Hello All

I'm feeling like an adventure - what do people think about both the practicability and the legality?? Of windsurfing from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay. I'm think from Little Manly to Frenchman's Beach in a summer Noreaster.

Obviously safety gear must be carried, I'm thinking lifejacket, EPIRB, marine VHF, flares, water. Anything else?

Finally if anyone thinks it's workable - do they want to come???

You will need a chase boat. Too many things brake these days.
Also you are better of going from somewhere like Mona Vale to Manly as there are many beaches along the way in case you get into trouble, too many cliffs and rocks going Manly To Botany Bay way.

and someone to bring your car to the destination

Good plan AUS4. I may have access to a chase boat. And thanks powersloshin I do have someone to drive the car!

Geez, you might sink with all that safety gear. Used to love a coastal run back in the 90's. You cover the ground surprisingly quickly.

Good sturdy reliable gear and self rescue plan is your best safety I believe, along with an honest appraisal of your own abilities. Being willing to ditch the rig and paddle in is worth thinking through in advance too. Practice paddling and get paddle fit. Do you surf? Or are you comfortable in the waves? How about landing yourself on a rock shelf through surf? If not better take the advice of choosing a stretch of coast with plenty of sand.

All the epirbs and flares (and chase boats) in the world are not going to help if you cop a decent blow to the head, it really doesn't matter much if you're a few miles out to sea or 50m off the beach in that case. Short of that, with good risk management and judgement you should be sweet.
Considered risk is good for a life well lived. A chase boat removes that. Hell, head straight out to sea with a chase boat, what difference does it make? You'll just get picked up regardless.

Take a buddy. Remember the weather forecast is only a prediction.

Have a blast. Post some pictures!!!

Chase boat / no chase boat.

Why not compromise and simply use a surfing boat for the trip ?

If you don't have one try calling Jordan, I heard he/she is trying to sell one at the moment. Contact details in the Buy & Sell

I have done a fair bit of this type of sailing over the years. Biggest ones have been around 50km, with 35km between landings.

It is all do-able, with a few big "buts"

Don't make a long trip like that your first one offshore. Try it in smaller bits of 10-15 kilometres first (eg Bondi to Maroubra; or La Perouse to Cronulla).

Know your gear well and how it performs in different conditions. Be familiar with self rescue techniques (de-rigging and rolling up the rig on the board so you can paddle).

Make sure your gear is versatile enough to handle the conditions. I use a mistral raceboard or F2 lightning as they will get you there (and upwind) even if the wind drops. Don't use a cammed sail- if you get in to strife of need to roll up the rig and paddle home they are not great. Get an adjustable outhaul as it gives the sail a much greater range in variable conditions.

Your safety list seems pretty right, but add a legrope to it (attaching you to the board, not in a backpack). A mobile phone and a drybag to put it all in should also be on the list. Add a pocketknife with a screwdriver bit and a 10m length of 4mm cord (to tie everything up for self rescue or for towing). I carry all this gear in a "camelbak" style pack over my PFD with no problem at all.

The biggest issue on that stretch of coast is the variability in wind conditions associated with the cliffs/bays etc. I would suspect the wind could vary by 5-8 knots between the cliff lined sections and the beaches, then add to the that the natural increase in a NE wind as the afternoon progresses.

Given the angle of the coastline, one of the steady SE winds that can go for days in summer between 15 and 25 knots would be a better option IMO.

Clarence

Select to expand quote

clarence said..
I have done a fair bit of this type of sailing over the years. Biggest ones have been around 50km, with 35km between landings.

It is all do-able, with a few big "buts"

Don't make a long trip like that your first one offshore. Try it in smaller bits of 10-15 kilometres first (eg Bondi to Maroubra; or La Perouse to Cronulla).

Know your gear well and how it performs in different conditions. Be familiar with self rescue techniques (de-rigging and rolling up the rig on the board so you can paddle).

Make sure your gear is versatile enough to handle the conditions. I use a mistral raceboard or F2 lightning as they will get you there (and upwind) even if the wind drops. Don't use a cammed sail- if you get in to strife of need to roll up the rig and paddle home they are not great. Get an adjustable outhaul as it gives the sail a much greater range in variable conditions.

Your safety list seems pretty right, but add a legrope to it (attaching you to the board, not in a backpack). A mobile phone and a drybag to put it all in should also be on the list. Add a pocketknife with a screwdriver bit and a 10m length of 4mm cord (to tie everything up for self rescue or for towing). I carry all this gear in a "camelbak" style pack over my PFD with no problem at all.

The biggest issue on that stretch of coast is the variability in wind conditions associated with the cliffs/bays etc. I would suspect the wind could vary by 5-8 knots between the cliff lined sections and the beaches, then add to the that the natural increase in a NE wind as the afternoon progresses.

Given the angle of the coastline, one of the steady SE winds that can go for days in summer between 15 and 25 knots would be a better option IMO.

Clarence

I've never done a point-to-pointer like that on a board, but having Raceboarded a lot offshore from Sydney and done a lot of offshore yacht stuff around that area and elsewhere, I'd say Clarence, Salty and AUS4 have got it about 100%. There's not too much variation in wind strength between the cliff lined sections, but there can be a significant increase in really confused back chop off the cliffs, causing a very messy chop. If you're not used to it you could fall repeatedly, which could lead to fatigue, so going north of the harbour would be a safer option.

Cool section in this video about Arnaud de Rosnay to inspire (or frighten) you. Go to 13:40, or better still just watch the whole thing!