Noticed that it has been quite windy at Cape Leeuwin this month with E/SE winds averaging 30-40+ knots for the past three days! Heading over that way early next month to check out possible flat water sailing spots. Apart from sailing on rivermouth behind sandbar (launching from car park off Albany Tce), has anyone sailed on the Blackwood River at Augusta on fast freeride or slalom gear? If so, where did you launch from?
Hi mate, i have sailed augusta allot so i will give you the skinny.
it is very windy there this time of year when theres easterlies blowing as you noticed, but i wouldnt guarantee it to be windy in a few weeks.
anyway you can sail in the river and launch from colorpatch however there are a few sandbars on the leeward side of the river, ( busted a boom after i sailed into one flat out) keep an eye out for the logs on it.
the trouble is, the wind isnt all that great if you get too close to the windward bank on account of the sand dunes, as well as there being hordes of kiters there also so you will need to stay in the river. also the sandbars change around allot because of the tides. so just watch where you are going.
the ocean is very difficult to sail in because its dead onshore and almost impossible to get out through the waves, but this should bother you if your looking flat water.
i dont rate the place very highly and only go there if im desperate haha. but its a nice place to visit and can be a good place to sail.
Had a couple of sessions there late Jan, nice place. Not much fun on a pure eastly - you need the Soueaster to get a decent length run. Very flat. Quite gusty due to reasonably high sandunes. Great to hook into a strong gust and hear the noise the board makes scooting over half inch ripples.
Recent tracks - http://www.ka72.com/viewge.aspx?fid=11713&tid=0 - the short runs are from too much east
I've sailed from in front of cafe along to river mouth in SE previously and pretty much what you guys have said is what I've experienced, though I'm wondering if the Blackwood river north east of Augusta township is sailable in a true easterly as the river is much wider there with quite a large expanse of water below Molloy island.
Not in my opinion a brilliant place to sail, but in a strong E/SE there aren't that many reasonably safe places to sail on the lower west coast or south coast. Have sailed Windy Harbour and around Walpole but looking for somewhere different to launch, though won't be desperate for a windsurf as will have a sea kayak with me as well!
