Boz and I did a 3 day recon to Hutt Lagoon, Port Gregory, WA to look for an alternative to sailing intermittent winter squalls. First day was recon looking for launch spots, checking water depths and hazards. Turned out to be a glorious cruise in the sun in SE. 2nd day had the best E wind but managed to over expose the drone footage due to dumb error and the 360 lens salted up after 5 mins so most of that footage is flakey or lost. 3rd day was less wind and NE. Seems a good location that allows sailing in most wind directions and a pleasant change in the sun. Video here

Great video Flex, with very interesting editing.

I have had a hard look at those lakes a couple of times when passing and very seriously considered them for a speed spot. Fantastic that you have broken the ice and showed the great potential. Now we need to see if there is a good spot to handle the South to SSW summer winds.

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sailquik said..
Great video Flex, with very interesting editing.

I have had a hard look at those lakes a couple of times when passing and very seriously considered them for a speed spot. Fantastic that you have broken the ice and showed the great potential. Now we need to see if there is a good spot to handle the South to SSW summer winds.

Interesting you say for the Southerly, not recon this time but the Northern wall which has the deepest water works perfectly at 135 deg off the wind, water evaporates around 150mm in Sept and a further 200mm in October but with the deeper section would still be suitable possibly to sail in a southerly, the run is 1098m . Also another section that is 1k long fits perfectly for a Westerly giving a bear away of 135 deg

Ooooh That will be pleasant when the water evaporates and becomes hypersaline

Very interesting up there, can be blowing 30kts on the ocean, sailing inside the Pt Gregory ocean lagoon behind the rock wall and swell lines its only low 20's max, and once I was near the Hutt Pink lake and it was high 20's, gave up on the place, maybe its the pink lake?

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sailquik said..
Great video Flex, with very interesting editing.

I have had a hard look at those lakes a couple of times when passing and very seriously considered them for a speed spot. Fantastic that you have broken the ice and showed the great potential. Now we need to see if there is a good spot to handle the South to SSW summer winds.

Mmmmmmmmm

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hardie said..
Very interesting up there, can be blowing 30kts on the ocean, sailing inside the Pt Gregory ocean lagoon behind the rock wall and swell lines its only low 20's max, and once I was near the Hutt Pink lake and it was high 20's, gave up on the place, maybe its the pink lake?

We were surprised how deceptive it can be. Rigging on the foreshore of the lagoon Port Gregory Side you'd swear it was 6.3-7 weather. The Tues and Wed morning I was on a 5.2 KAR Plenty of wind not gusty some nice bullets as well, we played it cautiously plus we should have been on the second wall on the Tues which was a better angle. Only issue, salt in the eyes will make you squint and you will get the never ending thirst syndrome if you do as flex and face plant into the Pink stuff This spot is now on our radar from June to possible mid October dependant on rain etc next year. Because there are so many walls you can pick one dependant on direction of wind, just pick the right one. The longest section is a NM long Just make sure you wash your gear and car after a trip up there, slightly salty but oh so much fun. Also one other hazard the bottom is rock hard so no crashing Oh bring the tequila and lemon leave the salt at home

The other important factor here (at least for me) was the long range weather forecast was almost exactly as predicted (which was a relief after committing to the long drive). The whole trip came about by a passing comment from one of the Mandurah Mobsters passing by on holiday about a month or so ago saying it looked inviting. Then Boz, after another skunking at Coods, said he was 'considering' it about 10 days ago. I looked at Windy 10 day forecast and saw easterlies 20kt with 30kt gusts forecast at the lagoon and said "how about Aug 23?" and it was on. Reality was almost exactly as forecast 10 days before we arrived...probably 20knots with some bullets...makes planing a whole lot easier. Maybe we just got lucky but the forecasts locally here in the Perth/Mandurah region over winter have been lousy...and that is being generous. Add the sun and it was great trip.

Sounds like a fun place to try. After sailing Lake George nowhere really salty . That stuff will make you throw up if ingested.

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kato said..
After sailing Lake George nowhere really salty .

Does not get more salty than Hutt Lagoon in the summer

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boardsurfr said..

kato said..
After sailing Lake George nowhere really salty .

Does not get more salty than Hutt Lagoon in the summer

Yep, I recon that Pink lake takes 'Hypersaline' to a whole new level!

It should be very buoyant as well!

Yep, that looks REALLY salty! (2016)




Windy! And it looks like that bank is close to the right angle? It seems like there was plenty of water in the lake outside the salt pens in January 2016.