Admitedly the surf was intermittent. Wind was around 25 knots direct cross shore. It was good enough to get a loop about every third run out and a decent ride every third run in. That makes it 4 out of 5 day trips a success this year. Not as good as last year especially with smaller surf - still much more interesting than a flat water sail.
ok with a good strike rate like that,would you share your criteria for a dash to robe,have heard a few diff stories so far,,
swell in the mid =swell at long beach,obviously westerly
swellin the mid= no swell at long beach???
gotta be swell over 2metres west/sthwest
sthwest swell over 3 metres
anyone with sure fire hit
We have been storing away the wind and swell maps on windy days and classifying them for a couple of years now. We trust the maps more than the forecast. Wind we look for a SE to ESE, sometimes Easterly works. Does not need much. Temp at least 23 degrees. Swell we go for a fast 7.5 foot (14 secs or better) or 8 foot down to about 13 secs.
We always look at Cape De Cuiak or whatever its called as it has about the right lead so if you check in at 8am and the swell is picking up then it is usually good for Robe by about 1:30pm - which is when we show up. Usually picks up at that time.
We had a hit rate of 7 out of 8 last year with much more swell. We start looking mid Jan and give up around last week of March.
In terms of swell direction west or sthwest seems ok. We always drive along the beach to get the best swell / wind combination, usually 1 - 2 kms north of 3rd ramp. It is a big difference when the swell has some south in it.
Coming home from Yorkes had a look there about 5 o'clock, 4 out good wind no swell to speak off, when there is no swell at Robe drive the extra hour and a half to Nene Valley where there is always swell on the reefs and the wind a lot cleaner of the beach.
Now you've let the cat out of the bag Jimbob
30 mins which way - you've got us all excited now
edit - I didn't see the hour in fromt of the 30 mins in your post!
Russh, For me Nene Valley is 70 k's and Robe 80 k's away, All the coast from Port Mac to carpenter rocks is very differnt to Robe. the continental shelf is only 25 to 30 k"s out compared to Robe at 80 k's so always more swell, check out google, really no crew left sailing this area as most all the Mount Gambier sailors have retired or moved on. was common to have half a dozen out at pebbles and now no one around.
What's the area between Robe and Beachport like.
Last time I was at Robe (Australia Day weekend) we went through the little dip reserve and out onto some of the beaches along the way to Beachport. It seemed like you could go out pretty well anywhere along there and get logo to mast high waves. They were breaking a fair way out... maybe 6 or 700 metres out, but it looked awesome.
There was no wind the day we were there, so I'm not sure if it gets much wind or the right direction.
Anyone know the area/sailed there?
Is there an easier way in and out? My Landcruiser survived (a bit of paint & panel damage, but hey it is a 4wd), but I'm not sure about boards and masts surviving the trip. Well, not the way we went anyway.
Jeez Jamie what are you thinking. The locals are not going to be happy.
Robe is the best spot around here by far, NOT.
Catch up for a beer at Easter time Jamie.
TAA, welcome to the breeze. Finally got the courage to kite Nene Valley break last weekend. it went for at least 1 km.
I stayed out on the shoulder but I reckon around the pocket area it was at least double mast high. It was peeling left and right.
Ian
Hey Scotty, I was a windsurfer for 15 years before getting into kites and yeah it was a good 2 master.
As I said, I wasn't going anywhere near the pocket.
I know Jimbob has caught some long rides on a particular waves around here that will remain nameless so yeah it's a very underated area.
do we have any pictures of the nene valley break
and i guess it works on anything northerly and not sth/eastly,
not that i"d be rushing down there,5.5hrs in the car is 5.oohrs too long,not to mention double mast overhead
maybe thats why robe is attractive,can be a day trip and xshore in sth eastly,prevailing summer wind.
My mistake,just read one of jimbobs earlier posts and its down the line x/off in sth/east/east...justone photo huh
next time I go home
