My first sail at Gnaraloo Created 8th February 1998.
My first sail in the open ocean was at Gnaraloo in November 1986. It used to get crowded sometimes when there were up to three of us sailing at one time. Prior to that I had sailed in the ocean at Carnarvon but because of the offshore islands the sea there is very calm.

To launch we carried the rigs across the sharp rocks and lowered them down over the edge of the cliff into the lagoon. We used to try to go there when the tide was high in the afternoon. Otherwise it was very hard to get out to the break. I believe that people now sail from the sandy beach downwind of the actual break. Sorry about the sand on the lens.

Carrying board and sail past tombstone

I sailed out through the gap in the reef, unfortunately I didn't know how to jybe so after coming back in I was trying to water start when a relatively large wave broke.

yes I am really in this photo

I was washed over the reef into the lagoon, soon to become my standard technique for handling gnaraloo. I then managed to get in to the one small sandy beach downwind of tombstones.

Where after a rest I went back to the HQ. ( Kingswood not Headquarters ). If you look closely you can see Luke on the wave. You can see our high tech wind meter in action.

Holden HQ panel van, just a pity about the colour.

This was Russells old car, which after he had driven to Victoria and back I bought for about $800 and drove to Carnarvon where it did many trips to Gnaraloo, the Bluff, Coral Bay and Exmouth and then back to Perth.

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