| Sailing
at Bronks ? The low-down..... Bronks
is the last remaining clean water dam close to Pretoria
and Johannesburg - I discount the Vaal because it's
far from Pretoria and Rietvlei as its reserved for
other forms of yachting. Forget places like Roodeplaat
and Harties - they suck and you may be inflicted
by some nasty water borne parasite or run over by
some drunken beer-swilling boat driver. Bronks is
a good size dam for windsurfing. Our launch spot
is from The Catamaran Club site along the south
eastern shore - it's perfect for the prevailing
winds which are generally W, NW and E. Entrance
to TCC for visitors is R60 per person per day. However,
if you intend sailing regularly its worth becoming
a member, annual membership fees for windsurfers
being in the order of R1,000. Visit the TCC website
for more information (http://www.catamaran-sailing.co.za/)
The entry into the water is not
steep, so it's good for launching. The windy season
is from August to November when the winds are initially
pre-cold front induced (warm winds from the W, more
consistent) earlier in the season, changing to NW
(mostly afternoon thermal induced winds, which tend
to be more gusty due to the hills to the north of
the dam). Pre-cold front winds can get up to 30
knots but this is the exception - a good day's sailing
at Bronks is in 20 knots on 7 sq.m sails and 120
liter boards.
|
Post frontal
winds are icy and from the SE and generally blow
in the morning following the passage of the front.
During the rainy season (November to March), an
evening thunderstorm will usually bring 15 knot
easterlies early the next morning, fading to nothing
by mid-day. The rest of the year is pot luck but
we have been surprised many times.
Wetsuits
are worn up to end September / mid-October, after
which its board shorts. Local regulations require
the use of a buoyancy device. TCC has full facilities
- hot showers, change rooms, clean water, and the
cafe is open most weekends - they sell cold beers
there. There are often Catamaran Regattas but there
is more than enough space on the dam to accommodate
everyone. |
