Sailquik (29582km):
2338 days ago Mallcoota, Vic.
Best fun I have had on the water for a LONG time! 
Drove from Sale to Mallacoota on the promise of a big Nor-Easter. Left Sale 10.30am. Arrived Coota 2.30pm to see Dale coming to get me in his boat. Scrambled to get some gear and all the bits and peices together and into the boat. Somehow lost my downhaul puller, dropped a couple of fin screws in the water and forgot to take a UJ. Duh!
Started rigged and found I was missing UJ so Gary voluntered his spare base. Then I found that without my UJ I could not get the base out of my board, so Gary to the rescue again lending me Dale's 97L JP slalom.  Big thanks Dale - it's a good'n.
Took wind reading: 12-15 knots. The other boys were on 6.6's so I rigged 6.2m and took off. All good and trying to get used to the short Delta type fin again.
A few good runs and the wind was gradually increasing and getting more consistent. Got to where I max. downdhauled my 6.2m and pulled on a fair bit of outhaul. 18-22 knots and flying! I would certainly have enjoyed the 5.8m more by this stage, and probably been faster, but I was having a ball anyway.
Long reaches right next to the sand bar in 21-25cm of water. Same depth pretty much everywhere. Only touched the bottom a couple of times in stalled gybes, but even then it was insignificant. Could maybe have used a 22 cm fin but that would have been the max depth for safety I think. Just below my knee caps deep in most of it and a few cm shallower in a few spots at the ends.
When I derigged I did a wind check and it was very consistent 20-22 with one short puff to 26 and a few short lulls to 16kts. Just 2 hours and that was good as we are probably going to do it all again tomorrow. 
Great to finally sail this spot on the NNE. It really is a sesational spot, apart from needing a boat ride to get there. Now the Lake seems to be closed, it will be pretty much the same depth all the time. No need to watch tides. This spot has definitly got mid 40's prospects or more. The other side of the sandbar will be also sensational in the big WSW gales. On the right day, high 40's are a very real prospect there.
I would rate this a among the top 6 speed spots in Australia, (that I have experienced) and in the top 3 for the highest speed potential. Other 2: Sandy Point and LG.
I think the boat ride should keep the crowds at bay. 
JP97 slalom (2008?). Black Project 25 (20cm) Weed 50. KA Koncept 6.2m.
| 
