up to 34 SE forcast tommorrow on buoywether might have to get the missile out been a while as normally sail the surf till chrissie but the local pointer has been hanging around too much the last couple weeks so the lake might be a safer bet.
Looking fwd to a report on your expedition Jimbob, regarding water levels and weed length. I have the option to come down late January for two weeks, or the first two weeks of March. So whatever offers the best wind and water conditions I will run with. I assume due to School holidays it might be a tad busy at the van park in mid-late Jan?
Day trip to LG for me tomorrow
Forecast is NW to SW up to 30 knots. These are both directions which are not good for flat water, but I've got the leave pass and I'm going for it.
Maybe in behind the islands I might find something flat?
I was on the water early at LG in a cranking NW'ly with heavy rain squalls, and got smashed. Within a couple of hours it had moderated slightly and swung to the west. I rigged my 6.0 NCX on the W54 with 23 Delta Speed Weed and had a ball. No huge numbers, but it was good to get out on the lake and get some time on the speed board again. My new sails should arrive today
The water depth behind the islands was about an arm's length from the surface to the top of the weed...
Some pics:
(sorry, was a bit bored behind the wheel early on)
Those pictures tell a thousand words. The water looks incredibly flat for those wind strengths.
It looks like a whole bunch of people are coming down from Sydney in February. Yesterday at Kyeemagh there seemed to be two types of windsurfers. Those who are excited about going to Lake George next month and the dejected ones who are not.
Hey Chris by your tracks you didn't go behind the islands on the big lake like we talked about and when I said of the end of the spit I meant right of the end not the tree line in a nw to w. Check my tracks from today on gpstc to see what I mean was sweet there today. On my phone so will put up pic tomorrow when on laptop,
Just wondering if weed fins are compulsory or can you get away with small Slingshots or Vector delta Speeds at LG ?
Just wondering if weed fins are compulsory or can you get away with small Slingshots or Vector delta Speeds at LG ?
The smaller the better. Slingshots or Vector delta should be okay. I'll be trying out some UFO Wide 30's and 40's (www.mxrwindsurfing.com/}
If you get a weed fin try for a 24cm with matching board if at all possible.
It's the starting that takes forever as the water level drops off at LG.
Cheers PJ
C3 Slingshots have worked well there the last two seasons. They have just enough rake to shed the weed once you are up and going. They can sometimes catch a bit as you are trying to start in the really thick stuff, but once going they are fine.
Anything with 30 degree rake or more on the leading edge is OK. I also used KA assy speeds, MXR wide 30's and Lessacher Duo Rake 30's there with great results. I also tried Vector Delta 40's and they were fine but I felt there was scant advantage in the extra rake. The weed at LG seems to slide past or off the raked fins very easily.
I didn't use a fin deeper than 23cm there at all and that was only one Hr session attempt with a Vector speed weed 40 23cm. It felt a bit big on my IS50 actually! For my best 1 hr I used the Lessacher Duo Rake30 at 22cm, a Slingshot 19cm for my best NM and for all other speed sessions KA 20cm or MXR wide 30 16cm.
I am looking forward to trying the new Tribal (Lockwood design) assys in 18cm and 16.5cm there this year if the water level cooperates.
Leaving Bris for LG trip on the 21st Jan driving down should I take my time getting there for the windy time is early Feb best or can it be best any time I see good winds were March last year or is it like any place as i can blow anytime.
Will be looking for good places to sail on the way down 1st Port Macquarie, Syd, inland too SA then Vic, S Point, back up the east coast too Bris home again. Would love to hear from anyone wanting to sail with on my trip.
PM me if your keen to show me your spots local knowledge is welcome as I hate hitting things while sailing.
Thanks Boombuster.
Hi Glynn,
It looks like February / march this year will be good...
Let us know when you are going to be there and hope to catch up..
Always good to meet fellow speed freaks
Hi Glynn, www.windguru.cz/323632
Take a look here....there are 1 or 2 substantial weather stations anchored on LG.
Take Jimbob's advice as to when will be the best time to arrive.
Hi Sue /
C3 Slingshots have worked well there the last two seasons. They have just enough rake to shed the weed once you are up and going. They can sometimes catch a bit as you are trying to start in the really thick stuff, but once going they are fine.
Anything with 30 degree rake or more on the leading edge is OK. I also used KA assy speeds, MXR wide 30's and Lessacher Duo Rake 30's there with great results. I also tried Vector Delta 40's and they were fine but I felt there was scant advantage in the extra rake. The weed at LG seems to slide past or off the raked fins very easily.
I didn't use a fin deeper than 23cm there at all and that was only one Hr session attempt with a Vector speed weed 40 23cm. It felt a bit big on my IS50 actually! For my best 1 hr I used the Lessacher Duo Rake30 at 22cm, a Slingshot 19cm for my best NM and for all other speed sessions KA 20cm or MXR wide 30 16cm.
I am looking forward to trying the new Tribal (Lockwood design) assys in 18cm and 16.5cm there this year if the water level cooperates.
I can vouch for the mighty C3 Slingshot 19cm when I took out Daffy's board last year and got the top max and Av speed of the day. Very nice behind the Island. Using the same board and sail, it was 1.5-2 knots faster than with a KA20 in the back end. Couldn't see any other reason for the difference.
Daffy, where can one get the new Locky fins?
Just wondering if weed fins are compulsory or can you get away with small Slingshots or Vector delta Speeds at LG ?
Good luck with that, weedys only for me when its on,
How's that water level looking Jamie,getting a little impatient and very keen for a warm speed sailing session
Kato
Level is still high I sailed with a 30 pointer last few days but seems to be dropping now especially these 45 degree days, still no super flat water but sailed in 25 knots with no white caps in most areas, sat on looks like 5 days of se breeze back to work tommorrow but finish at 3 so will hit it then but if there is swell will be at the beach as that is my preferred sailing. i have been sailing of cockys just have to drive up around the top the last bit and not much of walk out at all(20 metres) but if the wind is forcast to go to the west or north you will be stuck there with no way out as the water from the big lake floods into the middle lake. the nm run from behind the islands and then along the spit is not too far away (daffy knows the one he followed me last year the bugger)
the bottom is really good and firm around the spit and out from cockys but if you go from the 5mile drift at the end of the road it is mud slush.
How different is it from when I came over in Jan last year Jimbob? Is the water level up to the spit beach or do you have to sail well out like last year? Is the water across the gap between lakes reasonably flat yet? (NM )
Thinking of coming over for a few days since I am on holidays.
I can vouch for the mighty C3 Slingshot 19cm when I took out Daffy's board last year and got the top max and Av speed of the day. Very nice behind the Island. Using the same board and sail, it was 1.5-2 knots faster than with a KA20 in the back end. Couldn't see any other reason for the difference.
Ahhh.... probably something to do with the KA20 being assy for starboard tack and we were on port tack!! The slingshot is symmetrical.
Daffy, where can one get the new Locky fins?
KA sails Australia: Peter is producing them under his 'Tribal' logo. Not sure if they are on the website yet. Contact Peter direct or try Chris.
All the ones we got for Luderitz were Starboard tack. Not sure if they is doing Port tack or symmetrical versions.
Will be wnadering down there first week of Feb.
You still owe me a BBQ Jimbob! be good to catch up with you again.
We also off to maui again in june this year :)
Craig
Oh
I can vouch for the mighty C3 Slingshot 19cm when I took out Daffy's board last year and got the top max and Av speed of the day. Very nice behind the Island. Using the same board and sail, it was 1.5-2 knots faster than with a KA20 in the back end. Couldn't see any other reason for the difference.
Ahhh.... probably something to do with the KA20 being assy for starboard tack and we were on port tack!! The slingshot is symmetrical.
Daffy, where can one get the new Locky fins?
KA sails Australia: Peter is producing them under his 'Tribal' logo. Not sure if they are on the website yet. Contact Peter direct or try Chris.
All the ones we got for Luderitz were Starboard tack. Not sure if they is doing Port tack or symmetrical versions.
Thanks mate! Yeah, must have had the 23 Symmy in then! That would explain it.
Oh, Thanks mate! Yeah, must have had the 23 Symmy in then! That would explain it.
Yes, I remeber now. You were using the KA23 Symmy. Quite a bit bigger fin would explain the difference. And a lucky gust!
Hey three lucky gusts! It was one of the best averages of the day too might I add!
I'm fixing my mind on early Feb when the water level's down a bit so keen to share a ride again if that suits you. Maybe late this month when you're still on holidays?
Has the water level ever got too low to speed sail with say a 20-23cm fin by March? I cant make it down till the first two weeks of March and am worried that I may be leaving it too late. Still potentially good breezes in March?
Has the water level ever got too low to speed sail with say a 20-23cm fin by March? I cant make it down till the first two weeks of March and am worried that I may be leaving it too late. Still potentially good breezes in March?
I think March will have the lake level at it's best and this is when the REAL winds crank look at the last 2 years gone by(35+ knts and 45+ knts).