East Snake Island - Pre Easter Camp Prep Paddle

• Meet:  Grass area opposite north end of Port Albert main pier (next to food kiosk)
• Parking: Main boat ramp car park (but unload at launch site first)
• Paddle grading:  All grades
• Paddle distance:  50kms over 3 days 
• Sea Environment: Enclosed Sea 
• Leader: Richard Rawling
• Maximum number: 8
• Meet time: 9:30 TBC
• Launch time: 10:30 TBC
• Low Tide: 12.:09 PM 0.84 m High Tide: 19:58 PM 2.41 m

Keen to get away for an expedition paddle on the Australia Day long weekend?

It's time to  head to "Steve's Camp" in the Nooramunga Marine Park ahead of our upcoming 4 day Easter trip for a bit of a 'reccy". Winter and Spring last year have exposed the campsite to big tides and vigorous storm surges. Last Easter the site flooded in part and we had to quickly reconfigure camp site set up. The aim of this paddle over the Australia Day weekend is to:

• Get away from the City for a long weekend of wilderness camping and paddling

• Clean up the camp site and work out how many tents we can fit in going forward

• Do a bit of an enviro clean up in the areas around camp

• Relax (but this is a bit of a working bee, so you will be expected to help out)

Regular attendees at our Easter camp know and love this campsite and it is in our collective interest to keep it viable as a VSKC get away.  

For those not familiar with the site, it is  a bush camp so there is no water or facilities. You need to be self-sufficient for 3 days.  We should be able to get a fire going in the evening, pending restrictions.

We will depart on the outgoing tide  heading south and then catch the start of the run in tide as we turn west past the sand spit towards camp.  The paddle from Port Albert is shorter (~12 kms) compared with going from Port Welshpool (~18 kms), plus we bypass the complications of middle ground.  The  trip may be rescheduled or modified if forecast conditions become unsuitable. Please allow 3 hours travel time if coming from Melbourne.

If the weather is kind we may be able to head out to Clonmel Banks and/or south coast of Snake Island for some paddling/skills and surf play so please bring a helmet. Sails are welcome.

Check the forecast to ensure that you will be comfortable paddling in the forecast wind conditions:  
Port Welshpool Boat Ramp Wind Forecast, VIC - WillyWeather or
Yanakie Wind Forecast, VIC 3960 - WillyWeather

Trip Leader Safety Equipment - Marine Radio, PLB, First Aid Kit, Spare Paddle, GPS. Paddlers please carry VSKC safety equipment and dress suitably for immersion. 

If you have not previously paddled with me, please call or SMS before registering -  Richard Rawling -  0419 340 851  (I will call you back).

Use the online registration button to express interest in this trip and provide your details for a float plan.

Richard Rawling

Trip Leader