Crazy day in the GPS team challenge for the Pit Crew down at Sandy Point. Gusts of 50 knots and over all day with top gust of 71 knots recorded at nearby Wilson's Promontary. Sitting waiting for the wind to calm down a bit and shift W or SW the tide crept up on us....a lot.... full on storm surge that saw the ocean actually flooding over the Sandy Point sand spit - very unusual. Unfortunately we didn't think quick enough and weren't expecting this so gradually our cars started to get swamped even though we'd parked on the highest available ground at the pit. It became obvious that they would get totally swamped if we didn't do something. Very Very Very luckily Craig had a 4WD and was able to assist with us all pushing to get all 3 2WDs shifted further up the bank - even pulling tow point off Ed's saab. Lucky we scambled around in the sand and managed just to save the cars...well sort of...2 of the 3 wouldn't start - the 3rd suffering stereo damage due to salt water making its way into electrics. Luckily mine started with a jump but Shelby not so lucky - after bailing out drivers side the car was unable to be started. Fingers crossed it gets resolved. Keep your eyes open for three cars 'priced to sell' in the coming months. Just as well we got a few fast runs in but never struck true Sandy Point conditions due to high tide and more chop... as it got dark a few crazy characters were pulling runs along the quickly flattening water - no 40s that I'm aware of but certainly fast in the dark. Lesson learnt - high tide on big storm days - expect another metre or two... See the photos here:
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Can't wait for Al's Speed Fortnight...
Bloody Nora Guys
Busting Kit is one thing, filling the wifes car with sea water's gonna cause a bit of stress at home.
Just shows the Pit crew guys allways looking for a new thrill.
Ahhh Dear? you know how you've always wanted me to wash the inside of the car... w....e....llllllll
For how popular Sandy Point is it's a wonder the local council doesn't build a parking/rigging area for sailors/kiters.
"Oh" but then again these people don't bring money into the area ;)
Geeze things we do to go fast.
Ive parked there a number of times without any probs.
The most the water has ever come up to is the front wheels.
makes you think twice now before parking there again on a high tide.
Looks like the dog is having a "Storm Surge" of his own.....
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Oh no.....Wilbur
I am just about to head back down in a tilt tray to pick up the white seaweed ute.
Important note :- when submerging car electricals in salt water disconect battery
Oh What a day it could have been.I started at dawn all ready for a big day.Rigged the 5 & 5.8. Should have bought the 7 ,not enough wind. Had another go at 9am,heaps of wind,Gusting to 30kts.Grap the 5 and have another go.I had one run and bailed out just in front of a 60+kt gust.15mins latter I managed a water start and a carefull sail back. I think I,ll sit this one out for a bit.Ed had a bash with a 4.1 wave sail,one run latter back on the beach.Amazing to watch the 60kt bullets hit the water when your safe on the beach.We had about 4hrs of 60kt N/W before the change.Just as well we had something to do.(Car parking)The last runs we did in the dark were approching 39kts.If only???
Anyone in need some parking help at Alls speedfortnight(byo boat)come and see us.....
Quite and amazing tide, even for Sandy Point. It was a full meter higher than I would have expected from the tide charts prediction. Yes, it often comes up a bit more and stays in longer after a SW change but even taking this into account it was exceptional. Todays high tide height prediction was the same but the level was actually about 1m lower.
quote:
Originally posted by choco
For how popular Sandy Point is it's a wonder the local council doesn't build a parking/rigging area for sailors/kiters.
"Oh" but then again these people don't bring money into the area ;)
Well, the parking situation at Sandy Point (Shallow Inlet) is quite political at the moment. It is a coastal park and under the control of the Sandy Point Foreshore Management committee who answer to the Department of the Environment (Parks). There is currently a Draft management plan out that suggests banning parking on the beach at all for some users and the building of a larger car park outside the beach area. The current situation is that we simply park on the beach below the high tide line. Usually, on a high tide there is the possibility of backing your car up the big sand dune a bit to keep it dry, but even this does not save you on a big spring tide as the boys rediscovered yesterday. I well know the probability of a higher than usual tide with a storm surge but this one even surprised me.
The problem with parking off the beach is that it is a long walk carrying all your gear to the water. The problem with extending the off the beach car parking is that there is no where to do it without destroying fragile and valuable natural parkland or salt marsh.
Parking on the beach is very rarely allowed in Victoria and we are very fortunate that we can here. It is the most practical solution for both the environment and for our convenience and enjoyment. A win, win situation. The only time it is a problem is on the occasional times that people misjudge the tide and get trapped until it drops. Such events are thankfully fairly rare but when they happen there is often quite a party atmosphere with many of the people trapped passing the time socialising. A "we are stuck here now so we might as well make the most of it" attitude.
The last thing we want is for the powers that be to move the "No Vehicles Past This Point" sign back to the off beach car park.
