What is the best tide time/state and wind conditions to visit the train? Think I might visit.

iv'e found at low tide if you go downwind a bit just to the edge of the sandbank you get perfectly flat water in a SE breezebut at high tide a bit of chopp comes through the bad thing is the boats[}:)]

So it would be best to go at low tide and in a SE breeze

people generally go there for the dead flat water which is present at any time just under high tide

SSE - SE (ideal)

NNW - NE (ideal)

If the bom's seaway reading is averaging 20 knots, this is usually the equivalent of about 14-17 knots-ish on a handheld wind meter

What is the parking like, have driven past and doesn't look like alot.

limited at the end of north rd / smith st. people who work in southport have recently discovered it's an all-day free parking spot and a short walk to the cbd.

admittedly this is a PITA but i'd say if we continue whinging to council about it, it'll just make things worse for ourselves, as to date we have been getting away with parking in the culdesac and on the grass as a last resort. do that anywhere else on the goldcoast and you have a fine within minutes. i say just live with it

marine parade near KFC is the next option. it's not very friendly launching spot for those that use a slalom board with big fins at lower tides, but it has nice grass, beach, dunny and taps so that people who have a fettish for watering their sails when they finish can do so

it seems to be ok at weekends - but as Haircut says during the week it is packed and can be hard to get a park - It is a shame as my office istwo blacks away & I can shoot down for a sail over a long lunch - but recently it has been full! - I go north to the next right hand turn & as Haircut said it is a great rigup area - you have to tack up to the main chanel where the flat water is - low tide is very limited - you can sail but there are numerous shallow spots & runs are short - half tide & higher is better - you have more area to gybe & runs get longer etc

Thanks for the help, will have to go for a look, does marine parade near KFC work in a NE at mid to high tide? was looking for a place for a mid week sail.

yes it does - there is quite a few WS rig up there on a NE - somedays much more popular than the train

nice map haircut - good work - that is exactly what I was trying to say - but so much better!!

Thanks for the help hitch and haircut nice map aircut will have to wait for the wind to line up with the days off, then give it a go.

Low tide is best for the Train and it doesn't really matter if it is incoming or outgoing. SE or NE is best. (Direction of tide is not really a factor).

But Shearwater needs to be outgoing and SE. (Tide is a big factor).

Might go have a look at shearwater as well thanks da vecta

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Haircut said...

limited at the end of north rd / smith st. people who work in southport have recently discovered it's an all-day free parking spot and a short walk to the cbd.

admittedly this is a PITA but i'd say if we continue whinging to council about it, it'll just make things worse for ourselves, as to date we have been getting away with parking in the culdesac and on the grass as a last resort. do that anywhere else on the goldcoast and you have a fine within minutes. i say just live with it

marine parade near KFC is the next option. it's not very friendly launching spot for those that use a slalom board with big fins at lower tides, but it has nice grass, beach, dunny and taps so that people who have a fettish for watering their sails when they finish can do so

Just be careful rigging near those kiters or you might get another sort of PITA.

PITA

Acronym for Pain In The Ass, a major annoyance.
2) Flat bread of Mediterranean origin, eaten as is or filled with small pieces of roasted meat, veggies, condiments, etc.
3) hot n toasty blood type cooled with copius amounts of water time!!