Ok seeing the article I posted up(The Best Flat Water Spots in the World) caused a bit of discussion, how about we work up our own best flat water spots in Australia.

List your favourite spot or spots and suggest a method of ranking them eg by highest 2 sec peak

These are the top ranked, 2-second spots for TAS (over 35 knots):

Stanley East Inlet
44.11
Kaleb Smith gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2012-03-03&team=27

Port Sorell
43.560
Izaak Perkins gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-08-18&team=27

Henty River
42.39
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?team=27&date=2012-04-28

Montagu
40.910
Izaak Perkins gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-05-13&team=27

Stanley West Inlet
40.100
Anthony Perkins gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-03-21&team=27

Doran's
40.09
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-04-23&team=27

Pittwater West
37.97
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-01-04&team=27

Cremorne
37.43
Kaleb Smith gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-11-09&team=27

Mortimer Bay
37.100
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2009-08-01&team=27

Marion Bay Lagoon
36.72
Kaleb Smith gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-12-10&team=27

Pittwater East
36.2
Russ Dowd (the Chicken Run) gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-05-03&team=27

Derwent River
35.14
Will Short gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-05-25&team=27

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AUS02 said..

These are the top ranked, 2-second spots for TAS (over 35 knots):

You guys have so much choice! No wonder the Tassie speed seekers are consistently near the top of the table!

NSW lacks consistent winds, however when it does blow the following spots produce PBs:

Kyeemagh
Sandingham
Narabeen Lake (for some unknown reason)
Primbee
Canton Beach
Queenslake
Harrington
Smiths Lake

Personally i think the 5 x 10, Nautical Mile and Alpha categories will give a best representation of flat water sailing.
Plus then there's the facilities or remoteness/natural beauty of a sailing spot that can definitely enhance the days sailing too.

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Stuthepirate said..
remoteness/natural beauty of a sailing spot that can definitely enhance the days sailing too.

Ok then, Green Island

Doesn't snow count as natural beauty?remoteness can't go past Henty

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Mobydisc said..

NSW lacks consistent winds, however when it does blow the following spots produce PBs:

Kyeemagh
Sandingham
Narabeen Lake (for some unknown reason)
Primbee
Canton Beach
Queenslake
Harrington
Smiths Lake

I would add Foreshore drive, pretty good flat runs in W/WSW
Maybe if we wanted this list to be useful we should add the best wind directions for each location.

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powersloshin said..

I would add Foreshore drive, pretty good flat runs in W/WSW
Maybe if we wanted this list to be useful we should add the best wind directions for each location.

Agree with best wind direction. Measurement of Best Place - My 2 cents 5 * 10 sec
The Places I have sailed that I would put on the list
VICTORIA
Inverloch - E, SW, WSW, W
Swan Bay - N, NW
Sandy Point WSW, SW, E

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powersloshin said..

Mobydisc said..

NSW lacks consistent winds, however when it does blow the following spots produce PBs:

Kyeemagh
Sandingham
Narabeen Lake (for some unknown reason)
Primbee
Canton Beach
Queenslake
Harrington
Smiths Lake

I would add Foreshore drive, pretty good flat runs in W/WSW
Maybe if we wanted this list to be useful we should add the best wind directions for each location.

and tide ...

Most of our best spots only work on the right tide - too high, too choppy. Too low, you hit the bottom.

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AUS02 said..

These are the top ranked, 2-second spots for TAS (over 35 knots):

Stanley East Inlet
44.11
Kaleb Smith gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2012-03-03&team=27

Port Sorell
43.560
Izaak Perkins gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-08-18&team=27

Henty River
42.39
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?team=27&date=2012-04-28

Montagu
40.910
Izaak Perkins gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-05-13&team=27

Stanley West Inlet
40.100
Anthony Perkins gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-03-21&team=27

Doran's
40.09
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-04-23&team=27

Pittwater West
37.97
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-01-04&team=27

Cremorne
37.43
Kaleb Smith gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-11-09&team=27

Mortimer Bay
37.100
Dave Morehead gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2009-08-01&team=27

Marion Bay Lagoon
36.72
Kaleb Smith gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-12-10&team=27

Pittwater East
36.2
Russ Dowd (the Chicken Run) gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-05-03&team=27

Derwent River
35.14
Will Short gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-05-25&team=27

Best I have tried is Stanley east inlet in an easterly. Best is when the mini channel (2.5) comes up between the second and third channel. You fire down the 3rd channel on starboard, into the glassy flat mini channel really fast and on out into the cross on bay chop.. couple of jumps, gybe and ride a few mushy swells back into the speedstrip. What a place...

Wonder what the banks are like now

Plus the wind stats are ridiculous.... Envious of Barry and Geoff getting to sail there all the time

I'm surprised no one has listed Lake Burley Griffin. Might not blow all that often but on a good day you can bust some pretty good gusts. I caught quite a few over 3 decades, many of my best sailing recollections are from LBG. In a good westerly you could get onto a gust in Yarralumla Bay, scoot past Blue Gum Point and go deep down towards the museum. A bit of swell could build up downwind between the two islands so finding a good line between them was the challenge. But after all isn't the flat water you manage to find between 2 lines of swell the best flat water there is?

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Ian K said..

I'm surprised no one has listed Lake Burley Griffin. Might not blow all that often but on a good day you can bust some pretty good gusts. I caught quite a few over 3 decades, many of my best sailing recollections are from LBG. In a good westerly you could get onto a gust in Yarralumla Bay, scoot past Blue Gum Point and go deep down towards the museum. A bit of swell could build up downwind between the two islands so finding a good line between them was the challenge. But after all isn't the flat water you manage to find between 2 lines of swell the best flat water there is?

I'LL go looks the goods ;-)

At the risk of spoiling the South Australian's fun, I'd say the best all round speed sailing I've ever experienced was Lake George, SA. That place is nuts. In terms of pure short run speed rushes, nothing comes close to Sandy Point in 40 knots SW with thick low pressure air - even with those pesky sand dunes...but LG wins out for it's versatility. If we had 35-40 knots in LG all records would be smashed - simple.