Sunday was my first proper wave sailing session.

It was 4-6 foot, cross off shore. Big scary waves. Variable winds from 15 to 25 knots.

I headed out. A little bit of wee escaped as I approached a 2m wall of white water whilst just moving. Very nervous. Heart rate thumping. I mounted the beast and fell in as a gust hit me at the top of the white water. A quick water start to do it all over again.

Then I was all clear out the back and happily putting along sub planning. So good so far.

A massive swell was building in front of me. The biggest I've ever seen. I slam jibed and raced for the wave. It was bloody massive. I felt the wave surge and push me into the wind. I slipped my feet into the straps. Fully powered now because the wave was pushing me into wind. I sped down the face of the wave at a frightening speed. I forgot everything I was taught, leant back and the board started bucking. I managed a crap bottom turn and looked up at a wave face as high as my mast. The wave started to close out. I managed a cutback but was too late. A Huge wall of white water smacked me down.

Rig lost. Disorientated. But fully intact.

My board was 15m inshore from me and I was 500m off shore. I swam hard but had to dive under each wave. I couldn't get to my board. Time to panic? The fact I considered the pros and cons of panicing convinced me I'd be ok. So I swam. And dived under a wave and swam and dived. ...

Eventually I was washed up in waist deep water to retrieve my rig.

Alive. And now full of confidence because I didn't die. Good news.

A quick rest.

Back out again. This time ignoring the big sets and going for the smaller waves like this one below.

I have to say for a first time wave sailer I ripped it up. Or at least that's how it felt. I sailed until my arms fell off.

Best session ever!

Excellent!
Get good at body surfing and your swim back in could be just another fun ride, instead of a long swim.

Go body surfing, w/o fins, when you are waiting for that wind that hasn't showed up yet, gotta take off late on the waves.
Good thing to be good at, as are clew first water starts, can save time when you have very little, when down on the inside.

Good work, looks like a solid day for your first wave session!

That story had me crapping my pants. Well done Yuppy. I'm planning on growing some balls and venturing out to the waves next time i'm sailing near my local wave spot. Until now i've been practicing the fundamentals and too chicken to go out further to where they break. You see where the wave break here there is reef. Last time i was there though a woman went out and took the challenge for her first time, she loved it. So i cannot be out done (well.. i could be) So we'll see.

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vpar said..
That story had me crapping my pants. Well done Yuppy. I'm planning on growing some balls and venturing out to the waves next time i'm sailing near my local wave spot. Until now i've been practicing the fundamentals and too chicken to go out further to where they break. You see where the wave break here there is reef. Last time i was there though a woman went out and took the challenge for her first time, she loved it. So i cannot be out done (well.. i could be) So we'll see.

Hey vpar. My balls ain't that big. I was lucky enough to go on the aloha clinic in Maui where Matt Pritchard and shauna cropas taught the safety fundamentals in small waves. Eg duck diving the sail. I recommend it. Or a local one like guy cribb

Stoked for you Yuppy - and agree with Hoop that is a full on day for a first go!!!! You should be seriously bigheaded, its allowed after a day liek that

And Vince, like we agreed let us know when coming back and we will show u around, 20kn and 1.5m would be good

OK, i did it and it was pretty cool, still buzzing. Lancelin main break (i think it's called) correct me if i'm wrong. I was kinda nervous but thanks to Mark_Aus who pointed me the right way to go and what to watch for and Wayne who also guided me through the gap and then come to give me further guidance out the back. I got out there and hit a few ramps on the way which was a buzz in itself. Turned and headed back and kind of fluked it on a wave. Tried to pull some basic moves. Had fun

I did three runs, nervous all the way, but big smile. On the third i hit a ramp through the channel and landed it wrong ended in the water. Figured i was in a bad spot so thought i'd head back in take another run at it. Collecting my gear to get ready and some dude pulled a big loop beside me. By the noises he made he was pretty stoked with himself....rightly so too. So i was suddenly distracted and next thing there is this wall of water descending upon me. I got rolled, then as i was swimming to collect my rig the second wave got me. Thinking f**k this, i'm going to have to buy this (now broken) sail Mark let me try. Then the third wave rolled me. damn. looked over my shoulder and all clear. Yay. Recovered the rig, sweet all in tact....sail NOT broken .....happy. Quick water start (which i needed before i got rolled the first time) and headed back to shore for a breather and reflection. Laugh, i couldn't laugh enough. If anyone had been able to see it, i think it would have looked pretty damn funny.

So i did a couple of more runs just to hit the ramps in the first break and turn back. I had a fat time. The only thing that pissed me off was the fact that i left my camera at home. My wife only believes the fact that i got rolled. So i have to go out to do it all again

Thanks Mark and Wayne for your guidance.

PS: i did buy the sail 'cos i liked it.

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vpar said..
OK, i did it and it was pretty cool, still buzzing. Lancelin main break (i think it's called) correct me if i'm wrong. I was kinda nervous but thanks to Mark_Aus who pointed me the right way to go and what to watch for and Wayne who also guided me through the gap and then come to give me further guidance out the back. I got out there and hit a few ramps on the way which was a buzz in itself. Turned and headed back and kind of fluked it on a wave. Tried to pull some basic moves. Had fun

I did three runs, nervous all the way, but big smile. On the third i hit a ramp through the channel and landed it wrong ended in the water. Figured i was in a bad spot so thought i'd head back in take another run at it. Collecting my gear to get ready and some dude pulled a big loop beside me. By the noises he made he was pretty stoked with himself....rightly so too. So i was suddenly distracted and next thing there is this wall of water descending upon me. I got rolled, then as i was swimming to collect my rig the second wave got me. Thinking f**k this, i'm going to have to buy this (now broken) sail Mark let me try. Then the third wave rolled me. damn. looked over my shoulder and all clear. Yay. Recovered the rig, sweet all in tact....sail NOT broken .....happy. Quick water start (which i needed before i got rolled the first time) and headed back to shore for a breather and reflection. Laugh, i couldn't laugh enough. If anyone had been able to see it, i think it would have looked pretty damn funny.

So i did a couple of more runs just to hit the ramps in the first break and turn back. I had a fat time. The only thing that pissed me off was the fact that i left my camera at home. My wife only believes the fact that i got rolled. So i have to go out to do it all again

Thanks Mark and Wayne for your guidance.

PS: i did buy the sail 'cos i liked it.

Did you manage to get Marks finger out of his eye?

You know after a while you don't notice the finger. Plus there's not way i'm going to try to adjust someones character.

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R1DER said..

vpar said..
OK, i did it and it was pretty cool, still buzzing. Lancelin main break (i think it's called) correct me if i'm wrong. I was kinda nervous but thanks to Mark_Aus who pointed me the right way to go and what to watch for and Wayne who also guided me through the gap and then come to give me further guidance out the back. I got out there and hit a few ramps on the way which was a buzz in itself. Turned and headed back and kind of fluked it on a wave. Tried to pull some basic moves. Had fun

I did three runs, nervous all the way, but big smile. On the third i hit a ramp through the channel and landed it wrong ended in the water. Figured i was in a bad spot so thought i'd head back in take another run at it. Collecting my gear to get ready and some dude pulled a big loop beside me. By the noises he made he was pretty stoked with himself....rightly so too. So i was suddenly distracted and next thing there is this wall of water descending upon me. I got rolled, then as i was swimming to collect my rig the second wave got me. Thinking f**k this, i'm going to have to buy this (now broken) sail Mark let me try. Then the third wave rolled me. damn. looked over my shoulder and all clear. Yay. Recovered the rig, sweet all in tact....sail NOT broken .....happy. Quick water start (which i needed before i got rolled the first time) and headed back to shore for a breather and reflection. Laugh, i couldn't laugh enough. If anyone had been able to see it, i think it would have looked pretty damn funny.

So i did a couple of more runs just to hit the ramps in the first break and turn back. I had a fat time. The only thing that pissed me off was the fact that i left my camera at home. My wife only believes the fact that i got rolled. So i have to go out to do it all again

Thanks Mark and Wayne for your guidance.

PS: i did buy the sail 'cos i liked it.

Did you manage to get Marks finger out of his eye?

No but I got $150 out of him for the sail

Solid effort vpar!