Hi,
Just joined the forum today and just bought a Hobie 14 a few days ago as a 42nd birthday present. (Yes I'm a late starter)
It's my first boat and I am a bit nervous about it. The only sailing experience I have is from sailing resort hobie cats which in Hamilton Island and a few other places (which got me hooked on it).
Long story short I live in Sydneys west and have no idea where I can take it out sailing.
Penrith Lakes has a small area that I know of, not sure how that might go, has anyone sailed there?
Where else can I take it? What are suitable spots, considering I live in Western Sydney, how far will I have to travel for good sailing? What will I need to get it on the water? Can you launch it off a boat ramp like a regular boat? Ar there rules about getting boats onto beaches? Will I need a boat license to sail on Sydney Harbour?
Sorry about the millions of questions, not sure where I need to start.
Thanks for any replies in advance.
hiya and congrats on the hobie 14! a hobie 14 was my introduction to sailing. i found the best places to launch were sandy banks, beaches. Never a ramp. Somehwere you can take yout time setting up with no pressure.
The cool thing about hobies and anything like a hobie with no motor is you can take them in dams. So although i dont know the area, id say youll have alot of options out west. Nepean river is massive. My advice is also get yourself a paddle so you can have a motor when/if you run outof wind. they paddle well those things. Enjoy!
Botany Bay looks like the way to go, where is a good beach on the bay to go to, would anyone know?
Kurnell
There's also a catamaran club there and will be some guys who could give you advice.
Palm Beach - Sand Point is where the Palm Beach Sailing Club launches. There is a concrete launching ramp with sandy beaches on either side for rigging. You are not going to find a better spot in Sydney.
Barrenjoey - The launching ramp just south of Barrenjoey (near The Boathouse restaurant) is another great place to sail from. Lots of sand to rig on but the water can be shallow for quite a way especially at low tide so you will need to be a fair way out before you can lock your rudders down.
Clontarf - This is the traditional home of Hobie Cats in Sydney when first introduced in the mid 1970s. To launch, you need to back your trailer over the sand but, at the waters edge, it gets deep quite quickly making for easy launch and retrieval. Winds can be fickle in this part of Middle Harbour but once clear of Grotto Point, the opening to the Heads gives perfect sailing conditions in any winds.
No license, as you aren't under motor. Boat ramps are a PITA as you have no motor to exit them with. Traditionally you dropped the cat onto sand or grass from the trailer and picked it up with beach rollers and walked it down to the beach with beach rollers. I guess my major concern would be beach rollers, do you have some? The boat isn't heavy but dragging it with no rollers while easily possible will just abrade the hulls. There are some launching spots possible but much easier with rollers.
Barrenjoey would be my no1, Clontarf or Spit no2, Little Manly even? Maybe even still Rose Bay to get on Syd Harbour. Worse case is maybe Narrabeen Lakes is still viable? As for Botany Bay I'm clueless I'm sure there are launching spots, Prince something or rather from Catsailor.net goes there?
BUT as a proviso it's been donkeys since I lived in Syd. What about Lake Macq or further Nth? Then you could suss out Darcy et al of Catsailor.net fame. Theres also a crew at Illawarra? leave the boat there and just sail with an experienced mob?
As with any sailing they are dying for new people to have a blast and learn a heap. I'm sorry but come Nth 24000k's and my info may be more relevant so i hope these ramblings may help.
Slammin, 24000K's north will bring Solarflare a bit north of Siberia.will you meet him there for some launching advice? My advice is avoid the Pittwater area around Palm Beach as parking is a nightmare anywhere around there (If thinking Northwards, think Brooklyn and the M1 Road crossing over the Hawkesbury River). Whoever mentioned Botany Bay was probably spot-on for someone in western Sydney, or launch at Rhodes near the rail crossing, just off Concord Rd and have a nice sail down the Parramatta river to places like Drummoyne, Gladesville Bridge, Birkenhead Point or even as far as the Bridge when experienced.
Chipping Norton Lake Sailing Club near Liverpool sail every Saturday. Plenty of parking, easy access to waters edge, you will need beach rollers as mentioned before,they also run sail training courses. The wind can be fickle being inland, but its close to home, easy to access, and the people are very friendly and helpful.
Plenty of good advice to get me started, thanks to everyone who replied, much appreciated.
