January 12^th to 16^th 2017 – North Coogee/Lancelin

January 12^th

We played 9 holes of golf at Walter Point Golf Course and after a spot of lunch headed down to Lucky Bay on the Swan River so that I could go windsurfing. The wind wasn’t quite as good as on Christmas Eve but good enough to get planing at times.

Mike at Lucky Bay

January 13^th

Sheila and I took the bikes and cycled south along the beach in search of a statue of C Y O’Conner.

C Y O'Connor is best known for his work on the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, also known as the Goldfields Pipeline. This pipeline carries water 330 miles (530 km) from Perth to Kalgoorlie. The construction of Fremantle Harbour is quoted as O'Connor's greatest personal triumph, as his proposal to build the harbour within the entrance to the Swan River was contrary to previous expert advice that this was impracticable and that the construction would require constant dredging. Over 100 years of continued use of Fremantle Harbour by heavy shipping has erased all doubt concerning O'Connor's technical judgement. However, on both these programmes O’Conner suffered significant criticism and alleged corruption and this may have led to his suicide.  The sculpture of O’Conner 20 metres off the beach in the water depicts him on his horse riding into the water at the place where he shot himself on 10 March 1902.  The statue was erected in 1999 and today it is not easy to recognise it as a man on a horse from the distance of the water’s edge.

C. Y. O'Connor's Statue

In the afternoon Sheila and I drove up to Lancelin, a trip of around 2 hours, where we were staying with Phil and Becks for the weekend’s Lancelin Ocean Classic event. When we arrived we took a stroll along the beach from where one could still see the wave sailing event taking place out on the reef.

North Coogee to Lancelin

The water was too inviting so I rigged my sail and headed down to the beach for a session on the water.

January 14^th

We all had breakfast in the local café, a few yards from the chalet. Phil and Becks then headed off to Ledge Point some 12 km south for the start of the Lancelin Ocean Classic 25 km marathon event. A course had been set along the coast to Lancelin with 8 legs finishing just opposite the Endeavour Tavern in Lancelin, with the last run entering the bay through a break in the reef.

The marathon is quite a spectacular event with over a hundred competitors, men and women, taking part. Just before the event was about to be kicked off two dolphins swam past.

Sheila at Ledge Point as competitors arrive

Phil (plus chest buoyancy aid and flares under shirt) gets checked out by Mum!

The start is initiated by a tannoy count down and then the 100 plus competitors run to the water’s edge with sails and boards in hand to launch them into the water. There were three lines of competitors, with the separation determined by application entry date but with the front line occupied by the elite windsurfer category.

Phil waits for the start (behind elite windsurfers)

The race included both windsurfers and kite surfers but their start was separated by a few hundred metres to avoid more chaos than usual.

The rush for the water

Immediately after the start there is a mad rush by the spectators back to Lancelin for the finish.  

Phil in the centre distance with sail 788

To see the finish one needs to strategically position ones car for a quick getaway at Ledge Point.  Fortunately the police were on the case and had stopped the traffic on the main road to allow Ledge Point traffic to drive straight onto the main road without needing to stop.

Sheila and I arrived in Lancelin , parked the car and within a minute or so the first competitor was over the line, an incredible feat having travelled the 25km in only 27 minutes, clearly one of the elite windsurfing group. 

Spectators arrive on Lancelin Beach (a few kites visible far right)

The organisers have a “sweep-up” exercise and will ensure that any stranded competitors are picked up by one of the support craft. A helicopter is also used in the event.

Phil arriving at the finishing line

Phil came in 32^nd in his class and a reasonable time of just under 48 minutes.

Becks & Sheila at the prize giving event

The prize giving was late afternoon on the beach, where food and drinks were available, followed by fireworks after sunset at 9.10pm and a party with live band in the Endeavour Tavern to midnight.  

Sun grows ears at sunset! 

Sheila and I decided to buy fish and chips, drive onto the beach to eat the fish and chips in the comfort of the car until the fireworks had started. Phil and Becks headed to the party after the fireworks.

January 15^th

After a relatively slow start and breakfast, we headed down to the beach area where a few of Phil and Beck’s friends from Windsurfing Western Australia (WWA) had gathered, partly to give the children windsurfing lessons. One of the children had spotted a stingray in the water while windsurfing.

Phil checks out the conditions

Eventually the wind kicked in and the rest of us got on the water in what was a great afternoons sailing. Phil and Becks left late afternoon to head back to Perth while Sheila and I headed off to the Dunes Restaurant at the Lancelin Hotel had a meal and watch the sun set.

Sunset from Dunes Restaurant 

January 16^th

We had to check out of the chalet so had breakfast and packed everything into the car. It had been a windy night and I wondered whether anyone was down on the beach but at 8am there was hardly a soul around, many having gone back home. In fact we were in the only occupied chalet, the rest having left on the Sunday.

After packing the car and handing in the key we took a last look at the beach. A small number of people had started to come down. There was even one windsurfer heading out to the reef to catch the waves.

South side of Lancelin Beach

The conditions looked great but I was nursing a pulled calf muscle, probably a result of too much driving over the preceding weeks, shortening the muscle followed by more than the usual exercise the day before. It would have also meant Sheila spending the day on the grass above the beach getting chilled again by the wind.  We headed south to Perth and back to Phil and Becks’ abode in North Coogee, stopping off on the way to catch up with Ben Severne from Severne sails to sort out a problem with one of his booms.

Apart from a spot of shopping the rest of the day was spent applying cold packs to my leg and catching up with the blog.