G'day
Moving to Port Mac next week from Perth for work (Yes, I know bad move for wind and bad time of year to do it!)
I have read up on a few of the posts about spots to windsurf locally and would be keen to meet some local crew for a sail.
I have only been windsurfing for a year so really looking for flat water for now, although having 30 years surfing experience and want to get into wave sailing, just need to learn to gybe properly first!
Drop me a message if your heading out somewhere as would be keen to check out the local scene
cheers
Brett
I think that's a really great part of the NSW coast actually. you have south west rocks to the north of you and wallis lake to the south. Both great spots in a north easterly and you won't have to share the water with seven hundred kiters. There's also queens lake near Laurieton and Harrington speed strip in a southerly. That section of coast from wallis lake north to coffs harbour gets great seabreezes. Definitely better than Newcastle and areas to the south. I've also done slalom in the river at Jordan's (port maquarie) In a north easterly it's a short run but still good fun. I'm sure the guys up there will clue you in to some other great spots.
Yes it's not WA but your windsurfing lifestyle is definitely not over. Very far from it. Some beautiful spots, a great crew and way less crowded than WA. I think you will love it actually.
Hey Brett,
I don't live in Port, I'm "up the road" a little (70 kays) at sunny South West Rocks. I do head to Port a fair bit, mainly to sail Queens Lake. If you want nice flat water to work on those gybes, Queens is a great place. Some gun speed sailors hit it regularly and are friendly and willing to help out with info. Dunno what day's you have free to sail next week but looks like Friday could be fun there. Most launch at Bob's Creek.
I know a few guys hit Middle Rock (Lake Cathie) for cross-on wave sailing. I;ll let AJ Easter field that one, he knows the place better than most.
If you're up for some sweet bump and jump action, South West Rocks is as good as it gets- think 15-20 nor-east and low tide and you'll be smiling from ear to ear.
Good luck with the move. And hope to catch up for a sail soon
Cheers,
Phil
Hi and thanks for the replies, I have lived in Coffs and the Central Coast before and have always planned to move back to the mid north coast, great part of the world, easily accessible fun surf and by the sounds, Cluffy ,a pretty could choice for windsurfing.
I have spent some time in the last couple of winters surfing in my campervan and have visited most spots mentioned above, I like the diversity and the fact windsurfing is low key is a bonus, its a refreshing change from the surf scene, which can be hectic at times.
South Wests rocks at the jail looks like a beautiful spot to sail, can you could get a flat water run in front of the sandbar, looks like a channel runs almost parallel to the beach?
Phil, should be free Fri, so will been keen for a sail if forecast stays good, looks like it has been windy all last week
Hi Brett,
No real flat water here on Trial Bay. It can be flattish in a south-easter, but it's painfully gusty. Much better option is simply Queens- nice long runs, chest deep most places, and a nice shallow section for speed sailing- but you will need a weed fin most off the time.
Select to expand quotePhilSWR said..
Hi Brett,
No real flat water here on Trial Bay. It can be flattish in a south-easter, but it's painfully gusty. Much better option is simply Queens- nice long runs, chest deep most places, and a nice shallow section for speed sailing- but you will need a weed fin most off the time.
come to Jordans and say hi and will get give you the heads up on where to sail and can get you up to speed , we have been teaching windsurfing since 1980 and only too willing to help you out , this is the best time of the year for wind and nice condition
www.jordans.com.au
Hi Brett,
Phil and Cluffy have given the good oil. Looking forward to meeting you. I will be sailing Thurs or Friday whichever looks best. The forecast is shifting between SE and SW at this stage so the best spot is yet to be determined for the day, but probably Queens lake for some blasting around.. Phil sails the most out of all of us and is a good bloke to sail with, he is always stoked no matter what the conditions are like. There are quite a few of us that sail at Port, and there are various spots for flat water (HAstings River at MArk Jordan's shop, Town Green, Queens Lake, Watson Taylor Lake,) and wavesailing (Lighthouse Beach, middlerock), which are pretty easy going due to the sandbanks instead of the reef in WA. Those are the spots that are within 30mins of Port, but there are heaps more if your extend your radius by another 30mins (Harrington, Great Lakes at Forster, SWR,).
South West Rocks (SWR) would be the best place to get used to the bumps if you are an aspiring wavesailor - get your gybes down and get quick at uphauling or water starting on the flatter water first though, then sail SWR to get used to the ocean. Once you get used to the bumps come play at MiddleRock on a small day. it is very tame by most standards, and mostly only up to head high at best unless there is a strong swell running which does happen from time to time.
Hope to catch you soon.
Cheers, Adam
Great thread guys and thanks heaps. I'm up at beautiful Port Mac mid January for the annual basketball competition with my daughter.
Im hoping for some extra info, specifically about sailing off Jordans, Village Green and Lake Queens. Looking at doing some flat water blasting in the nor'easters and consider myself medium-advancedish in ability. 72kgs
I've got to pack light as the girls want their SUPs as well. I can take 1 board, 2-3 sails. 2 masts, 1 boom.
I sail Sailworks Huckers (love the power) mostly and use AB+ and Carbon Art boards.
Am I better off bringing 4.8-6.6 sails OR 5.6-7.8? What do others typically use in these areas?
123 litre board OR 93 litre.
Do I need to bring weed fins?
Any info would be a big help.
Thanks
Hi Adam,
thanks for the tips,I think Southwest rocks looks like the perfect first waves spot, I have my waterstarts down and gybes are nearly there
look forward to meeting everyone, looks like wind and swell for the fri and weekend, how good is that, not sure if the body will handle a surf and sail in same day!
Select to expand quoteBelly25 said..
Great thread guys and thanks heaps. I'm up at beautiful Port Mac mid January for the annual basketball competition with my daughter.
Im hoping for some extra info, specifically about sailing off Jordans, Village Green and Lake Queens. Looking at doing some flat water blasting in the nor'easters and consider myself medium-advancedish in ability. 72kgs
I've got to pack light as the girls want their SUPs as well. I can take 1 board, 2-3 sails. 2 masts, 1 boom.
I sail Sailworks Huckers (love the power) mostly and use AB+ and Carbon Art boards.
Am I better off bringing 4.8-6.6 sails OR 5.6-7.8? What do others typically use in these areas?
123 litre board OR 93 litre.
Do I need to bring weed fins?
Any info would be a big help.
Thanks
Hi Belly25,
Just spotted your post...
One board hey. Hmmmm, hard to say, bring both.
Town Green- Only sailed there a few times, but high tide and nor-east for longer runs over nice clear flats. Low tide and nor-east for the short but fun speed strip behind the sand bank.
Jordans- Again only a few runs there, but Mark seems to like a good nor-easter and a run out tide. You'll get plenty of gybe practice!
Queens Lake- works in most winds, best fun (for me) seems to be s-west or s-east, but some of the locals sail there in any wind with good success. Best with a weed fin- especially up on the mud / weed bank. Mark Jordan (@ Jordans Boating Centre) has some rippers that are ideal for the area.
Hope you get some wind during you stay
Select to expand quotePhilSWR said..Belly25 said..
Great thread guys and thanks heaps. I'm up at beautiful Port Mac mid January for the annual basketball competition with my daughter.
Im hoping for some extra info, specifically about sailing off Jordans, Village Green and Lake Queens. Looking at doing some flat water blasting in the nor'easters and consider myself medium-advancedish in ability. 72kgs
I've got to pack light as the girls want their SUPs as well. I can take 1 board, 2-3 sails. 2 masts, 1 boom.
I sail Sailworks Huckers (love the power) mostly and use AB+ and Carbon Art boards.
Am I better off bringing 4.8-6.6 sails OR 5.6-7.8? What do others typically use in these areas?
123 litre board OR 93 litre.
Do I need to bring weed fins?
Any info would be a big help.
Thanks
Hi Belly25,
Just spotted your post...
One board hey. Hmmmm, hard to say, bring both.
Town Green- Only sailed there a few times, but high tide and nor-east for longer runs over nice clear flats. Low tide and nor-east for the short but fun speed strip behind the sand bank.
Jordans- Again only a few runs there, but Mark seems to like a good nor-easter and a run out tide. You'll get plenty of gybe practice!
Queens Lake- works in most winds, best fun (for me) seems to be s-west or s-east, but some of the locals sail there in any wind with good success. Best with a weed fin- especially up on the mud / weed bank. Mark Jordan (@ Jordans Boating Centre) has some rippers that are ideal for the area.
Hope you get some wind during you stay
Perfect.
Thanks for this. Might have to really test the roof racks and bring the second board.
Fingers crossed for plenty of green arrows that week.
Nice to meet you today Brett. And hats off to you for-after only one year sailing- hitting Trial Bay in a 20 knot nor-easter with head high sets! Most folks would have done it hard, so full credit for that. Will catch up with you down Port in the next week or so for some gybe practice.
Cheers mate,
Phil
Cheers for the sail today Phil, was a good progression from only sailing in the river back in Perth to the ocean, a little tricky getinng out through the swell without getting airbourne but riding the swells back in was a blast, I think that swarn of jellyfish was '"Blue blubber jellyfish" , gave the waterstarts a bit of a edge ha ha
www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/jellyfish-swarm-in-alarming-numbers/1644162/
