I had a good look around at Mallacoota Monday and Tuesday. The wind was definitely there but the tides were just not quite low enough and low was right on sunset on Tuesday so I didn't sail.

This coming Friday morning is a different matter though. Stronger wind and much lower tide!

Front crossing the lake on Monday, 30kt +



The sandbar just barely exposed on the quite high low tide.



Hire boats directly upwind of speed strip



Hire boat HQ



Prices



number

Looks like a superb spot, Andrew. Wish I could make it down there to join you, but will have to try for next time. Looking forward to seeing your numbers. Please don't forget to post your tracks on gpstc too. Enjoy!

What is landscape like? Looks like a few hills but at least a bit of water before the bar. Boat hire looks nice. Mothership for drinks and maybe a caddy upwind? Good luck.

There is a couple of KM of lake before the wind gets to the sandbar. In the 20 knots I have sailed it, the wind was quite smooth. It is very close to the coast and lately it has been copping far more wind than Sandy Point in the Fronts.

Yesterday was no exception. It was howling across the lake from the perfect WSW direction. Close to the 35-45 knots recorded at Gabo Island. We estimated 30-40 on the lake, maybe more at times.

Unfortunately we were skunked again with a storm surge and the tide just didn't go out. It was well over the sandbar all day. Very frustrating, but I am determined to get it right eventually. I still think the speed potential here is phenomenal.

Myself and MT made the trip to check it out last year. Wind didn't come through as we hoped but still had a nice afternoon on the water. Beautiful spot with loads of potential. Our only concern is that it could be a tricky start at the top of the course on a small speed board as the only real way to get a good run at the start of the speed run would be to start out in the deep channel. Anyway I think we'll be heading back some time for another go at it. Here's a clip from the day for anyone interested, sorry about the quality.

What are the objects in the water (eg at 2:14)?

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John340 said..
What are the objects in the water (eg at 2:14)?

Clumps floating weed I'd say. No rocks there, thats for sure.

Nice video Stu!

On starting the speed run:

If the wind is not quite as broad as ideal (WSW) for speed, it should not be hard to step on as long as you don't go right to the top (West end). Even if it is the ideal angle, the shallows extend out at least 20 meters by a quarter of the way down the course.

If you can't gybe your speed board you can just water-start in the channel anyhow. If you can't water-start you speed board in 25-30+ knots, you are probably in the wrong place it the wrong time.

That looks like a nice spot. Great video too. Good luck with it. Its got to line up wind and tide one day.

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sailquik said..

John340 said..
What are the objects in the water (eg at 2:14)?

Clumps floating weed I'd say. No rocks there, thats for sure.

Nice video Stu!

On starting the speed run:

If the wind is not quite as broad as ideal (WSW) for speed, it should not be hard to step on as long as you don't go right to the top (West end). Even if it is the ideal angle, the shallows extend out at least 20 meters by a quarter of the way down the course.

If you can't gybe your speed board you can just water-start in the channel anyhow. If you can't water-start you speed board in 25-30+ knots, you are probably in the wrong place it the wrong time.

Thanks Andrew

Yeah there were a few clumps of weed but no problem with a standard 40-45 weedy.

I guess the start of the run would be a different in 30knts+ no need for a long run off.

No trouble water starting BTW (Its a must for someone that crashes as much as me lol) but not often I need to water start a speed board. We're a bit spoilt for knee deep water at Primbee Anyway with the lack of weed banks and flatwater at home this year(so far) another Mallacoota trip could be on the cards.

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sailquik said..
If you can't gybe your speed board you can just water-start in the channel anyhow. If you can't water-start you speed board in 25-30+ knots, you are probably in the wrong place it the wrong time.

Slowie did 44.6 the other day over here on a 95 lt board (Mistral Speed 55, I think) and Stroppo's done 40 on a 78 cm wide JP board on the flat as well. Demonstrating that you (well OK, "some" ) can go fast on flat water with bigger kit than thought possible. Suggesting that perhaps sailors new to Mallacoota can go up a size in boards until they get used to the place and still get good speeds.

Agree Yoyo, MT has no trouble doing 40's on slalom gear over here, when we can't catch him on speed boards All comes down to the operator in the end. Just between us, best I've managed is 38's on my Mistral speed 95 (in chop )

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yoyo said..


and Stroppo's done 40 on a 78 cm wide JP board on the flat as well. Demonstrating that you (well OK, "some" ) can go fast on flat water with bigger kit than thought possible.

wow that is amazing, usually the wider you go the deeper the fin, the deeper the fin the deeper the water, the deeper the water the bigger the chop , I have seen some of strop's posts and not surprised, fantastic effort stroppo

I recall Slowboat doing some high speeds on the Mistral137 which is 82cm wide in big chop on the Swan. 38knots peak with a 7.0 or 7.8. Thats a good effort I reckon. Correct me if I am wrong, I couldnt find the session on GPSTC. He reckons it flies over chop better than the smaller boards.

my patrik 115 works way better in chop than the 90 lt slalom - the bigger board gets up on the fin and hovers so it just clips the top of the chop where as the smaller board cant hold the pressure under the board and tends to Bounce over every bit of chop.

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Roar said..
my patrik 115 works way better in chop than the 90 lt slalom - the bigger board gets up on the fin and hovers so it just clips the top of the chop where as the smaller board cant hold the pressure under the board and tends to Bounce over every bit of chop.

probably the 115 has more V shape on the bottom than the 90.

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Roar said..
my patrik 115 works way better in chop than the 90 lt slalom - the bigger board gets up on the fin and hovers so it just clips the top of the chop where as the smaller board cant hold the pressure under the board and tends to Bounce over every bit of chop.

I've hear about this but not sure I've felt it. I suppose you have to be really powered up with a decent fin to get this?

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Piv said..
I recall Slowboat doing some high speeds on the Mistral137 which is 82cm wide in big chop on the Swan. 38knots peak with a 7.0 or 7.8. Thats a good effort I reckon. Correct me if I am wrong, I couldnt find the session on GPSTC. He reckons it flies over chop better than the smaller boards.

Getting a bit off topic (Mallacoota) but Piv you are selling Slowie a bit short (and must not have looked very hard on gpstc) he has done almost 40 on the 137
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2016-04-28&team=10

Thanks for finding the post yoyo, yes nearly 40 knots and it wouldnt have been very flat there either. But it is kind of on topic because a big board might be nice to get used to Malacoota.

Some interesting stuff goes on with big boards. Im not sure I have got my head around it all yet. Most sailers tend to change down because the small boards feel better, but are they always faster?

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yoyo said..

sailquik said..
If you can't gybe your speed board you can just water-start in the channel anyhow. If you can't water-start you speed board in 25-30+ knots, you are probably in the wrong place it the wrong time.

Slowie did 44.6 the other day over here on a 95 lt board (Mistral Speed 55, I think) and Stroppo's done 40 on a 78 cm wide JP board on the flat as well. Demonstrating that you (well OK, "some" ) can go fast on flat water with bigger kit than thought possible. Suggesting that perhaps sailors new to Mallacoota can go up a size in boards until they get used to the place and still get good speeds.

Big guy and a freak!

Normal people will always go faster on smaller boards and fins in good winds and good water conditions. At least that is true for me.

I did 42 knots peak on my slalom board once, but that was by accident when I got caught in the speed course by a massive squall and all I could do was hang on for dear life. No way I would choose to do that!

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Piv said..
Thanks for finding the post yoyo, yes nearly 40 knots and it wouldnt have been very flat there either. But it is kind of on topic because a big board might be nice to get used to Malacoota.

Some interesting stuff goes on with big boards. Im not sure I have got my head around it all yet. Most sailors tend to change down because the small boards feel better, but are they always faster?

Yes! Given suitable water and wind conditions. There is a optimal size for all conditions, and it decreases as the wind increases..

But that does not mean that some talented individuals, (and usually of above average stature) have not got the ability to do quite fast speeds on bigger boards anyway. Especially in less than ideal conditions where a bigger board or sail my be a big tactical advantage, despite not being optimum on the speed run in that one good gust.
Examples abound.

Does it work in this direction? Maybe the other side of the bar? 'Cause it sure is going to be windy !

www.windguru.cz/219702

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yoyo said..
Does it work in this direction? Maybe the other side of the bar? 'Cause it sure is going to be windy !

www.windguru.cz/219702

Unfortunately no. Sandy Point does but we won't get that wind.

It could be a big day at Budgie though!