mullerb's musings

Hmmm, haven't been so humbled physically in a while. I had a go at sailing Andrew's Starboard Carve 99l board with a 6.0m sail in 17-22 kt winds. I really thought I would get a water start licked real quick since I've done several in the past. But that board, mixed with the waves here, just totally threw me for a loop. Several, actually. Kind of a drag as I'm sure it is a great board for here. But I think I need to transition to it via something a bit bigger. You need 17+kt to water start on a 6.0 and that means things get exciting fast and the waves pick up. It's just a bit much for me to feel comfortable heading out on the Bay in those conditions with that set up. I really want to be able to uphaul if I have to and I want to be able to get out when the winds are light as well My ancient Bic Metal Rock back home is the same width (60cm) but is carries a floaty 139l and I usually sail it in winds below 22 kt. So I'm trying to locate a decent, cheap transition b

Finally had a weekend all together at "home". On Saturday, Rachel and I borrowed a couple of kayaks from Andrew and spent the morning paddling in the bay. The girls slept in after a long week of school work and walked down to meet us on the beach with lunch. We whiled most of the afternoon away hanging out on the beach and swimming. In the evening we met the Brady's and other friends at a huge outdoor concert arena in the city and listened to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as the moon rose and the sun set across the city skyline. Slept in on Sunday morning then took off from the house at 11 with daypacks filled with towels, water, and snacks. We hiked south along the beach trail for 7 miles or so to a place called Ricket's Point. Beautiful beaches, one after another, the whole way. When it got too hot, we jumped into the Caribbean-blue waters to cool off. At the end of the trail we hopped on a bus then a train to get back to our house. So Swiss, eh. But instead of i

An early Saturday morning paddle on Andrew's two old Dancers. We carried them the short 5-minute walk down to the beach and launched in flat seas with little breeze. Beautiful stretch of the Bayside shore front. You pass several points of land followed by long stretches of beach with easy landings pretty much everywhere. Highlight: Paddling past the Sandringham Yacht Club and seeing hundreds of masts sticking up behind the breakwater. Beautiful red rock-like bluffs near Black Rock. The HMS Cerberus wreck off of Black Rock. Spending a couple of hours alone with Rachel on the water. Ahhhhh, very nice way to kick off the weekend.