Anyone know if sailing in the Clarence river is any good (or reasonably possible) in westerlies when other options around the area are limited ?

I was thinking more inland than Iluka or Yamba -

Maybe at Lawrence right in the middle of the town from the riverside park, or perhaps from opposite the broadwater on the south side just upstream of Maclean where the road is right next to the river (just upstream of Ilarwill).

Both look to have reasonable fetches in the westerlies - Lawrence more SW maybe, Ilarwill more NW maybe ?

Mobydisc said...

I have not sailed in the Clarence River but in my experience of westerlies and river sailing, it usually doesn't work out too well. Usually the wind is too gusty and comes from variable directions. So its difficult to get a decent long run. However it can be okay if the wind is consistent enough.

Perhaps on the Clarence it could be okay as the valley is pretty big with the hills a long way away. There aren't any decent lakes around there are there? Posting this question on the Queensland windsurf forum could bring some results.

The river is quite wide (almost 1/2km) west of the Pacific Hwy (heading towards Maclean). It runs almost directley East-West at that point. There with heaps of spots you could rig up and launch from the side of the road and just BAF across the river. Not sure how fast the tide runs there either but you can prob. pick a a time when the tides about to turn - Can't be any worse than Hastings at Port Maquarie.
Westerlies are always gusty but the valley is not too enclosed so I don't think it would be any worse than say Kurnell and probably a lot better than Narrabeen

Carantocky,

Up near the Broadwater would be OK, as you said in a westerly.
Also some sections along there look good in a southerly as the surrounding land is pretty flat.

Don't forget to give us a report

you r a dickeahd lot of ass wind