I have been out on the river a few times with Marcus Z. I wouldn't encourage it but it's great for a change. So dark you can't see your sailing partner and when you do there can be some near collisions. The spit posts are a bit of a worry. It's windsurfing by feel mostly.

I have been eager to try out Narrows bridge in an Easterly - seems to be well lit.

Please note regulations forbid windsurfing after sunset.

chaio

I've been windsurfing at Pelican point after dark a few times. In fact I've had some of my best sails after dark. I usually come in at dusk and wait for the carpark to empty and head back out when the coast is clear.

Hitting other windsurfers or other river users is a worry so a full moon or glow stick helps. I also stay close to the sand bank just in case anything goes wrong. Seeing the city lights through your sail is kind of cool. On occasion the wind after dark has been awesome, on those days when its really windy 25+knots it seems to settle down to a very consistent 20-23 knots and the waves on the river dissappear for some reason (maybe I just cant see them).

It is dangerous though and you have to be aware of what you are doing and who else is out there.

Brett

After our first outing at woodies at night was such a blast, we tried to do it again on the 7th of March, but after sailing 4.1 overpowerd during the daylight hours, we were too buggered to go again. Glow sticks are highly recommended! Although some went overboard, and had the christmas tree effect, we came up with a few guidelines for the use of glowsticks when night sailing.
1. Top of mast, base of mast and clew. Front of boom obscures night vision.
This way you can see the extents of the rig, even when it's in the water.
2. Gybe markers are handy! Just use a weight and a bit o fishing line. Glow sticks float. Saves hiting Woodies groins
See you next full moon?

Years ago I used to arrive at Peli after work when everyone was packing up, rig up and sail thru dusk and beyond..tho' rarely after 9pm. The water was always flatter and the wind steadier than during the day.
Had a few run-ins with prawners and their nets but the river's health eliminated that problem when the prawns went elsewhere.
I used to worry about boats and breaking things but what stopped me was one of the yacht club bouys a couple of hundred metres off Jojos. You know, the ones like a pole. They were painted (or became..like our boards) a brownish orange back then, virtually invisible at night and of course in the breeze they lean over 30-45 degrees. I was enjoying a glorious reach , probably high 20s to 30 knots when suddenly the top of the bouy wizzed by by my ear with less than 10cm to spare. I don't know what those bouys are made out of, but hitting one with your head at ~60km/h is not a good way to find out.
Don't underestimate the dangers of night sailing. If something goes wrong.....you're on your own.

how about just getting day light savings in WA.

That would solve most peoples problems.

ie seabreezes most days would blow to 7:30 not 6:30

giving most people time after work to get in a good sail.

Daylight savings
Aren't they dirty words here in WA.
I was told one day that the extra hour of sunlight you get (due to the earth stopping spinning for 1 hr) fades the curtains more and the cows get confused!

Yes I too have heard these strange urban myths about daylight savings

The curtains fading is a great one, as is

farmers having to work more hours in a day during day light savings - even though they work from sun up to sun down ????

there are heaps of funny ones ive heard mentioned over in WA.

The most ligitimate reason Ive heard though is that we dont have it - as it will be too hot at 7:30 to 9:00 pm or whatever time kiddies go to bed if we had daylight savings.

Surely they can forego this comfort for us to have more sailing time

Haha...daylight saving, why don't we just build a indoor windsurfing center that runs 24hours a day blowing at 20-25kts. I reckon we have more chance of that than trying to get daylight saving here in the primative state of WA. Got to save the curtains remember!!!

well for sure...and there are never any wind at 5 am..(ok sometimes in the winter)..but then you have to digest the beers from the night before.....
like tonight let say!!! well it would be better to have time to have a little sail after work..drink a couple of Guiness...and sleep in tomorrow morning no???
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Happy St Pat' 's day

No NO Hardman...dont' worry...if the earth stop spinning for a bit the wind will not really stop,
As when the earth will slow down it is more likely to create huge storm-tsunamis--freak waves and 100 knots wind!!!!

Just have to be ready with the right sail!!!



hey and I AM BEING SERIIIIIIIIIIIIIOUS HERE hardman!!!!

Keith baby,

Quit the ****en swearing, this is a serious discussion which has potentially dire consequences which could affect us all, unless of course your'e into Tsunami's Declared your next ballot Some people have no shame

To "Serious" Windsurfing Reply Posters,

As much as I'd like the extra hour to windsurf, I'm just wondering if it's worth taking the risk given what wetsozwind and Leski have said

I'm really worried about this stuff, (needing to stop the earth and we've just had new curtains put in), I wish the budding comedians amongst you would stop mucking around What about getting political (unlike Keith who just wants to ****-stir) and lobby for some state funding to light up some of the more popular beaches, it's the much less riskier option

Greenie,

I wish you hadn't bought up this topic, I'm struggling to get to sleep thinking about this stuff

Your really worried elder



Hardie SoftBoy

The long term forecast is for Rottnest!

25 knots in March ....can see the pigs taxiing for takoff now.

You poor disillusioned lad Greeny - get out the 7.5 metre till June! Don't get stuck out there when it dies!


As for daylight sailing .... forget it .... cannot have people enjoying themselves during the working week ..... no,no,no, will not do.

Radmac

Ummm yeh.....the night windsurfing was fully sick, took the barbie down, had a feed, some sailing, a few beers and got home by 10:45pm.

Whenever the full moon is up we'll be trying it again. Gotta work with what ya got, not complain about what ya don't.

"It's only early...."