I got out at Squids at Belmont bay..my new windmeter said 22-24kts ..my eyes + others said 25-30 consistent with >30kts often..rigged my 4.2m + 95ltre board..should have used the 3.3m....Lucky the water was deeper than normal so I could keep in the shallows mainly & the flat water..I only lasted 1/2hr & was totally overpowered but I'm stoked as I cracked my 2nd decent carve gybe ( planing exit) which wasn't bad seeing I was totally overpowered..Did 2 others where I was still moving exiting but lost speed & about a dozen stacks ( but we won't focus on those....
I've got to learn how to oversheet the sail on the entry..I find it really hard to pull it in enough.. I don't know whether it's bad timing or technique.I also need to remember mast foot pressure to stop the board bouncing out of control in the chop..So many things to remember!
.It was a nightmare trying to gybe in the chop that overpowered but at least I didn't get injured..
I hadn't been out in wind strong enough to plane for a month so I'm happy to have survived.. Still buzzing about the gybe.. Boy it must be great to be able to do them consistently!
PS - If I'd had my new 400 mast & smaller fin it would have made life easier as the sail would have rigged so it would depower & the board would have been more controllable..[}:)]

Friendly locals yup, but perhaps a bit too friendly as its getting dark. Ever noticed some older guys waiting around in their cars (not windsufers) as it's getting dark..playing with their iPhones.

They're not admiring the view.

Don't hang around there by yourself at dusk and get the hell out of there when its dark

Dont ask me how I know this

yeah i noticed the kite surfers out of the western carpark what do they just hang around in the bushes till its windy