(I have once asked this out of curiosity when I first started out windsurfing a couple of years ago.....)
So this question is building on that...
If I want to try sailing from Kyeemagh to Kurnell (and return), would you recommend:
(1) I stayed close to the botany shore until I get down near Doll's and then make my way across?
(2) I try to sail directly across the middle of the bay?
Welcome comments from anyone who has done this.....and what wind direction would you recommend? Anyone with a GPS map of how they did it?
And...has anyone done it on a single tack?
I am trying to psych myself up to doing it once!
Cheers
It will be a great challenge for you. Many have done it several times. Just make sure you do it with a wind that will take you back somewhere in case of anything going wrong. Also you should wear a lifejacket for regulations. Which way to go depends on the wind direction, chose the course that will give you best speed and angle. Don't do it in Westerlies/NW/SW, it would be hard to come back. NE/SE are good.
I have done it many times in a NE sea breeze. Normally my decision to do it is just that I got on a good run as I went past the end of the runway, so I kept going. You can do it in a single tack easily. I normally turn around at the beach and then just come back aiming for the end of the runway and can normally do that in a single tack. Depending on the angle of wind I can often make it back to where I started on a single tack or I may end up closer to the Novatel and then tack back to half way up the runway and then back to near the swim nets.
I carefully observe the wind when I am doing it, and if wind should change drastically I am prepared to turn back to avoid being overpowered for too long, or grovelling all the way back. A couple of time it picked up 5 knots while I was out, and I was on the edge on the way back, but still OK. I normally find I do it when the wind is lighter early in the arvo before it peaks, so normally wind is on the ride while I am out, and I rig accordingly.
Cheers,
Adrian
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Most importantly I get the sense that this is not something to be taken lightheartedly, even by those who have already done it many times. I wouldn't want to be on the 6 o'clock news for all the wrong reasons!!
Cheers.
I used to sail from Dolls Point to Kurnell all day long. (When I was a newbie I did it to avoid gybing
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Only time I've got into trouble is when the wind died, and I had to paddle all the way back. An increasing NE wind is only going to blow you back to the beach anyway. I wouldn't do it in any wind with west in it.
As long as you don't do it near sunset, hard to see you getting into any trouble, only inconvenienced, if you have equipment failure.
A little common sense in choosing the right conditions and time will go a long way to staying safe.
If you ask around on the day, you can grab a couple of guys to do the run with you. We've sometimes done it in a group of 4 or 5, which makes it safer, and a lot more fun.
I know some of the slalom sailors crew have done kurnell to third runway & back in 15 minutes on a incoming tide and a nice solid North Easter Seabreeze.
Oh no, my first red thumb!
Now I'm busting with curiosity to know which line was objectionable. ![]()
You left out the apostrophe in Doll's Point. So I've given you another one.
I've only ever sailed from Dolls > Kurnell. The angle was pretty tight, but even both way.
If you sail from Kyeemagh, i would imagine one tack would be super loose and one super tight.
Just put your mobile phone in your pocket and go for it.
worst that happens is you'll end up in the mangroves and you can walk from them to kurnell.
enjoy and good luck
I understand that originally there were several dolls, so it's actually Dolls' Point. Unfortunately, due to overwhelming precedent, I am now compelled to red thumb you.
This lack of wind is obviously getting to evrybody, don't you fink?
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Actually had my first sail for over a month today. Was surprisingly good, and quite a turn-out at Kyeemagh for such a poor forecast on a weekday. ![]()
I'd be keen to give this a go. Next time you're thinking of doing the run, post it here few others may show up as well. Better to do it with a small group.
I'd be keen to give this a go. Next time you're thinking of doing the run, post it here few others may show up as well. Better to do it with a small group.
I think that is a great idea! Maybe when I am out next time, or if anyone is planning on doing the trip out there.....put a note on this forum and perhaps there could be a group of us who will venture out there together!!
I've done these several times and it is easy in a NE wind. (I've gone out to the entrance several times too, but the wind shadow in a NE usually means one can't get beyond the heads.) I wouldn't recommend going to Kurnell in a southerly as equipment failure would push you towards the runways or Port botany - very unfriendly places to be stranded.
We take that risk every time we sail in a Southerly anyway. This really hit home the other week when my universal disintegrated at the end of the runway. It was a NE'er, so no problem, but it had me realising that if the same thing happend in a decent southerly, I'd probably only have about 10-15 minutes before I'd have to ditch my rig and paddle back to the beach.