Great waves across exposed spots from Friday
Victoria Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 25th March)
Best Days: Keen surfers tomorrow, beaches from Friday through Sunday
Recap
A decent swell running on the coast yesterday with our reinforcing SW groundswell keeping the Surf Coast to 3-4ft with workable light to moderate onshore winds across selected regions, bumpy and solid to the east.
Today the swell has eased off a little with persistent onshore winds. We're expected to see a strong new long-period SW groundswell building later this afternoon, generated by a strong low that formed south of WA earlier this week. Winds will remain onshore though and moderate to fresh in strength.
This week and weekend (Mar 26 – 29)
Our new long-period SW groundswell due later today is expected to peak tomorrow morning with a good bit of size due across the state.
The Surf Coast should offer fairly consistent surf to 4ft, with waves to 6ft on the Mornington Peninsula, easing slowly through the day.
Winds are still looking onshore from the S/SE but only light to moderate so there should be workable options all throughout the day.
Friday and Saturday are still the pick though, with a reinforcing mid-period S/SW swell for Friday due to slow the easing trend from tomorrow. This is being generated by a weak polar front currently south-west of Tassie, with the Surf Coast seeing 3ft waves Friday morning, 4ft to occasionally 5ft to the east.
A light N/NE offshore should blow until early afternoon ahead of sea breezes, with Saturday seeing moderate to fresh N/NE offshores, strengthen from the NE into the late afternoon.
Looking at the expected sized and we've got a slight upgrade in a reinforcing pulse of swell that's due to build through the day, generated by a poorly aligned polar front, but on the back of all the current activity it'll provide some fun sets.
The Mornington Peninsula should kick back to 4ft+ through the day, smaller early, with 2ft to occasionally 3ft sets on the Surf Coast into the afternoon.
This swell will ease Sunday from 2ft+ on the Surf Coast and 3-4ft on the Mornington Peninsula under strong but easing N/NE-N winds.
This will top off a great run of waves on the exposed beaches from Friday through the whole weekend.
Next week onwards (Mar 30 onwards)
As touched on last update, we've got an intensification of the Southern Ocean storm track from this weekend into next week, generating what now looks to be one large long-period swell and plenty more moderate sized pulses.
A significant polar low is forecast to form east of the Heard Island region later Friday, with a broad fetch of severe-gale to storm-force W/SW winds due to be projected through our south-western swell window.
Currently the swell from this low is on track for Tuesday, building through the day but local winds are still unsure as the models diverge regarding this. Therefore check back here Friday for a clearer idea on what's in store for next week.
Comments
Would just like to put it out there, if lineups look super crowded and photos get taken and go round, they will ban surfing.
This is true, try and keep spread out to minimise this.
Hey Craig, First time poster, long time subscriber.
Would anybody have support for the following suggestions at local breaks to keep the social distancing in order?
- Keep your surfs to 40mins to reduce crowds
- Special attention to the rules of the line up, just wait your turn at the top and keep 2m's between yourself and other surfers without pressing them, similar to the wave pool system.
If we were to embrace a movement as a community it would be pretty inspiring to see. Otherwise the first good day of surf could be problematic.
It would be up to all of us as individuals to carry this through. Just a thought, feel free to post your own suggestions.
Sensible.
We've got loads of long beach breaks in Vicco. Hit them up and give plenty of space to people. Don't be a lemming and paddle out to a bank that already has people on it.
Don't fck around in the car park. Do your business, keep a low profile and head home.
Yep, agreed. It's better for everyone if we keep a low profile. If it's already crowded out somewhere, head somewhere else. Better a less-than-ideal break for your session than the whole sport getting banned.
I must be missing something. Didn't Daniel Andrews state this morning to stay home unless going to work or essential shopping etc? Also wondering when Swellnet will stop doing the forecasts? If we go into lockdown will you stop the forecasts? Take the temptation away? Better to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
So.... you're asking me to send my staff to the Centrelink queue, just so you can score a few empty waves?
Mate I'm a bit more pro active than that. There is no way I will surf this weekend. Pulled my kids out of school 2 weeks ago. I laid off 3 people on Monday that were in tears. I'm closing my business today to do my bit. I will loose a LOT OF MONEY but I put lives ahead of that. So don't assume I want to score a few empty waves. I'm not that fucking selfish.
Would you rather have your staff in a Centerlink line or lining up for a bed in an IC unit?
Do you not agree that you will create crowds with this headline? Be honest.
Here here
same here. this is much much bigger than surfing.
do your bit. don't be a dickhead.
here are some numbers:
24.6 million people in australia.
60% expected to get covid-19 if nothing is done (social distancing).
of that 60%, 3% will die.
Thats 442,800 people, it could be more if that all happens too quickly for hospitals to cope.
That also doesn't cover the people who require ICUs for other reasons....
You could help save almost half a million people just by sitting on your arse and complaining about it... not hard is it.
My original post could apply to any area and not just specific to mine. If the surf is pumping and we are in a lock down situation will you still do the surf forecasts and use such headings? Is there any point to forecasts at all in a lock down situation if we should get there? This is a genuine question and as a subscriber I would hope for a mature answer, not a childish swipe as you have offered.
Danny boy said we're still allowed to exercise outside a long as we maintain social distancing. Although he did also say only to exercise outdoors close to home. The way I see it, we can surf if we aren't silly about it. But I wouldn't be OK with people driving down to the coast from Melbourne as they could spread the virus to areas that currently don't have it. That's not localism, it's just common sense.
Lucky I live close to the beach. Personally I'll be avoiding anywhere I know gets too crowded and if that means I don't get to surf some of my favourite spots, I'm OK with that. I detest surfing when it's too crowded anyway. I'm looking at this as an opportunity to maybe find a couple of banks that I haven't surfed before that are real close to home. Who knows, maybe I'll find a new favourite spot that I'll keep hitting up after all this blows over?
A reminder as what Craig said above is a good idea. There's certainly no lock down associated with appropriately socially distanced individual activities (needs an acronym (SDIA's!?), and I hope there never will be/never will need to be (i.e. bans on jogging, cycling etc.). Until this happens, surf, but stay away from people!
What about 'Socially Transmission-free Distance'? For example, "Hey, all of you, remember to keep your STDs!"
"Great waves across exposed spots". A headline like that does what? Creates crowds that's what. Half of Melbourne flocking down here, stopping at servos etc. Wake up.
I just watched 2 blokes surfing a wave on the snapper cam. They kept good social distance right up to when they ran into each other.
the biggest risk to anyone is stopping at servos and shops. surely doing a stealth mission to the beach for a quick wave without human to human contact is ok? your'e not going to get this thing in the water. what they want to avoid is mass crowds and beaches and other public places similar to the bondi scenes the other day, A solo surf mission is not going to hurt anyone but pack youre own food and drinks and dont touch anyone!
Couldn’t agree more McGusto. Be mindful of your health and be respectful of others. Maintain the separation and maintain your mental health.
Sorry, but anyone travelling to surf in Victoria is just being monumentally fucking irresponsible. Those beaches discussed in the forecast are in areas with extremely limited medical help and filled with retirees. Parks Vic have just closed down all their campsites, caravan parks and camping grounds. There's a reason for that.
Good decision Parks Victoria
Even something minor such as only surfing within your town and not heading out into a cramped lineup will help. Mental health is just as important as physical health in these times and surfing certainly helps with both, but use ya fuckin head or you'll be at detriment to others. Surf responsibly
You are wise beyond your tender years young Freddy. More surfers travelling long distances to waves means, more petrol fill ups, more toilet visits, more gates opened, more accidental touching of bins / hand rails, more sneezes, more coughs etc. Have a look at the situation in Italy and the USA. That's our future if people act selfishly.
“Danny boy said we're still allowed to exercise outside a long as we maintain social distancing. Although he did also say only to exercise outdoors close to home. The way I see it, we can surf if we aren't silly about it. But I wouldn't be OK with people driving down to the coast from Melbourne as they could spread the virus to areas that currently don't have it. That's not localism, it's just common sense.” - My thoughts exactly.
My prediction is the scenario when mid week when you got good conditions all day and you think maybe have a paddle at say 11 while everyones at work yet, lo and behold, its busy as fuck. Everyone was thinking the same thing. I think people will hoping to score because numbers will thin with the current situation but in turn create a cluster.
Once again, not localism - “Of the total 466 cases, there have been 386 in metropolitan Melbourne and 47 in regional Victoria.”
Please don't bring your down here.
But ey. Fuck me yeah?
Oooohhh yeahhhh
I am torn between doing the stay at home thing and surfing for my sanity. If I fill up with petrol at my local petrol pump, drive to the waves, get changed quickly ,surf at quiet spot , pack up quick smart in a quiet car park on a weekday , don't touch anything, don't talk to anyone and stay my distance in the brine from anyone else and drive straight home then I fail to see how this could be as bad as keeping schools open , shopping centres open ,keeping weddings going, allowing a cruise ship full of ill people into the country etc . etc.
Of course I do not want this virus to infect or strike down anyone else. I do think surfing could become banned if as another poster has suggested, if too many people just crowd all the usual spots , post photos of the waves etc. on the www when the surf forecast looks favourable. If worst came to worst which is coming anyway , could just make do with swimming some km.s in the bay in my wet suit .The Bay beaches are almost deserted now. I must swim or do something active in water to keep my body and mind working the right way.
I do know a couple of little spots on the bay, would almost need a dedicated shape (and W to SW wind)! There's also distance paddling close to home Mr T - get ripped level fitness alone paddling. There's always gems close to home, no matter where you are.
Keep up the forecasts team SNET. I look forward to every one of them. Particularly now..
Banning surfing probably wouldn't be a bad thing on the MP, totally selfish of course.
Plenty of sneaky little spots eh Bone...
Im living in Melb. Got family spread across both coasts and would love to pop down for a surf without contacting anyone at all.
Trouble is, things go wrong even when everything is going fine... It's the unexpected events that I can't control which will force my hand to make contact - physically with surfaces and with other people.
Sorry boys, sounds like it is too late to close the borders; from today's Age:
A Melbourne couple infected with COVID-19 while on a skiing holiday in the United States have been the subject of repeated police complaints after they allegedly flouted advice to self-isolate and visited shops and a golf course on the Mornington Peninsula instead.
A wealthy finance industry figure and his partner were two of about a dozen Australians believed to have contracted the coronavirus after attending a social function in theAspen, Colorado.....
Stay safe.
That's a paddlin'
On fire VJ, got some time on your hands?
Yep I do have Blackers, the family's work all shut now - but we'll be OK and all took time off beforehand as of family medicals and isolated early; understanding bosses. Apart for scheduling of the medicals and risk mitigation during (which can be stressful) -there's time! A couple of penultimate surfs but excitement increased as new machines parts have arrived today, I'm going to be meditating, stretching and building stuff :) When it all opens again, hopefully we will all be safe so look for improvements in everyone's vibration levels and radicalness!
In the meantime, wit
lol
Yup -“The two were advised to isolate from the public and are understood to have stayed at a property in Portsea. However, sources say they were soon spotted at shops in Sorrento and a nearby golf course.“
Classic fucking example of them treating down here like it’s there play thing. We live here 365. Kindly fuck right off.
Not sure how much I can say but they own a well known Italian restaurant in the southern peninsula area
Name and shame GF. The dollar impact is the only thing that motivates some people. kick em where it hurts!
Can’t really afford a law suit at the moment BS
Facts are not defamation ie “the owners of Luigi’s bistro are .....insert names.”
And if true, then you have nothing to worry about.
So they are locals (or at minimum a have strong connection to the locals) endangering the lives of a relatively isolated community. What complete and utter fuckwits, call them out goofy!
And they did the same to the Aspen community- refused to get a test and isolate so they could continue their ski trip.
Surely a link to a article isn’t illegal?
Oh dear! That's farked.
Time to don the batman mask aka balaclava. He is just a vigilante too!!
The Age refused to name them 'for legal reasons'. I'd like to bet if they weren't finance industry elite social butterflies they'd be named quick smart,
Fear of legal action, more like it.
"Legal Reasons" is complete BS. If it's true, The Age would have nothing to worry about. I'd say this is more likely to be a case of the virus spreaders being big advertisers in that particular media company.
Seriously, what a pair of arseholes.
As i asked, surely if i posted a link to article I haven’t written, no harm done yeah?
I doubt it
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.9news.com.au/article/edadaf10-b61e-4...
Are we going to see restrictions from the city to the regions, like in WA? WA Prem McGowan has advised beach house owners in metro Perth not to go Down South for Easter I think. WA is isolating its regions.
Great idea, shut down pen link please!
It's a fair point. State boundaries mean nothing to a virus. People just shouldn't be travelling out of cities to small regional towns with poor medical resources and filled with retirees.
That description pretty much sums up where I live...about thirty minutes to your East on the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula. The town has been known forever as "Gods Waiting Room" because of the large population of retirees and oldies both living independently and in aged care.
Blow ins from the leafy Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne are a fact of life down here...usual story...million dollar holiday homes in the old part of town driving up real estate prices until those of us who have been here forever cant afford to buy into the market. And then of course the usual happens...some greedy prick sub divides a salt lake and away you go...suburbia...however I digress.
Joints been heaving since last Friday. Private schools have pulled the pin so everyone heads for the holiday house and bring god only knows what down the Geelong Road with them besides their bad manners and over entitled attitudes.
Last weekend was just embarrassing...four deep on the footpath...coffee shops splitting at the seams...newspapers sold out and every carpark in the main drag chockas with thumping great Audis and Cayenne four wheel drives...faaaark
There was a little wave at the Front Beach and the crowd in the water was next level...a carpet of heads from the beach to the point.
Anyway...long story short...if these toilet paper thieving, pasta snatching rodents had self isolated in their places of primary residence we might have had a shot...no reported cases as of yet...we could have bunkered down and kept the local economy just ticking over enough so that none of the local traders get shafted...pipe dream!!
If this weekend pans out the way I reckon it will, we'll get shut down big time and worse still its inevitable that the Corona cat gets let out of the bag well and truly and like I said...this town is totally ill equipped and under prepared.
On a side note my young bloke has his next shift at the local IGA tomorrow night...sorry champ...not happening.
Stay safe people
Sparx
Good summary Sparx, but it's not just the toffs fucking up the coast. The hick neighbours over my back fence are throwing a fucking party. Now if I lean over and give them a serve, they will just call me a blow in and keep drinking arm in arm with each other.
There's rich arseholes and poor arseholes. They are all still arseholes though.
If I drive from home to a lonely semi deserted beach, not stopping on the way, don't touch any handrails, posts, toilets or stuff like that, have my surf on a wave with nobody else on it, and so the same in reverse home, what's the problem? I haven't spread my virus (if I had it) to the "virus - free" coastal communities. So what's the problem? Maybe some people who are lucky enough to live on the coast are using this as an excuse to stop others from surfing their waves? Localism hiding behind covid19.
Problem is for every 1 of you, there’s another 20 from melb heading to woolies or gunna
So throw the baby out with the bathwater? Just coz there are people drink driving and killing innocent people, should everyone be banned from driving in case they kill someone? No, of course not. So I can't see why I can't go for a surf if I'm not at risk of getting infected or infecting someone.
Lol detox, so blunt. I never said you are the problem. If you can get from the city and not stop, not touch anything and not clog up a lineup then I don’t give a shit. I can guarantee the vast majority won’t and I reckon by Saturday night we will be in complete lockdown because of it :(
fuck off mate, you choose to live in the city stay there
Half of a half wit!
Thats fine mate, dont complain about people looking after their communities, its not localism. You have a good health system in the city, better wages and access to basically everything we dont in a town of about a thousand permanent locals (half elderly, not boomers, proper struggling as in health wise elderly) now two thousand. Thank you Melbourne.
I dont expect you to care. Fuck its not your friends and family. Not directed at you geek
So i will stand up and i do care.
Stay the fuck out of small communities. (for now)
Yeh mate I know it’s not. Wife works in health in Rosebud so has seen it all. We already have the 2nd highest rate of covid in the state and won’t take much to wipe out a big chunk of the population down here
Thats no good mate take care
Thanks mate. She won’t be on the front line but a lot of her patients are very high risk
Crip: What happens if you need to take a crap or your car breaks down or you hurt yourself surfing or something else unforeseen happens?
Just stay fucking home mate.
Unless you live across the road from the beach two of those scenarios and possibly all three apply to everyone, everywhere.
So if everyone, everywhere stayed the fuck home that is the best for all communities, everywhere.
^^ Are you dude i saw in the carpark?
We we’re just talking about the fuckwits who flew in from in Aspen and come down here. Blood was boiling a bit and bloke rocks up.
“Dont come down from town for a surf!”
He replies “I haven’t even been in town, I’ve been in Germany, I'm meant to be in self quarantine..”.
What the fuck. Either a real poor taste troll or a complete fucking idiot?
Photo of number plate, what to do?
Cops are doing random checks now, maybe let your local station know and they can pay him a visit?
Jeez have a listen to yourselves here this is laughable!! It's not like everyones about to jump into an elevator together!! Everyone have a surf this weekend for their sanity!! Yeeeewwwww!
Fuck off Kirkwood's. Seriously. Just stay at home you fucking clown.
Just saw on the news Mornington Peninsula has 2nd highest number of infections. So why is it okay for anyone to surf be it locals or not. It’s not as though MP is a small remote town, just an extension of Melbourne suburbs.
FFS! How much more information do some of you need to realise how serious this issue is???
STAY AT HOME or close by and DON'T travel to places for non essential activity.
Surfing, or 'the right to surf' is gunna be the least of our fucking worries in a very short time if the current status quo continues in this self entitled 'all about me' society we live in today.
For the immediate future, please stay away from where I live and I promise I will stay away from where you live.
You feel like planting one on his chin Bone?
What a tool
Infection risk on that one, goofy
FARGHK ME.
It's going to be 3 foot during a global pandemic that threatens to kill half a million Australians and Swellnet's out here encouraging people to hit the beach.
Skin it which ever way you want, leaving your house at the moment for anything other than essential needs is incredibly irresponsible and selfish.
Harden the fuck up and do the right thing. STAY. AT. HOME.
The reality of the situation is that on the MP it’s going to be a shit fight for waves from gunna to the heads, tomorrow through to Sunday! You blokes are dreaming!! Let’s see...
enjoy your little squabble over post summer victorian dribble.
Kirkwoods. How would you feel if you lived on the MP, PI or down south and you were getting chemo? Even if you stopped treatment now, your immune system doesn't recover for about 25 days. Covid 19 is a very serious issue, if not a death sentence. Those people must be stressed out of their minds.
There's a covid -19 hotspot on the MP and it's been brought down from Melbourne. Put yourself in a chemo patients shoes, would you like to see hordes of travelling surfers coming into town?
Surfing won't even be a blip on the radar in terms of how this thing will spread - especially if it's done in a manner suggested by Swellent at the top of the forecast notes!
This current social push to essentially shame individuals for partaking activities which are lawful and within health guidelines is not good in way shape or form. Don't immediately swallow the idea that staying at home all day every day will save us. Exercise is critical to population health and surfing is a perfect example. Nobody knows the outcome in the long term, or the end game if you will. If we resolve ourselves to the fact that surfing during this time is too dangerous or irresponsible to consider - how will we feel 12 months down the track when the curve of new infections is flat, there's still no vaccine, but the risk of the potential second wave is too high to lift restrictions? Will we really be better off not surfing/exercising for that long?
Surfing, if done appropriately, can keep us healthy and help us through this. We need our immune systems to help beat this.
More focus needs to be put on social distancing and hygiene. Call people out for that.
What part of don't travel unnecessarily do you not understand stok? This is what medical experts are saying, but you know better than them don't you. Look up Kruger Dunning effect. You're a text book example of being 100% confident of your opinions with zero fucking expertise.
Fuck yeah, We need to shame the morons who ignore experts and put other people's lives in danger.
Honestly guys I don't think the city surfer who's filled up in town, headed to an empty break for their sesh and promptly returned home is the problem here. Some of you need to get some perspective on risk management.
There are people out there blatantly flouting social distancing rules and have way more contact with many individuals, and are therefore hundreds of times more likely to both contract and spread the virus.
An article here to show you who you're better off redirecting your outrage to:
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-26/coronavirus-poses-risks-to-reg...
Keep the forecasts coming swellnet. They won't make a difference in any case - if some entitled prick decides he's going to surf a crowded lineup while on quarantine from overseas, he isn't going to ask for Craig or Ben for permission.
Mcface has just put forward the, "I'm going to be a cunt because there's others being even bigger cunts" argument.
Not at all Vic Local. More just trying to shed some light on where the damage is being done, and it ain't by those who are going about their business responsibly. The risk, simply put, can be orders of magnitude lower (i.e. negligible) if managed in the right way.
it will be a week, maybe two before this thing is not an imported issue.
in that time, the number of recorded cases from overseas compared to local transmission will change.
problem is them it's too late due to the long incubation period. local transmissions are happening now and will be recorded later.
We need to minimise them now. The time to act is now. Not in two week's time.
When is the last time you surfed a completely empty lineup during school holidays when it's small and offshore on the MP, PI or in the South West?
When is the last time you read a news article about people dying in hospital corridors? Or abandoned in their homes?
I'll ask again in a couple of weeks...
So you can get your haircut, for more than 30 minutes now. But surfing in the ocean should be avoided? Should be pretty easy to find 4m2 of space in the ocean or stay more than 1.5m away from someone.
Be sensible people.
Or in Qld go to vote or risk being fined! What a joke!
There Are fuckwits here who want to surf and will ignore the medical experts no matter what. .They must know the inevitable result of unnecessary travel can be seen in Italy , but these arsewipe surfers are perfectly happy for others to pay the price when things turn to shit.
Be interesting to see today’s forecast. What will the headlines read? Hopefully they discourage people surfing. Forecasts dangle a carrot and encourage people travelling down the coast or to their local. Government talking about setting up field hospitals as there will not be enough beds and some people think they have a right to surf! Shut it down now.
A bloke who paddled out yesteday has already summoned his mates to come down this morning. Its not even a good wave. It’s not working in the slightest this morning so now where do they go. Keep hoping along the coast.
“Are you serious?” I asked
He smirks and drives off.
But I was told there was going to be ‘great waves’ today? Time to shut down the forecaster notes till after Easter Craig, for the greater good
Nick, I'd be taking a really good look at that bloke and making sure he never got another wave by himself at your local again.
This is beyond ridiculous
Left home at 7.15 this morning to get my paper from the local newsagents...felt guilty...maybe I should just check out the news on line.
The local coffee shop now only doing takeaway but there is a line of about ten or twelve people out front completely blocking the footpath...no tables any more so the farkwits are all sitting on top of one another on the benches on the deck overlooking the beach...just a shit pile of people dogs Khatmandu and Country Road...fuck off!!
Im truly conflicted about getting in my car and driving the four minutes from my place to the beach later on when the tide fills in...I know its still OK within the guidelines...just doesnt feel right.
I cant believe there are still knuckleheads on this forum that are seriously contemplating loading up the car and tipping out of Wuhan down the Geelong Road, Pen Link or Bass Coast Highway in order to scratch their itch...have a look at the front page of the Age today...Jeffs Shed being converted into mega hospital and morgue...which part of this shit isnt resonating...JUST STAY AT HOME
Sparx
Well said Sparx. STAY THE FUCK AT HOME! This is not a localism thing......it's global!
Beacon had about 50 cars this morning.
My son was begging me to go to Beacon today. It's 20km up the coast so I said "no, not happening".
Now some people may think this is being too cautious but you just don't know what could happen on a short surf trip. There's a story coming out of the USA of a back country skier ignoring the warnings and getting hurt in an avalanche. 40 searches and a dozen medicos were involved in the rescue. Social isolation was not always possible so they are took a risk to save an irresponsible guy. The skier is now taking up a valuable hospital bed.
Stay the fuck at home.
Waves are shithouse on the Jan Juc reefs today. Walked up to one of the lookouts at the J.J cliffs about 7am and sure enough, cars flying around with multiple crew in them, boards on the roof. Boobs car park nearly full and it's FUCKING RANK 2 - 3 foot mixed up junk swell!
Great work people!!!
I'm 8 days in to my 14 in isolation in a land many thousands of kilometers from my missus and kids. Fuck knows when I get to see them again.
I've chewed up some gigabytes I tell ya.
What I've come to think is surfers who want to surf if they live within walking distance can do so so long as they for go any medical assistance should they need it.
Surfer in NZ (lockdown)east coast recently had a spine injury requiring rescue heli.
Selfish cunts us surfers
Some of the comments here beggar belief.
For those surfers with kids I ask this
If your kids get covoid bad they will most likely be in hospital by themselves surrounded by people they dont know in a very scary situation when they need you most.
Do the right thing and play your part.
So, how many essential trips to the bottle shop are crew making? Is beer a necessity? Arguable to say you'd catch it there as much if not more than in the surf. The walk/drive/ride there could also be dangerous too - best not take up resources. Also, more time at home drinking in isolation is not good for anybody.
Social distancing and hygiene is key. Calling people out for this is important. Calling people out for solo surfs less so. The recommendation Swellnet has provided is more than sufficient to adhere to.
Great article in ABC this morning about flattening the curve and building herd immunity.
These are extraordinary times.
Lots of good points being made here. It is understandable that there is a lot of fear and frustration.
I think it is a good idea to talk about limiting travel to reduce the likelihood of infection. The situation with visitors to holiday areas should be simple, but the reality is that people’s minds still haven’t caught up with the new reality.
While forums on SN are great for discussing our thoughts, the reality is that probably a very small minority of people who are planning to visit the beach will be actually reading this thread. So, while “Eff Off!” might be an appropriate message, it probably won’t get to where it is needed most.
There will still be people from cities heading to the coast regardless. So, what should you do? Consider not going for a surf yourself. “But I live here!” True. But if you can’t limit the people coming into your town, perhaps the next best thing is to limit your exposure by staying at home.
Yeah, it’s a shit sandwich, but I think that is what everyone needs to do. Yes, tell people from Melbourne not to leave their houses unless necessary. But, unfortunately I think the same should apply to people in regional areas as well.
I work long hours, and I’ve worked my arse off this week to try and put enough momentum into the business to keep it kicking along a while longer and I was really looking forward to getting into the water this weekend. My head really needs it. But, I’m going to pull the pin for the reasons mentioned and hope everyone has a similar level of reflection.
Whatever the case, let’s try to keep ourselves nice as unfortunately I think things will get worse before they get better.
Stay safe.
Let's look at the national picture here.
A few weeks ago Scotty from Marketing had an option for a complete lockdown like NZ / Tasmania.
Due his government's dithering that option is now gone, which means the only option available is herd immunity, with a flattened curve to try and minimise the number of deaths.
It basically came down to a choice of a radical shutdown of the economy for 4-6 weeks or more deaths. Scotty from Marketing picked more deaths. Expert estimates for effective heard immunity is 60-90% of the population needing to get covid-19. At a generous 1% fatality rate that's 150-225,000 Australians. Wow.
And here's the real kick in the teeth for the Australian people who only get a mild dose. The heard immunity option means much more long term economic damage compare to 6 weeks of complete lockdown. Given the warnings from Iran, Italy, Spain etc, we should be furious with our government. They've neither protected the public from the health consequences, nor the economic damage, done by the virus. They've dropped the ball big time.
Scomoron
Lot of blood on his hands very soon
He should have eaten the shit sandwich sooner.