Who else is in?
Arvo N/E sessions at Narrowneck like the days of old!
I finish work each day at 1.30, if the arvo summer seabreeze kicks in, anyday of the week, I will be there, I think Pommie Pete and Eggs will join me.
Bring on summer!
fingers crossed, was at Iluka, hit the goldy around 3 and was suprised to see the trees rocking!
Would be glad to if i was good enough to hit the surf. That's one of my goals i'm working on it when there is actually some wind. I've got the board and the rig to do it but not yet the skills. I'm going crazy i think i'll have to put up with a low tide at Wello on Wednesday by the look of the forecast just to scratch the itch. Just checked Coastwatch and that is forecasting different to SB. Who do you believe?
I am completely down for this.
Hey nacra, if there is a little 2ft swell, and sideshore to cross/on you'd be surprised how easy it is. And FUN!
Honestly on the right wind angle, and a small widely spaced swell, it's no harder than shearwater at its worst. When I say 'widely spaced' I mean the wave period. The surf can be difficult on a light, dead onshore wind when you get hit by a wave every 4 seconds.
I hope that the arrival of wind there doesn't coincide with the arrival of Indy again.
I am keen as to give it a go just need to learn what directions work and where for the surf. I know Shearwater well now and want to learn the surf just as well because it seems like you can still get a sail in when the wind is too light for the Broadwater
^ I've found the opposite actually. 14 knots at Narrowneck, 20 knots ++ at The Train which is like 200m away in the Broadwater. Beats me.
Generally a summer sea-breeze is best. N or NE. This is usually associated with a small swell. 2ft onshore stunt ramps. Warm, turquiose water. White sand. Ahhhhhh.
There's also Currumbin in a SE, but I find the associated large swell still a bit hardcore for my windsurfing skills, so far.
I also propose an alternative at Main Beach:
www.google.com:443/maps?q=Golden+Sands+on+the+Beach,+Main+Beach+Parade,+Queensland,+Australia&hl=en&ll=-27.977575,153.429759&spn=0.002752,0.004436&sll=-27.979044,153.43007&sspn=0.005742,0.008873&fll=-27.978475,153.430107&fspn=0.002752,0.004436&t=h&z=18
Absolutely perfect rigging area, super wide path to beach, great playground for family when it gets too windy for the beach.
Parking probably an issue, high-rises downwind may affect wind flow.
I have moved quite close to there - I can see kitesurfers there from my balcony - I got smashed up there one day in a southerly - it put me off - the sweep runs so fast S to N that you cant get on the plane fast enough to negotiate the surf & from the south the waves are heavy. I have never tried in a Northerly - I have sailed down at Kirra in the N & it is great you can swoop down the water on the inside of the break & choose your spot to cross the break.
ps the wind is stronger on the broadwater due to the Jet ski operator safety speaches heating the air!
evlpanda. What i meant was not the actual wind strength itself just that it seems like you really only need just enough wind to get onto the wave then the wave supplies your power. That's what it looked like from watching a couple of windsurfers at Currumbin a few days ago when there was stuff all wind, no where near enough to be planning at Shearwater for instance, but once they got in front of the waves which were only about 2 foot or so they could ride them in then chug back out around the back again. Looked like not bad fun for a very light wind day. It was one of the very few occasions i didn't have all my gear in the car or else i may have just given it a shot. They were on SUP's though.
Best move you could make IMHO is pick up one on the new jp 106lt? single thrusters from Surf Fx when they arrive. Ian has always been cool to deal with and these boards will fit perfectly into our Qld wavesailing needs.
I agree with the panda on wind strengths in a Northerly. I did a downwind run last year from the marina mirage to Broadbeach, the wind shut down to unsailable by about Cavil Ave. (It was a long walk to get one of the cars in wet boardies from there) Driving home past the train to see 20knots on the water??
Narrowneck in light northerly for a beginner..?? Character building.
Try Cudgen as it is a bit more side-off or Cbin alley for some backside mush.
If you are in Brissie and the wind is 25+ knts (no lighter) Northerly and very low tide, out the front at Wello is the place to be. Everyone talks about it, but not many sail it. It gets lonely out there on sunset
Great for jumping and backside riding.
I might be able to be talked into another downwind coast run this year if others keen.
That's the sort of info i'm after Ken. The little tips and things to look out for and the places to go and not to and when. Will speed up the learning process. In theory.
Sailing in the surf is always more tiring. You'll sleep well that night. There's little things like the swell creating wind shadows, the waves of course, and no sandbanks to rest on. On the plus side I find planing is earlier because of the higher salt content (?). Still, on the right tide, wind angle and swell it can be surprisingly easy. Just ask in this forum what it's probably going to be like.
I'm wondering if there is a stretch of beach between The Spit and Burleigh that is inexplicably windier than other stretches. I guess the kiters would know...
(IMHO)
Not sure whether it is just my imagination but I dont think it is as windy as it used to be??
I recall sailing in the early and mid 90's and using <5m sails heaps more.
A 1030 high in the bight (like the chart forecast for this Sunday) would always result in a strong SE that would blow consistent 25knots for a few days. Not this gusty/fickle rubbish of last few seasons including the rain on the 2nd day - shutting it all down.
www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/viewer/index.shtml
And where are the strong westerlies this year. We are almost in September.
Lets blame it on climate change (like everything else).
great to see some general chit chat here, thanks lads.
Miami is decent as well, just not quite cross shore enough. Same as my home beach Mermaid beach, tends to blow cross to on so you sail at 45 degrees to the waves.
I will hit the northen ends on mon to fri if it kicks in the arvo's, suits me work wise, and on weekends will look around Cotton Beach and Cabarita.
Nacra the ocean, once out the back, is actually easier than sailing in broadwater chop, not as agreesive little bumps, everything just rolls along a lot bigger. Just watch out for the dumping shorebreaks, 3 masts in 2 weeks for me a few years back!
Everyone always talks about how windy it was in the 90's..?? Mahi you were on a diet of rice cakes and carrots, probably weighing in at 55kgs fully soaked and that pink naish sail you used in all conditions was bagged out like a spinnaker. I used to love flying past you on my 5.3m Team edition JV . I'm blaming board and sail design. Sails are so flat now, boards are either planing or dogging there is no low speed glid or semi planing and no fluoro. I agree we need more ahd Seal / Sea Lion type boards and also more wind would be good.
qhenton,
You are showing your age having owned a JV sail. Good on you for supporting Australian made produce. JV sail with windaction board was the hot combo in that era.
You're probably right in that we are all carrying a few more pounds these days (from too little sailing) and can't get on the plane anymore.
I'm not sure I know your identity however I recall a chubby little kid with mullet shadowing me on many occasions and owning a JV sail as you describe.
It was an undercut and I'm big boned.. Nah Mahi i think you have me confused with some other top bloke by the sounds of things.
I would like to see if we could get Ecki down for a sail. I would lend him a rig.
Has anyone heard from him?
