Hi crew do you need footwear when windsurfing Lake Macquarie due to the Razer Clams living on the sea bed

Boston! said..

danjo61 said..
Hi crew do you need footwear when windsurfing Lake Macquarie due to the Razer Clams living on the sea bed

I wear them and I think the majority of sailors in the area do. If you really don't want to use them you can get away without them but I would tread very carefully.

Boston! said..

danjo61 said..
Hi crew do you need footwear when windsurfing Lake Macquarie due to the Razer Clams living on the sea bed

I wear them and I think the majority of sailors in the area do. If you really don't want to use them you can get away without them but I would tread very carefully.

Cheers will do ??

Freeflight said..
Do you think having footwear on makes it harder to move around on the board and get into the foot straps ?

Depends what brand of footwear you use. Some are better than others. I use Atan boots. They work well

I've always hated booties because of the lack of feel. I ended up using them for fear of crabs and razor clams. I got used to these real fast.

www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/xcel-1mm-split-toe-infinity-reef-black-gumbooties#surf-sail-clothing-hardware

Earlier this year, in the space of about 2 months, while sailing at Marmong I experienced the following.
1. Stung on the sole of my foot by a bull rout. Very painfull, a bit like a stonefish but not deadly.
2. Sliced the sole of same foot on a razor fish (clam). Cut was about 4 inches long just deep enough to be painfull but not too deep to bleed.
3. Trod on a sea urchin - same foot. No pain but next day I felt a some infection pain starting. Went to my GP who managed to get a couple of broken off spines out using forceps but five others needed a little slicing with a scalpel to get to them. They were like tiny, rotten wood, splinters.
4. Skin worn off from deck grip.
I've been sailing at Marmong for about 35 years and this year is the first time I've had a problem with sea creatures. It seems to have coincided with starting foiling where I now have to walk the board out much further from shore.
I prefer sailing without booties but the experiences has convinced me to continue wearing them.

Never been a fan of booties but this winter got a new set of Neil Pride ones, super comfy but they were the cause of a major injury to me-operator error though. First run of the day no warm up sending it deep trying for a PB gps (will I ever crack 40!!). Got back winded by my 4.5m wave sail due to the gusty and shifting wind (winter winter westerly at Narrabeen) and chucked backwards in relation to the board, foot twisted stuck in the strap! I should have tested the ease of getting them in and out first-too excited. The boots are not the culprit - not opening the straps was (I like a tight strap) better grip under foot and a tight strap left me with an injury called a Liss Franc. Narrowly avoided surgery and wire pins but 3 months in a moon boot and still very unstable on my feet now.

Lesson check your straps fit to match the booties.