what will you do this year to cure your addiction?

JB HIFI sell LG

in a box with mud and weed ?

Weed maybe?

I have Cervantesitis. Is it the same thing?


I don't want to go back to work.

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Subsonic said.. I have Cervantesitis. Is it the same thing?

Totally different. I wouldn't drive all the way across Aus just to go to Cervantes, but I've done it to LG thrice, and will probably do it again in a good year.

Do you think it'll still be OK?

Back in 2015 the water level was lower than now and there wasn't much weed, but it was still good for sailing. I was using raked back speed fins (C3 Slingshots) rather than weed fins and still having good sessions. I don't think you could even sail through to the big lake that year, with the sandbar being exposed all the way across (where my tracks stop to the top right).

Theres nothing in WA that is an exact replica of Lake George. However, we are a large state and have all the conditions you would want, and if you are willing to drive long distances you could sail everyday from September to April. If you wanted Lake George conditions, you'd sail between the spots of Albany Lilacs and Mandurah Peel estuary (Fangies, Novara, Liptons, Point Grey, Boombas), or even Shark Bay. Albany cannot cater for the Big crowds like Lake George can cater for, big crowds would ruin Albany, it would get overcrowded very quickly u'd have to line up for the NM run and then listen to non-stop whinging about how much better Lake George is. Lilacs Albany is a much much smaller area than Lake George. Then you've got the massive drive which means a lot of you would lose 8 to 10 days driving long distances just to get to WA and back home.

Ps, WA is probably a bucket list venue for most windsurfers, but to do it and yourself justice I'd reckon its at least once in your life time experience and you would do do 2 to 3 months, something like a long service leave holiday.

I was there on 7th and 8th for the +25kt forecast. Here was the state of affairs on those days.

I was running a 15cm MUF delta (16cm when it was brand new). Most of the places I sail in SA are shallow and weedy, so these MUF deltas are good "go to" fins when conditions are unknown. I had no feedback from the locals until I arrived. I was struggling to beat up wind (using an 85 JP FSW board), and this made my visit to the flat water short. But glad I was using this fin. I would have ended up catapulting on a larger fin.



The tracks below was 8th Jan, the most difficult sailing day out the 2 days. It was very windy. Sheets of water were getting lifted, and I was hanging on coming back. Winds were shifting direction. Challenging but fun. Both days I was worried about getting stuck at the spit with no help after the locals left.

Referring to annotation numbers in pic above:

1: Launching through 100m of mud with about 1-2cm of water on top. I just launched on the mud.

Most of the lake is choppy, but not as bad at Boggy Lake IMO. However, it would not be fun on a speed board. James recommended I use my 85 FSW board, which I did. He was on a 101 FSW and 4.7 Ezzy sail.

2: Butter smooth water. Really nice gybes. Fin was slightly clipping the bottom every now and then. I hopped off a few times, and water was just above my ankles.

3: Not so smooth, but still pretty good to bare away and trim the board.

4: Choppy.

5: Smooth, but wind is squally on a SSE. This is a good/safespot if you can't get to spit or Cockys, and you're intermittent. I was pulling similar speeds to my PB at the spit that day. Still good fun spot.

1: Landing, same thing as launch. Went in pretty fast, and stopped when the fin went into the hard mud. I was able to hop off with only by feet and bottom of board muddy.

There is no weed in this lake at all.

I wish I had packed my action camera to show you all. But, oh well.

I'm considering going there again at the end of the week to join Sellicks Bogan, but... Stansbury is better at the moment: Flatter and shorter drive.

Has anyone launched from Woakwines when it's +25kt SSE and sailed to the spit ?. I've sailed at Woakwines twice - easy 2WD access, but I've never sailed too far out.

Im going to Depot beach, Merimbula and Mallacouta. There is life after speed.

Thanks Jn1, all good, useful information. There are a group of us from TAS planning a trip at the end of Jan. The ferry's normally booked out at this time of year for vehicles, so needed to book in advance. Easy enough to postpone the ferry booking until next year though if not worth it this year. Will keep an eye on it.

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jn1 said..
I was there on 7th and 8th for the +25kt forecast. Here was the state of affairs on those days.

I was running a 15cm MUF delta (16cm when it was brand new). Most of the places I sail in SA are shallow and weedy, so these MUF deltas are good "go to" fins when conditions are unknown. I had no feedback from the locals until I arrived. I was struggling to beat up wind (using an 85 JP FSW board), and this made my visit to the flat water short. But glad I was using this fin. I would have ended up catapulting on a larger fin.



The tracks below was 8th Jan, the most difficult sailing day out the 2 days. It was very windy. Sheets of water were getting lifted, and I was hanging on coming back. Winds were shifting direction. Challenging but fun. Both days I was worried about getting stuck at the spit with no help after the locals left.

Referring to annotation numbers in pic above:

1: Launching through 100m of mud with about 1-2cm of water on top. I just launched on the mud.

Most of the lake is choppy, but not as bad at Boggy Lake IMO. However, it would not be fun on a speed board. James recommended I use my 85 FSW board, which I did. He was on a 101 FSW and 4.7 Ezzy sail.

2: Butter smooth water. Really nice gybes. Fin was slightly clipping the bottom every now and then. I hopped off a few times, and water was just above my ankles.

3: Not so smooth, but still pretty good to bare away and trim the board.

4: Choppy.

5: Smooth, but wind is squally on a SSE. This is a good/safespot if you can't get to spit or Cockys, and you're intermittent. I was pulling similar speeds to my PB at the spit that day. Still good fun spot.

1: Landing, same thing as launch. Went in pretty fast, and stopped when the fin went into the hard mud. I was able to hop off with only by feet and bottom of board muddy.

There is no weed in this lake at all.

I wish I had packed my action camera to show you all. But, oh well.

I'm considering going there again at the end of the week to join Sellicks Bogan, but... Stansbury is better at the moment: Flatter and shorter drive.

Has anyone launched from Woakwines when it's +25kt SSE and sailed to the spit ?. I've sailed at Woakwines twice - easy 2WD access, but I've never sailed too far out.

When you say choppy how big? It sounds like the only shallow water is risky shallow stuff?
I had a ball last year. It was 30cms rollers at Cockies with maybe 15cms over the weedbeds ( winds up to 23kts)
I'm assuming the chop will be bigger this year.
I'm booked. I'll take my Windtechs again.. don't think I'll bother with small speed stuff as I won't be using it in strong stuff.
I was booked mid February to Mid march but have changed it to 4th Feb to early March.
Ps the chop can't have been too bad if a 16cm delta held..

LG 2015

AUS02: No worries mate.

sboardcrazy: It was choppy enough that I didn't want to gybe on my FSW board, generally unpleasant. The delta would not be my choice in that chop, but I would not be able to get out of 5 Mile if I didn't use it. When you do come over, failing everything, there is Woakwines launch area in the big lake, which should still have water, albeit a bit of a walk out. From memory, the lake bottom is very firm there. Fisho's reverse their trailers into the water there. I'll see if I can dig up a video I took in March 2017.

Here are some hi res pics of 5 Mile last week:

Monday 06 Jan, mid day, 20-25kt SSE:




Tue 07 Jan mid day (25+ kt SSE):


Later on at 4:30pm. The water receded about 5 to 6 metres.

Some Drone photos of Lake, no wind when taken. 12th Jan 2025

Great, thank you.

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jn1 said..
AUS02: No worries mate.

sboardcrazy: It was choppy enough that I didn't want to gybe on my FSW board, generally unpleasant. The delta would not be my choice in that chop, but I would not be able to get out of 5 Mile if I didn't use it. When you do come over, failing everything, there is Woakwines launch area in the big lake, which should still have water, albeit a bit of a walk out. From memory, the lake bottom is very firm there. Fisho's reverse their trailers into the water there. I'll see if I can dig up a video I took in March 2017.

Here are some hi res pics of 5 Mile last week:

Monday 06 Jan, mid day, 20-25kt SSE:




Tue 07 Jan mid day (25+ kt SSE):


Later on at 4:30pm. The water receded about 5 to 6 metres.

That lake recession is what caught me out in 2022 when I went too shallow , stacked it and broke my wrist. I forgot how much it can go out.

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Vachy said..
Some Drone photos of Lake, no wind when taken. 12th Jan 2025

Thanks.

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Vachy said..
Some Drone photos of Lake, no wind when taken. 12th Jan 2025

Many thanks for all the Photos.
It looks very, very similar to how it was in 2015.
And from JN1's descriptions, and the drone shots, it seems pretty clear that these is some form of weed left, it's just not really that visible, as it was in 2015.
As usual, there will be areas of the lake that are choppy, and areas that have flat water.
No, it's doesn't look like the primo conditions that might tempt those who have seen it at it's best, to travel 4 days from WA.
But we had great fun in 2015, and will have great fun in 2025.

We are going to need a few of these.

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sailquik said..

Vachy said..
Some Drone photos of Lake, no wind when taken. 12th Jan 2025

Many thanks for all the Photos.
It looks very, very similar to how it was in 2015.
And from JN1's descriptions, and the drone shots, it seems pretty clear that these is some form of weed left, it's just not really that visible, as it was in 2015.
As usual, there will be areas of the lake that are choppy, and areas that have flat water.
No, it's doesn't look like the primo conditions that might tempt those who have seen it at it's best, to travel 4 days from WA.
But we had great fun in 2015, and will have great fun in 2025.

Ah such fond memories of 2015, it was my first year. The mud was epic!

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sboardcrazy said..

That lake recession is what caught me out in 2022 when I went too shallow , stacked it and broke my wrist. I forgot how much it can go out.

Yeah, sorry to hear that. I arrived at George just after your accident.

I've dug up a video of Woakwine launch spot, 23 March 2017:



Just note that this was a few months before I joined GPSTC. My intention was to spend 3 days at 3rd ramp (Robe) Wavesailing. Unfortunately on day 1, one of my wave boards suffered deck damage when got HD cycled. So, with only one board, I decided to go to George. 2nd day I sailed with Rick (another local) at 5 Mile. This was the water state there (as a reference to the video).


The wind was about 15 to 18knots in the video. I was using a JP 85 FSW board, with a 27cm wave fin, and a Severne 4.7 Blade Pro (onshore wave sail). Also, there was no weed (that I knew of).

If you are going to do the big drive over, and the middle lake is too shallow, then Woakwine could be a possible Plan B.

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AUS4 said..
We are going to need a few of these.

Oooooooo YES PLEASE!!!

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AUS4 said..
We are going to need a few of these.

You volunteering?

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John340 said..

sailquik said..

Vachy said..
Some Drone photos of Lake, no wind when taken. 12th Jan 2025

Many thanks for all the Photos.
It looks very, very similar to how it was in 2015.
And from JN1's descriptions, and the drone shots, it seems pretty clear that these is some form of weed left, it's just not really that visible, as it was in 2015.
As usual, there will be areas of the lake that are choppy, and areas that have flat water.
No, it's doesn't look like the primo conditions that might tempt those who have seen it at it's best, to travel 4 days from WA.
But we had great fun in 2015, and will have great fun in 2025.

Ah such fond memories of 2015, it was my first year. The mud was epic!

I remember I had video of John going out to wash the mud off your sail. You were floundering around in thigh deep mud carrying your sail above the water swearing like a trooper..
I tried to use it as blackmail to get a free pub meal but it didn't work.