I am going to be racing out of Manly 16ft Sailing Club and was wondering if any would no any local knowledge on the breezes and currents through and around the heads.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Sure id love to but i got the photo of this website; go to photos the sailing then on the 5th page its there and theres quite a few photos there that you might be interested. Also back to Manly, is there normally a certain direction you would go to in a certain breeze (example like hit the shore in a NthEster)

Cheers.

Depends on what time of the year you are sailing in the harbour.

Sailing season is now over, but go down to the bar at the skiff club and you will meet a few of the locals.

Looks like you are a 12 foot skiff sailor???? you got Nats on or something

If you are sailing in the 16's next year then i will see you down there! There are a couple of kiters amongst the skiffies......that is if you kite

Guess that would mean you are too young to have a beer with some of the locals!!!!

Yeah there are some pretty big shifts to get in the NE, which will be the common breeze for the Jan - Feb period. It really depends on where the race is being sailed. You could have the triangle courses out in the sound (in between North, south and middle head) or it could be the zig zag courses in and around Manly. If you are out on the sound it is pretty fair sailing, but if you are up in Manly there are some big shifts that you can get by hitting the shore at certain postions.

If you do a few training days in Manly you will pick these up pretty quick. Just sail a few races with the local and watch them.

what is the name of boat you are sailing?
Good luck....it is a strong fleet of F11 from Manly

Robs right best thing to do is go for a sail around manly. You can usually get a decent lift of the white circle building on the point on Starboard tack in a NE'er watch getting in to close thought cause it goes dead under some of those building in a hurry.

Think of sailing on a lake and that what sailing in Little Manly's like. Shifty and Gusty, it can be the full zero to hero and visa versa if your not paying attention.

Can't wait to start screaming into Manly with the shishkabab poll and the kite up. Are the 16's still racing on weekends or have you guys packed up for the season. Look out for the big red kite on the grey boat I'll wave to you, should be coming to a mark near you on sunday. I just remember racing the Audi up in the end of the Harbor now that was some boat traffic, let allown "The Little Oats" rocking around at 20 knots with the kite up. Can't wait till next year.

I havent been on a permanent boat for a few years as i have been travelling for work, but i do a lot of filling in. Sailed quite a few times with some of the belmont boys on Andrews Meats (Greg and Brett).

If you are in a NE (starting near Middle head)then usually the best bet is to head west to get into the NE which blows stonger down the western shore. It is pretty easy to see when you are on the water. Tide is a MASSIVE factor out there and it flows pretty stong out of middle harbour and out of sydney harbour.

You will probably want to change some of your rig settings as well. It is more choppy on the harbour and the softer rig set up for the "flat water" lake sailing will be flexing more in the chop and swell. You will need to have a stiffer rig and little fuller sails so that you dont lose power. I am sure you will work out a suitable setting with time spent on the water.

Good luck