Hi Scooby,
Sandringham Harbour has to be the best place in the whole of Bayside for learning
(IMHO) because its sheltered from chop. I've taught several people down there and
only 6 inch of chop, on say Hampton Beach, makes it a lot harder. Park down near
the SHQ hut (you should have free parking permit for this if you live in Bayside!
I'm in Hampton) and start near the jetty on the beach(if you walk straight out
theres nasty mud, go 20metres up the beach).
OK Im no expert but heres what I've learnt in Melbourne:
(any corrections to my knowledge welcome)
The best wind direction is W to SW to S (and thankfully seems most common) because
its not gusty, and this is what you get in summer seabreezes, but it'll give you
shorebreak & choppy sea, which reaches its heaviest at Green Point, next to
Brighton Beach station, where people sometimes surf on the bay chop in a SW !
(apparently the whole bay is v.shallow for its area and this is why its always
choppy) This chop troubled me after lake learning but now I wouldn't give it up,
much more fun.
Hampton marinafor learning is best in W-SW because its protected and your safe
downwind as you'll sweep onto Hampton beach if you get out of the marina. Also as
you learn you can get further out into more wind & chop by degrees.
Its tricky to get back to the start point because its several tight tacks, also
along the beach are several sandbanks.
St. Kilda has very similar setup to Sandrinham Marina but gets more chop through
the pier legs
SE winds are gusty, anything Northerly is gusty.
Northerly winds everybody sails from Green Point.
I sail everywhere from Port Melbourne (between the ferry and St Kilda harbour) to
Ricketts Point.
Go to the information centre in Federation Sq and ask (its not on display) for a
boating guide to Port Phillip and they'll give you a great free nautical type map
of the whole bay with names, depths, markers, etc, and its plastic, not paper
From North to South:
=====================
Port Melbourne Bay, park on the south heading side of road about 500m north of St
Kilda pier, its free, then carry kit to centre of road to rig and then launch off
the beach.
I like to sail along here on S-SW as you follow the road & beach to the ferry.
Sometimes I make crossing to Williamstown but has to be right weather & kit
(for me=longboard)
St. Kilda marina for learning
Elwood beach at the sailing & angling club is popular but i prefer parking on
Dawson's Crescent 500m south as its free parking and has good rigging & close
launch (elwood rigging area is now all dirt)
Dendy Beach. great when youre past total beginner on a SW-W, BUT rocks are in the
water N and S of the toilet block,more so when tide is low.
you have to head out along the line:
blue recycling bin to the yellow cross swimming marker, then your OK out there.
Also here if you get swept onto beach in a NE direction by a SW because you can't
restart fast enough after fall, or even if the wind drops, its shallow and rocky
and the waves break and you cant do anything except slide along rocks on your arse
up to the beach holding kit(hint: turn board upside down to save your fin)
I've got most of my kit damage here like this.
Green Point. Go when its Northerly. Watch out for rocks when leaving the beach near
the point and all the way along the beach to the north pretty much until the middle
of Dendy beach.
You have safe downwind beach of Hampton Beach.
Hampton Beach. Park close to the Hampton Life Saving club on Beach Rd(free), rig on
grass, carry down stairs next to HLSC. Great because both N & S safe not rocky
beach. Ive noticed this beach is popular for family, beginner and light wind big
wide board early planing sailing. Definitely your best bet.
Ricketts. 2 beaches to use here, N & S, both have hidden rock dangers, stick to
path of other sailors. definitely more advanced.
good when wind is easterly or westerly i think.
Also of course go where you see others sailing!
What kit are you on & what sail colour? I'll keep any eye and come over
Scooby
> 9 months ago, 2 Apr 2009
