I was just wondering if anyone windsurf anymore on the northern end of the Central Coast or the southern end of Lake Macquarie?
I have just got my boards out of storage and started to sail again after about 7 years,I used to sail on Lake Munmorah, Birdie Beach and the mouth of Swansea Channel, but have not seen anyone sailing at the these places anymore.
Is there better places to sail these days?
I have been enjoying sailing again but it would be nice if I could find a few like minded people to sail with.
Regards
Matt Dowse

Matt, there is a small crew that get out at Shingle Splitters and Bonnells Bay including myself. Also I get to Birdie when there is a good nor-easter plus Toowoon Bay in a southerly. Should of went there today, wind and waves were on but peeing down rain. Getting soft in my old age.

Matt, just type it into google maps and voila. Its on the south-west shores of Lake Mac, just east of Morisset. It used to be very popular many years ago with up to 20 windsurfers out on a good north-east wind. As it is only 5 mins from my place, it's a good substitute when I don't get time to get to the beach. In winter I sail in Bonnells Bay as it has no weed and the water is very warm courtesy of Eraring power station.

MattDowse said...
Hi Karl
Nice to have meet you on Saturday I will sail at Canton Beach next time I have time and it is windy, Where do you sail in a nor'easter?
Hi Dean
I hope we will have a nor'easter soon and I will see you out there, I found it on google!
Have you sailed the mouth of Swansea channel in a out going tide in a nor'easter?
Regards
Matt Dowse

Be a bit careful with swansea heads on an out going tide. If there is a bit of swell plus the outgoing tide the waves off the end of the breakwall can stand up and hammer you pretty good. Swansea channel mouth doesn't happen very often as you need 3 things to come together at once but when it does it is a lot of fun. Just be real careful about that bar. I've only sailed the mouth once in an easterly many moons ago and we had a great day but unfortunately a swedish visitor went to far out into the swell and got munched, eaten, bitch slapped and dumped onto the rocks at the end of the breakwall for good measure. We were sailing just inside the channel in small side/onshore rollers, good for barrel rolls (all the rage at the time) when a mate sailed up and told me about the swedish guy in trouble. We sailed out to try and help him and were flatout getting through the breakers ourselves. He was climbing up the rocks by then, both he and his gear were battered and bruised but otherwise ok. To his credit he took the whole thing in his stride. So yeah, swansea channel mouth can be good but caution and common sense are advised.

Hey Matt, is there any flat water to be had on lake munmorah in a southerly?

Cluffy said...
Hey Matt, is there any flat water to be had on lake munmorah in a southerly?

Hi Cluffy
Not really just normal chop from the water being stirred up from the wind over a few km.
If I remember correctly manning park had some flat water in a Southerly and warm water from the power station , good in winter.

sboardcrazy said...

MattDowse said...
Hi Cluffy
I have sail there alot over the years and that why I am asking if anyone stills sails there as I do not want to sail there alone.
The current runs at about 3 knots and you can be washed out very quickly if your gear fails.
I have helpped people in from moon island before by gerry rigging gear.
But it is a fun place to sail and I hope to find someone to sail there with me again.
Regards
Matt Dowse

I seem to remember sailing there occasionally back in the 90's and found it hard to waterstart with the current being so strong it would pull the board to the angle it wanted. I did sail there though..too old & unfit these days..

On getting older and watersports, Tom Carroll said it perfectly in Storm Surfers.



If You're one of us older types do yourself a favour and check out Storm Surfers.

MattDowse said...

I seem to remember sailing there occasionally back in the 90's and found it hard to waterstart with the current being so strong it would pull the board to the angle it wanted. I did sail there though..too old & unfit these days..

I remember that as well!
Don't try and stand up or touch the bottom, that fixes the problem of current, if you don't touch bottom it's just like more wind!
I sailed up there regularly from about 1987 til 2003 as the was a group of us there any time the wind and tides lined up. And a few times til 2006 as I was not that keen sailing by myself and there where not so many people sailing after 2003.

I seem to recall that the board would be pulled out of ideal waterstarting alignment and that's what made it hard..mind you the old memory isn't that great these days...

byronmc said...
Shingle splitters is just beautiful place to rig launch and sail. I sail there as it is close to my home.
Coal point is where most people sail in a NE as we go over to the sand islands for flat water blasting. you can launch from swancy caravan park as well.
Aquatic club in Tuggerah lakes I have sail once just recently for flat water speed.
Southerly Cantong for flat water or Valentine for slalom bump and jump.
NW marmong point

I am keen to give Shingle Splitters a try!
I have sailed at Swansea Caravan park a lot in a NE when the channel was running in.
Had a look at Canton Beach the other day and met Karl, I have not windsurfed there before but have race sailboats at Toukley sailing club (just up the beach).
We used to race slalom at Valentine, I remember it to be a lot of fun!
In a West or NW we used to sail around the sand islands at Swansea.

Rus13b said...
Anything with west in it SSW to NW canton is the go, flat & choppy
depends what u wont. S works there to, but i found valentine is windier
& more consistant in true S.

And more rolling 'waves ' not as steep short chop as Canton.