Greetings to all the NSW GPS Team Challenge sailors,
Bit of a new concept for some fun summer sailing. A weekend speed comp has been discussed among a few of the Roaches and the Marauders for the coming months of November and December. Funnily enough just as I was going to announce it Ads (Adam Craven) announced the December/January comp affiliated with Stormriders and Windsurfing Australia. Best of both worlds.
What we are going to do is hold a “floating” weekend of windsurfing at Wallis Lake at Pacific Palms on the mid north coast. By floating I mean it will be wind dependent. If there is a good looking forecast for wind on a particular weekend (a nor-easter is what we are hoping for) then a decision will be made by the Wednesday at the latest and its on!!!!! No having to lock in leave passes or organization etc, if you can make then well and good, that's it. It's a beautiful spot with lots of other activities as well.
Based loosely along the lines of the Sandy Point Speed fortnight, it's just an experiment to get a bunch of like minded people together, sail in a new spot and get to know some of the guys and gals we compete against in the Challenge. Simple, no rules and hopefully fun. Just like any other weekend away windsurfing.
If it is popular we would like to make it a roving weekend too in the future with a weekend down at Illawarra and maybe Sydney at Kyeemagh.
Lots of accommodation in the area from camping, cabins etc at Tiona Park to motels etc at Blueys and Boomerang beaches and Forster/Tuncurry just up the road.
With local sailors helping with wind and weather conditions (no promises, we are at the mercy of Huey) it looks promising for a fun time. Ultimately what we would like to see is a sail at Booti Point (best spot for a nor-easter) or the Pacific Palms sailing club, then a BBQ and refreshments and another days sailing on the Sunday (pushing our luck but why not).
Just download your sessions on the GPS Challenge site as per usual and we can all check out the results. Level playing field with everyone sailing at the same spot and hopefully some great vibes on and off the water. One of the main aspects of the Team Challenge is participation, so doesn't matter if you are a hot shot or a beginner and newcomer to GPS sailing, turn up and have some fun.
This is open to all of the NSW teams. Illawarra Speedsters, Lake Macquarie crew, ACT Gustbusters, Mid North Coast Marauders and the Cockroaches. Any interstaters around at the time are all welcome too. Anyone can come and sail too to make the most of the weekend away. So far the guys I have talked to about this are all super keen, we just need Mother Nature to contribute.
Any comments and or opinions (helpful please) are encouraged. So keep an eye on Sea Breeze starting November and let's hope we have a fun weekend.
Cheers,
Larko (ka43)
Good on you Grant and Gabe for getting the idea off the ground. A busy summer coming up!
Don't forget the Double Demerits team too.
cheers
james
Why dont you come this weekend to Lake macquarie slalom?
Sounds like a top Idear I will try and make it if not on a racing weekend.
Hope to see you soon.
I tried to book a cabin at the Swansea caravan park. Unfortunately they were booked out. Tried the park at Wangi Point and they are booked out too. Whats it like at Wangi? Any good for windsurfing in a NE sea breeze?
Not sure now if we will head up there this Saturday. Had a windsurf at Kyeemagh today and everyone is getting amped up for a big Saturday at Kyeemagh.
Great idea Larko, awesome and just to ad my two bobs worth, the perfect accompaniment to the Storm-Riders GPS Challenge Trophy comp! I'll be there if I'm free that wk end, for sure.
For your information also and if your looking for local cabin/unit style accommodation, you could give Sandpiper Lodges on Smiths Lake a call? As Smiths is full at the moment, it too could provide another great location for a wk end of slalom style GPS racing. It's actually perfect in a south easter if the NEster doesn't eventuate
http://www.sandpiperonsmithslake.com.au
Book through www.stayz.com.au/3037 or ring Don & Emmy on 02 6554 4050
Cant pass up such a sweet forecast but dont want to piss Huey off too early so as prior notice the weekend is ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so far[}:)]
Once again open to all NSW GPS teams and anyone who is passing by. No pressure, no timetable, no heats just a weekend away for some smokin' speed runs at Wallis lake secret spot!!!
Ive texted Gabe & AJ but havent heard back yet but wanted to give everyone an early heads up to make plans.
Cross everything and lets hope Huey comes through, stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!
Forcast looks great for the weekend , will come down from Port Macquarie and bring the Hotsails Maui and Patrik demo gear with me if any one wonts to try out the gear , should be there lunch time Saturday .
Hi Guys,
Got your text a little later this morning Larko and it looks like this weekend should be good for a couple of nice Noreasters.That's if the forecast holds.We had a similar good forecast for this weekend gone and really didn't come through as expected. The Friday was the pick of the days apparently, but I wasn't there.
We did have quite a few people at Booti Point on the sat.and if we get the numbers we're expecting we'll need to be careful with our parking down there and may even have cars parked up the hill(more room) and ferry some gear down if needed, so we can have space to rig.
If you get accomodation at Tiona, you can also rig and launch from there. Its just a few more metres upwind of the "Point" and a bit further in the bay.
All I can say is I'm looking forward to the first of many of these "meets" and Huey, BRING IT ON!!
Cheers, Gabe
Really looking forward to it guys, should be wicked!!!!!!!!!!!
Im heading up to sail the Aquatic Club on Friday, staying at the Miller mansion and then coming up early saturday morning. Looks like quite a few are interested so lets hope we will have a good crew to enjoy Booti Pt.
Looking at staying at Tiona so maybe beers and BBQ saturday night???
Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to have to sit this one out Larko, dangit! It's such a crazy time of year. 
It's looking like a great weekend for you all, and I look forward to the trip reports 
Hope it's a great weekend Larko. Not a great time for me to get away as you know. Hopefully January might be better.
Good luck Larko - I hope it goes well. Can't make it 
- NSW raceboard titles at Sanctuary Point this weekend.
I'll be there Saturday and see how I hold up in a big breeze.
Hey Larko I converted all those old vids to mp4, if you haven't done same and want copies bring a 2Gig usb stick and I'll dump them into it. Look forward to having an ale with you dude.
Hi Everyone,
Just a bit more info about this weekends NSW GPS Team meet at Booti Point. So far there has been a great response to the gathering and the NE forecast is still looking great for the Sat. The Sun. may be a bit light on.
In response to James' comment re: space and state of the road access. I estimate that about a dozen or so cars could fit down there maybe a few more inside the boom gate down below.The rest may have to park at the top.We'll help get the gear down there if needed.
The road looks worse than it really is. It's badly rutted but 2Wdrivable none the less, if you stay with your wheels either side of the ruts. Take it SLOWLY. If your'e not confident, walk it first and/or follow someone down.I wouldn't take anything with low ground clearance, eg sportscar, Ferrari etc.
As mentioned earlier, you can rig and sail from Sundowner Tiona caravan park if you stay there, and sail down to the point.
As for the social, I'd reccomend keeping it simple and go to the Pacific Palms Recreation Club a few Kms. back towards the "Palms" on the lake side of the road, for a feed and a few beers. You will probably drive past it to get to the Point.
Any other suggestions or comments feel free to say so.
Cheers, Gabe
Bugger can't make it coz of a silly Christmas work BBQ.........
Why can't work events take place during work?
Would have been cool to take my camera with the big zoom and document the sailing.
Oh well, Kyeemagh here we come this Saturday.
Well fellas it seems that we have quite a bit of a crew making the trek so am pretty excited and looking forward to it!!!!! As was stated from the outset its definitely a super casual thing so if you can make it sweet but if not then it will be on again during summer.
Big thanks to Gabe and the Marauders for hosting us and the work done.
cant wait to catch up with Steve, mark and Raf for a beer or several.
Mike, Glen and Rexy, we will get there boys, its a crazy time of the year.
Anymore info please post here.!!!
Much weed there at the moment Gabe?
Also Gabe, where exactly is the turn off to the rigging and sailing area? I have sailed at the PPalms sailing club before, so lets use that as a reference. Sorry for the silly question, I have been on google maps looking and cant reference the sailing club at all.
I am definately in for one of the two arvos, with the forecast favouring a sat sesh at this point - looking fwd to meeting Mick and Milsy, as well as any roaches that show up. Should be a great vibe on the water
Thanks for that, its been awhile since Ive been up there but definitely recognise that spot. Might have some secret weapons to demo on the weekend, see how we go with presents from WSnS!!!!
Thanks Mark, I was just doing a couple of maps myself when you posted. Good idea for the google photo's. Here's a another showing the location of the Palms Rec Club, just casual wear to get in
Thanks Mark and Matt for the maps and drawings, it is further south then I had imagined. Gold star for your yellow sailboards MAtt!
For those of us coming from up North, would it be quicker to come in on the first exit through Forster, or faster to head further south on the Hwy and come in through past Smith's Lake?
I heard a rumour that you MAY have a couple of the new red falcons to demo Larko, courtesy of Sam, just a rumour, but I hope it is true - it would be great to demo the new shape falcons and Mark.J's Patrik boards back to back. Hoping you can fit in my little black stick as well (if not, no worries, will get Sam to courier her up)
For those that are driving North, use the first exit at Buladelah and just follow the main road for about 30min, it's a few minutes past the Rec Club at Pacific Palms.
For those that are driving South, use the first exit past Taree and The Point is about 15min past the only Macca's in Forster, follow any signs on the main road pointing to Buladelah/Newcastle.
There hasn't been much weed lately and we've been using slalom fins but there's a big weed bank upwind of the launch area which can get shallow at low tide so bring all your relevant fins. There is no tidal current to worry about or dangers to avoid but steer clear of any crab trap floats you may see.
Thanks to Matt for the maps and other info provided.I was a bit slow on getting the latest feedback from everyone.I think that Matt has covered all the questions very well. I'll post a few signs around the place indicating "No Parking and Rigging area" and a little mowing before the weekend.
The current forecast is looking good at N to NNE and NE at 20 -25knots. Tide should be low at 1.15pm Sat. and 2.30pm Sun. Sailing either side of this would give the flattest conditions. Be aware that it does get quite shallow around the weed banks at low tide, like about 30cm.The inside sections where the sand bar is obvious, is very shallow, so sus it out before you come in too close and too fast.
Lately the weed has started to be a nuisance, but sometimes it can be relatively weed free. As Matt says, bring all your fins.If your sick of the speed runs, take advantage of the excellent rolling chop out back for some "airtime" or go for a nice long run to the other side into 'MacGyver Country'.It's about 10kms to the other side.Awesome fun.
There are no facilities at the Point, so bring everything you think you'll need for the day. EG water, food, spares, sense of humour, etc The nearest proper toilets are at Booti Booti Nat. Park back towards Tiona.
The best way(quickest) to Booti from the North, is if you take the first turn to Forster/Tuncurry, or the second through Failford and go through Foster town and onto the Lakesway, and head south from there.Don't bother going via Buladelah unless you have to. See you all soon!!
Cheers, Gabe
