In honour of Craig (windsurfer drowned) and to pinch an idea from fnqcurly in that post...could we list those dangerous situations at our local venues that "visitors" might not always be immediately aware of. Hopefully to save us any further grief/drama. Many thanks to Gestalt for warning me about the Caloundra bar, I was sailing Golden Beach that fateful day but did not venture out due to the conditions.

Yes Good idea!!

OK

These are the dangers of Novara:

Trees and rocks in close to shore,. winds are on-shore, walking gear to water on windy day, easy to hit gear against trees and rocks.

Boat ramp and channel markers strewn through launching area, have hit both channel markers impaling a sail, and clipped boat ramp pillars. So be careful,sailing near them.

Lots of limestone reefs and rocks in the fastest area, fin destroyers, and can hurt self falling or even walking across them.

Because of so many rocks, there are a number of markers, steel pickets, and pvc pipe upheld by steel pickets, stay away from these when sailing at speed as impailing self could cause death.

Lots of weed banks and sand bars, know the tides, and the places where these are located, can be unsafe, and risk break a neck stopping at speed.

Clumps of weed accumulate, and you cannot sail through them, you come to a dead stop, and at over 30 knots this can be suicidal.

Traffic, more and more sailors are now using this area, and people are sailing very fast, look out for others, cllisions at speed could be fatal. NB. People coming out of a speed run go straight into wind to slow down, though this can be in the path of someone else speeding. Also right in the middle of the run is the best Alpha area, so be careful of each other as speedsters and Alphers have a cross-roads interseaction here.

PS. This is not a joke, please take note, prevention is much better than cure.

If you note these hazards, you can make your session there a lot safer for yourself and everyone else.

Melville Beech, Applecross WA

Pretty safe spot.
Wonderful car park with grass area to rig and water to wash down North of the car park.

Dangers:
Big shallow sand spit 500 metres west off the beech, hard to see in afternoon sun ask a local for help, this is catapult city.

Collisions with other sailors, a real mix of beginners and speed people.
2 marker buoys just before spit has people gybing, tacking and stopping in the same area.

Feet cutting oysters and barnacles in places and the odd flat head (poison spine).

Weed banks in places, seasonal.

Swimmers in the water near the car park gybing area.

Botany Bay dangers:

Jet skiers,jet skiers and more jet skiers

Portland, Vic...

Sailing alone....not crowded enough!!!

(oh, and half seals floating past see 'modified sea life' post)

Seriously though, Nth shore has a few submerged rocks if sailing close to land, and wind can swing to offshore quickly!

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slalomfreak said...

Botany Bay dangers:

Jet skiers,jet skiers and more jet skiers

hmmm, must be a windsurfer out there who owns a jet ski, who else would have given you a thumbs down for this!

Narrabeen Lake. Yucky mud, stingrays, flatheads and gusty Nor Easter.

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hardie said...


These are the dangers of Novara:

Don't forget those insane crab catchers who wander out into the middle of the run with no idea why the windsurfers are going so close to them...

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Mobydisc said...

Narrabeen Lake. Yucky mud, stingrays, flatheads and gusty Nor Easter.

another reason to go to Botany[}:)]

it's worth the trip

The pluses of Narrabeen are the easy rigging areas, taps with fresh water and easy parking. Also its extremely safe in that its is almost impossible to be blown away anywhere except where you started.

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Cruiser1755 said...

In honour of Craig (windsurfer drowned) and to pinch an idea from fnqcurly in that post...could we list those dangerous situations at our local venues that "visitors" might not always be immediately aware of. Hopefully to save us any further grief/drama. Many thanks to Gestalt for warning me about the Caloundra bar, I was sailing Golden Beach that fateful day but did not venture out due to the conditions.

hi cruiser,

the caloundra bar was one of my local spots for many years and was also the place i ventured into the surf for the first time. i have had some scarey moments there. i made sure with the windwanderers location guide that i gave the spot a big warning. i'll update the page to make the warning even bigger now.

i was at a xmas party at caloundra a few weeks back and all bar about 2 guys there had had major bad experiences there on outgonig tides some resulting in near death outcomes. one guy had pretty much given the sport up after 45 minutes in the rinse cycle. these days most of us won't go out there unless the tide is incoming. the big issue at caloundra is that you can be sailing in 20 knots one minute and then no wind the next leaving you up to your knees drifting towards the break. once you fall off even if there was enough wind to water start the tide and waves can sucks your rig under. to the point where your gear can totally dissapear only to resurface 500m north towards king's beach.

i guess most places at rivermouths whether it be caloundra, maroochydore or noosa can be vey tricky when the tide is outgoing.

the other spot that is risky is the southern tip of bribie island on an outgoing tide. it gets very nasty and is probably the wildest place i have ever sailed. if your gear breaks or the wind drops there is no-one around to help. and it's a long way to moreton island. the stretch of water through there has the same 7-8 knot current that caloundra has so when it's running out the waves can be big and it is almost impossible to swim against.

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nebbian said...

hardie said...


These are the dangers of Novara:

Don't forget those insane crab catchers who wander out into the middle of the run with no idea why the windsurfers are going so close to them...

They didn't stick around long Tacking back upwind, I was wondering why a group was standing near the speed markers. Thought it was windsurfers with a huge prang until I got close.
Huge estuary to crab in, and they wonder into the speed run, with lads like Slowboat Elmo, Bender Snides and such scorching past

Boggy Lake

Duranbah. Sweep up the beach towards the rocks at the northern end of the beach. If you get caught in any decent size shore break and the sweep starts taking you towrads the rocks it is often best to go against your instincts and swim out. Most time when swimming in you will end up on the rocks.

Same situation on the open beach at Currumbin and at Old Bar (Taree).

Advantages of Botany/Kyeemagh:
On land, lots of parking, shade and no bikes/pedestrians.
On water, lack of jet ski's, boats, fishermen and crowds.

Advantages of Narrabeen:
On land, strange people in bush, hoons doing burn outs, rangers, fence sitters, talking rather than sailing.
On water, crystal clear water, nice white sandy bottom, flatheads, dangerous chicken players, sand banks, short runs, gusty, wind turning on and off, etc etc.

Make your choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sadly i too will now make the journey south (from Manly) as im tired of the promising nor easters that never seem to have materialised up north this summer.
Botany is pretty good although im waiting for the day when i carve gybe over a fishing line. No doubt they will get on their jet ski and run me over, although they enjoy doing that already.....
Does anyone know if people have ever caught anything of significance from the shallows?
Since sailing botany in relatively consistent winds and flat water on the inside and out my carve gybes are coming on a treat. Definitely worth the drive if youre looking to improve with the best codnitions.
Will probably start trying balmoral again once the nor easters come back properly.

Foreshore Drive

Dangers - run as fast as you can to your car and drive home, even if you've left your kit rigged up if someone asks you for aerogard.

Advantages - only place I know of which is pretty consistent in a Westerly and there are lots of photographers....

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ka43 said...

Advantages of Botany/Kyeemagh:
On land, lots of parking, shade and no bikes/pedestrians.
On water, lack of jet ski's, boats, fishermen and crowds.

Advantages of Narrabeen:
On land, strange people in bush, hoons doing burn outs, rangers, fence sitters, talking rather than sailing.
On water, crystal clear water, nice white sandy bottom, flatheads, dangerous chicken players, sand banks, short runs, gusty, wind turning on and off, etc etc.

Make your choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not really understand this post.

Why is having loonies and hoons at Narrabeen an advantage?

Why is having jet skis and fishermen at Botany Bay an advantage?

Are you being sarcastic?

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Crash Landing said...

Foreshore Drive

Dangers - run as fast as you can to your car and drive home, even if you've left your kit rigged up if someone asks you for aerogard.

Advantages - only place I know of which is pretty consistent in a Westerly and there are lots of photographers....

Which Foreshore drive are you referring to?

Sandy Point.

Bogans parking their fishing boats in the middle of the speed strip and throwing/casting stuff at you as you hurtle past on the edge of reason....

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Mobydisc said...

ka43 said...

Advantages of Botany/Kyeemagh:
On land, lots of parking, shade and no bikes/pedestrians.
On water, lack of jet ski's, boats, fishermen and crowds.

Advantages of Narrabeen:
On land, strange people in bush, hoons doing burn outs, rangers, fence sitters, talking rather than sailing.
On water, crystal clear water, nice white sandy bottom, flatheads, dangerous chicken players, sand banks, short runs, gusty, wind turning on and off, etc etc.

Make your choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not really understand this post.

Why is having loonies and hoons at Narrabeen an advantage?

Why is having jet skis and fishermen at Botany Bay an advantage?

Are you being sarcastic?

Crash Landing said...

Foreshore Drive

Dangers - run as fast as you can to your car and drive home, even if you've left your kit rigged up if someone asks you for aerogard.

Advantages - only place I know of which is pretty consistent in a Westerly and there are lots of photographers....

Which Foreshore drive are you referring to?

The one on Botany Bay to the East of the runway.

Yes, it is sarcasm.
Yes, I have sailed both spots and if you can, think opposites.

Botany is full of mad jet skiiers and you have to fight for a park.
Narrabeen has yucky mud and is very gusty.
Just a bit of tongue in cheek.
A sail is a sail!!!!

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Crash Landing said...

Foreshore Drive

Dangers - run as fast as you can to your car and drive home, even if you've left your kit rigged up if someone asks you for aerogard.

Advantages - only place I know of which is pretty consistent in a Westerly and there are lots of photographers....

I think you meant to say vaseline nor aerogard

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Crash Landing said...

Foreshore Drive

Dangers - run as fast as you can to your car and drive home, even if you've left your kit rigged up if someone asks you for aerogard.

Advantages - only place I know of which is pretty consistent in a Westerly and there are lots of photographers....

I think you meant to say vaseline not aerogard