G'day - I sometimes cast off from that beach & it usually works well. I (along with a few others) also set off from the sandy boat ramp at Darling Point (per attached map)
Also ups & downs for this spot:
Ups:
- You can park right next to the rigging & launch area
- Heaps of rigging space
- You can keep an eye on your car/gear from out on the water
- Sandy ramp & surrounding seabed
- On-shore breeze for E, SE & S wind
- Flat water
- heaps of people can see you & call somebody if you get in strife
Downs:
- Fair bit of traffic on a good day ... I've always found fellow windsurfers very polite ... nearly dropped my sail on one bloke - he just dodged it and had a bit of a chuckle - if that person is reading this, my apologies!
- Launching involves crossing the esplanade bike/walking path
- The ramp is occassionally used by people launching small boats, cats etc
- Parking on the busy esplanade makes loading to a roof-rack (like me) a bit sketchy
- There's a perpetual crowd of onlookers to laugh at you if you stuff up a move
I'll actually be down at that spot about 1pm on Saturday, hope to see you there!
Tim
