I live out west & i was wondering if anywhere down the end of the harbour is worth sailing as it would be faster to get to for me than botany or narrabeen i was at homebush bay and that looked alright as a beginner i tend now to sail were i see other people sailing i have sailed at putney wind was a bit iffy was wondering if others had tried the end of the harbour?

noddy123 said...

A few of us will occasionally go to "hen & chicken" bay. It can be a bit gusty when the wind is running, and of course is down a number of knots compared to the airport. It works good in a southerly.

Where do you park and launch from?

that link didnt work. check out the gregorys...

The most frequented spot by windsufers up the harbour is Rodd Point in Iron Cove. This is where the Longboarders (friendly bunch) sail from on Wednesday nights and Saturday Arvo's. It gets real crowded on Saturday's (I'd keep clear) with all the sailing boat activities- it's best in a NE'er but you can sail most wind directions if your keen. You'll often come across othe windsurfers here even when the're not racing.

Hen & Chicken bay is also good in NW'ers - Prince Edward Park or Bayview Park.
Both places are real boggy in a Low Tide but still OK for Learners - wearing booties is a must!

Another spot worth considering is Benelong Park at Putney, once again this spot gets real crowded on Saturday's with all the sailing boat activities - this might be the spot your talking about.


I wouldn't sail west of Ryde Bridge - If the Bull Sharks don't get you the Dioxins will.

Some people don't wear booties but I think you'd be mad not to.

Mud is tolerable - its all the other rubbish thats been covered by this mud.

It's not to bad at high tide but you wouldn't want to jump of your board into soft mud as you're coming into the beach at low tide, just the thought make me cringe.

Sydney people were quite abusive to its river pre 1970's although the water is pretty clean these days, whats covered in the silt isn't & you don't want to be cutting up your foot on 50yo bits of whatever in dioxin/toxic rich mud. Oh and stay out of the harbour for a few days afer this sort of downpour.

The area has a soft mud base. There are some kind of sharp shellfish embedded beneath the mud, so if you were to jump off your board in the shallows, you would be virtually guaranteed to cut your feet. I don't wear bootees there, and work around it by exiting the board carefully.

Fairlight/Manly Cove in a South to South East...

B.Bay is the place for flatwater and all angles when you're not sure.
Sandringham my former local spot for NEs and some southerlies, Kernell westerlies in the winter, etc.
Ramsgate for a quick bite from from Sandringham, etc.
Can't go wrong.