The hardman, my more enlightened windsurfing mate introduced me to speedsailing during the end of last summer and since then we have been having some good time on water in our local area when the waves have not been on or the wind direction sucks for our part of the ocean.

I thought I'd drop a line (or 3) to let the northern go-faster crew know off a few spots which are pretty good down here with the winter winds.

Cobblers
Down the end OLIVE Rd Falcon (turn at cobblers tavern)there is a nice grassed rigging area, carpark, toilets and BBQ (me thinks by memory)
this place works from ESE & NE-N.
This place realy comes into it's own in the northerly as a couple of km away is the Novara foreshore which gives lovely flat water whilst the breeze picks up speed again on the water.
For the more energetic from this point it is approximately 8-9km to the other side of the estuary, it is recommended to mark you start point or take a GPS on these runs as the coastline is pretty nondescript so you can go offline fairly easily and end up km's away from where you want to be.

Novara
Dampier Rd Falcon. Boat ramp or near Irving street.
Wind directions Southerly through to Easterly
Nice flat water, you can sail long runs on most of the above wind directions.

Kite beach.
Name says it all, in summer theres more drag queens here than the Sydney mardi gras (can't complain it keeps them of the ocean). Northeastern side of the Dawesville channel. you get there by going down Esturay place follow track around to the end carpark there, sand rigging area.

Coodanup (Nairns)
Eastern end of Peel pde and down the end of John st Coodanup.
narrow graased rigging areas on side of road and a back breaking 3m walk to the water
Westerly - Southerly

AVI Bay
Pure salt water, very special on the right wind direction NW when it's blowing hard, run a couple of metre's inside the reef line. It's 1km runs of Pure filth when the wind direction is just right.

Things to know about the estuary.

The water is quite flat, you can get up to knee high waves out in the middle but that is a fair war out and generally does not tend to get too choppy.

It's not deep, you can use formula gear with your Ken big fins but you just have to go out further. 3-400 fins not to much of a problem 50-100m offshore.

It's bloody cold, mate.. there's icecubes floating out there (only a slight exageration), the joys of shallow water, it cools real quick.


There is weed, don't see it drifting around like safety bay but with a long fin you can plow a lot of it up. we've been using normal slalom fins but a weed fin in the back of the car would not go astray.

Cobblers, (not the pub) after treading on one in summer I can say with authority (and not wanting to sound sissy like) that it was an interesting experience, in reality 12hrs of pain which you can't get rid of easily. We do have a schidt load of these little beasties down here, wear booties if you got them.
The only way for quelling some of the pain is with heat. Be carefull when doing this, a lot of people have ended up with some very nice burns trying to get away from the pain. SLOWLY add hot water to your bucket of water with your foot in it to raise temp. Alternatively wheat heat-packs do the job quite well and they are much easier to use.

Bugsy and Matt from Avalon sail co are trying to line up possible comp down this way, If you are interested give them a call.


I don't know if this is of any use to my northern cousins, but I thought I'd put it out there to let you know what we have down here. I hope I haven't come accross like the Tourist bureau.

see yaz in the water (don't laugh as ya go past)

Alby
__________________
Life is but a dream, from which we all must wake.

hey ernie... i mean elmo cool info... i hope to sail with you soon... wake me up after i finish hybonating im there...

GONE WITH THE WIND

quote:

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Originally posted by Simon

Hey Elmo,
Thanks for all the info. Just bought myself a new slalom board so will have to come down and join you guys in the summer.
If you are serious about a event, talk to WWA, as there is a speed gun available, we have used it at Safey BAy a couple of times. Really successful.
I would be more than happy to help sponsor the event as well, i'll throw in some lesson vouchers as prizes, or come down and do a free clinic.

Cheers
Simon

www.gowindsurfing.com



Simon

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Simon just needs sails now,,, but he does paddle his board really fast....

hey.. it's only an inlet !!!

so where's that ??? exactly ??? I might bring my jetski and blast around if that's ok!!

quote [What wind directions do we need for avalon to go off as a speed strip? How shallow is it? Does the swell leak through the reef?]

Chris,
W.N.W. is direct onshore, a bit either side means a downwind run in one direction. Water just inside the reef line is quite deep, but the reef itself is out of the water in spots. There are a few deeper spots where the swell gets through, more so on high tide, only knee high, but the occasional good jump is possible. Wouldn't say it's an ideal speed run, becuase of the swell, but it's huge fun!!!!!



decrepit

quote:

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Does anyone regurlarly head to Augusta or Denmark/Walpole? Any info on Esperance would be appreciated also...
Seaton

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Went to Augusta last year, and it had gone off, too much sand hills developed in front of the channel, was very dirty air. The year before some mates where there and said it was awesome, very low sand bar, great speed course.

Not a lot at Denmark, so I guess the same for Walpole, but Esperance can be fantastic, usually late December to Febuary when the big highs sit in the bight. Flat water sailing from the yacht club in town, or wave sailing at the ocean beaches.

decrepit

hey yoyo ive been to kite beach a few times at the end of last season and no one was there and it was joy... i sailed it on my own for a few hours and couldnt believe that not a soul was with me... ill be there alot this season... see you there...

GONE WITH THE WIND