Hi,

on Thursday arvo I was wave sailing in Long Reef which was really frustrating.
There was enough wind at all places in NSW but not in Long Reef since the head land seems to block the wind. Obviously not northerly enough. Is Cronulla or Pittwater any better on those days or is Gerroa the only spot to go.

the advise seeker

hi guys,

aro9150, for some reason it seems that these days the seabreeze is alyways stronger on the South Sydney side. I was out at Wanda on both Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday was almost as good as it gets at Wanda. Thursday was strange. It started off okay but then the wind died off quickly. I was probably peaking at about 20 to 25 knts. When I drove past the airport around 5pm it was blowing about 25 - 30 knts. there.

In my opinion if you are after waves Wanda is THE place in a NEer. If you are after strong wind and bump & jump stuff then the airport should be your first choice. I have done the drive up to Long Reef for a NEer sail so many times only to be disappointed that I have actually given up on that stretch of the coast. I don't know what it is. Supposely NEer winds used to be better there in the 80's and 90's.

pvb, I used to think that as well. For some strange reason this hasn't been the case quite a few times last season. It would be great to get a meteorologists few on this. I have sailed 25 knts. in Gerroa before while it was dead still in Sydney. Then again, I have sailed a 25-30 knt. seabreeze in Sydney while there was much in Gerroa.

it would be interesting to get some weather stations setup (ideally with web cam) at spots like Gerroa, Shoalhaven heads, Warilla and collect wind data.

I was down at Gerringong a couple of weeks ago. While there was very little in the way of wind at Kiama it was blowing 15-20 knts. at Gerroa and about 20-25 at Shoalhaven.

Wanda seems to get better later in summer. The wind swings a bit more NE and it gets all the way in to the sand without being gusty. At the moment it is more N and very gusty inside. Pretty frustrating to have 15-20knts and 3 foot surf and not be able to get planing in the surf!! After Christmas it always improves IMO.

Longy used to be THE spot back in the 80's and 90's for nor-easters. You could pretty much guarantee a couple of days there a week. Now the wind just doesnt seem to get in and is usually too northerly.
Seems gone are the days of beating upwind to Butterbox for some epic jumps and waves then the screamer downwind.
Usually got some sort of wave there either up at the bombies, Lugga's or down at Poles or No-mans.
Car park was alwys crowded with sailors but now its a ghost town in NE. The place is still tops in other wind directions but the cross to side-off NE days are gooooooone
Who knows if it will get back to the halcyon days again.