I got thrown of my 180l "Tankster" a couple of times
when I was up hauling. The wind was not to bad, just the swell has p...ed me of ![]()
Was still a nice afternoon!
Btw: There were at least 10 kites and only me as a W/surfer...
Yes I would.
Have been there a couple of times myself and the swell there does not seem to be any larger then on a lake when it's blowing.
While Ramsgate can be considered flat water as it has no "swell" as such the water there is fairly deep so when the wind is onshore you get some pretty decent sized wind chop. for NE winds kyeemagh near the runway is a LOT flatter.
As you get deeper or futrther to the south near dolls point it can get worse as the tidal flow thru there is fairly strong and can create its own set of conflicting waves.
Ramsgate is great place for launching formulae gear as it caters for the deep fins but as far as flat water sailing - weather blasting or learning its a pretty dismal place to sail.
All the kiters hang around down there because there is an exclusion zone around the airport they are not allowed to sail in. Given the choice they would proably flock to the runway if they were allowed :/
Yes, I'm still learning...
(a lot...)
And yes - it was more wind chop then swell but still 0.5 to maybe 1.0m...
I'm gonna try Kyeemagh next time.
Thanks for the tip!
I sailed at Ramsgate in a strong NE wind in December. It was very choppy and I was well overpowered with a 7.8m sail and big 48cm fin. So I'd consider it to be flat water but if the wind picks up then you do get big chop there.
In a NE it is more b&b than flat water. I would consider Kyeemagh to be a flat water venue.
The reason most of us go to Ramsgate is the volume of car parks, no walk to the water, no Jet ski's and generally less of the open fire BBQ situation.
the Club www.storm-riders.com.au have based themselves there for the last year for the above reasons.
cheers
Didn't feel much like flat water this afternoon!! I was all over the place on my 130ltr board. Why, why, why did I ever sell my small board, big mistake!
The board I had was a JP FSW 102 (or 104 or something around that size). Great board, crazy moment when I got rid of it. Very interested in anything similar - send me a msg if you've got something going.
Botany bay in a southerly does generate a lot of chop. Not a great flat water spot, but convenient for most of us in Sydney. In a Nor Easter hug the Airpory. in a Southerly most of it is choppy.
KR![]()
in a southerly you need to sail down at sandringham - south of dolls point.
The water down there at low tide when the sand bar pops out is very nice.
can get a lil rough thru the channel in the middle but the water at eachend of the run is perfect for big long carve gybes.
check out Leo's and Sean's tracks here
www.gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-02-12&team=5
Ramsgate's got a bit of wind chop in strong winds.
If you want to avoid the chop in most winds, and certainly strong NEers, go down to Sandringham.
Kyeemagh is a good spot for flattish water in a NE wind. The wind is reasonably consistent and the water is quite flat thanks to the runway.