Size matters!
There's been a lot written and said about last week's mammoth east swell, and now the spray has settled we can look back upon its significance. Two of the largest waves paddled (that we know of, there were surely many more elsewhere) were Lachlan Rombouts wave at North Avalon and Beau Mitchell's wave at Queenscliff Bombora.
When Swellnet spoke to Lachlan he admitted that he didn't know how big the swell was going to get. "I was just hoping to see North Av like you see it on the walls of Beach Without Sand," said Lachie. Beach Without Sand being the local surf shop. He had no idea where his effort fitted in, though many were comparing it to Stuart 'Stretch' Cooper's wave from 1991. Stretch's wave is one of those hanging on the walls
Similarly Beau was quick to play down the enormity of his wave. "No, it probably wasn't the biggest bommie ever surfed," said Beau. "I think there are shots of Garlo [Jason Garling] and some of the old boys surfing it bigger on the wall at North Steyne Emporio."
Swellnet wanted to find out for sure so we conducted a stealth mission into North Steyne Emporio - note the crooked image - to shoot the old bommie shots. While Simon Hayward, who took the original shot of Lachie, completed the job by also shooting the shot of Stretch from Beach Without Sand.
The results, as you can see, are far from conclusive. Perhaps the only thing that's settled is that camera technology has come a hell of a long way.
Stretch Cooper's wave, 1991
Lachlan Rombouts, 2016 (Pic Simon Hayward)
Queenscliff Bombora approx. 2006 (date uncertain)
Beau Mitchell, Queenscliff Bombora, 2016 (Pic Agnes Durlik)
Comments
Different angles and distance in the photos make it really hard to judge.
Although the size of Beau against the wave looks "marginally" bigger. I can't even see stretch in the Nth Av one.
What would I know, you wouldn't see me on a wave at that size anyway:)
I'm no big wave guy but Queenscliff in 2006 almost looks like Waimea. In 2016 it looks like Mavericks.
And as for Rombouts' wave, I'm no photography expert so no idea what perspective is doing but if that's a 12 foot board, that's gotta be a 30 foot face at least, doesn't it?
Sun April 9, 2006 was the big swell in the Bombie photos - it was right on the back of Cyclone Wati a week before - not sure if it was some sort of remnant or what?. I saw both swells from Freshy Headland and went for a look at Bower - reckon this year was the bigger of the two although the swell direction was certainly better for Bower in 06. By the look of that orange wetty I have a bunch of shots of Beau out at the bombie the same morning.
Even more important is the emerging gonzo approach from Stu Nettle.
Well done.
Blame it on the comfortwear. Makes a man less uptight.
I'll have to get the number of your tailor.
My opinion is worth nothing, nothing at all,
but this swell and these waves were magnitudes bigger. :-)
Lyttlestreet insta - pic of a large left, The Pebble.
Jason Garling surfing in middle shots. More photos in Jock's place Emporium Manly of him and Vic towing. Beau's wave is awesome. Got lit up oooosssss.
seeing that lip descend on him as he leaves his bottom turn that second too late reminds me of that old Chinese restaurant on the Pacific highway north of Newy - the Pork Hunt.
The house specialty was combination Ibis if I recall correctly.
yum
I reckon there was a swell about 1986 that was about the same size as the recent. We lived on the cliff top at freshie and with access to the roof of the apartment block. I remember standing up there with a mate watching the bombie reeling off at god knows what size and it was an east swell cause the rights looked like sunset. Really big.
No one out.
Interesting thing about the recent day at the bombie is how far out the lines start to feel the bottom. I mean you could see the sets starting to form up half a km further out. Might be an outside ledge for if the swell ever gets bigger.