Hey guys.
My wife and I are heading to lake Illawarra on 19-20th of this month. We haven't windsurfed there before, we are from Canberra and looking for a good winter spot thats still reasonably close.
We are hoping to get some local knowledge..
At low tide can it still be windsurfed? (I heard its quite shallow)
In a SSW where would you launch from?
Anything else we should consider?
Thanks in advance. :-)
Come on down. The most famous part of the lake is the Primbee weed flats in a westerly for chasing speed. Launch from Bundah place, Primbee - heaps of parking. Bring a 40 - 50 degree raked weed fin, no more than 30cm draft and you'll have a ball. UFO's, Black Projects, Lessachers and MUF Delta XTs are all popular. 50 degree rake is slightly preferable as it helps getting started cleanly. True Deltas (60 degree rake) struggle a little to grip in the chop. When the tide gets super low, it just means you can't bear off right to the shore but need to stay out a bit deeper. We're only talking 15-20cm of tidal range though - it is never un-sailable.
If you don't like the shallow speedy stuff or would prefer bump and jump, launch from any of the Illawarra Yacht Club, Port Kembla Sailing Club or Kanahooka Sailing club - straight into deep water.
In a SSW, you can sail either the weed flats or the deep water. It will just mean you can't run the full north-south length of the weed flats for Nautical Mile nirvana, but will be doing much shorter runs, square into the shore, bearing off as you approach the shore and the water flattens out, gybe work back out to waist deep water and repeat.
If in doubt, start at Primbee as you'll be guaranteed to encounter the local crew you can guide you from there.
Can't help feeling a Canberra sailor coming down from the ACT to sail in a lake is a bit like taking coals to Newcastle. Had some pretty memorable sails on LBG in a westerly. The downwinders from Blue gum Point to the Hospital peninsular were a blast. And when the wind dropped there was always enough depth for sailors to bob ashore to Poser's Point and huddle together to keep warm.
But Lake Illawarra is warmer and when the windy patches fill in in a westerly they are a lot less gusty. LBG has a few spots where you can find smooth and deep water. I find the bottom is always of concern in the smooth parts of Lake Illawarra. Plenty of depth out wide though, and out there the swell, having more fetch, is a little more organised than on LBG.
Don't underestimate LBG on a good day. But yes, we only recall the good days. Lake Illawarra has more of them.
( And then there's the coast 
, Broulee is closest )
Select to expand quoteIan K said..
Can't help feeling a Canberra sailor coming down from the ACT to sail in a lake is a bit like taking coals to Newcastle. Had some pretty memorable sails on LBG in a westerly. The downwinders from Blue gum Point to the Hospital peninsular were a blast. And when the wind dropped there was always enough depth for sailors to bob ashore to Poser's Point and huddle together to keep warm.
But Lake Illawarra is warmer and when the windy patches fill in in a westerly they are a lot less gusty. LBG has a few spots where you can find smooth and deep water. I find the bottom is always of concern in the smooth parts of Lake Illawarra. Plenty of depth out wide though, and out there the swell, having more fetch, is a little more organised than on LBG.
Don't underestimate LBG on a good day. But yes, we only recall the good days. Lake Illawarra has more of them.
( And then there's the coast , Broulee is closest )Select to expand quoteeckas said..
Come on down. The most famous part of the lake is the Primbee weed flats in a westerly for chasing speed. Launch from Bundah place, Primbee - heaps of parking. Bring a 40 - 50 degree raked weed fin, no more than 30cm draft and you'll have a ball. UFO's, Black Projects, Lessachers and MUF Delta XTs are all popular. 50 degree rake is slightly preferable as it helps getting started cleanly. True Deltas (60 degree rake) struggle a little to grip in the chop. When the tide gets super low, it just means you can't bear off right to the shore but need to stay out a bit deeper. We're only talking 15-20cm of tidal range though - it is never un-sailable.
If you don't like the shallow speedy stuff or would prefer bump and jump, launch from any of the Illawarra Yacht Club, Port Kembla Sailing Club or Kanahooka Sailing club - straight into deep water.
In a SSW, you can sail either the weed flats or the deep water. It will just mean you can't run the full north-south length of the weed flats for Nautical Mile nirvana, but will be doing much shorter runs, square into the shore, bearing off as you approach the shore and the water flattens out, gybe work back out to waist deep water and repeat.
If in doubt, start at Primbee as you'll be guaranteed to encounter the local crew you can guide you from there.
Thanks so much for all the advice. Unfortunately I don't have a weed fin, so I might see how we go anyway and if need be go to a deeper area.
Haha, I have had some great sailing on LBG as well... but at the moment the lake temperature is hovering somewhere under 10 degrees, it's freezing. And the temperature is often about 14 degrees.... Coastal is WARMER. LBG is great in summer but we need somewhere for winter. I've got a new toy, going from 187L old heavy board to 110L nice light board. Very keen to try it.
