Well it’s been a while since I updated this; I have tried but couldn’t get on the site a few times. Margret river was good, had some good sails and spent lots of time waiting for wind. It even got quite cold there for a while and had to wear fleeces and trousers. On the last morning I was there was even frost on the ground! This isn’t how I imagined Australia! Anyway as you see from the pics the surf was good.
The forecast wasn’t great so I drove back to Perth for the weekend and it was great to stay in a house for a change. The luxury of having a warm shower and some private space is good. I like Perth and met up with some friends here and chilled out at the beach, I find myself spending more money though.
I am now in a place called Hangover bay near Cervantes which is about 250km North of Perth and its bloody hot! The water is lovely to cool down.
I stayed at a spot called Thirsty Point with a few other travellers from Belgium and Germany. We all had to get up early to beat the rangers or get a fine, apparently they don’t give a warning here, just hand out the fine straight away. Its ok as long as they don’t catch you still in bed.
This morning I went to see the Pinnacles, freestanding limestone pillars.
I’m going to take a couple of days hanging around here on my way to Geraldton where it’s forecast to be really windy at the weekend.

This is what greeted me to Prevally in Margrets River last night. This part of Oz is really lovely, it's lush green landscape contrasts greatly to the harsh more barren landscape you expect of the continent. Its 300 kms from Perth and a tank of LPG got me all the way for about $20.
I camped up on a hill with a great view of the sea and some toilets and showers close by and didn't have to pay a penny. There were a few other vans around with nice people and felt quite safe. I cooked a experiemental curry pasta dish and it was great.

Unfortunately there was loads of wind in the wrong direction for the wave break here so wasn't suitable to go out. I took a short drive to explore and found this lovely beach to have a swim and take some photos. I shall put the one below on flickr in better quality when I get time as the internet here is rather expensive. I think i shall have to get a surfboard for days like this. The trouble is finding more space in the van....

Busy Busy

I have been working on the van lately. Its a bit more suitable for my kit now and I have freed up some space inside. The tv, aerial, dvd player and aircon unit will be going to cash converters tomorrow morning as I dont need them and they take too much space. The windsurfing kit has priority. I just made small changes really just to use the space I have available more efficently.
Here are some before and after pics.

Lots of stuff came outta that van!

Packed up and ready to go...

Irish wavesailing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqGN1LKJPAs
The Galway boys having fun at home. Looks cold though!

Wind Wind Wind

Finally got a really good sail today, I woke up to the wind howling outside the window and jumped outta bed, had brekkie (didn't even have a cup of tea!) and drove to Pelican Point. This is the place to go in Perth when it blows an easterly, a nice place for beginners on the normal mornings when the wind isint too strong also.

There was a decent easterly blowing when I got there (bout 7.45am) which blew nicely until lunchtime.

I got to use my 5.8 and after some tweaking to get it set up right, it worked really well with the board and felt good.

The wind was plenty strong and too much in the gusts so after I had a good blast I changed to my 5.25 and put my new 28inch harness lines on the boom (it came with 22s, much too short) the board really came alive then. Its great for jumping and the short length makes it really easy to throw around for freestyle.

Im absolutly knackered now, not windsurfing for 3 months has left me pretty unfit and really rusty.

Lastly as promised a couple of pics of the van.

Wet!

I got out for a sail yesterday at last!!! It was sooo good to be on the water but I was really rusty.
The board was nice, I have bought it for $500. Its in good nick and fairly new. The wind was terrible but I got planing in a gust. There really is nothing like the feeling of planing, weather its a surfboard, windsurfboard, wakeboard or whatever.

I had a go on the Naish SUP (stand up paddleboard) it was good fun but it was only on the flat water. I stuck a sail on it and it cruises along nicely in light wind. Even got it planing a few times but that was weird as it is so long (11'6 I think) and doesn't have any footstraps.

Today it rained all day in Perth. It really pored down, which apparently is unusual at this time of year. It was the wettest febuary for 16 years and that just in one day. Its strange to see everyone really happy about the rain when I'm used to Ireland, and having lived in the connemara winter for the last 3 years.
I picked up a Arrows 5.8 Flight today aswell for $250. Im now as ready as I can be I think.

This weekend will be spent changing the layout of the van to suit me and then to Esperance, the only place in WA that seems to have wind at the moment. Well its only a 12 hour drive...

Got sails

Just picked up the rest of my quiver, two aerotech charges, 4.7 and 5.3 (blue which is the most important!)
They are 07 models uers a bit but in good nick. I got them for $770 with a mast also.
The mast is a skinny 60% carbon 430, just what I need. I will keep my eyes open foe a 5.8 now but i'm not in a rush for it.
I'm itching to get a board and can't decide. New school or traditional wave design? what size do I need? How much to spend?
Im picking up a board to try tomorrow. Its a AmiGu 7'2 80L a new school design, I only hope some wind comes along to try it, and my new sails of course.
Pics to come soon.

Getting sorted.

Well its been almost 5 days here and I'm nearly sorted with everything.

I am just getting over the jetlag now, its been pretty tough.

The Old Swan Barracks hostel was fine, I stayed there for 3 nights while looking for a van ($21 a night). I mostly slept well apart from one night it was really hot and humid (no aircon in the rooms, just loads of electric fans) and one guy in the room started screaming in his sleep. I thought he was dieing or something! I met a french windsurfer there who gave me some info then proceeded to make me jealous by txting me from margret river, where it was mast high and cross off perfection the next day. I will be there by the weekend to check out a competition, so hopefully there will be some waves left.

I bought a Ford Econovan 1996, Its duel fuel, LPG and petrol so good and economical. It has high mileage and need a timing belt doing but that was the same story with everything else available.

It cost me $4750 which is alright I think as people are asking that for 1985 vans even! I got it a bit cheaper because of the timing belt and the fact its a Queensland reg till september so it means I will have to be there then, however that fits into my plans anyway.

The setup in the back is ok but will need a bit of moving around to suit me. It will have a test run to Margies (Margret river) this weekend so I'll have a better idea of what I need to change and its booked for the timing belt on thursday. Its only 6 hours drive to Margret river, just down the road in WA.

I have met up with the parents of a friend of mine who are extremily hospitable and friendly. They have really looked after me the last few days. I got out for a bile ride with his dad on sunday and his mom is putting me up at the moment in the spare room.

All day today was spent looking at windsurfing gear, there are about 6 shops here in perth and all have 2nd hand gear stocked.

I got a real bargain at SOS windsurfing in Fremantle, a Gastra boom and a 07 North Ice 4.2, both look like they were used once! $160 and $400 respectivly.

In Surf and Sail Australia I picked up a 91% Ezzy RDM mast for $200 and a 2nd hand skinny carbon extension for $50. Turns out its a euro pin so I should have taken my UJ, I was under the impression they were hard to find here, had to buy one for $75.

I have all I need to rig a sail now, Just need some bigger ones and a board.
I looked at some 07 Aerotech Charges today 4.7 and 5.2, pretty good nick, I will probably go for them as I have to be careful of my budget. There are some brand new but couple of seasons old Hot Sails in Windshack for $450 which im very temped by but don't think I can afford it as I will be slightly over budget on the van.

Im looking at a 80L F2 Maui Project and a 80L Angulo AmGu at the moment, the guy at Surf and Sail sail I could take the AmGu to try so Ill get it tomorrow.

It should be cooler tomorrow, a chilly 32 degrees with risk of thunderstorms. Hope it will clear the air as it quite stuffy and humid and the winds not working.

I will put up some pics of my gear and better pics of the van when I get some time.