general information

First photographed in action and surfed by Tom Carrol and Ross Clarke Jones in the winter of 2008 as part of the Storm Surfer Documntary. The area has long been avoided by modern sailors and the shifting sandbanks claimed many vessels across Australia's maritime past.

It is rare that open ocean waves such as this are so affected by tidal factors. It isnt so much the height of tide here but the set that is created by either a flooding or ebbing tide. The wave itself can often be a little incoherant - breaking over a large shifting section of sandbanks; add a tidal vector into that and the area peaks up everywhere breaking at random - not a lot of fun at 20 feet plus.

Access via carefully planed expedition to the NW of Tassie. You will need a helo, jet skis and safety boats. TC and RCJ scored the Banks at about an inconsistent 30 feet but it makes for an awesome spectacle. This could be one of the most expensive waves in Australia to reach due to the planning requirements.

If you arent teamed up with someone that doesent have at least one world title or you happen to be Ross Clarke Jones then maybe give it a miss.

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otway1949
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