chrisj wrote:
skymax wrote:
chrisj wrote:
Max, which part of the coast do you live on?
Coffs Harbour, many boats come here because it is the only safe anchorage in this region, in fact, the only harbour in the region.
Max, I realise it's hardly desirable, but in a pinch, would you be able to put in at Urunga? Just curious.
It's a good question to which there are many answers.
The sand bars at river mouths like Urunga are constantly changing in form and size, so are the waves that are striking them.
On one day with friendly sandbars and no big swell you would sail straight in no problem, however the water there is very shallow so any kind of wave action is going to stand up when it hits the sand.
All this is not taking into account what the tide is doing at the time in coastal estuaries like Urunga.
The outgoing tide becomes a fast current in the shallows pushing the incoming waves up and creating all kinds of disturbed water, it also may be too fast to pedal against.
I Kayak at urunga and most of the other estuaries in this area and not even the strong, experienced guys in our Club with large sea kayaks show any enthusiasm for entering areas like this.
If I was South of the Harbour with a gear failure and there was a moderate NE breeze blowing that would be your only possible unassisted option if you had time to get there as it is some distance.
I have my boat registered with the VMR and notify them if I am "Going Outside" I can radio call them if i have a prob, they would most likely divert one of the rec fishing boats to give me a tow back to the safety of the harbour.
Fortunately a lifetime of Aviation has given me a good weather eye and a healthy respect for the elements.