went here last Wednesday wind was S tending SSE. Wind was funneling down without obstruction. No boats parked in the way. water was flat and tide did not influence the area. In addition the eastern side it becomes shallow and the water is clear. Great for freestyle speed or for beginners. Plus there is plenty of parking along the street right next to the grass area.
Will anyone be interested in sailing here on a SE wind in the future?
I'm up for it, especially if the tide at swater is no good. can you sail right across the shallow section near wavebreak?
there were a bunch of folk sailing just a bees dick further north from you near the kids play equipment @ lands-end bridge the last couple of days
yeh you can go right to the other side. although i did you there on near high there is deep sections to get you right across.
The spot near the play equipment look great as well. i think on low the bank may come a bit exposed and offer some flat water.
would you be keen for tommorow ? I have an exam but i should be finished by 10am
(Davecta as well)?
Owain.
For a seachange I'm thinking of heading to viccy point tomorrow. You up for that?
If I don't go, I will probably see you there, though the tide is good for SW at the moment.
viccy is out for me as i have to work later in the afternoon but if the wind is blowing im gonna head to this spot prob before lunch
owain.
This is very close to the spot everyone went to up until the early 90's, most sailed from Burrows Street and sailed to the north of that sand bank. Was good for speed over there and there used to be a reasonable swell come up through the pilotage for jumping...and you would get the odd huge cruiser go by that always gave a good wake.
I'm not really sure why everything moved to the Train from there and later Shearwater, as I wasn't around at the time.
i think it was the colonel brainwashing people into thinking the train was the shiz, so he didn't have to drive around chasing folk in order to sell stuff
doesnt appear to be much wind at banabank, so do u want to try sw first and if no good go to your spot?
u used to be able to go from Burrows st all the way behind the island to the channel near Straddie. But now the trees are too big so the wind shadow doesn't allow this. (all the boats that moor there don't help either)
Where Owain has indicated on the Map was good too. I remember learning Duck jybes on the shallow bit. But last time i sailed there (about 2 years ago) it was too shallow making the run across the channel too short.
I'm keen to give it another go though.
This was my first sailing spot on the coast !!!
Was great but then migrated to the train (and shear water)
Got caught there one day in an arvo storm sailing with Mr Cochrane (wind action) even he said was too much for him!
GCMOZ
I remember swimming gear back from the sand bank a few times in the old days, especially during squally southerlies.
And seeing a few guys come unstuck going too close to the bank. When I was 15 I was riding a home made 35cm wide speed board over there with a very short fin and had someone try to follow with a full size fin...all I heard was splat!!!
In a southerly, I dont think you can go past the "Grand"
There is a little sandy beach to launch from right next to the boat ramp just in front of the Grand Hotel. You can have fairly long speed runs in flat water right up to the sand bank (see the southern end of photo in the first post) Also the buildings on the point tend to funnel the wind and unlike the Train, the gusts tend to come together at the sandbank. Not effected much by the tide as it is fairly shallow, but is better at low tide. One problem! There is a jet ski hire mob that use the sand bank as their base!!!! Lucky they are not getting much work this time of year.
Went yesterday arvo. I liked it. You could make it across those banks to the east on a high tide.
Current was weird, outgoing tide - current flowing south on the west side at 2-4 knots, about an hour later had changed to 2-4 knots flowing north on the east side.
Pros: Clear water. Wind funnels downs nicely on a S. Good parking, rigging area. Can bring family along to the beach. Fish and chips nearby. Motel called 'The Windsurfer'. Somewhere different. Very good to practice your gybes and such as...
Cons: Very short runs. just as you get comfortable it's time to turn. This could be different on a high tide though.
