tomp said..
I'm sometimes thinking the same especially when the Sydney harbour graph says 20+ knots NNE. On Wednesday Manly (beach) side was around
13-16 knots and the harbour graph was showing 20-25 NNE. It certainly seems to inflate the reading especially later in the arvo.
I'm assuming you wouldn't have the time to get over to Balmoral to sail in the NE - best launch from Edwards beach at far northern end of Balmoral
or closer to the middle as Dean says above. I only have wave gear and if the NE was actually 18+ knots I would just sail off Manly at Queensie end
or go to Longy if I had the time.
Otherwise park in Beatty Street and take path down and go off Forty Baskets, bit of a hassle. Also on this side I have checked out off Clontarf (NE)
and you could get probably get off the beach easy enough but it would be quite difficult to get back within 150-200 metres of the beach on the
return sail. Fairlight beach - not much parking even when it is quiet!
You have summed up my on going thought process for NE'r sailing perfectly! I did only have wave gear but got bored of waiting (and don't always have time to get to Longy - and it can be too light) so picked up a 9m and raceboard. Did Balmoral on Wednesday, was way too windy a far too choppy for the raceboard so didn't really enjoy it, hence the question about other launch spots.
I managed to get a park by the stairs at 40 Baskets yesterday (5:30), but was pretty tired by the time I carried my heavy, water filled board to the water! Was a very easy spot to rig, launch and get out, and so much better than Fairlight!
If I had a lighter slalom board, I'd consider carrying it down the stairs to Reef Beach for a NE or even a S. Can't be worse than the Makaha walk!
