As the season moved on we headed south towards the famous and equally stunning Margaret river. The surrounding area is really gorgeous and it’s worth spending a few days driving around checking out all the different surf beaches and little cafes and corner stores. The main break rarely gets below logo high but most of the time it offers a big safe channel to escape the unforgiving bowl. Margies is all or nothing, you have to hit the main section if you want anything from the wave as the shoulder offers a big wrapping carve that can get a bit boring after a few waves. Hitting a decent section in Margies is tricky but one of the most rewarding feelings. It’s a heavy wave and the bowl has no problem snapping masts like matchsticks. The beach and parking itself offer one of the best viewing platforms to sit and watch the action on the water, it’s a natural amphitheatre.
I’m pretty lucky with Lucy, probably like most of us she’ll put up with an awful lot if the conditions are pumping. As long as the surf is good, she’s happy. The morning wind can be strong, but it’s normally offshore, grooming those longer interval swells till around 10 or 11. Then it drops before quickly picking up in a more side-shore direction throughout the day until it starts to back off and go more offshore into the evening and night. Pretty much the perfect combination of surf, jumping and epic waveriding.
After 2 weeks camping in the desert it’s safe to say I was in the good books as Lucy scored morning sessions on dreamy reef breaks with hardly anyone out and I had easily some of the best sessions of my year. Sharing stories of the day with a beer or two after the session or back at camp was the icing on the cake. In fact I’m not sure I’ve ever sailed so much and been so tired but still felt so keen to sail more!