Hi all,
i am heading down south to Palm Beach Caravan Park in Jervis Bay/St George Basin and was wondering where people launch from and what "the go" is in the area as far as best places to sail in different winds?
would love all advice.
Doug
There are others here better qualified to reply (Keef???) But Palm Beach should be good for a southerly, but in a NorEaster, go just around the corner to the boat ramp - it's an awesome spot!
I think it's called the " John Williams reserve" on Sanctuary point rd, it works in both a NE or southerly wind. Palm beach I've sailed from when it's more SW, And Paradise beach if it's a westerly. There's heaps more spots within an hours drive, Gerroa, Callala bay, jervis bay and Lake woolumboola are of the best. They all have very different sailing experiences, if the forecast calls for a light nor'easter just head for Gerroa...even red arrows normally means plainning conditions.....worst case you'll get a light wind wave session. If you have a SUP you can put a sail on you'll have a whole lot of fun. Anyways SP is a good spot, next time stay at the "white sands" caravan park at husky, much better and closer to the pub.
Cheers.
also very short drive to huskisson., great spot in jervis bay. Just launch of the main beach inbetween two the caravan parks
I just returned from my first un-fun windsurfing experience off the boat ramp round the corner from palm beach.
I learnt the following:
- shifting to a board that you are unfamiliar with (mines in for repairs) in a location you are unfamiliar with might not be the best combination.
- a freeride thin board is a little more unstable than im used to in choppy conditions (my normal board is a wide formula board). Deciding it might be time to try a less buoyant board at the same time doesn't help either.
- If you get the boom height "just right" and have a board with small fins (like the one im currently hiring from ws&s) it is not too hard to have your harness lines get caught on fins under the board stopping you from getting the sail and boom free
- if you get blown off and happen to get trapped in between the board and the sail with your head underwater andwith the above harness line issue it makes for a very scary experience.
Basically i sailed out across the basin, got blown off by a shift in the wind from n'e to s'e, got trapped under water for half a minute, nearly drowned, struggled to uphaul for about 10 mins Because the lack of buoyancy kept the board sinking on uphaul. Finally got back to shore 50m downwind from where I launched and collapsed in a heap.
2 weeks ago I was loving life burning around in a harness. Today I felt completely defeated....
Don't let it get you down, if your up for an early session tomorrow I'll come down to sanctuary point for the predicted southerly. The southerlies don't often hang around for long or maintain strength so hitting it early will be essential. I've got a JP 120 x-cite ride you can borrow if that's any help, easy board to sail and plenty of float. SP is a good place most of the time but like any spot can have it's bad days.
Cheer Jase.
John williams reserve is full of weed now.. most people sail off Moona Moona creek in jervis bay ... great spot!! NE or S .. the basin is only good for winter westerly's off paradise beach i reckon ..
