These late summer fronts that go southerly on Day 1 (offshore and calm) have us Kingston Park locals crying in our latte's and looking for somewhere else to sail. It's either south or north. Yesterday (Friday) I headed north, but didn't get further than Glenelg North. I had a solo session in 15-20 knots with the odd waist high wave with enough face for the odd backside or frontside carve. Good clean fun and close to home. And I think the rest of the metro coast was knee high at best?
But why has this spot been forgotten? Is there something I don't know? There are a few piles that need to be avoided, and there is that floating buoy with a yellow cross which I think marks the outlet pipe for the Holdfast Shores dredge. I know sometimes the pipe for this floats on the surface and that complicates things. And yesterday there was a brown plume of dredged seaweed etc. trailing offshore and north from the buoy. I steered clear of this easily enough, but I did sail across it once (I had a weed fin). It's a bit on the nose and I wouldn't want to fall in it. But does anyone know if dredging attracts unwanted "fishes"?
Why isn't this spot sailed more often? Any contributions welcome, but I'll be looking for another session there next strong southerly.
Cheers, Richard
P.S. Used to sail there a lot before the high rise and longer groyne. But these don't seem to be a problem.
Glenelg north is best metro sailing spot and has been real windy this summer
I lived there for 10 plus years
Heat of airport makes it first and strongest metro sea breeze
It does often go se and dodgy by 5 or 6 while sems blows till dark
I think this is main reason sems more popular after work
Nothing sketchy tho Richard except watch dredge pipe if. Dredge working
Thanks Maris. Yeah, it shut down about 5pm yesterday. So really a mid-afternoon rather than after work spot. The boss let me off early yesterday :-)
I must give north glenelg ago. Back in the day heaps of crew sailed there until hold fast shores was built. Semi was still cranking 20 to 25 knots at 5.
unfortunately if you want too sail in wind you have too sail semawhores the other side of the breakwater better "chicken shop" but high tide only or your in choppy **** after 100m.. sems you at least get 200m before backwash from the rockwall and incedibadly choppy **** !!!
I think most people get "diverted" away from there due to the "poo farm" being on the foreshore I know its not an issue anymore but... bit smelly sometimes 
Sailed Glenelg North, just north of the pat outlet back in '89 - '91 a few times, got a really nasty ear infection one day. Decided it was just too close too the pat outlet.
glenelg north ....
a) why not drive an extra 15 minutes to tennyson/semaphore and have strong winds until 8pm?
b) why not sail at glenelg south and have the same wind, clean water, and no breakwater to block the wind near shore?
I sailed there one winter - it was 4.5 m weather and W'ly - filthy cold and pretty chaotic on the water. The shore break was pretty heavy. There are a couple of reefy spots further away from shore which broke a bit more gently. There was one surfer out. Mixed feelings sailing alone there - with a couple of sailing buddies out it could be a great spot. Haven't been back....
