Hi
Late this year or early next i am likely moving to Ocean Grove permanently. Looking for a place to keep my Cavalier 32. I was thinking of keeping it in Queenscliffe but someone said Geelong might be better. I wouldn't mind doing some twighlights at some stage.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Definitely Geelong if you want to twilight, bigger fleets. From Ocean Grove you can be there in 20-25 minutes regardless of the traffic.
The lower Barwon is fun to mess around on in a dinghy, though you do need to pay attention to where the sandbars are, Sunk a mirror as a kid after hitting one at speed and watching the centreboard come through the back of the case.
If I remember correctly at Queenscliff you have to exit via the cut and the tidal flow can be very fierce so you are kind of restricted in when you can come and go.
Geelong: Racing, Royal Geelong YC, Corio Bay can be quite calm, and has shallows.
Queenscliff: Cruising, Q'cliff Cruising YC, great marina, travel-lift, easy acess to the bay proper and Bass Strait, tidally challenging.
Depends how you want to sail.
I'm at Queenscliff.
I often take a daytrip of overnight at Queenscliff. My boat is traditional full length keel 30ft about 6 ton with a perkins 4108. I have always been able to make headway through the cut and learnt a few lessons the hard way early on about things to avoid in a strong tidal flow.
We have been going to Q cliff for ten years on and off in our TS with a 5hp outboard and never had trouble with the tidal flows. I can see how it could get fast though but cant be that common. Hear reports though so dunno!
From Queenscliff its a nice sail across to Sorrento or up to Portarlington.
Geelong is good for fairly flat water and less tide. Better racing?
+1 for social at Sailing, more at Geelong.
it's probably more about where you can find to keep the Cav 32.
For Geelong, you have swing moorings at Lagoon Boat Club, Western Beach Boat Club and a few at Royal Geelong.
LBC is full, I dont know about Western beach, but thats more of a chance, and same with RGYC.
If your pockets are deeper, then there is obviously the Marina at RGYC, which is also just being expanded with a new floating arm to the West of existing marina.All 3 have slipping onsite.
The cut at Queenscliffe does definitely warrant planning at times, and can flow a solid 8+ knots as Swan Bay empties.
It might be a handy spot though close to Ocean Grove.
My suggestion would be to contact Western Beach (and maybe RGYC if that takes your fancy) asap, to get your name down and see about possible vacancies before you look to get the boat here. If you want to be practical and DIY on your boat, as well as keeping slipping costs down, WBBC is probably your best bet overall.
Awesome thanks for the advice. Thinking queenscliffe to start with as its so close to Ocean Grove.
Don't be afraid of the Cut. The really fast flows only occur for short periods at spring high/lows. In 30 or 40 visits, I've never seen it over about 4 knots, usually far less.
More to be feared is berthing in the marina with fast flows, especially with a semi or full keel and especially if you are out close to the channel. If you're not anticipating, it can grab the keel and turn you very quickly. But nothing you can't cope with once you get the picture.
On my first visit I provided a great spectacle to the bystanders. Fun for them, crap for me.
QCYC are offering a waiver of joining fees for new members atm. It's a great spot and pretty cheap.
Cheers, Graeme
