robs tales

2^nd July 2006 dawned a beautiful day - for the beach!  Not for what was supposed to be a 30km downwind run for the Surf Ski World Cup...  There was very little swell, and no wind at all.

The race was run from Westbrook Beach to a buoy off the Umhlanga Rocks lighthouse and then across the bay to the Bay of Plenty Beach on the Durban beachfront.  The distance as measured by my GPS was 31.4km.

The Paddler

Christmas night 2005 - Alan Witherden lay awake listening to the howling wind.  The southeaster had been blowing hard for several days and thoughts of the resulting rough seas were preying on Alan's mind.  In Cape Town on holiday, he had arranged to join his friend John Rhynes for an early morning paddle the next day.  They were to do the famous "Millers Run" from Millers Point near Simonstown, across the bay to Fish Hoek.

A black southeaster hit Cape Town this weekend and the 30kt wind on Saturday afternoon was perfect for a downwind.  

Two unidentified paddlers were spotted leaving Milnerton beach, clearly for a Milnerton to Big Bay run...  Elsa Lourens took the photos.

...happy, sunny harbinger of fun - the summer southeaster

“Very windy with large seas. Small craft advisory. Large long period swell. Winds: SE 21 to 28 knots Seas: SW 14 feet at 14 sec.”

Interpretation:

“Millers Run calling all surf skis. Awesome run predicted.”

(by Wayne Borchardt)

After weeks of trying to coordinate a downwind paddle, Rob and I eventually manage to align our plans. Miller’s Point to Fishhoek for a classic downwind paddle is on the cards for 1pm.  

Cape Town, South Africa: 17 Dec 2005 

Trained and Anxious

In February this year, Dawid Mocke asked me what my goals were for the year.  "Well," I said, "last year I wanted to get to B-grade in Billy's races.  I achieved that in the last race that I did.  I think this year I'd like to do the Cape Point Challenge."

Cape Town, South Africa, Dec 2005

The Cape Point Challenge is looming...  Saturday at 05h00 local time the first batches will set off on the 56km journey from Soetwater to Fish Hoek.

The forecast is firming; looks like a moderate (i.e. 15-20kt) southerly wind.  There was a storm some time ago in the Southern Ocean which has sent a pulse of big swell (4m at 05h00, 5m by 08h00) our way.