Living on the northern part of Sydney makes it difficult to get to spots in Sydney. I was thinking it might be easier to get to somewhere like Umina.
I think its the beach I have seen from Pittwater, on the other side of Broken Bay. Is that right? If so it looks like it would be a nice easy sail in nor easterlies. Can anyone comment upon it?
What about southerlies? I am not keen on hardcore wavesailing with 2 meter shorebreak. At my skill level and with my gear I wouldn't mind a bit of open bay sailing similar to what you get at South West Rocks. Is there anywhere around Sydney where there is a similar setup?
I have seen windsurfers sailing Umina in southly winds but have not done so myself.
Have windsurfed from Pearl Beach in Northeastly winds half way out towards Umina about in line with Lion islands butt.Does get a bit swellly out wide of Pearl beach at times but the wind is constant.It would be years since I have seen a windsurfer at Pearl beach as the yups find it to strenuous.Mind you I have not sailed there since my Tyronsea days on a 350.
Is there much shorebreak at Pearl Beach on a nor easterly swell and wind?
I looked at Google Maps and see Lion Island Nature Reserve but can't see the island.
The setup there looks good.
I learnt to windsurf at Pearl beach back (mumble..mumble). Shore break gets bigger the further north you on the beach, fairly light on the south end from memory.
Launch at the northern end of umina at the end of Barrenjoey road. Anything form SW to S to SE is good. The current can be strong at the northern end so you need to know what it's doing. High tide gives good waves over the bar for beginner wavesaling. An outgoing tide is good as it helps keep you upwind and keeps the waves standing up but is risker if you get in trouble. Another option is to launch further north (About 200 metres) where there is easier access but current is strong here.
I've tried it in a NE but found it a bit fickle and gusty as the wind coes ver box head. Lauched from southern end of umina just before the road goes round the head to pearl. Maybe I'll try pearl next time. There is a good launch site about half way up near the kids playgroung with grassy rigging area and easy access to beach (no dune fences to walk down like barrenjoey rd at umina). 
Sounds good. If there is a bit of a north easter blowing on the long weekend my wife and I will make a trip up there. Its probably a bit over an hour drive from where we live so not much different to going to Botany Bay. I don't mind windsurfing in lightish winds with small waves to catch.
We went up there today and had a look. Never been there before so it was a good experience. I did not go out for a sail as the wind was too light. However I noticed at Pearl Beach at I think the southern end, close to the swimming pool, the wind was quite strong. Seemed to be a bit of a venturi effect happening there. The wind was not as strong along the rest of the beach. It was a NE seabreeze.
Definatly some good spots there. I liked the look of Patonga for some flat water sailing into Broken Bay. I can see the attraction on Umina for a southerly. There were a tonne of people there today though.
