Launching/retrieving your boat is by far the most endurance testing aspect of a Lake Eyre sailing adventure. The Lake profile ensures that a launching ramp of around 1km is the norm for tides less than 2m. Unfortunately Lake access points, while not being in the worst places, provide challenging launching ramps. As members have found easier launching sites National Parks and others have endeavoured to close them off. Fortunately the Lake provides better landing places once you have left home base. These landing places are generally inaccessible by vehicle - you can't have everything.

Of this launching ramp the first 100m will be loose coarse sand, the Lake perimeter dune normally 1-2m high - but looking much higher. The craft is either carried or beach rollered over this dune and into the water. The dune ends at the "high tide mark" usually marked by a border of small bushes growing above the salt water table.

Once the craft is floating loading commences. Make sure the boat is moved into deeper water as the loading is done otherwise it sinks into the mud and releasing the "stiction" is nigh impossible. The same "move and load" principle is used for passengers until deep enough water, around 1km from the vehicle, allows the the last poor sole on board and the craft is under way.

Retrieving is the opposite with the added pleasure of being able to drag your craft closer as it's unloaded.

Loading is better performed with wet and dry loaders. The tougher (craziest?) members of the party tolerating the hours of salt water immersion. An interchange tarp is laid at the edge of the dry part of the beach with carefull regard to wind tides.