Pittwater sailing

The Pittwater side of Palm Beach is the most popular place to go sailing. You have to pay parking there. Its best to avoid low tide there, as the water runs out it exposes mud and weed flats that go out around 20 to 30 meters from the sandy shore. The flats are extremely unpleasant to wade through on the way to the water. When the tide is high you can sail right over the top of the weed and mud.

If you friends want to learn we found a great place to learn on the western side of Pittwater. I'm not sure what the name of the place is. I call it dog beach as many people exercise their dogs there. Its opposite the yacht clubs at Newport and is on the road to Church Point, not that far out from Mona Vale. Again high tide is the time to sail there. The water rises over a large sandbar so at high tide the water is around waist deep and is very clear, with little to no chop or swell. So its a great place to learn to windsurf. There is plenty of free parking there and is quite a pleasant place to visit as there is plenty of shade and grassy areas.

There are some other areas to launch from but you will find most of the Pittwater has been built up and public water access is limited to non existent due to waterfront properties fencing off the foreshore.