I was pottering around North Harbour today in what were truly magic conditions, practicing the tips I got from Kelly Margetts on the weekend. N'Easter was building and tempting me to point and shoot. What the heck - I did!
I let her rip and enjoyed 5k of pure downwind fun to Balmoral Beach. No particular plan at the other end other hiding the board in the local club and maybe getting a lift or an Uber back to Manly. Worked a treat! My first Uber Downwinder!






Sydney Harbour magic.




Somewhere on the east coast.......




I mean, who wouldn't!





Next - the UberX Downwinder!

Thanks AA, sounds like great fun. no issues with Manly ferries I hope.

I have not lived in Sydney for well over 30 years but it never ceases to amaze me how you can get beautiful spots like those in your photos so close to the city.

Sorry to sound dumb, but what is a Uber?

ET.

ET, Uber is the digital disruptor shaking up the transport industry right now. Google it. They are changing the game! Coming to you soon I am sure.

or in 20years

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E T said..
Thanks AA, sounds like great fun. no issues with Manly ferries I hope.

I have not lived in Sydney for well over 30 years but it never ceases to amaze me how you can get beautiful spots like those in your photos so close to the city.

Sorry to sound dumb, but what is a Uber?

ET.

I kept a weary eye out ET for ferries and fast ferries and picked a very BIG gap just in case! Yeah the harbour has some hidden gems that is for sure!
Next time your down go for a paddle!

Thanks AA, Uber hasn't hit here yet, Joh Bjelke is no longer here so it might take off.

Great photos.

ET.

I wish Uber had roof racks.
I am often dw solo mid week and end up catching a taxi or a bus back home to get the car.
its a nervous wait getting back to the board even though the places I leave it are fairly secure. the what if plays on my mind.

I got an Uber the other day Andy and he had roof racks on his car. Not sure if he had pads for the racks or tie-downs though. This could be a specialised service Uber could offer the Downwind Uber.

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AndyR said..
I wish Uber had roof racks.
I am often dw solo mid week and end up catching a taxi or a bus back home to get the car.
its a nervous wait getting back to the board even though the places I leave it are fairly secure. the what if plays on my mind.

Hey Andy and nosaj27, I have been toying with the idea of providing a shuttle service for downwinders.

A van with trailer maybe, racks and wet storage. Text message booking system etc. I want to change careers and maybe only work par time.

Any thoughts? Would this be useful to you guys.

ET.

I think there would be interest ET, are you in Brisbane or on the Gold or Sunny Coasts? Andy and I are both Brisbane based.

That is the best way for sure! Shout out to any Sydney paddlers who are free to do week day Downwinders!

With Uber can you request the same driver or is it simply luck of the draw, maybe hook up a deal with one who has racks etc and make it a non Uber transaction, just a private deal.

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E T said...

AndyR said..
I wish Uber had roof racks.
I am often dw solo mid week and end up catching a taxi or a bus back home to get the car.
its a nervous wait getting back to the board even though the places I leave it are fairly secure. the what if plays on my mind.

Hey Andy and nosaj27, I have been toying with the idea of providing a shuttle service for downwinders.

A van with trailer maybe, racks and wet storage. Text message booking system etc. I want to change careers and maybe only work par time.

Any thoughts? Would this be useful to you guys.

ET.

ET i think there would be interest, though not enough in one area as there is a group on sunny coast, bris ans GC. Wind is fickle in sth east qld we dont get constant trade winds in the right directions enough.

An usually there is two or more people going that sorts the car shuffle issue out.
I couldnt see it being a venture that would make money. With the outlay of a trailer and 6/7 seater vehicle..

In saying that there is a guy in WA that runs a down wind shuttle business and he caters for skis sups outriggers.
They do get enough constant wind to maybe make it a little side business.

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nosaj27 said...
I got an Uber the other day Andy and he had roof racks on his car. Not sure if he had pads for the racks or tie-downs though. This could be a specialised service Uber could offer the Downwind Uber.

I need this guys number!

Uber takes 20% of the transaction. Uber does't own a car and employs a crew of techs,maybe 6 guys in each city.What an amazing business model.

Inflatable board is good for a down wind session. Just deflate it at the end while waiting for the Uber car to arrive.

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johnnytheknife said...
Inflatable board is good for a down wind session. Just deflate it at the end while waiting for the Uber car to arrive.

Agreed, though if your inflato 'holes' and you're off-shore by yourself, you're stuffed...inflato's are a great option in a lot of circumstances, but I don't think solo DW'ers are one of them

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roscoe1974 said...

johnnytheknife said...
Inflatable board is good for a down wind session. Just deflate it at the end while waiting for the Uber car to arrive.

Agreed, though if your inflato 'holes' and you're off-shore by yourself, you're stuffed...inflato's are a great option in a lot of circumstances, but I don't think solo DW'ers are one of them

True, but I'm a good swimmer. Frankly,
I wouldn't be happy on any human powered craft further offshore than I could swim (which is at least 5km).

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johnnytheknife said..

roscoe1974 said...

johnnytheknife said...
Inflatable board is good for a down wind session. Just deflate it at the end while waiting for the Uber car to arrive.

Agreed, though if your inflato 'holes' and you're off-shore by yourself, you're stuffed...inflato's are a great option in a lot of circumstances, but I don't think solo DW'ers are one of them

True, but I'm a good swimmer. Frankly,
I wouldn't be happy on any human powered craft further offshore than I could swim (which is at least 5km).

if you didn't attract interest from below

If inflatables were any good for DWing we'd all be using them, because of their durability and transport convenience. But they aren't. In fact, downwinding perhaps even more than surfing, shows the limitation of the form. The boards "stick" to the water rather than releasing, due to rail and bottom shape and flexibility, and are tragically bad at quartering wind and waves. And then there is the other very serious safety factor related to being tied to something that might sink quickly, as noted above.

I own two inflatables, and love them for kids and beginners in flat water or pure mucking about. Certain flat water race formats are OK too, and river work (with caveats also about safety). But for serious downwinding the technology just isn't there yet, and shows no signs of being imminently, unfortunately.

I wish they were though, because I'm sick of the repair costs to my downwind boards. I've only once picked up a ding actually in the water, but it seems like about 30% of the time I go out with a group of people in big conditions my board gets dinged, usually while loading and unloading... I can see why DJ likes the more solid construction boards for DWing. The eggshell fragile ones are a liability unless you and every member of your DW crew is very experienced with big boards in high winds, has all the necessary pads and straps that you need, and is very conscientious with other people's gear. Stacking boards on tall vans in particular is an accident waiting to happen in high winds. Cars with low loading roofs are much better for SUPers serious about downwinding.