Hi all,
I've done plenty of SUP surfing in the local river mouth, where the outgoing tide, assisting you back to the take off spot, can be your friend.
Just wondering about distance paddling in (and out) and up and down rivers, when on a decent 12'6 or 14' board. I guess I aa talking mainly about decent size estuary-type waterways (eg. Noosa, Maroochy . . .) but they are comparable to a lot of other spots in Oz. How much do you have to consider the tide? Is it hard to paddle against even with the ideal flatwater board, or are there usually bits close to the bank where you are out of the main current if you want to be? Should you always try to make a return journey with the tide helping? Perhaps it's a good workout for a certain distance, but beyond that it's just a pain?
Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks heaps, Dave

Always a good idea to paddle upwind and return with it when you're not so full of sparks.
If you're paddling against the tide you'll usually find back eddies along the bank - learn to spot those and exploit them whilst minimising exposure to the full tidal flow.
Although it's entirely possible to paddle against the tide and wind, thereby getting your exercise quota without going very far at all, my preference is to cover as much ground as possible with a bit of pre-planning. A 14' board will make it heaps easier to cover some distance with or without opposing wind/tide. I don't have any good data, but I guess I'm about 30 or 40 % quicker on the 14' compared to the 11'4", which makes all the difference if paddling against the wind.

Thanks Foamballer. Good advice/info. Much appreciated.
And that's a great river you have there in your neck of the woods. Cheers, Dave.

I have found paddling into a 15 plus knot wind and a large outgoing tide at the mouth of Brisbane Water is like having your very own stationary SUP machine.

I love parking down near Currimundi Lake bridge and then paddling towards the river mouth in strong onshore winds. It's a full-on workout, especially against the tide but the return journey is an absolute HOOT (mini downwind). The stronger the wind and incoming tide the better!

My effort today was a quick downwinder 20-25 knot NNE, then in through the river mouth with a paddle against the tide. Caught a runner right near the tip of the wall and by the time I got off it, it was pretty hard to get back into the lee of the wall against the wind. Once next to the wall, the wind was swirling over and seemed to be against me. Tide was running out hard too, so I was averaging about 2km sitting right in hard on the wall. Then made a break across the river - first time I've caught decent wind runners in the river - really nice ones, but had to leave those pretty quickly so I didn't end up on the south side of the river. A pretty full work out in the end.

Great course you have there Foamballer!

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Antho said..

Great course you have there Foamballer!

Some great options around here that's for sure. My favourite is the start of the incoming tide as everything is a lot calmer and more organised - you can zoom along the wall and then usually surf a few little waves on the river sandbanks as well. Always good to end up at a beach shower too!

It gets a bit hairy at the river bar when there's a bit of swell, run out tide as well as wind. Yesterday, I caught a runner coming towards the tip of the wall which turned into this funny standing wave in the tidal flow, which I was trying to surf towards the right but wasn't actually moving in that direction at all because of the tide and wind. There's a lot of water movement around the tip of the wall in these conditions and is a good example of where a bit of pre-planning is good if you're not familiar with what to expect.

I did some paddling up at Swansea (NSW) over Xmas and new year. Several times I paddled in the channel feeding Lake Macquarie and it can be a lot of hard work if you get your timing wrong. Think of trying to walk up the down escalator. On the other hand I had one day paddling in about 25 knots downwind and with about 3 knots of current under me and was traveling over the ground at around 15km/hr in dead flat water and barely working.

It pays to do your homework and study where you plan to paddle and in particular what your plan B & C is if you get the tide wrong or you injure yourself. Padding in current certainly changes the behaviour of your board.

I did a paddle couple of weeks ago from seagulls (club) at west tweed down to the harbour behind rainbow bay. worked it out on the gps at 9.5kms... out going tide (and it rips through there), did it in 1 hr 5 min, and that was into the wind ...

at home my normal flatwater i do 2.5km each way and my best time is 22min at tide change so not much assistance.

at the tweed found if i stopped paddling the board wanted to turn around bow against the the tide.

tide can make a big difference..

My lady and I have a camper trailer and a great book (birthday present from grankids) called "Paddle Eastern Australia" isbn 978-0-9803146-0-1 by Chris and Yvonne McLaughlin which covers nsw and queensland's rivers lakes and estuaries.
A few months ago we picked a weekend when the tides were suitable and camped at Raleigh caravan park on the Bellingen river - about 8 km from the mouth at Urunga. 6 kilometres down river before you get to the mouth is Mylstrom - we paddled down with the tide and beached at Myls for the great coffee house there. Scones and coffee for an hour and watched for the flotsam to change direction and then paddled back - opposite direction next day.

Wilson river maybe next or Nambucca or Warrel creek at Scotts Head as a change from surfing -- hundreds of great paddles to mix with our surfing , have as recently stated just got the custom laguna bay -9'1" - bit slower than the 9'7" on the river but still a good tourer.
Steve

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maxeaus said..

I have found paddling into a 15 plus knot wind and a large outgoing tide at the mouth of Brisbane Water is like having your very own stationary SUP machine.

yep the tide at the mouth of Brissy Water is a hell of a workout when its in full swing.

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stehar said..

My lady and I have a camper trailer and a great book (birthday present from grankids) called "Paddle Eastern Australia" isbn 978-0-9803146-0-1 by Chris and Yvonne McLaughlin which covers nsw and queensland's rivers lakes and estuaries.
A few months ago we picked a weekend when the tides were suitable and camped at Raleigh caravan park on the Bellingen river - about 8 km from the mouth at Urunga. 6 kilometres down river before you get to the mouth is Mylstrom - we paddled down with the tide and beached at Myls for the great coffee house there. Scones and coffee for an hour and watched for the flotsam to change direction and then paddled back - opposite direction next day.

Wilson river maybe next or Nambucca or Warrel creek at Scotts Head as a change from surfing -- hundreds of great paddles to mix with our surfing , have as recently stated just got the custom laguna bay -9'1" - bit slower than the 9'7" on the river but still a good tourer.
Steve

Nice one Stehar. I've just reserved that book at the local library thanks to you. Saw your pic of your 9'1 - great looking board too. (Not the average tourer, but as you say if you know your tides. . . and it must be sensational in the waves.)


Thanks all for the replies. I can see that a little planning can save a hell of a lot of hassle.

Here's a paddle I did yesterday - I wont name the location, but spot Z had not a soul in sight and really nice looonnng little waves - I surfed myself stupid for ages. 8km on outgoing tide - basically went in clockwise direction and made for a really enjoyable 2.5hrs.