Sunday was one of the best days I've had of open ocean sailing- beautifully steady 20 knots and a nice flat swell. I headed from Lagoon around to East Beach, then decided to keep on going on to Bell Bouy. As I gybed in to Bell Bouy to finish the run I realised the wind had a lot of north in it, so I decided to sail all the way back. A couple of tacks had me around 2 Mile Reef and Low Head.

I forgot to put on the GPS when I started, and managed to do it once I got back past the reef without falling in.


www.strava.com/activities/209100483

Clarence

Nice one Clarence

Clarence, that would be just a short sprint for you wouldn't it? Couldn't talk some of the others into joining you?

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Iceman said..
Clarence, that would be just a short sprint for you wouldn't it? Couldn't talk some of the others into joining you?

I covered the best part of 30km in an hour and half, so it was a fair old sail. If I'd organised a pickup I would've kept going around 5 Mile Bluff to Beechford (which I've done before). If you look on the GPS plot Beechford is at the mouth of the second creek to the east, under the four little arrows in the box.

15 minutes on one tack can get a little tiring though.

I'm working on getting someone else out there. You and Tim can come along next time you're up here.

Everyone seems worried about breaking gear in the open ocean. When it is cross onshore along a mainly sandy coastline, it couldn't be any worse than getting into trouble in the mouth of the Tamar on an outgoing tide.

On days like Sunday I wonder why East Beach isn't the default flat water sailing location instead of Lagoon. Long runs, smooth sandy bottom, steady wind, little or no waves, no current, more onshore than cross shore, no weed etc.

Clarence

We sail east quite a bit, ( Alan Chris, Ben Flood and I ) Especially during Summer. It a great spot to sail in the right direction.
The water is beautiful and clear and a little less challenging than Bell bouy can be on a big swell day.

Makes good sense about East Beach would love to try it again. Haven't had much experience in the waves or the open ocean but up for a challenge.

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Iceman said..
Makes good sense about East Beach would love to try it again. Haven't had much experience in the waves or the open ocean but up for a challenge.

On a day like Sunday East Beach was probably less of challenge than the Tamar. On a good day East beach would be one of the best spots to find your "sea legs" I reckon.

Clarence