Looks like my wife's doing the Sail Port Stevens regatta in mid April and she want's me to come up. I don't want to do the regatta so I was wondering it there a good launching spot if I take the formula board. I've sailed heaps at Jimmy's Beach but not the Nelson's Bay side...
Shoal Bay. Parking next to grassed rigging area Taps, showers and a wide walk ramp down onto the beach that can accommodate a formula sized sail. Only wind direction that will cause real issues will be a westerly as it will be straight off shore... but you can dog out through the moorings and get going once the wind fills in
OK locals. This is the weekend. My first windsurf in maybe two years. Seabreeze says it'll be Southerly all weekend. Should I stick with the Shoal Bay launch or is there something more suited to a Southerly direction. Remember I've been off the water for a while so I don't need hardcore action...
I don't think Shoal Bay will be much good in a southerly. The wind will probably be quite gusty and blowing offshore. We were up at Shoal Bay at the end of January and I windsurfed there in a NE wind. It was a great wind direction there as I could sail out into the bay and right across to Winda Woppa.
Maybe down at Soldiers Point would be better in a southerly as the point juts into the water in a northerly direction so it may be possible to launch from there and get some good reaches up the port towards the heads and back though that may not be the best on a formula board in stronger winds.
Have a good time and its great to hear you going windsurfing again. Perhaps take your smaller board with you too as the winds are forecast to be quite strong.
I've sailed formula from Soldiers Pt in a southerly. Rig and launch at Ridgeway Ave. Gusts are slightly filtered by Wanda Pt, and smoother water can be found as you tack towards Corlette.
I just got home and after all the effort of digging the gear out, Saturday pissed down all day so I watched the car race and today wasn't consistent enough for me to think about taking on the huge run out tidal currents being generated. I did check out the launching spots and have stored them in the memory banks for next time.
Sorry couldn't resist..
