Anyone keen for a treck up or down to Umina Beach for a windsurf tomorrow? I've read that it can be good in a southerly but I've never windsurfed there. If the wind is fairly moderate, around 15 to 20 knots I'll probably head up there.
Had a crap sail today at Narrabeen Lake. No one else was out because of a good reason. It was no good with a gusty and dying wind.
Hi Moby,
Umina may be OK on Monday, but it was a bit over the top today. It was very squally (over 35 knots) plus large messy waves of 6' or more. The shore break at high tide was a bit extreme at 3' and there was a lot of sand and trees being washed into the water by the large high tide. It was perhaps the worst conditions I have ever sailed in there and I have sailed there for years.
I had a 5.3m and an 80 litre board and it was pretty hairy to say the least (a tad over powered). Another mate sailor had a 5.7m and an 94 litre board and he too found it a bit extreme, at least he lasted longer than I did.
Hopefully Monday may be better if you get there mid-tide and can dodge the floating debris. Forecast at least looks a bit better, but the swell may still be 2 metres +.
I may venture out for another try or may go to Koolewong for some flatter water.
See u maybe.
Yeah it was full on yesterday so I tried the lake to get a bit of protection. I'll head up there this morning.
Moby,
I wouldn't bother with Nara Lake in a S. Better options are BB, Manly (harbour) or Palmy on Pittw side depending on where you live. I've had many a sail in the harbour when the surf is big/rough and once you get out there are long runs and S funnels in nicely.
I sailed at Brownwater (Collaroy) yesterday and the direction was great, prob SSE, before swinging S mid arvo then back to SSE. Powered on a 5.0.
Bit of a shorebreak although usually a safe spot to launch, you just have to time it and dodge the seaweed!
True but it was too full on for me in more exposed locations yesterday.
I've just returned from the central coast. The breeze wasn't quite strong enough. The surf was pretty big at Umina plus with the light onshore wind and a lot of currents made it look too tricky for me. Back at Brisbane Waters the wind wasn't quite there. Maybe around ten knots in the gusts.
Moby,
You are right about Umina being tops in a southerly. I did not go there Monday as I thought the swell would be too big. But if it is too big at Umina you can go out on Brisbane Waters at Koolewong at the boat ramp which is on the way home if you going via West Gosford. I was at Koolewong yesterday arvo with 7.5 fully powered up having a great time (although I launched from Gosford sailing club). Maybe you were too early. God knows we need a bit of company up here, get sick of sailing alone. A public holiday with a nice southerly & hardly anyone on the water.
Hi,
I am quite familiar with Koolewong and that area. We were there at around 1pm or so I think and hung around for about 20 minutes before heading back home in Sydney. The wind seemed to almost but not quite strong enough. We were at the Tascott foreshore park.
I didn't see any windsurfers out on Brisbane Waters.
Hi Moby,
Sorry but you got there too early on Monday. A few hours later made all the difference as the tide went out.
I got there at 2.30pm and it was pretty damn good. 20-25 knots most of the time and the waves were not as big as Saturday was. Only about 4'-6' most of the time. A lot smaller than Saturdays 6'-8' waves.
There was only three sailboardser and about 8 kiters out. Sun was shining and a greeat sail was had by all. One of the boarders was from Sydney and he had a great time once he got his sail size sorted.
Sorry again.
