As the current world record holder* for both Marcoola and Mudjimba to Mooloolaba ocean runs,

*Officially ratified by no one except that I know the only person that has tried to keep up with me on the run fails dismally every time! (its about 35 min if your interested!) and never seen anyone else do the run....

I will donate a bottle of Rum to who ever can produce the best 1 Hr at Mudjimba Beach this summer!

I came in a bit earlier than I wanted yesterday, due to electrical storms and kids pick up!.. but still managed in the teens for the Hr, and 28knt in the ocean is way more fun than in flat water!

Game ends March! Bonus prize if you collect any turtles, dolphins or sharks along the way...of which there plenty of each in this area!
Open to Kites also!

cool idea,

there used to be a race from Mooloolaba to Mudjimba and back twice many years ago. sunshine coast sailboards were the sponsor so I can confidently say that many have sailed that track over the years.

but I think you are probably the world champ regardless because we all did it on longboards.

I think peter nitschke may have done it on a custom tandem once.

oh and ps.

stay away from the shark nets.

sewriously.......

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Gestalt said..
oh and ps.

stay away from the shark nets.

sewriously.......

they are hard to see when the sun is setting on the horizon! But way easier to see than a Cray pot in Gero! Ouch!

pretty safe to say my M- M runs tad quicker than on a Wally!..Would make a great race to do again, there are some nice long swells and troughs out there, especially as you get closer to Mools

For an event though it's just really hard to sort when you can't pick a NE with any sort of accuracy long term...everyone would have to be 'on call' to make it happen, including safety etc...this spring so far we have had way less NE than same time last year...

I find this sort of sailing for me way more fun and challenging than confined flat water spots, and heaps safer also, plenty of space, no sand bars!

the event was supported by VMR out of Mooloolaba. I got sea sick one year and had to get a free lift back to Mooloolaba. huge swell running and no wind.

the issue with the shark nets is that they attract sharks. not where you want to be.

still cool idea you've got there.

I will definitely give this a go.
Sailed at Mooloolaba yesterday on a slalom board & 6.3 - it was great for an hour or so before the storm hit.
I too prefer this type of sailing - high speed on ocean swells & gybing on the waves.
The wave chop on the lake & flat water is too hard on the body!
Most of the local guys sail at Mooloolaba in a Northeaster but on weekends parking can be difficult so Mudjimba might be a good alternative.
Just have to watch the coffee rock south of the surf club
I would be very keen to do a downwinder to Mooloolaba if we can organise a car / van pick up at that end.

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ab01 said..
I will definitely give this a go.
Sailed at Mooloolaba yesterday on a slalom board & 6.3 - it was great for an hour or so before the storm hit.
I too prefer this type of sailing - high speed on ocean swells & gybing on the waves.
The wave chop on the lake & flat water is too hard on the body!
Most of the local guys sail at Mooloolaba in a Northeaster but on weekends parking can be difficult so Mudjimba might be a good alternative.
Just have to watch the coffee rock south of the surf club
I would be very keen to do a downwinder to Mooloolaba if we can organise a car / van pick up at that end.

PM me, so we can arrange, Bryn will be keen also... my van is good for about 3-4 rigs and passengers.
Low tide is the best to do it, shore break and surf is small so easy to get out.

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Gestalt said..
cool idea,

there used to be a race from Mooloolaba to Mudjimba and back twice many years ago. sunshine coast sailboards were the sponsor so I can confidently say that many have sailed that track over the years.

but I think you are probably the world champ regardless because we all did it on longboards.

I think peter nitschke may have done it on a custom tandem once.

Hey Gestalt,

can you give em an idea of where this is/ road name / parking area?

I am looking to try a few different spots in SE QLD rather than just hitting the bay every weekend.

cheers.

for Mooloolaba most guys launch at the end carpark. i think it's called pilot station road. it's hard to find a park in summer.

I've not launched at Mudjimba but believe they go from the end of Mudjimba beach road. jonsey would know better than me about Mudjimba.

mudjimba island (old woman island) is worth exploring. the water out there is crystal clear right across the reefs.

'parkyn parade' is the spit road, (for N/NE) weekend parking can be difficult, when all those damn brisbane city slickers crowd the place!

You out can sail off the beach anywhere from Marcoola to Mudjimba in a NE no problems, lower tides easier, Mudjimaba does get coffee rock, but that's mainly an issue ,after the summer lows have eaten the sand away, this time of year it's not too bad. ( same goes for S/SE)

unlike cotton tree you don't have tides/currents to bugger things up and 4 million people in the water,

Just depends on how much time I have to which location I will sail, ( mudjimba is my local) and also wind strength...as the wind starts to go N/NW as the sun sets Mools works longer and it's pretty nice on sunset, plus great fish and chips for the way home!
and it at its best when the wind is +20knts as if it's marginal and the tide is on the rise, you will find yourself getting pushed onto the beach struggling to plane and hating it.

The wind and waves at Mool are pretty on shore, in lighter winds the swell is easy as and can be sailed with freerace or slalom gear no problems.

An option if there was a few could be to keep down winding past mools a couple more k and land on kawana beach. There I could have a box trailer big enough for 5 rigs/boards and car to head back north.

Probably easier and quicker than going in and out of mools at all.

I'm liking the sound of all this!

Mudjimba to Mooloolaba is about 5 nautical miles. You could do it as one down wind leg if you wanted to but it would be over in no time & hard on the legs.
Better I think to put in a 10 to 20 gibes and take your time. Would be great for an hour run and fast the whole way.
Mooloolaba is easy to get in to as there is minimal shore break, if you wanted to go further best to sail on to Anne st or Neil st down near Caloundra

18.13 hour to claim the rum, is the current target...lighter wind today than last week, wasn't really smoking, so had to compensate with some longer runs, still there is at least a number on it now!

Long way out there Jonesy I hope you were sailing with a bud !

After launching from Kawana beach monday and landing back there it's ok if you check swell conditions first. Only reel issue is the shore dump to cover off on.

I went with a phantom and 9.5 and didn't have any trouble but did seperate board and sail to bring in just before the shore dump as that gear is a handle.

Jonsey isn't far out there just looks a long way on google, would still be able to see the coast.

I sailed off Mudjimba yesterday (Wed) but unfortunately I was the only one out there. Shore break was ok but wind was lighter than the day before. Struggled at times with 6.6 sqm and behind old Woman island it was too light. It was a nice place to rig up and there was no problem finding a park - much easier than Mooloolaba. I'll have to try and tempt a few of the other guys to come out!

work got in the way yesterday, stuck in Brisvegas

yep there is fine line on how close to the ol woman you get, but its pretty cool when it glasses off and you slide over the reefs.
always keen for Mool's also, but it's really at it's best when its proper windy, like wave board 5.3 windy, nice swells coming in, sadly so far this season my wave board is gathering cobwebs...weather is staring to warm up so hoping that changes.

Always a park at Mudjimba, sadly the local café changed hands to a new owner with no F idea, cause otherwise you could grab a cold beer after the session!...somedays they open late, someday's they don't, go figure!

Saturday looking good.

I would prefer to start from Mudjimba rather than Marcoola for this first one.
Lets make it a one hour run and not the fastest to Mooloolaba beach.
As it's down wind the whole way we should all get great one hour runs and that way we can also keep an eye on each other in case of gear breakages etc.
We need to discuss logistics - transport & start time etc.
cheers Adrian

hold the thought...Freerace this Saturday....

upped the stakes 2hrs...was choppy as and incoming tide made for some big swells and was a washing machine at the island, was really hard to gybe out there, even water starting with waves from opposite direction wrapping around there..shorter runs too...nothing exciting numbers wise, 15.8knts, just shows how much harder and slower chop and ocean sailing is compared to flat water, hard work, but fun big time..., 63km's in the ocean, feeling it tonight

So the Old Woman island Rum challenge currently is 18.13 1 Hr - 15.8 for 2 hr