The answer is that it always comes down to the wind. Our club only uses the “BOM” Bureau of Meteorology to make calls. Our safety management plans make sure boats don’t go out over 30 knots.
http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/portphillip.shtml
The Bureau “MetEye” website will provide pretty accurate readings of the wind. Strong winds creates “the port Phillip chop” which makes boating very uncomfortable for small boats such as bow riders or anything less than 28ft not so much for our Riviera and Sunseeker boats.
A link below to the MetEye page will show wind strengths and the time of day these weather patterns will arrive.
http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/
Always look at the charts before your departure nothing is more dangerous to go out in the bay in an boat not designed for the conditions. That’s why our club boats are best of breed.
