Thinking about a trip down to Canberra/Batemans Bay, in Sept/Oct. Is there anybody down there who can tell me whether or not its worth bringing a board? Is Burleigh Griffin any good? or maybe Lake George has some water in it...(yeah right)
Hey mate,
If you're going to Batemans Bay you should bring a board. Broulee (about 15 minutes south of the Bay) is good in a NE. Plenty of flat open water at the Bay itself to though.
Cross your fingers for wind.
The windsurfing community in Canberra is alive and well, anytime the wind blows you'll find us down at the lake(even today 30 knots NW gusting to 40 and 13 degrees). It works best in a NW or Easterly and we sail from the Yarralumba Bay area, If your interested send us a PM when your coming and I'll give you the grand tour. As for Batemans bay, you can sail but there is better places up and down the coast. Try Tuross heads(coila lake), Broulee, Jarvis bay or Gerroa.
Sounds good guys. If the trips on, I will definately load the gear up and get in touch.
Word of warning though, I am just a begginer, and will no doubt require rescuing.. or at least a lot of information :)
I am currently destroying an Exocet Nano 155. I have 4 sails; an 8.1, 7.0??, 6.0 and 4.5 I think. Been a while since I checked. Probably get more info later on weather wise, but would it be worthwhile loading them all? Or leave the 8 and maybe the 7 behind?
Hopefully get down there, because I bought a 3/2 full length wetsuit in anticipation...
Thanks for the info
Matt
Matt...bring all your sail it's better to have them than not. A 7.0 is a good size for Canberra, I don't use anthing smaller than a 6.2 unless we get a rare day when its really blows. If you have limited space and have to leave one behind, I'd leave the 4.5. Your board will be fine for the lake maybe a bit big for Broulee and Gerroa. If your after a good spot to visit while down south I'll give your the location of the perfect beginners spot, Good solid wind, flat water and only waist to chest deep.....if you don't waterstart or gybe then this is the place to learn. I'll fill you in before you come about water temp but I'm sure you won't need the 3/2 by then, a spring suit should be fine....cheers.
What is Tomakin Beach like for Wind surfing?
I've seen some people with kites but there were no polies. I'm staying there for a while towards the end of the year and thought it looked good. Any comments??
Cheers
I last sailed Broulee in the Mid 80's and it was a great spot!. If I remember correctly the is a large bar with a small island and sand spit. Offers sailing on seabreezes and southerlies and there was even little waves next to the island.
It was my first trip away with a board. I had a Hifly 300 and my mate had a TC Runner - his sail had a batten and was therefore very modern!
Hey Revhead u going to be able to come up for the NSW WA comp at Shell Harbour?
yep sure am, i'm excited! I havent sailed since the last comp and that was a SUP comp. The wife n I are comin, where's everyone staying?
Oh yeah, canberra post... well i heard that there's a famous dood in canberra, ben sheils or something is his name, ex world champ.
Excellent. 
Thanks Bristol. The bay at Tomakin was just the spot I was referring to.
I thought the same thing, relatively flat, no real wind obstacles and an even swell coming through the gap to play with or avoid. Tell me how cold was the lake???
I've sent you a PM in response to your message.
This is the latest on the missing kayaker, from the Canberra Times website:-
Police have named the man they fear might have died while surf-skiing on Lake Burley Griffin on Sunday. Peter Morrison, 30, of Jerrabomberra, went missing between 11.30am and 12.30pm on Sunday after surf-skiing with his partner.
The pair had become separated and planned to meet on Black Mountain Peninsula.
Police divers have worked for the past three days to find Mr Morrison, but hopes began to fade after he could not be found on Sunday.
Search coordinator Detective Sergeant Ian Faulds said, ''We've spoken to the loved ones of Peter and explained that all hope has pretty much abated in terms of being able to find the man alive. Unfortunately, and as tragically as it seems, we're looking at recovering a body at this stage.'' Police said the disappearance had devastated Mr Morrison's family. Relatives joined police yesterday on boats and were briefed on the search.
''They're holding up quite well but, as you'd expect, it's a tragic accident and a large, close-knit family, one can only guess how they're feeling.''
It is understood Mr Morrison had completed the trip several times before and was very fit.
Police scoured about 6000sqm of the lake in search of his body in cold and blustery conditions. The water temperature was about 9 degrees and visibility 30cm or less.
Divers each worked three shifts a day searching the bottom of the lake by feel. Sergeant Faulds said police hoped to continue the search until the body was found.
A second man who was rescued on Sunday has provided police with information about conditions on the water at the time. YMCA Sailing Club members rescued the kayaker about 10.30am, only an hour before Mr Morrison went missing.
A reminder of the vulnerability of us all.
