Boggy Lake

Water

Boggy Lake is a huge freshwater lake. It is the end of the largest river system in Australia, the Murray Darling system. Boggy Lake is at the most northern point of the lake and has a peninsula which makes for a nice small bay otherwise the chop would be too large from the fetch. It is a choppy to flat water spot, you work your way over to the southern side which has the peninsula producing flat glass water on the lee side of the reeds and bank. This is world class glass the like of which is rarely found with the safety of water downwind of you. Most of the lake is about 1.5 meters deep with a muddy bottom, near the launch area and over the south banks, it is shallow. The launch area is sand and quite shallow so no jumping there! As the water is fresh it is a little harder to get upwind and you can hold a bit more kite down than normal. There is no tide at all but the depth varies from the gradual evaporation and agricultural drainage over summer.

Launch

As such the beach is grass leading right into the water all year round. It is quite a sensation for beachgoers when you have grass for a beach. The rigging area is excellent for windsurfers but dodgy for kiting. You really need a launcher and lander and assistant as you launch in the SW corner near the fence being careful of the fence as it is barb wire and then walk past the cars so best to have someone holding you. It is an outback country spot with only kiters and sailboarders at this beach. There are almost no trees or land formations above 1m here which makes for smoother wind.

Wind

Boggy Lake is popular due to the most reliable sea breeze in South Australia east of York peninsula. All you need is a wind prediction of something southerly, ESE to WSW, strength generally does not matter in the prediction only the direction as at about 3-4 pm. The sea breeze will come in very regularly. In summer there is light until about 8:30 pm so plenty of time for fun before dark. Best directions are SSW and SSE with some strength in the prediction as it will kick into 20-28 knots constant wind until dark. Any wind with North here is to be avoided as it is offshore, gusty, lofty and dangerous especially in summer.

Local Rules

Boggy Lake rules: take care on launching, especially self-launching, in fact, it is totally dodgy so ask for help or bring friends, if you insist on self-launching bring a sand-back or you will have to use a cow-pat. Shut the gate no matter what as you come in and out. No dogs permitted and do not disturb the cows. Rig and launch with a helper in the area between the fence and the bushes, you should be away from the fence and ensure that the way you launch would not allow for engagement with the barbed fence if the launch went wrong. Remember when you launch it is very different from sand, you will skip and skid and self launching should be avoided as the kite will also skid and slide on launch, use a good heavy sand-bag you will need to bring, self-landing is really not a good idea for these same reasons, better to test your safety on the water on the way in if there is no-one else there to land the kite. Absolutely no rigging and launching over the fence in the next paddock to the west of the car park. Farmers rules! The Farmer has given permission for us to access the boggy lake area and we do not want to lose this privilege thanks! Kites are best to get out and stay at a safe distance away from the launch area, give way to the windsurfers and other water users. NO heroics inside the launch area please, remember this area out to the small buoy (which is currently missing) is very shallow anyway. Look out for the barb fence which runs into the water on the other side of the reeds, keep away from it. With freshwater consider that there may be branches hidden in the water so take care, generally the boggy area is okay but I don’t know every bit, and you may kite in areas I have not, also look out for reports of water conditions – namely blue-green algae which normally occurs into and at the end of summer. Do not leave litter lying around and be polite to everyone as they are all friendly.

Nightlife

Here’s the most exciting nightlife you will ever experience. It starts with the flies which are intense all the time until it gets dark and then the mosquitos. A few mates or desperados who insist that it will be windy the next day and sit around telling stories in the middle of a cow paddock. Look out for snakes. If there is a north wind predicted it will be hot! There are no toilets, shops, showers, taps, shaded areas, seats, picnic tables or other such things, just how we like it!

Relevant link: boggylake.org