The morning started out cool but pleasant with a 15 knot off shore south westerly. The kayak slipped out easily into the gutter that I had come into the previous night but luck was not on my side. After paddling furiously to get past a sand bar I was almost out when a wave broke 5m ahead. The spray deck is not waterproof so it was a wet bum for the rest of the day.

After half an hour the wind moved to the south east and increased to something more than 25 knots so the early soaking was irrelevant and I was getting wet anyway. The waves were not big yet so I kept paddling as hard as possible to get to the lee of Double Island Point.

Once there the water was calm again with only the occasional rogue gust threatening to blow the paddle out of my hand.

Only a fool would have ventured around the point in conditions like that, so although I had only covered 15km we retreated back along the beach to wait for better weather.

Tomorrow will be a rest day which after the head winds will be much appreciated. The wind can blow as hard as it likes provided it is over by Friday.

Retreating to Rainbow Beach