The first of the Windsurfing Tas events is to be held this Sunday at Bell Buoy Beach. The forecast is looking promising with 30 knot plus west north west winds forecast. This will be the first formal round of the wave sailing title.
To win the title you will need to participate in at least two of the three rounds on the calendar Or if you like you can participate in all three and the best two rounds will count towards your results.
Also you will need to be a Windsurfing Tas member.
We will most likely be starting early Sunday morning on the low tide and I am certain some low head residents will be happy to provide a back yard to park a car or pitch a tent if needed.
Please express your interest to enter here and we will have an events form for you to fill out on the day.
As the week progresses more details will be posted here as Bakers is still a possible venue if conditions are appropriate.
WAVE SAILING POINT ALLOCATION 0.7 points for first, 2.0 for second, 3.0 for third, etc (best two rounds count) Men's Wave sailing Title Women's Wave sailing Title
I can't make it
Got my mum & dads 60th wedding anniversary family celebration on that day. I think a trophy needs to go to them!
No shortage of wind for Sunday !!! we will be dusting off those small sails and holding on for dear life, ( well some of us ).
A few enquiries about Sunday are coming in.
To answer the most common question, you will be able to join up as a member on the day, but if you would like to avoid the challenge of filling out a form in the forecast 30knot winds on the beach, the following is a link to the membership form.
windsurfing.org/tas.htm
Please fill out and email to vanderschans@bigpond.com
The Windsurfing Tas bank details are on the bottom of the form.
To compete you will need to be a full member which is $50, ( entry to the event is free for members , as with all events on the calendar )
Is the venue still Bellbouy or is there a chance for Greens Beach if the swell is really big?
Clarence
Greens would be optimum for the current forecast conditions but the proviso would be an early start - Greens is no good on a high tide. The sailing would need to be said and done by say 1/2 - 3/4 tide - say 12.00-1.00pm.
Bakers is a very difficult place to forecast and the risk would be too high I think.
Bellbuoy would be the backup to Greens.
The wind does not kick in until the wee-smalls on Sunday, so there is a forecast 2m swell, which is really not very big and not very powerful at BB, just enough to grab some air (and punch a few moves). All that said, BB at a high tide is also rubbish.
Good ideas there Geoff.
There will be updates prior to weekend to confirm a few matters.
Wind still looking very promising.
As Gillian said, you can join up on the day, but if you can do it in advance things are a bit easier.
windsurfing.org/files/WT-Membership-Form-2017-2018.pdf
Clarence
I haven't sailed there, but doesn't the spot guide refer to Greens as a chop hop/bump and jump location.
Here is a bit of a guide to where we will be if the call is Bakers.
If the wind direction stays NW then most locations on the north coast will be Bump and Jump with some upwind waveriding because its so onshore. Even Greens produces DTL conditions at times....despite what the spot guide says....its more of a general guide.
Select to expand quoteAl Planet said..
Here is a bit of a guide to where we will be if the call is Bakers.
If the wind direction stays NW then most locations on the north coast will be Bump and Jump with some upwind waveriding because its so onshore. Even Greens produces DTL conditions at times....despite what the spot guide says....its more of a general guide.
Baker's (Narawntapu) would need a Parks Pass too I believe, $24 for a day pass (up to 8 ppl per vehicle, which might get a bit squeezy with gear 
). PS I'm not sure if that bit of circlework on your map is required Al, but there could be extra points?
To answer a few incoming questions:
There is no entry fee, just a windsurfing Tasmania full membership is required.
We will also ask you to fill out an entry form on the day to acknowledge that you understand the dangers of the sport you are undertaking.
I also have my son busy creating a ballot box.
I propose that all who compete and witness the sailing over the selected two hour sailing slot will have the opportunity to vote by secret ballot for first, second and third place. We will collate these votes and announce the winner Sunday evening with a collation of photos from the day.
My two cents on the venue pick:
The latest forecast predicts the front to roll through sometime around 1 pm, with the wind shifting from NW to W.
Low tide around 8:30 am, high around 2:30 pm.
Showers throughout the morning, clearing in the afternoon after the front.
Spots:
Greens - best in NW wind - cross-on, great jumping and backside wave-riding, front-side riding possible, but quite challenging to keep any speed on the wave. Good on a low tide, gusty and rubbish on a high tide. Reasonable if the wind is NNW, but tends very gusty if the wind swings more towards W. Waves are usually half the size compared to Bell Buoy. Would be a good option for early - mid morning session.
Bell Buoy - sailable, but onshore in NW winds with messy waves, works best with WNW or W (WSW with a low tide is a treat). We had some great sails with the waves (up to mast high) breaking of the point over the last month and with the predicted swell size I think it is more than likely that the point will be working quite well on Sunday. Bell Buoy would be a great option for late afternoon session on a dropping tide with the westerly wind and big waves, good for jumping and DTL riding. High tide can be a bit tricky and messy on the inside, but still reasonably good on the point It is definitely the most consistent spot in regards to wind strength.
Bakers - best DTL wave-riding on the north coast if the conditions are right. Works great with WNW (cross-shore) and W (a bit cross-off), also good on NW. Waves are much cleaner compared to Bell Buoy and it is possible to get 6-8 turns on a single ride. Usually, the waves are a bit smaller (but punchier) then Bell Buoy, but not much, and the predicted swell size and direction should generate some good waves. Works alright on low and high tide. The problem with Bakers is the wind, which is sometimes hard to predict. It can be blowing 30 knots at Low Head, and just 15 knots at Bakers. Usually if there is a bit of north in the wind direction, the difference is not that big. Requires a parks pass.
East Beach - similar conditions to Bell Bouy, with a bit less wind (more gusty) and smaller waves (but punchier). The conditions can get a bit rubbish on a high tide, but usually it is still sailable.
From this I can see three good options:
- morning session at Greens on NW wind
- afternoon session at Bell Buoy on W wind
- all day session at Bakers (NW and W wind)
No matter what the weather brings and which spot is chosen, it should be a great day with a lot of people on the water
Nice summary Jimo.
I have created a visual guide for Greens for those that have not been there. Hopefully we can make some sort of provisional call on location tonight but this could always be modified on Saturday evening if the forecast changes dramatically.
Hi all,
Forecast is still looking good. You can bet the house on Magicseaweed's forecast for 'Robbo's Point' on the North Coast, and last time I looked they were predicting a solid 30 knots NW until the evening - BOM concurs.
On these figures I am pretty sure that Greens would be the best venue, and for an early start as previously noted.
Bring it ON!
I am concerned that Greens is a bit average after mid tide. The wind peak is in the middle of the day which is after mid tide.
My 2 cents worth. The average skill of sailors who are interested is also a factor. While a venue like Greens may not be as good, if less experienced wave sailors (myself included) are interested, they are more likely to have a sail a Greens in 3 foot backhand waves and 25 knots rather than Bellbouy in 6 foot and 30 plus knots. It would be good to get a healthy crowd of people of a range of abilities on the water.
Clarence
Bakers Beach is the selected venue for Sunday.
Briefing will be held at 10am on the beach.
Bakers is a mellow wave, that should suit a full range of abilities. A sandy beach, less tide dependent venue, easy waves and most likely cleaner winds in a North Wersterly direction make this venue the choice for the day. Bakers also has the potential to be fantastic at this wind strength and this direction.
Sailing tends to be concentrated around the western end of the beach, providing good spectator and photography opportunities.
Holding or first session at Bakers will provide venue variety for the title, as the second scheduled Northern round will most likely be held at Bellbuoy or Greens.
Happy to hear any feedback and alternative proposals during tomorrow if the weather forecast evolves.
The venue will be set in stone without variation at 9pm Saturday evening.
Watching this space will be important for competitors and spectators.
Alan
For mine, Clarence makes a very good and valid point.
I would rather sail a less than 'challenging' session at say Greens Beach (the next one will be at Bellbuoy - 95%) and ensure that lots of people get a sail, in the waves, against each other, and have a good time, rather than half the entrants just trying to stay on their board or get water started again.
Let's keep watching that forecast, stay on the forum, and see what 8.55pm Saturday brings in both forecast conditions and enthusiasm from potential attendees.
You guys (Gillian, Alan, Geoff etc) know the locations better than me. Maybe make it Bakers, with possibility to review on Saturday evening if required.
If it turns out like it shows in the photos, it would be perfect.
In the meantime, maybe if potential entrants email Gillian or put your name up on here- so we have a bit of an idea beforehand.
I will have a sail if it isn't too crazy.
Clarence
Good plan Clarence.
It is currently looking like 31 knots WNW all day, and 2.5m swell (which really isn't 2.5m waves on the N coast).
At the moment I would say: - wind is probably enough for Bakers, and the waves will be good for all comers. The tide advantage at Bakers would swing it for me on current forecast.
To provide some rain shelter for the day I can bring the Windsurfing Tas marque to set up in a sheltered corner. I will need some help to get it up as haven't done this before, if there is anyone who would like to help that would be appreciated. Alan and I will be at the venue an hour earlier than the start time. We also have some great severe and Nash flags if there are any spare masts to set them up on.
Select to expand quoteclarence said..
In the meantime, maybe if potential entrants email Gillian or put your name up on here- so we have a bit of an idea beforehand.
I'm in. Sounds fun and I've never sailed Greens or Bakers so bring it on!
My 2 cents. WindGuru is forecasting 17- 28knts at Hawley which is often less at Bakers. I've been skunked so many times at Bakers on a more solid forecast. It's a wind hole on the inside. Gusty, but once you are out the waves are awesome.
I hope I'm wrong and we get enough wind.
I'll aim to be there to help out early. Wherever we choose.
Hamish
Select to expand quoteclarence said..
You guys (Gillian, Alan, Geoff etc) know the locations better than me. Maybe make it Bakers, with possibility to review on Saturday evening if required.
If it turns out like it shows in the photos, it would be perfect.
In the meantime, maybe if potential entrants email Gillian or put your name up on here- so we have a bit of an idea beforehand.
I will have a sail if it isn't too crazy.
Clarence
I'll be there too.,
Ok fellow wave sailors we will see you all at Bakers tomorrow. Briefing at 10 am. cheers Al
Current conditions (6.20am) are a non-starter for Bakers, so stay in touch and keep an eye off the forum.
It may build, but it may not too, and Grevil's point is an important one.
The wind is already starting to pick up nicely here in Devonport, should only get better throughout the morning.
Bring it on!
