I've just started to do the drive Port Sorell - Burnie and back each day and have been curious about this location for a sail. Does anyone have any reports? Best tides, wind and where the rocks are etc. It appears that getting in on the Leith side of the river looks the goods but North coast rock beaches tend to scare me and my fin.

If you can think of anywhere else along this coast to recommend please go ahead. I'm taking my gear to work in case it gets windy in the afternoons so different suggestions will help.

Turners Beach is a bit of a wind magnet in NW/W breezes.
From what I remember it's mostly sandy, great for jumping

Closer to Devonport, if you head north at Wesley Vale and opposite the Mill, there is a road to the beach. This is Moorlands. It used to be the spot, more or less at the airport in Devonport. There used to be a big crowd there (once), and there was at least 3-4 days a week good wind (>17knots), not sure how that is now. Last time I was there (a couple of weeks ago), there was a bit too much seaweed. It picks up a decent swell and has (had) a nice beach break in a NW/W (& NE). There's a photo of some sailing there in my photo gallery (click on profile). Rod from Carr sails (Port Sorell) and his son used to sail there, a long time ago.

Those photos are awesome. I have driven past this spot many many times. When you head down the road did you used to sail straight out from the first car park or head left along the track a bit to the second beach? Having not grown up or seeing anyone out there I have always been concerned about the location especially with the changes in tides and appearing clumps of rocks.

Had a sail this arvo at Turners beach, wasn't the best and gusty as all hell. But nice small waves and some good rides.

I need to find some younger generation people up here who are not into speed sailing all the time!!! Would love to re-create some of those photos, although i'm not that keen on the coloured wetsuits :)

We used to do quite a few downwinders from W Ulverstone to Forth river, have'nt tried it for about 4 years now but when we were starting out (early eighties) We sailed down to Turners beach on a one design with no harness 20 kts NW. A few times we never made it, those were the days
I dont think there are any rocks on the W side of the Forth river mouth but heaps on the E side

Used to sail at Moorlands beach out the front of the Devonport airport in the late 80's early 90's There were about 6-8 regular sailers there when it was NW. Nice beach break and good size waves after a few days of nw in a row. Also used to sail off coles beach in devonport but where a few more rocks to avoid

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Grevil11 said...

Those photos are awesome. I have driven past this spot many many times. When you head down the road did you used to sail straight out from the first car park or head left along the track a bit to the second beach? Having not grown up or seeing anyone out there I have always been concerned about the location especially with the changes in tides and appearing clumps of rocks.

Had a sail this arvo at Turners beach, wasn't the best and gusty as all hell. But nice small waves and some good rides.

I need to find some younger generation people up here who are not into speed sailing all the time!!! Would love to re-create some of those photos, although i'm not that keen on the coloured wetsuits :)

I think you can sail there quite successfully without the colored wetsuits. Either way the beach we normally sailed at was on the left, past the point where the car park is. It's between the two rocky outcrops that you see at low tide. The photo of Marcus and me, Where you can see the fine colored wetties, is the first beach, a top day for short DTL sailing on 3.4m2. Occasionally at high tide in Cross shore it could be very nice. Shallow though. We were the first to start sailing out there, where as most people seemed to stay in the protection of Hawley. There was occasionally also a good break out behind Wrights island, and the beach on the right at the end of the road was ok when it was cross off at moorlands. I sailed there in a 25knt NE a couple of weeks ago when there was no wind down here in Hobart. It'd be cool if people started sailing there again. I'd be willing to bet the first back loops and cheese rolls in Tas were pulled off there.

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Rustbucket68 said...

Used to sail at Moorlands beach out the front of the Devonport airport in the late 80's early 90's There were about 6-8 regular sailers there when it was NW. Nice beach break and good size waves after a few days of nw in a row. Also used to sail off coles beach in devonport but where a few more rocks to avoid

That'd have been us then: me (Greg), Marcus, Brett, Judy, Rod, Chris, etc. Were you there often?

Is this right?

No, we never really sailed at Pardoe. Mostly at Moorlands (between the two rocky outcrops), or occasionally to the right of the point at high tide, when there was a decent swell and cross / cross off wind for nice, but short DTL sailing. Before there was such great websites for current weather obs. we just to call past the air traffic control tower at the airport and get a heads up on the current wind. The windsock is apparently horizontal at 20knts.

Yup..used to sail with Rod, Marcus and a few others I can't remember the name of and also the boys from the Burnie shop. Had some great sails at moorlands and also between the island and pardoe and many trips to Stanley and Marrawah. Spend most of my time sailing the Tamar these days.