That’s Saturday gone

Hello Friends,

Nice day wasn’t it?

Didya get in?

I didn’t. Ended up just taking pictures because it was a bit big for my taste. Having shot at Dee Why last night (see gallery below), I felt like pointing the camera in a different direction, so I headed up to Avalon. Naturally I checked stuff on the way too. Nothing stood out, although there were a fair few in at Warriewood when I stopped by there.

The south end of Avalon had a reasonable size crew chasing reasonable size sets. They were mostly jagging the rights and the bodyboarders were having a lash at Little Av. I was extra keen to try out the Nikon D3s, so I set up in front of the surf club and popped off a few shots. After awhile though I felt I just didn’t have enough reach, so I unholstered the D90 which because it has a smaller sensor, increased the effective length of the 300mm + 1.7 teleconverter I was using. Too technical? Thought so! Sorry! Basically I used two different cameras is what I’m saying.

After about 45 minutes I decided to dodge up to Palmy to see what was what. A great day, but wavewise, not happening at the north end. I knew it was a long shot…

Came back south and stopped in to have a look at what was doing at Newport. There were a few folks on the peak, but the main crowd was down at the Pool chasing the big rights. Set up the big old 650 and the D3s and shot away until the onshore crept in from the SE and gradually roughed it up.

This evening I did a quick loop around the plateau to see how the swell was travelling as we ended the day. Interestingly, while the MHL Sydney buoy is showing pretty much the same numbers as this morning, the swell looks 30% smaller and the waits between sets seem to be stretching right out as well.

The models are still calling for us to see smaller conditions tomorrow with light ne to se onshores tomorrow. It won’t be flat, but the skies are set to be grey and there’s a 30% chance of showers.

Go well!
My Avalon pics…
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What I shot at Newport…
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Weather Situation from the Australian BoM

A strong slow-moving high pressure system southwest of the Bight extends a ridge to the northern Tasman Sea and a deep low lies south of New Zealand. The two systems are generating a vigorous southwesterly airstream and moderate to heavy swell across the southern Tasman Sea. Winds will gradually ease and swell will gradually decrease during today and Sunday as the low moves further south.
Forecast for Saturday until midnight

Winds: East to southeasterly 5 to 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly 3 metres. Large swells breaking dangerously close inshore.
Forecast for Sunday

Winds: Northeast to southeasterly 5 to 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 3 metres. Large swells breaking dangerously close inshore.
Forecast for Monday

Winds: Southeasterly 5 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly 1.5 metres.
Forecast for Tuesday

Winds: Northwest to southwesterly 5 to 10 knots tending southeast to southwesterly up to 20 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre increasing up to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell: Southerly 1.5 metres.

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