Just spent a long weekend in Lancelin watching a reasonable swell and strong offshore winds going to waste
(got some SUPing in so dont worry it wasn't a wasted weekend).
Anyway, started thinking ... if you had a decent rescue boat like a jetski or dinghy to cover the "blown offshore in an accident" scenario, where would be the best cross off location (Gero and below) ... and why aren't we taking advantage?
Hey Grumps,
I suspect it's really a question of being spoiled for choice.
In WA you get such good regular conditions across summer (normally) that there is no need to chase wind directions outside of the regular south south westerly pattern.
You normally get your fill so to speak.
On the east coast we don't get the consistency or the strength of the west coast.
I know this from first hand experience growing up on the West Coast and now living east coast.
There's some places on the East coast that crank in winter in cross off conditions and are sailed regularly.
When I return back to the west coast and there's a big hot summer high creating nor easters I wonder why no one is sailing them.... then I think about the sou wester pattern when it cranks !!!!
As to your question, yep you can sail a host of cross locations from Gero south.
You don't need a rescue boat but you just need to be confident that you can swim your gear in, in the case of breakage.
It is possible and it has been done
PS: have a look between Mindarie and Moore River... plenty of locations just far enough off the beach to be just too far most to paddle a surf board
And to answer your question Grumps see photo below of me taken by Col from Birdseye View last week. This place is probably a similar distance if not more than Lano and the wind is SE. Cross off is the best wind direction. Sure its risky and I have done a big swim before but the reward seems to make you forget about it
YEOW
heaps of sick options on cross off to full off off.
ignoring the south coast beachies..
have had some great sessions
- obviously margs but also yallingup (with a swim in)
- full crankin 28 knot morning easterly in perth on slalom gear doing runs from city beach to trigg and back racing IRB's and jet skis on glassy water.
- lanno, and land at the pub for a beer (Just stash a 10er before you go out)
- G (Cross off)
- winderabandi point at ningaloo
- exmouth wave sail at dunes 3m swell in the morning - SICK., but ruffled the surfers ha
- and over the weekend just gone 30 knot cross off to just off at sams island in dampier with a cyclone swell coming down the guts of the shipping channel
wind is wind so get out there!
Nice photo greeny!
Sweet wave Gazza
Song is awesome
Maybe try a bit of gaffer tape on the back of the gopro next time to stop the safety rope flicking into shot