So what's the lake condition like this season?

In Jimbob's first postings of the season on GPS Team Challenge, has said that the lake level is low for so early in the season and he couldn't find any flat water. So this is either a bad omen for the season or Jimbob doesn't want anyone to visit!

Are there any plans by council to open up the estuary this spring? Without that action, the conditions will deteriorate for speed sailing.

Was at Lake George on Oct long week end. First time there. Water was at January's level according to Jimbob.
Water wasn't that flat due to Northerly wind but shallow everywhere.
According to Bert who I had a quick sail with and a beer at the pub on the Friday night, the Chanel to the ocean can only be opened in the winter and in any case the water board who runs the lake do not have any money to spend as the SA Gov have slashed their funding. ( He is on the board ). The other problem is that one of the channels that feeds into lake George has been diverted to the Coorong. Also the old farmer who owns the block between the 5 mile and the spit stopped and had a chat with me. He confirmed these comments and also added that they have had the least rainfall this winter for the past two years. He even anticipated the small lake drying up this year.
So, unless there is a big spring rain may not be any good.
I am sure Jimbob will fill us all in if my info is incorrect.

I think Lake George might be gone this year. Low levels and very little weed reading jimbobs post . I wonder what the big lake is like with low water levels?

I sailed the big lake (middle lake looked too shallow) at the end of March this year and it was a 400m hike to get from the spit to a spot deep enough to launch. First day was straight out from the spit with a westerly, more or less like sailing at any lake location swell-wise but with quite long runs, nice but not worth the trek from Adelaide. The second day was a South Easterly and very fast runs off the wind along the spit were the order of the day, this made the trip more than worthwhile.

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pineapple said..
I sailed the big lake (middle lake looked too shallow) at the end of March this year and it was a 400m hike to get from the spit to a spot deep enough to launch. First day was straight out from the spit with a westerly, more or less like sailing at any lake location swell-wise but with quite long runs, nice but not worth the trek from Adelaide. The second day was a South Easterly and very fast runs off the wind along the spit were the order of the day, this made the trip more than worthwhile.

Was the 400m hike in sand or mud?

It was at least 300m to a sailable depth from the shore at the camp site on the spit to the big lake 2 week's ago. It was a bit soft on the waters edge but didn't go any further than ankle deep. Was about 200m to sailable depth on the small lake and mud up to your knees at this depth.
Just remembered Jamie ( Jimbob ) is in Bali, no doubt he will respond when he gets back.

Burrum it is then for me....short of a "mirrorcoil".

Back to Sandy Pt.

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Bonominator said..
Burrum it is then for me....short of a "mirrorcoil".

The wind at Burrum is nowhere near as consistent as it is at LG. You need a tropical low or cyclone in the lower Coral Sea and low tide in the afternoon for it to be epic, but when it's on, it's fabulous.

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John340 said..

Bonominator said..
Burrum it is then for me....short of a "mirrorcoil".

The wind at Burrum is nowhere near as consistent as it is at LG. You need a tropical low or cyclone in the lower Coral Sea and low tide in the afternoon for it to be epic, but when it's on, it's fabulous.

Yeah I know. Not thinking so much about breaking records - just fun sailing and events.

At Sandy Point, the dunes and now this windless winter and spring have led many a seasoned speed sailor to even forget the place exists. Daffy maintains his constant vigil, but honestly, I've never seen such an extended pattern of unfavourable conditions for good speed sailing. Mallacoota Inlet is another option for Vic/NSW sailors, but not very reliable.

Swings and roundabouts though. What seems a hopeless situation now for speed sailing this end of the continent can easily become ideal in coming years.

Keep the dream alive!

How badly has The Pit deteriorated for speed sailing over the last few years?

I haven't been over for a while, and my calf muscles still cramp at the thought of that cold water (soft West Aussie here), but I'd love to drop in again on a good forecast.

Sand dune build up is slowly increasing on the spit. It has most affected the western end of the course so the window of perfect wind directions has reduced. Whereas we one could speed sail on straight Westerly winds, now it must be WSW unless it is really strong to enable you to get going in the lee of the sand dunes at the top of the spit.

In WSW winds the course is at least 95% as good as ever. Just a few smaller dunes on the spit back further from the edge that make a bit of turbulence in parts of the run. There are still large gaps with no interference.

Bottom line. The only real thing that has changed is the range of wind directions that are ideal. It is quite a bit narrower now, but it is still at the angle of the most common cold frontal storms.

Unfortunately, the weather this year is way off normal. We would normally expect to have had at least one good howler of the frontal storm every week during September - October. This year we have had exactly none! , and none on the forecast for the next week either.

My memories tell me that El Nino years are often those when we get an abundance of howling Easterlies in January/February, so maybe that will relieve our frustration a bit.

On the other hand, the conditions at Mallacoota this year are getting better and better. The entrance sandbar is now 50m+ longer than when Garry and I rode it in May-June where I easily got over 42 knots peaks in less than ideal tidal conditions. (needs SSW)

And Goodwin sands in now regularly exposed on the low tides. This has at least as much speed potential as Sandy Point in the right conditions. (Needs WSW)

Lately, the wind forecasts and wind station recordings have been better up there than at Sandy Point in the same weather systems as well, so it looks good for this summer.

Any updates on the current conditions at Lake George at the moment?

I'll call you tonight Chris.

Maybe the crew who last summer put up the reserved parking sign on the only bit of grass that I mow can fill everyone in.

I'll see next year JB if only to drink a few Coopers

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firiebob said...
I'll see next year JB if only to drink a few Coopers

Thats my plan too...

Couldn't each of us bring over a litre of water and a new water plant to restock LG????

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kato said..
Couldn't each of us bring over a litre of water and a new water plant to restock LG????

Maybe everyone bring a shovel too and we can dig a new channel to the sea....