Windsurfing down in Albany, had to get off the water as it was way too windy. totally overpowered on my 4.3, probably 3.7 weather. A kiter rocks up and I have a chat - I tell him to reconsider going out, it's 35kts, easily, gusting to 40, maybe more, offshore, with some major holes that are less than 7kts and he wants to go out on a 10m kite?? Needless to say he didn't take my advice! Lets hope he survives.

that is suicidal, Ive witnessed first hand what happens to a kiter with too big a kite in crazy winds, they just get lofted, there's not much they can do aside from land or ditch the kite, watch for Superman (not):

That video should come with a warning. When you see stuff like that makes me wonder why anyone would kite in super strong winds. The potential is there to get hurt really bad or worse. Windsurfing is so much safer a sport than kitesurfing. That said, earlier this year in a 30-45 knot winter front,I did not bother to rig up,the gusts were just crazy.

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surfzup said..

Windsurfing down in Albany, had to get off the water as it was way too windy. totally overpowered on my 4.3, probably 3.7 weather. A kiter rocks up and I have a chat - I tell him to reconsider going out, it's 35kts, easily, gusting to 40, maybe more, offshore, with some major holes that are less than 7kts and he wants to go out on a 10m kite?? Needless to say he didn't take my advice! Lets hope he survives.

WHO CARES?

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surfzup said..

Windsurfing down in Albany, had to get off the water as it was way too windy. totally overpowered on my 4.3, probably 3.7 weather. A kiter rocks up and I have a chat - I tell him to reconsider going out, it's 35kts, easily, gusting to 40, maybe more, offshore, with some major holes that are less than 7kts and he wants to go out on a 10m kite?? Needless to say he didn't take my advice! Lets hope he survives.

Assuming you were out on Tuesday 24th, whereabouts in Albany did you sail in a South-wester?

Middleton Beach. No swell though. Did you sail?

"90 Mile" beach, Quaranup was the place to be. It was a good consistant 25 knots with a few gusts up to 30 I reckon. Perfect flat water sailing with some chop as you head closer to the channel. There was about 8 of us out that day. There were about two kiters up the other end of the beach but they didn't venture far off the beach
About the only other place worth sailing in the souwester is Mutton Bird if you want some waves.

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surfzup said..

Middleton Beach. No swell though. Did you sail?

Sorry for late reply, have been out of town and away from pc a lot. No, didn't sail as wife was working with me looking after kids!

Very surprised that anyone would attempt to sail or kite Midds in a sou-wester as wind would have been blowing straight offshore and extremely gusty. You sure it wasn't S-SE wind direction? Have sailed out from further up the beach (towards Emu Pt) a number of times in a southerly and its ok there.

Curious to know if the said kiter was a local or a blow-in. Usually at this time of year there's a lot more kiters on the water, mostly from elsewhere, though same can't be said for visiting windsurfers as the numbers don't appear to increase that much - plus they don't take up as much space on the water! Counted a dozen kiters at my regular ocean beach on one day just before Christmas 2012, would normally (non holiday time) just be myself the only windsurfer and one regular kiter out on the water!

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Hawk said..

"90 Mile" beach, Quaranup was the place to be. It was a good consistant 25 knots with a few gusts up to 30 I reckon. Perfect flat water sailing with some chop as you head closer to the channel. There was about 8 of us out that day. There were about two kiters up the other end of the beach but they didn't venture far off the beach
About the only other place worth sailing in the souwester is Mutton Bird if you want some waves.

Also Ledge Beach would be good for bump n' jump sailing in a sou-wester.