Admitedly the surf was intermittent. Wind was around 25 knots direct cross shore. It was good enough to get a loop about every third run out and a decent ride every third run in. That makes it 4 out of 5 day trips a success this year. Not as good as last year especially with smaller surf - still much more interesting than a flat water sail.

ok with a good strike rate like that,would you share your criteria for a dash to robe,have heard a few diff stories so far,,
swell in the mid =swell at long beach,obviously westerly
swellin the mid= no swell at long beach???
gotta be swell over 2metres west/sthwest
sthwest swell over 3 metres
anyone with sure fire hit

We have been storing away the wind and swell maps on windy days and classifying them for a couple of years now. We trust the maps more than the forecast. Wind we look for a SE to ESE, sometimes Easterly works. Does not need much. Temp at least 23 degrees. Swell we go for a fast 7.5 foot (14 secs or better) or 8 foot down to about 13 secs.

We always look at Cape De Cuiak or whatever its called as it has about the right lead so if you check in at 8am and the swell is picking up then it is usually good for Robe by about 1:30pm - which is when we show up. Usually picks up at that time.

We had a hit rate of 7 out of 8 last year with much more swell. We start looking mid Jan and give up around last week of March.

In terms of swell direction west or sthwest seems ok. We always drive along the beach to get the best swell / wind combination, usually 1 - 2 kms north of 3rd ramp. It is a big difference when the swell has some south in it.

Coming home from Yorkes had a look there about 5 o'clock, 4 out good wind no swell to speak off, when there is no swell at Robe drive the extra hour and a half to Nene Valley where there is always swell on the reefs and the wind a lot cleaner of the beach.

Now you've let the cat out of the bag Jimbob

30 mins which way - you've got us all excited now

edit - I didn't see the hour in fromt of the 30 mins in your post!

Russh, For me Nene Valley is 70 k's and Robe 80 k's away, All the coast from Port Mac to carpenter rocks is very differnt to Robe. the continental shelf is only 25 to 30 k"s out compared to Robe at 80 k's so always more swell, check out google, really no crew left sailing this area as most all the Mount Gambier sailors have retired or moved on. was common to have half a dozen out at pebbles and now no one around.

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jimbob SA said...

Russh, For me Nene Valley is 70 k's and Robe 80 k's away, All the coast from Port Mac to carpenter rocks is very differnt to Robe. the continental shelf is only 25 to 30 k"s out compared to Robe at 80 k's so always more swell, check out google, really no crew left sailing this area as most all the Mount Gambier sailors have retired or moved on. was common to have half a dozen out at pebbles and now no one around.

Jimbob is on the money,
Nene Valley is a top spot for all water sports.Spent my last 30 years in Mt Gambier and Know the cost well.7 years ago I built a shack at Nene Valley and spent every weekend down there.When the sea is flat at Pt Mac you will still get waves at Nene Valley,The Valley has reefs all around it and there are only 3 channels for boats to get out.Jimbob has let the cat out of the bag and I would go the extra km past Robe because there is always wind and waves.I still cant see what the fuss is about robe????I have moved to Adelaide now but I go home a bit so if you are keen on a road trip let me know.There are alot of camping spots around Nene Valley and Pt Mac but Mt Gambier is only 30mins to Nene valley an 20mins to Pt Mac.
The old crew are still there and are still sailing.My old man was a windsurfer but has taken up kite surfing and is down there every weekend and said they are still sailing.

If your keen on road trip let me know, And put the surf boards and Motor bikes in as well

CHEERS

TAA

What's the area between Robe and Beachport like.
Last time I was at Robe (Australia Day weekend) we went through the little dip reserve and out onto some of the beaches along the way to Beachport. It seemed like you could go out pretty well anywhere along there and get logo to mast high waves. They were breaking a fair way out... maybe 6 or 700 metres out, but it looked awesome.
There was no wind the day we were there, so I'm not sure if it gets much wind or the right direction.
Anyone know the area/sailed there?
Is there an easier way in and out? My Landcruiser survived (a bit of paint & panel damage, but hey it is a 4wd), but I'm not sure about boards and masts surviving the trip. Well, not the way we went anyway.

Jeez Jamie what are you thinking. The locals are not going to be happy.

Robe is the best spot around here by far, NOT.

Catch up for a beer at Easter time Jamie.

TAA, welcome to the breeze. Finally got the courage to kite Nene Valley break last weekend. it went for at least 1 km.
I stayed out on the shoulder but I reckon around the pocket area it was at least double mast high. It was peeling left and right.

Ian

Jeez Ian, double mast high is a big call?????????

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Scotty Mac said...

Jeez Ian, double mast high is a big call?????????

Not with a kite......

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Scotty Mac said...

Jeez Ian, double mast high is a big call?????????

HI All
Ian is on the money,Called the Nene Valley break and it does get BIG,On its day you can ride the wave up to 1 km .You need high tide, swell and big BALLS.If you have surfed or windsurfed Pebbles at Pt Mac very much the same but bigger and easyer to get to, You dont need a 4wd.IT works on a row of boils out to sea and when it breaks it then runs along a pointed reef all the way to the beach. left hand wave but you can go right if the tide is high.And the best part is, If the sea is flat which is 9 times a year if your lucky you can drop net around the boils an catch cray fish.

CHEERS

TAA

Hey Scotty, I was a windsurfer for 15 years before getting into kites and yeah it was a good 2 master.
As I said, I wasn't going anywhere near the pocket.

I know Jimbob has caught some long rides on a particular waves around here that will remain nameless so yeah it's a very underated area.

do we have any pictures of the nene valley break
and i guess it works on anything northerly and not sth/eastly,
not that i"d be rushing down there,5.5hrs in the car is 5.oohrs too long,not to mention double mast overhead
maybe thats why robe is attractive,can be a day trip and xshore in sth eastly,prevailing summer wind.
My mistake,just read one of jimbobs earlier posts and its down the line x/off in sth/east/east...justone photo huh

Yep side or side offshore is hard to find. Any boat ramps at Nene Valley?

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Scotty Mac said...

Yep side or side offshore is hard to find. Any boat ramps at Nene Valley?

Hi All
Nene Valley works on Southwest or westerly wind.No good on Southeast it turns into wind slop.You can sail it on north easterly but it is off shore.
No boat ramps Scotty just beach,Three spots to put boats in and they are safe to do and there are no waves where you put in.You can put boat up to 6m in before you need a tractor, But make sure you know where the channels are before going out or you will end up on the reefs.

Take photo's next time I go home


CHEERS

TAA