The 2025 season for lake George is coming to an end as the level of the lake continues to lower, and the predominant weather systems move from SSE to SW/NW. The 2023 season is recognised as one of the best in recent memory with high water level, low turbidity and widespread healthy weed beds. In comparison, this year the water level was very low, with very high turbidity and non-existent weed. Despite this, a relatively large area of flat water from Kevin's Corner to the Spit and a very strong SSE weather system during the first 9 days of February combined to provide excellent GPS sailing conditions. The flat water was created by emulsified mud and occurred where the thigh deep mud of the lake floor came within 100mm of the surface of the water. The areas of mud coincided with where the weed banks grew in 2023. If there was no mud near the water surface, then there was no flat water.

Launching (either from Cockies or The Spit) involved a long walk from the rigging area to the water's edge (100m), walking out through increasingly unstable lakebed (another 50m) then dragging your fin through the mud until you got to deeper water. On return, you then dragged your fin though the mud until you got to firmer ground you could stand on. Misjudge this by a few meters resulted in an exhausting trudge through knee deep mud with your gear. This got worse as the level of the lake lowered and the water's edge retreated towards the deep mud during the month.

Was it worth it? Definitely if you sailed those first 9 days of Feb. The best sailors regularly breaking 40 kts with peaks over 43, peak alphas and hours over 27 and pbs for many sailors.

Will the lake recover? Conditions this year were similar / or a bit worse than 2015. I seem to recall that 2016 and or 2017 was un-sailable in the middle lake. Really good rain fell in the winter of 2017 and lake level rose to fill the normally dry small lake. The lake system was opened to the sea via the channel in late 2017 to let water out and prevent flooding in the low lying areas of Beachport adjacent to the small lake. After that, 2018 was a great year with high water level, low turbidity and extensive weed banks. Let's hope SE South Australia gets some really good rain this coming winter.

Already booked for next year, had a great time this year and Remember it is not all about getting PBs, it is meeting old friends again and enjoying life would not miss it for the world.

It will be great to catch again next year mate.

Nice word's John, always a great trip there and catching up sailors each year!!

Great write up and comments. It's cool that some just commit to come and see old faces. And the lake rewards anyway.
A few still here for next week, we are carrying buckets of water over from the beach.

red said..
Missed this year's LG trip.. sorry to not sail, but more sorry for early morning walks around park catching up for chats, patting the Ringes mutts, morning coffee with crew at the Cafe, riding bikes around town and listening to the endless banter and chats at the pub... sure do miss those parts..

I have fond memories sharing a rubber Red