Hey mate,

If you're going to Batemans Bay you should bring a board. Broulee (about 15 minutes south of the Bay) is good in a NE. Plenty of flat open water at the Bay itself to though.

Cross your fingers for wind.

Sounds good guys. If the trips on, I will definately load the gear up and get in touch.

Word of warning though, I am just a begginer, and will no doubt require rescuing.. or at least a lot of information :)

I am currently destroying an Exocet Nano 155. I have 4 sails; an 8.1, 7.0??, 6.0 and 4.5 I think. Been a while since I checked. Probably get more info later on weather wise, but would it be worthwhile loading them all? Or leave the 8 and maybe the 7 behind?

Hopefully get down there, because I bought a 3/2 full length wetsuit in anticipation...

Thanks for the info

Matt

What is Tomakin Beach like for Wind surfing?

I've seen some people with kites but there were no polies. I'm staying there for a while towards the end of the year and thought it looked good. Any comments??

Cheers

I last sailed Broulee in the Mid 80's and it was a great spot!. If I remember correctly the is a large bar with a small island and sand spit. Offers sailing on seabreezes and southerlies and there was even little waves next to the island.

It was my first trip away with a board. I had a Hifly 300 and my mate had a TC Runner - his sail had a batten and was therefore very modern!

Hey Revhead u going to be able to come up for the NSW WA comp at Shell Harbour?

Steptoes Son said...
What is Tomakin Beach like for wind surfing?

Depends what you mean by "Tomakin Beach", Simon.

The beach at the mouth of Tomakin River can be brilliant, particularly in a NE through to a southerly. The rocks around the river mouth filter out most of the chop, yet the swell pushes through, so an ideal mix of smooth water and waves to jump and ride. There's a good grassy area to rig. The reach is relatively short, however, and tide might be a problem if it's running out strongly. Yes, and kiters sail there quite often, but we can co-exist.

The beach north of Melville Point (where the lookout is) can be superb in a NW; it has quite an SE aspect, so you can reach parallel to the beach on glassy water for about 1.5 kms. Launch from the northern end (near the caravan park). In a NE, it can get a bit lumpy and dumpy at the southern end; the headland seems to focus the waves into that corner. If you get in trouble in a NE, the rock monsters await you.

YZed said...
Is Burleigh(sic) Griffin any good?

Had a super session on LBG yesterday. Windy, warm and flat. Only problem: no-one else out!! Get ready for 2 months of solid NW, before the easterlies return. Bring 'em on!

Steptoes Son said...
. . . how cold was the lake???

According to the water police, the surface temperature is currently 8 degrees, and substantially colder 2 metres down. I was talking to them today; they were searching for the missing, feared drowned, kayaker. Poor bugger. And, what a horrible task for the police.

I was contemplating a sail, but since the body hadn't been found, it seemed prudent to not go out. I would be sailing very close to where they were searching.

From October throught to March the National Capital Authority reports weekly on the lake temperature and level and water quality (esp. algae). You can find these reports on their website.

This is the latest on the missing kayaker, from the Canberra Times website:-

Police have named the man they fear might have died while surf-skiing on Lake Burley Griffin on Sunday. Peter Morrison, 30, of Jerrabomberra, went missing between 11.30am and 12.30pm on Sunday after surf-skiing with his partner.

The pair had become separated and planned to meet on Black Mountain Peninsula.

Police divers have worked for the past three days to find Mr Morrison, but hopes began to fade after he could not be found on Sunday.

Search coordinator Detective Sergeant Ian Faulds said, ''We've spoken to the loved ones of Peter and explained that all hope has pretty much abated in terms of being able to find the man alive. Unfortunately, and as tragically as it seems, we're looking at recovering a body at this stage.'' Police said the disappearance had devastated Mr Morrison's family. Relatives joined police yesterday on boats and were briefed on the search.

''They're holding up quite well but, as you'd expect, it's a tragic accident and a large, close-knit family, one can only guess how they're feeling.''

It is understood Mr Morrison had completed the trip several times before and was very fit.

Police scoured about 6000sqm of the lake in search of his body in cold and blustery conditions. The water temperature was about 9 degrees and visibility 30cm or less.

Divers each worked three shifts a day searching the bottom of the lake by feel. Sergeant Faulds said police hoped to continue the search until the body was found.

A second man who was rescued on Sunday has provided police with information about conditions on the water at the time. YMCA Sailing Club members rescued the kayaker about 10.30am, only an hour before Mr Morrison went missing.





A reminder of the vulnerability of us all.