Ok I might be dreaming and I havent even done a downwinder yet or paddled more than 4kms in one outing..... but could a coastal cruise up the WA coast be done from say freo to Greenhead? looking at straight line distances on gmaps it looks like it could be broken down into stages no greater than 30kms. From what I remember from rez's trip up the exmouth coast she was traveling 20-25kms per day ? say 4 to 6 hours of paddling
Freo to Trigg 22kms
Trigg to Mindarie 22kms
Mindarie to two rocks 23kms
Two rocks to Guilderton 21kms
Guilderton to ledge 30kms (big day, could break it up by going to seabird)
Ledge to lano 10kms
Lano to wedge 26kms
wedge to grey 20kms
Grey to Cervanties 18kms
Cervanties to Jurien 22kms
Jurien to Green head 27kms (could break it up by going to sandy cape)
Now I know these are straight line distances and could expect to paddle 5kms more dodging reef following coast etc
Most of the way there are get out points if support crew had a 4wd, road from lano to Cervanties will be in by the end of the year. Some of it would be thru pretty sharky water.... Most of it would have anchorage for boat support except at Guilderton.
what do you think, what equipment would I need besides actual skill on a sup and fitness. 
... Pick a good southerly forecast and it could be a quick downwinder
What board would be best for the job?......Who wants in?
hi, looks like a good one, but with no dw experience- yes you are dreaming.
best thing would be to find someone who knows there stuff and learn and work at it for at year at least. the ocean is no place for dw novices. i'm being hard here, but you cannot expect to pick it up in a couple of months and off you go.
i like your idea, but work up to it.
cheers
ps i think mikeman might be heading over that way to hook up with some of the crew.
he has years of open ocean experience and he's always willing to help out
Thanks LL, yeah mate I probably should have mentioned it was a long term goal/dream not something I would do next week....
I am just in the dreaming/planning stage at the moment, might even just do it in stages over a series of long weekends...
Would like some info on what equipment and what board, safety gear to take. I have PLB, VHF radio, flares. Not sure about Mobile coverage. I will try and catchup with Mikeman when hes over here.
Cheers
biggest issue is direction of the wind and swell. Prevailing seabreeze in summer is side onshore and swell directly across the direction you want to go.
Best run on the coast would be cape natraliste to bunbury wind straight behind no swell only wind waves. Search it the route is on here somewhere.
thanks hilly, what if you didnt treat it as a downwinder but just a long paddle cruise up the coast, look to do it in April/May/June/july when we get settled weather, and only cover the 20 to 30 kms per day. We do get those settled patterns with a high in the bite and light easterlies. Plus side is exploring all the reef breaks on the way....
Fair bit of it is inside the reef does the swell still stuff it up ?
mmmh you probally right about the surfing..
Now what about the same trip as a kiting downwinder, I have done leightons to trigg in about three hours paying in the surf so could easy cover 20-30 kms in an afternoon.. I remember Ian Young talking about kiting from perth to lano in a day, not sure if he ever completed it or not.
Easy kiting, perth to Lano been done a few times I think 6 hours or there abouts. Would be bloody boring for most of it.
hi, a 16,17 ' board is the go with light/medium winds and light swell would be the good. a little assistance for the big boards with out having to work too hard to stay on. remember if you are paddling repeat days, you wouldn't wont to hammer yourself in big or testing conditions on the first day
cheers
Hey Shunter, send me your contact details and I would be hapyy to help you out with tips.
I am really keen to do the Cape Natraliste to Bunbury paddle. That looks like one of the best runs available in the country, with the right conditions.
Your paddle is certainly doable but would not be too much fun. Its much better fun having the conditions working with you rather than against you.
Lacey is right - please don't take the ocean lightly. Take your time and build up to the more challenging paddles.
Mike
Hi Shunter,
If a few of you get some 14 foot to 17+ foot downwind boards, I would be looking at gearing up to the Bunker Bay to Bunbury Run. 56-60km, so you would want a support vessel. On a good South Wester, you can probably cover 12km/hr, which is equivalent to "Sub 5 Kilometers". 5 minute kilometers. So that's 5 hours of paddling. Plus some breaks.... It would be an all day effort, by the time you launch, pack up, rehydrate, etc etc....
You could start with 10km from Garden Island to Coggee, then 20km from Rotto to City Beach or Floreat Beach, or Cottosloe.
The other run split into legs is achievable, but it won't be fun with cross chop or head winds.
Shunter we do 8 to 12k regularly in Perth - port to city beach best in ssw city beach to trigg ok trigg to sorrento ok. Pm me if you want to come on the next one. As it is winter may have to be the river mosman to applecross
Thanks for the replies.
Like I said just dreaming/researching/planning at the moment and its still something I would like to do just to have done it....sort of like running a marathon. It wont be anytime in the near future as I definitely need to build the skills and fitness.. I hope to do the rotto doctor next year.
Will do Hilly, keen to get into the local coastal/river downwinders, I am still off the board at the moment due to a dodgy back hoping to ease back into flatwater in the next week or so.
Cheers
