Hi all,

Anyone know how these lakes are at the moment?

Considering a country trip over AUS day weekend.

Cheers advanced.

K

I'll talk to you KDog...

I read a thread on here about Lake Wendoree having some water & it's definitely big enough - pack your weed fin though.

Lake Colac always looks good, very open, and I've been keen, but never sailed there.

Pt Fairy (3.5hrs West of Melb) is a great spot with the Loch on strong offshore winds (NE-NW), and you can pick an ocean sailing spot for most other winds around the area.

Inland - Lake Hamilton, Lake Linlithgow, or Lake Bolac (about halfway between Ballarat & Hamilton).

If you're doing a loop (Ballarat, Hamilton then to coast & back along Ocean Rd or back to Geelong/Melb), come via Portland...there'll be a small number of us hoping for a sail over the weekend (wind permitting). Always keen to meet other w/surfers.

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Sailhack said...




Lake Colac always looks good, very open, and I've been keen, but never sailed there.

The mud in Lake Colac NEVER washes away! I sailed there a few years ago..it gets a bit of chop but the wind is quite consistent. Ive also sailed Lake Bullen Merri near Cobden (volcanic crater) but the wind is patchy

KDOG, theres a few others to look at:

Lake Connewarre near Barwon Heads
Lake Bookar near Camperdown
Blue Rock Lake near Moe
Lake Glenmaggie near Sale

Looks like you are going to need at least a month to visit all of these spots!

I was up in Ballarat for work in July & Oct last year. I snuck my gear up in the hope for a quick session.

There was weed harvesting going on in Wendouree at the time in October so i reckon it should be sailable now. Not sure on the best direction though, possibly Northerly's or southerlys based on the orientation of the lake. Without having sailed it i reckon it would be quite gusty being in the middle of town. If it was honking i reckon it would be good.

I sussed out the other 2 as well. Burrumbeet is F'n huge!!! I'm not sure where the best place to launch would be though. On the Eastern side there is a camp ground with a little beach to access with a small boat ramp quite sheltered in close but once out maybe 200m any Southerly wind will fill in. Because its so big i reckon there'd be some really fun ramps. I drove around a bit looking for better access and got my little forrester into places it probably shouldnt go and i ended up in a farmers paddock and then what looked like a pine plantation or something. Probably wasnt meant to be there.

Learmonth looked the most sailable to me (even though i've never sailed any of them). Easy access on the Eastern side, there is a boat shed and ramp. The lake is quite open and there looked like some markers spaced out periodically. I reckon if you stayed on the middle of the lake of those you'd be fine. At least thats what i was going to do. Wind was only about 10kts when i was there so while tempted to get on the water i didnt do it.

Thanks heaps guys.

Will be sussing out Colac and Burrumbeet since its pretty close, but far enough away.

Windsurfing and fishing - good mix.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Victoria/Lake-Wendouree-back-in-business/

www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2010/10/27/3050050.htm

I sailed in Portland on xmas day just off nuns beach, the swell was enoumous even in a 14-18 knot sou-easter, well worth the visit if your used to flat water, you just go up and up and up, then up more, then you hover for a bit then fall off the top of a liquid mountain, it was awsome. I've heard of sharks down there though...

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sailingkid said...

I sailed in Portland on xmas day just off nuns beach, the swell was enoumous even in a 14-18 knot sou-easter, well worth the visit if your used to flat water, you just go up and up and up, then up more, then you hover for a bit then fall off the top of a liquid mountain, it was awsome. I've heard of sharks down there though...

sailing kid...don't worry about the sharks down here, they're tame & only trained to attack props on touro's motors! If/when you come back, send me a pm - happy to share local knowledge - the s-easter due for both days this w'end is going to produce some good ramps!

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drift said...

Sailhack said...




Lake Colac always looks good, very open, and I've been keen, but never sailed there.

The mud in Lake Colac NEVER washes away! I sailed there a few years ago..it gets a bit of chop but the wind is quite consistent. Ive also sailed Lake Bullen Merri near Cobden (volcanic crater) but the wind is patchy

KDOG, theres a few others to look at:

Lake Connewarre near Barwon Heads
Lake Bookar near Camperdown
Blue Rock Lake near Moe
Lake Glenmaggie near Sale

Looks like you are going to need at least a month to visit all of these spots!

I drove past Lake Connewarre and found the dreaded Blue/Green Algi Sign,..

I would suggest to give Parks Vic a call before hitting the road,..!