of moving further away from the beach soon