Canton Beach at Toukley on the Central Coast. You need a weed fin. Check out the thread I made a few weeks ago. It has pictures and a video which shows what its like. It was a strong southerly that day. SW winds are a great direction there too.

Wind is looking MASSIVE late Friday & Sat for the Illawarra but there's so many spots, depends if you want (lake) flat or bump n jump.

If it's more SSW then Dolls Point at the southern end of BB worth a sail. On the north side Palm Beach is good (Pittwater), park Iluka Rd.

If you're more adventurous Umina Beach will be pretty exposed but you can try if you want some swell/chop or just continue onto Canton?

Pack a 4.5 if you have one.

The water at Canton Beach is still pretty flat in parts in a SW wind, at least it was last year. As you sail out the water is flat due to the weed. In the middle there is a bit of rolling swell in the deeper water. At the far end the water is flat again.

PeterPaan said...
Stupid question......

I only have a normal fin - it is a Drake 420 fin that came as stock with the board. What will happen if I try to sail with this fin around Lake Tuggarah / Canton? Will I actually come to a stop?

No you wont stop - problem is though, your board will

You really need a weed fin! But come up anyway somebody will lend you one.

If you're not too confident with strong winds, try Narrabeen lakes, it is flatter and safer. The wind not too consistent and often weaker, launch from the North end carpark. No need for a weed fin there.
It is impossible to sail with even a little bit of weed attached to your fin, you cannot get on the plane or steer properly.

sboardcrazy said...
Sw or SSW in a S you are forced out into the steep chop..unless you are willing to sail down into the bay and then work back up.

I don't think so Sue. The more west you get, the less you have sail out into deeper water at Canton Beach, thus choppier water. When the wind is swinging more easterly then you sail straight into short and steep chop which is not too pleasant.

Quite a few of us sail from St georges sailing club near taren point road in southerlies

In low tide the sand bar comes out and can get some great bear away.
Its only about 10 min drive south of kyeemagh near the taren point bridge but is a LOT flatter. at the end of the day it has hot showers and beers in the sailing club.

can also rig / derig on the decking or in the boat shed itself if its raining plus has fresh water hoses to wash gear.

the best time to sail is the 2 hours before low tide where the water is running out in same direction of the wind -

Here is a gps track showing where the sandbar is in low tide.