Victorian AKFF AI owners meet and sail

[ELM]

Suggested to Sellz about a meet and sail for Victorian AI owners. I do not think any of us have had a get together so thought it was about time. I suggested South Channel fort, Portsea, or from Frankston and head towards the city.
Sellz came back with a cracking idea, "Popes eye". I think this would be a great spot, anchorage is shallow and protected can have a snorkel/dive, fish on way out/back and is also accessible from Queenscliffe if anyone wants to come across from the other side.

Say we set a date for about four weeks time (weather dependent) of course.

So any thoughts?
Who would be up for it?
Other destination?

[Sellz]

Sounds like a good idea!!

Doesn't really bother me where it is. Thought Popes Eye might be a good suggestion, however some people may feel Uncomfortable heading out there?? Could keep it close to the coast and head to Portsea?

[Maddogmatt]

in interest in the poor cousin joining you for the sail - hobie adventurer. What i am may not have in speed to you guys i give it a red hot go up to 15-20knots and then play survival if it gets beyond that. location wise i will fit in with you but i like popes eye. await your thoughts. Maddogmatt

[azzo]

So now I need to get a sail???
I knew this sport would cost more money
oh well BOATdoes stand for
Bring
Out
Another
Thousand



what does kayak stand for??????

[ELM]

If you want to bring your Adventure, by all means. If the wind is up we will wait each end. If it is not up you can wait for us

If anyone else wants to come and meet do so, if you have a sail even better (maybe).

Only AI owners that have shown any interest so far is Sells & Scott.

[ELM]

Expressions of interest so far;

AI's:

Sellz
ELM
Scott?
Matcoburn

Kayak :

Maddogmatt

[Sellz]

by Maddogmatt on Fri May 08, 2009 8:17 am

in interest in the poor cousin joining you for the sail - hobie adventurer. What i am may not have in speed to you guys i give it a red hot go up to 15-20knots and then play survival if it gets beyond that. location wise i will fit in with you but i like popes eye. await your thoughts. Maddogmatt

Sounds good Matt, more the merry! Its hard to determine the wind down there, i guess we will be guided by the local ELM. I often look at http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/~awatkins/bay.html to see what the wind is doing. Perfect example was today, where Frankston averaged 5-8knots for most of the day, where just a short drive away portsea/south chan averaged 15-18 knts (perfect for sailing )

[Rodinal]

Sorry for not replying sooner Elm but count me in on the meet and sail if it is any weekend but the 30th of May, its our Anniversary (21 years) weekend away without the kids - nudge nudge wink wink.

Destination - pope's eye? - sounds a great site. Where ya hoping to cast off from?

I and the family have been out on our AI a few times now - twice the winds picked up to 18 - 20 knots in the afternoons so I could test her out. Absolutely soaked from head to foot smashing through the chop when beating into the wind. A great way to fly.

In a months time the weather is going to be a bit cooler - LOL - so I hope to have warmer gear to wear - what does anyone recommend? a wet suit or woolies with water/wind proof clothes?

Hope to see ya all soon.

[ELM]

Expressions of interest so far;

AI's:

Sellz
ELM
Scott?
Matcoburn
Rodinal

Kayak (undersail):

Maddogmatt

Hi Rodinal, Date is open, I said about 4 weeks which would be 30/31 May. Expressions of date would help, Maddogmatt takes kids to sport on Sunday mornings so would prefer Saturdays. Majority rules so give your preferences. I am pretty flexible most weekends so does not worry me.

Where to Launch from:
These measurements are from Google earth and are the most direct route by water (not accounting for tacking etc) so I think it would really depend on the wind as to where we might launch. W, SW, slow trip out with a tail wind return, E, SE Tail wind out with a slow return:
Portsea to Popes Eye, return 10km
Sorrento to Popes Eye, return 16.5km
Blairgowrie to Popes Eye, return 23km
A round trip Sorrento, Popes Eye, Mud Island, South Channel Fort and back to Sorrento is about 28km (direct)

This is a rough average: In a about 18 knot sw winds I can cover about 15km (direct, return)about 25km counting tacks (fishing/trolling) in just over 3 hours, Loaded with dive gear a bit slower.

Popes Eye is a Marine National Park, http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=268 (they do not give coordinates though). There is not a great deal to look at out there unless you dive or snorkel, Australian fur seals sometimes get out there and the Gannets use it for a breading site (one of the only man made sites they use).

As far as clothes go, I use a surface dry-suit and if it is real cold a thermal under-suit as well. If diving, then I wear a 5mm wetsuit, as you have already lost some core body temp due to the dive, the wind chill on a return trip in winter can get pretty bad though I find in this (would like to get a dive dry-suit for this winter). Others use waders and waterproof jackets etc and some wear long-john wetsuit with spray/waterproof jackets, gloves, hoods, hats, socks, boots etc all different.

[Rodinal]

OK - my preferences.

Any weekend but the 30/31st of May.

Sunday's are best (sorry maddog - Saturday is kids sports day in our part of the woods).
=====================
Thanks for your clothing input ELM - I've been sailing our Hartley TS16 for the past three years without getting too wet so I have never invested in proper wet weather gear. Sailing the AI guarantees waist down soaking in anything above half a dozen knots. So far it has never been cold enough to pose a problem with just shorts or track pants.

Hope it all comes together...

[matcoburn]

Hi Guys,
I Love popes eye, its a great locality for freediving, especially off the adventure island, but if we intend to sail out there with the 2 akis attached, if the wind just isnt there, i feel that the tidal movements maybe to difficult for paddle or peddle to deal with. If there is stacks of wind...no problem but otherwise perhaps for the exercise of getting together, perhaps we could just race 'em from Mornington to Frankghanistan for a few laughs.
Perhaps if we just check out each others competencies on the water, we could take on slightly more ambitious targets such as Skull Rock down the Prom from tidal river or popes eye at a different time of the year when winds are consistant. Ive had a fang down at the prom over summer, it was sensational.
Mat

[bilby]

Hi Fella's, i'd be keen in a sail from Mornington to Frankston, Popes eye might be a bit hard for me in the Outback with a sail, especially in winter.
Cheers Bilby.

[ELM]

Matcoburn has made some good points, and a trip from Mornington to Frankston would make it more accessible for others to join in, more the merrier.
What does every one else think?

[Sellz]

Sounds a good idea (its my backyard )

Mornington to Frankston is a great sail, do it quite often! Ive got a number of Squid spots on the way for a quick flick & the sambos have been around if people want to fish??

Matt and Rodinal what time do your kids have sport?

[Rodinal]

Mornington's fine - same as Sellz - sailed there a few times.

Sports is early Sat mornings Sellz - til around noon the latest. Often there is a parent who needs to get away an we help each other out so it shouldn't be a prob for me to make it to Mornington for a 11am start if that isnt too late for the rest of you. The concern I have is the Mornington car park gets pretty full by the afternoon but being more winterish maybe not. You locals would know more about that than myself.