In honour of Craig (windsurfer drowned) and to pinch an idea from fnqcurly in that post...could we list those dangerous situations at our local venues that "visitors" might not always be immediately aware of. Hopefully to save us any further grief/drama. Many thanks to Gestalt for warning me about the Caloundra bar, I was sailing Golden Beach that fateful day but did not venture out due to the conditions.
Yes Good idea!!
OK
These are the dangers of Novara:
Trees and rocks in close to shore,. winds are on-shore, walking gear to water on windy day, easy to hit gear against trees and rocks.
Boat ramp and channel markers strewn through launching area, have hit both channel markers impaling a sail, and clipped boat ramp pillars. So be careful,sailing near them.
Lots of limestone reefs and rocks in the fastest area, fin destroyers, and can hurt self falling or even walking across them.
Because of so many rocks, there are a number of markers, steel pickets, and pvc pipe upheld by steel pickets, stay away from these when sailing at speed as impailing self could cause death.
Lots of weed banks and sand bars, know the tides, and the places where these are located, can be unsafe, and risk break a neck stopping at speed.
Clumps of weed accumulate, and you cannot sail through them, you come to a dead stop, and at over 30 knots this can be suicidal.
Traffic, more and more sailors are now using this area, and people are sailing very fast, look out for others, cllisions at speed could be fatal. NB. People coming out of a speed run go straight into wind to slow down, though this can be in the path of someone else speeding. Also right in the middle of the run is the best Alpha area, so be careful of each other as speedsters and Alphers have a cross-roads interseaction here.
PS. This is not a joke, please take note, prevention is much better than cure.
If you note these hazards, you can make your session there a lot safer for yourself and everyone else.
Melville Beech, Applecross WA
Pretty safe spot.
Wonderful car park with grass area to rig and water to wash down North of the car park.
Dangers:
Big shallow sand spit 500 metres west off the beech, hard to see in afternoon sun ask a local for help, this is catapult city.
Collisions with other sailors, a real mix of beginners and speed people.
2 marker buoys just before spit has people gybing, tacking and stopping in the same area.
Feet cutting oysters and barnacles in places and the odd flat head (poison spine).
Weed banks in places, seasonal.
Swimmers in the water near the car park gybing area.
Portland, Vic...
Sailing alone....not crowded enough!!!
(oh, and half seals floating past
see 'modified sea life' post)
Seriously though, Nth shore has a few submerged rocks if sailing close to land, and wind can swing to offshore quickly!
The pluses of Narrabeen are the easy rigging areas, taps with fresh water and easy parking. Also its extremely safe in that its is almost impossible to be blown away anywhere except where you started.
Tacking back upwind, I was wondering why a group was standing near the speed markers. Thought it was windsurfers with a huge prang
until I got close.
Duranbah. Sweep up the beach towards the rocks at the northern end of the beach. If you get caught in any decent size shore break and the sweep starts taking you towrads the rocks it is often best to go against your instincts and swim out. Most time when swimming in you will end up on the rocks.
Same situation on the open beach at Currumbin and at Old Bar (Taree).
Advantages of Botany/Kyeemagh:
On land, lots of parking, shade and no bikes/pedestrians.
On water, lack of jet ski's, boats, fishermen and crowds.
Advantages of Narrabeen:
On land, strange people in bush, hoons doing burn outs, rangers, fence sitters, talking rather than sailing.
On water, crystal clear water, nice white sandy bottom, flatheads, dangerous chicken players, sand banks, short runs, gusty, wind turning on and off, etc etc.
Make your choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sadly i too will now make the journey south (from Manly) as im tired of the promising nor easters that never seem to have materialised up north this summer.
Botany is pretty good although im waiting for the day when i carve gybe over a fishing line. No doubt they will get on their jet ski and run me over, although they enjoy doing that already.....
Does anyone know if people have ever caught anything of significance from the shallows?
Since sailing botany in relatively consistent winds and flat water on the inside and out my carve gybes are coming on a treat. Definitely worth the drive if youre looking to improve with the best codnitions.
Will probably start trying balmoral again once the nor easters come back properly.
Foreshore Drive
Dangers - run as fast as you can to your car and drive home, even if you've left your kit rigged up if someone asks you for aerogard.
Advantages - only place I know of which is pretty consistent in a Westerly and there are lots of photographers....
Sandy Point.
Bogans parking their fishing boats in the middle of the speed strip and throwing/casting stuff at you as you hurtle past on the edge of reason....
Yes, it is sarcasm.
Yes, I have sailed both spots and if you can, think opposites.
Botany is full of mad jet skiiers and you have to fight for a park.
Narrabeen has yucky mud and is very gusty.
Just a bit of tongue in cheek.
A sail is a sail!!!!
