 |
 |
|
|
||
|
|||
|
||
| Cruising on country roads in Australia may
have a soporific effect on the driver, because once started you may wish you’ll never
have to stop again for fear of breaking the charm of traveling through a land hardly
touched and little frequented by humans. The new road following the coastline between
Jurien Bay and Cliff Head was simply mesmerizing as shrubs and bushes were in full bloom
in October. However, there was a sign that came up over and over again: ‘land for
sale’. To me it seemed as if the whole coastline was being sold off and in Geraldton
the entire area around the city harbor was under reconstruction. Boomtown! In contrast, the little settlement at the lighthouse of Point Moore in the West End of Geraldton still had the faded charm of the old pioneers’ days. This is the place most frequented by the local windsurfers. Due to the exposed position of Point Moore the winds seem to be stronger than elsewhere along the coast, about 5 knots on average. And you can choose between going out into the smallish but well formed waves in Kiddy’s Corner on the left or the powerful and potentially dangerous waves in Hells Gates on the right. Getting caught in Hells Gates can be hazardous if you get in a crossing wave which occurs from time to time (ask the locals before you go out there). If you are lucky, you’ll find a way out. If you are unlucky, you’ll lose your gear and have to swim for 40 minutes. If your luck is really out, you’ll end up with a memorial plate on the lawn nearby. Nobody seems to worry about it, after all, it only happens every 25 years or so. When the wind is blowing, throttle on or full blast, Rick’s surf shop is closed. Everybody was rigging up and so was I, taking out my smallest sail (Ice 4.2) and my black helmet. Wow! The locals’ comment sounded somehow familiar: “Feel strong?” Their boards were smaller and they were a lot heavier than I was. Indeed, it’s 150 meters from the rigging lawn to the Indian Ocean, and I needed a little rest halfway, before I had even reached the first wave crashing ashore. The first time, I went out 10 meters before gybing, then I went out a bit further, but was hardly able to control the board - no chance. The only thing left to do was to drag everything back to the rigging area against the wind, which added up a total of 450 meters, as I had to carry the board and rig separately.
My first ‘beautiful’ day ended on the rigging lawn where I showered for hours, washing my board, my rig and myself. And guess who drives up and climbs out of a big station wagon? A weather beaten lady from Sweden, taking me for a local, asked if she could sail at Point Moore: “Where do you go windsurfing in Sweden… Apple Bay Beach?” “No, I’ve only been windsurfing on lakes, on my JP 92 l.” “Perhaps today is not the best day to give it a try.” She laughed and then she started rigging a 4.5 sail and said: “Take a photo of me rigging up, so that I can show my friends I was here.” The photo was taken and instantly mailed to Sweden and Gnaraloo, where her son was waiting for mummy to come, bringing fresh supplies of food and water! |
