I heard it was the doctor because it made housecalls on Summer afternoons that cooled everyone down and had some therapeutic effect. I think I read that in a Tim Winton novel.

Apparently your all correct. Shamelessly stolen from Wikipedia


During summer months it consistently blows from the South-West along the southern half of the west coast, starting between noon and 3 pm. It can penetrate as far inland as 100km, reaching York in the early evening.

In Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, the wind is named the Fremantle Doctor because it appears to come from the nearby coastal city of Fremantle, and it brings welcome relief from the summertime high temperatures. However, it is almost certain that the term Fremantle Doctor has its origins in Fremantle's dark past. At Catherine Point, a short distance south of Fremantle, crematoriums were established during the colony's early days to dispose of the corpses of those who had fallen to the illnesses which preyed upon the population in the city's early days. It is reported that the Doctor was named in honour of the wind which blew the stench of burning human flesh inland, as this was otherwise noticeable in both Fremantle and her environs.

The Fremantle Doctor often cools the Perth suburbs by several degrees, whilst nearer the coast the wind can be quite strong, often blowing between 15 and 20 knots and making afternoon beach visits unpleasant.

On days when the wind fails, the afternoon temperatures of Perth suburbs are considerably higher, often reaching 40°C, although this is also attributable to the influence of a strong easterly wind blowing in hot desert air from the arid interior of the state.

The wind is sometimes called the Fremantle Docker, allegedly because in the days of sail, ships would lie offshore waiting for the afternoon wind to carry them into the Fremantle Dock. This is not to be confused with the Fremantle Dockers, the local Australian Football League team.

Yeah I wouldn't really trust much from wikipedia on stuff like that, its edited by anyone. I could go on there and edit it so say "the Fremantle Doctor is called so because there are a lot of doctors in Fremantle and they're all full of wind." Then all I need to do is get 5 other retards to agree with me and its legit.

Ben De Jonge said...

Stop winging. Come and talk to me when you've done 2+ years in Manchester - no summer, no sun, no beach, no kiting - then you can winge about no summer.

The end is in sight. October 26 here we come.

Lost in London - It has been pretty damn good this week.

I guess you have a pretty good reason to be there if your hate Mancheser so much then mate!

I had a wicked sesh at Hayling on Tuesday. 20-30 knots, SSW. Quite gusty though and a bit too dead-onshore. Was awesome in the afternoon once the tide was out and the sandbar started to do its flatwater generating goodness. Was quite hard work with the 9m Helix at times, I couldn't just park it and ride. I went up to my 12m boxer SLE and it was good for a while, until it started blowing really hard and then it was just scary. I was going to go back to the Helix but I had to get home by that stage and I was making stupid mistakes. Wasn't warm enough to ride in just boardies though...

Ben De Jonge said...

Lost In - I don't really hate Manchester that much, but after 2 years of this weather I'm ready to get back to that unbeatable Perth lifestyle. Life just isn't as good in the cold, wet and dark, and no one can say it is.

You only get one shot at it, so you might as well live it the sun I reckon.

The very good reason is called Parisa, now my wife.

I have been thinking there must be great sessions going off up here too, North Wales etc. , cos it's been hot and windy for quite a few days now.

Yep, well Hayling is firing today! Will get a 730pm to 10pm session in if the wind stays in. Tide is low at 6pm. www.chimet.co.uk