Windsurfing at Sandy Island, Lake Macquarie
This Lake Macquarie spot works best in a NE or W breeze however it can work in any direction apart from SE.
It is a great spot for slalom and flat-water-blasting and for learning freestyle tricks as it is easy to get on/off the board in the shallow water.
It can also be great in the right conditions for speed sailing (westerly at low tide) where the channel runs perpendicular to the westerly wind with sandbar to windward side which creates glassy flat water….some say it is the best flat water sailing spot at Lake Mac! This is best done on slalom/freeride gear as some of the water can get choppy.
In general the spot is tide dependent and usually best at mid to high tide but be aware that even at high tide sand bars can be lurking just below the surface. Generally the water in this spot is around 30 cm to 1 metre deep at high tide. Watch out for sand bars as they can be dangerous when sailing at speed. Also watch for swimmers & other water craft in the channel.
The water is clear with a sandy bottom and on a sunny day with a NE breeze so you can easily pick the channels & sandbars however when the wind whips up from the west the water can get a little murky, combine that with some cloud cover and it is hard to see the sand bars.
Also watch for swimmers & other water craft in the channel.
The launching area is at Swansea Bay Beach where there is a good parking, a nice grassy rigging & launching area and public toilets nearby.
There is a caravan & camping park nearby also offering self-contained cabins. Unfortunately if you have a pet you cannot stay here.
