Balmoral and Forty Baskets work in a NE'R. SE possibly the Lake or Brownwater. If wavesailing Newport Reef in a SE, Longy in a SW, SSW, NE and Makaha in a S.

Manly harbour side good in S / SSW even SSE but SE Clontarf or Collaroy as stated.
NE a bit gutless on north side, 7 m sail or foil is ideal. Balmoral good in NE but parking hopeless on weekends. There is about 3 free spots right at the north end if you fluke it.
Pittwater good in S / SW even W but NW better. Ok in decent NE but all paid parking unless NB sticker.
NE you can sail off Chinamans & park up the hill a bit for free on weekdays. Surfed last year (SUP) & there by were 3 others out also - crowded!
If you happen to take a sickie on a windy day you could be the only one on the water.

Well, I think I may completely avoid Botany Bay on hot, Sunday afternoons from now on. No parking. Anywhere.
Felt like tossing an egg at the SUVs taking up two spaces.

The lake was much nicer, but I completely missed the breeze.

Question: are the any underwater obstacles at Narrabeen Lakes?

Camp cove can be good in NE especially later in the day when the wind can turn NNE. Parking again I imagine would be an issue on weekends.

Panda,
If you are at Middle Creek reserve then there are a few things that will help.
Looking from the beach/launch area upwind in a nor-easter.
The right hand side atm is quite shallow. There is a white buoy just upwind of Chat Pt. Very shallow all the way up to that marker approx. 15 meters off the shore. Once above the marker its waist deep and that's where the majority of guys do their runs from.
The left hand side is deep all the way up to the sand bar at the entrance to Deep Creek, cant miss it.
We basically sail from the right side across towards Wakehurst Parkway side and if you get a decent gust you can get a short bearaway under the sandbar. back & forth is the norm. Not long runs but usually good fun. Very gusty and swirly but if you get out at the right time its fun.
Can be very light on the ocean but the wind funnels in and its quite sailable early.
Some very weird & wonderful characters in attendance as with most spots
Friendly locals, give me a ping if your heading down on a good forecast,
As for underwater obstacles, its pretty good at the moment apart from the odd mullet you might run over. Only bad after major rain or storms.
Cheers,
Larko.

Thanks y'all.

Looks like a flaaat 400m run, good for gybing and gybing and gybing
I'll see you there when weather and tides and children's extra-curricular activities allow.

ka43 said..
Panda,
If you are at Middle Creek reserve then there are a few things that will help.
Looking from the beach/launch area upwind in a nor-easter.
The right hand side atm is quite shallow. There is a white buoy just upwind of Chat Pt. Very shallow all the way up to that marker approx. 15 meters off the shore. Once above the marker its waist deep and that's where the majority of guys do their runs from.
The left hand side is deep all the way up to the sand bar at the entrance to Deep Creek, cant miss it.
We basically sail from the right side across towards Wakehurst Parkway side and if you get a decent gust you can get a short bearaway under the sandbar. back & forth is the norm. Not long runs but usually good fun. Very gusty and swirly but if you get out at the right time its fun.
Can be very light on the ocean but the wind funnels in and its quite sailable early.
Some very weird & wonderful characters in attendance as with most spots
Friendly locals, give me a ping if your heading down on a good forecast,
As for underwater obstacles, its pretty good at the moment apart from the odd mullet you might run over. Only bad after major rain or storms.
Cheers,
Larko.

... Some very weird & wonderful characters in attendance ...
ha ha ha