Just getting into slalom sailing, to complement wave sailing and looking for good flat water spots both in Southerly and northerly winds from Ballina to Port Macquarie area.
Any local sailors that could advise spots suitable for slalom/speed/flat water sailing with tides and wind direction would be greatly appreciated ?
Thanks in advance.
Harrington on the Manning River must be one of the best flat water spots in NSW.
Moby,
Thanks for the info, that looks absolutely fantastic, and easily worth the 2.5 hr drive south.
I'll keep and eye on the forecast for this weekend, at present, 20 Knots plus SW forecasted at this early stage for the area, so if it swings more southerly it might be worth a drive and a sail.
Any recommendation where to park up and rig up from ?
SW wind you might be better off going to Queens Lake close to Lauriton. Lots of windsurfers there if the wind is up. The turnoff is Bob's Creek Road, off the highway just before Herons Creek. Be careful as the locals will encourage you to get a GPS and join their GPS team
I see you are from Coffs. I used to live up there. Not much flat water sailing there.
moby,
Cheers thanks for the info, yeah i only have sailed in the waves around here, so not in the know on the flat water locations, our wave spots are good when we get wind, beach breaks like, flat top / sawtell / wyonoa, as you probably sailed. Never been out in the harbour, always looks to gusty due to protection from break walls and islands etc. Every now and then head up too brisbane and then sail in the bay, with the right tides some got spots are on offer.
Don't think ill go the whole hog on the GPS, but saying that never thought id own a camed sail as well, and had an absolute blast on my new naish bullet, 7m last week, so who knows ?
Select to expand quoteNerdburger said..
I dont think ill go the whole hog on the GPS, but saying that never thought id own a camed sail as well, and had an absolute blast on my new naish bullet, 7m last week, so who knows ?
Nerdy - I was the same - 24 years wavesailing and bump and jump. Always said i wouldn't own a sail bigger than a 6.5, let alone a cammed sail. One day, I sailed Queens lake mud bank (pretty flat but not Harrington flat) on my freestyle board with a GPS. Addictive as you can instantly see result changes in your technique each run! Anyway, bit the bullet in June 2012 and got some slalom gear (bunch of Falcons and cammed sails) and my biggest sail is now an 8m cammed sail. I love this stuff as much as wavesailing. In spring/summer NE winds I wavesail, and in Autumn and winter and strong southerly changes I break the slalom speed stuff out. I find i sail more now because I enjoy waves and flat water. GPS sailing improoves your overall technique and makes flat water sailing way more interesting.
Harrington is dead flat at low tide - aim for S through to SE. Queens mudbank works in many directions, but i usually sail it in the southerly fronts so it works well in wsw, sw, se. Pretty gusty in a S wind as it comes straight over a massive mountain so it can be on and off. The regular lads sail Queens in a NE too.
Hope this helps. If you need any more info just ask. On a good day at queens we will have 6 or 7 sailors out. Now that the Harrington secret is out, on a good day i expect the whole of NSW to be there!
You can always find me at Jordans boating centre and give me a call will give you the heads up on where to go if your down this way , southwest rocks this time of the year is the place for you to base yourself , southwesterlies are awesome and good fun on the waves
Select to expand quoteaussieboats said..
You can always find me at Jordans boating centre and give me a call will give you the heads up on where to go if your down this way , southwest rocks this time of the year is the place for you to base yourself , southwesterlies are awesome and good fun on the waves
Shhhhhhh Mark
Nerdy if looking for fairly flat water and fun cross off waves, T Bay is sweet in a s-wester. If there's no waves you get some good smoothish runs in both nor-east and s-westers. But it's hard to beat the lakes for true flatwater stuff.
Select to expand quoteNerdburger said..
Don't think ill go the whole hog on the GPS, but saying that never thought id own a camed sail as well, and had an absolute blast on my new naish bullet, 7m last week, so who knows ?
Adam said exactly the same thing to me a year or so ago...now look at him! Fark he couldn't even fit a wave board into the back of his wagon on one big SW at Queens Lake due to the amount of his go-fast gear in there. And he can use it too.
wow,
Thanks every one for such great feed back on locations and wind directions, etc,. Looking forward to sailing SWR and also queens, hopefully we all get some wind for this coming weekend, and looking forward to catching up with you all in person on the water. If the forecast holds for a sw i might even head down to SWR for this sat or sun, depending on the fore cast.
Already my van is full of gear,bikes, sups, surfboards, and w/surf kit, will properly now have to build racks, to organise the chaos and to make sure, I'm rocking up with all the required gear, to suit the wind and waves.
Cheers,
Select to expand quoteNerdburger said..
wow,
Thanks every one for such great feed back on locations and wind directions, etc,. Looking forward to sailing SWR and also queens, hopefully we all get some wind for this coming weekend, and looking forward to catching up with you all in person on the water. If the forecast holds for a sw i might even head down to SWR for this sat or sun, depending on the fore cast.
Already my van is full of gear,bikes, sups, surfboards, and w/surf kit, will properly now have to build racks, to organise the chaos and to make sure, I'm rocking up with all the required gear, to suit the wind and waves.
Cheers,
Nerdburg, there should one or two out on Trail Bay on Saturday. A few of us are heading to Queens for a blat (well worth the run for you if the wind kicks in) and will be back sailing SWR's on Sunday- by then there should be some decent waves wrapping in. Should be a fair crew of speed guys at Queens on Saturday.
Hey Phil, mega jealous this weekend, and into next week too maybe, TB looks like it will be an awesome spot to be. I really hope it fires for you mate. Have to say I am super keen for good wave session at the moment...
Select to expand quoteraftcrew said..
Hey Phil, mega jealous this weekend, and into next week too maybe, TB looks like it will be an awesome spot to be. I really hope it fires for you mate. Have to say I am super keen for good wave session at the moment...
Thanks Jamie.
It's looking good for both spots. Got good banks at the goal, and good wind direction for Queens. I'll try to get some shots from Queens and TBay over the weekend and put them up on GPS Challenge.
PS- found a pic on my phone from last weeks s-wester. Not the best shot but chest high A-frames= happy days!
Cheers mate.
Phil,
Thanks for the info, I've just packed the van for all conditions tonight, and will check the wind after an early morning surf, if the forecast still looks great for down south, i will head down to queens on saturday, and put my new to me, falcon to the test, and then look for some waves to sail either in the afternoon or sunday. I can always camp in the van to make the most of the weekends wind and waves.
Thanks Moby for the directions to queens, i'll be in a white VW van, packed to the hilt with gear.
Thanks to all for the info, i look forward to catch up with you all, and getting some serious sailing time this weekend, especially after being out of the water for the last 3 mths with a broken ankle.
Cheers,
James.
Nerdy. Stay on Bobs Creek Rd, do not deviate. There is a lot of bush and you will think that you are lost but keep going. You will come to two forks in the road, always go right and follow through to the reserve. Any worries give me a call on 0447755899. Only wont answer if i am blasting the mudbank. I will be heading down around 12. Your Falcon will work well here - I use Falcons. Do you have a weedy? It is not necessary to have a weedy to sail the body of the lake, but if you wanna sail the speed strip over the mudbank you will need a weedy
Aj,
Thanks for the directions, and contact details, I properly won't be down to queens till after lunch, after a early surf plus commute time from Coffs.
I don't have a weedy, but will see how i fare with a normal fin. I bought a second hand 2012 falcon 113 and also got a 7 meter sail, if its too windy, ill just blast on my FSW and wave sails.
Cheers,
James.
Thanks to all,
Had a great sail today at queens, even though wind was marginal, great crew and a beautiful spot. Will camp at SWR tonight, out for a steak and a beer, and hopefully the wind fires tomorrow for a blast in the bay.
Cheers.
