Good mate of mine just moved up to Mackay - he's progressed pretty well after a couple of seasons practice.
He's used to flat-water sailing in about ~20 knot winds. What's the sailing scene like in/around Mackay?
Hey Trousers
I have recently moved to Mackay and I reckon there are some great places to sail here. Most of the local sail at Illawong beach,however this place is relatively flat,even when blowing 20 kts, so for the style of sailing I prefer, pretty boring.
Habour beach,North Wall, looks awesome in a decent blow. This is the local surfing beach,not that there are many surfers here. I was there yesterday to check it out. Nice cross shore wind 15-20 kts (according to my anemometer), and a nice 3 foots swell which I reckon would provide some nice jumps and waves. All the locals ride big gear,but 105 liter and 5.9 should get you out enough. The last week here it has blown 20- 30 kts constantly,so I think your mate has done well coming to Mackay,although he might have to do a little exploring. Another option is Bowen, about two hour drive North. This is a nice quaint little town with a variety of locations. BTW, not all beaches are affected by the tides,so by my investigation, as long as you want to do a little searching there will always be places to sail. This may be an overly optimistic view of Mackay for windsurfing, however, I have spent the last couple of months without gear deciding where to sail and what gear would work,therefore, the place has awesome potential which has proved itself to many many times over these last months.
Also,make sure a stinger suit is worn, $30 from Woolworths.
Trousers, Illawong will be perfect for what your mate is use to. Near the end of Bridge road, in front of the beach volleyball courts but you can only sail there 2 or 3 hours either side of high tide or it can be a 2km walk back with your gear. Learnt that the hard way!
Ercorn, I never saw anyone sail at north wall. The breakwater would mess up the wind in a SE and like you said, that's where everyone surfs. There are a few regulars at the main harbour beach, at the southern end of the car parks. East point, on the north side of the river mouth is a great spot if you don't mind only kiters to play with. In the right conditions you get flat water inside and waves breaking on the sand bar further out.
Sailed north wall heaps in the 80's. Used to go off in a S/Easterly, sail 100 to 150 metres downwind from the breakwall. Used to be able to drive along the back off the beach but its fenced off now. The sandbar that goes from the lookout at Lamberts out passed Slade point used to have its moments at low tide also.
The sandbars from the harbour to the mouth off the river can be fun if the tide is right.
Those were the day's!
Started windsurfing in mackay back then and haven't stopped since. First wave board was claimed off some tool who was going to burn it as a sacrafice to Huey!
It was a home made piece of crap all sucked in with a wicked double concave (maybe the first). Ha ha, Hector 'the Great' sponno'd me a North wave sail, stole some other stuff and there you have it.
Have had great sessions at Blacks Beach on the northern beaches, even gets a little reef type wave in the middle, was cross shore, awesome.
always knew where hughsie was sailing by the trails of myler than were peeling off his sail. That board off his was a classic.
had a good little session today at illawong beach bit light on ~ 10 knots but still had fun practicing some tacks and gybes around the wrecked car in the water. if anyone sees a blue naish sail out thatll probably be me 
thinkin bout heading down again tomorrow for anzac day
pm send sailpilot!
had another good session today at illawong, starting to understand the tuning of the sail alot more, backed off my outhaul cause i felt underpowered and could feel the benefit of doin this!
wrecked car is now gone from illawong! someone left the bonnet behind though? seen a few big holes left stingrays when the tides was going out. Have to be a bit careful old mate that surfs the starboard go copped a slashed foot on anzac day last week from one.
another good session today!! got about 2 hrs out on the water!! learnt a coupla things, the right moment when to change your foot work whilst doin a non planing gybe!! feels good when you pull one off cleanly.
Dennis and Peter out, didn't do to bad on the little 5.3 had some nice planing in gusts
hey lads, was out sunday, not to bad, little gusty! no other windsurfers out there though? I had to contend with 8 or so kites! Anyway fingers crossed for summer to get here quick so we can enjoy more time on the water!
new wetty goes alright in the cold water! derm reckons its been around 16 deg water temp at hay point! id believe it!
Hey Luke, keep missing you mate, I sailed Illawong on saturday with a few others. Anyway keep up the good work.
Hey Dave you still at Alva? Have been trying to set up a meeting with the guy that owns Brandon Park Speedway so I can take over the caretakers job and start my new sporting career as a speedway/dirt track racer/promoter. It would be a sweet gig as I could slide when there is no wind and sail Alva when its on. Wish I thought of this 25 years ago ha ha ha!
True!!! I was busy sat otherwise woulda been out. Our paths will cross sooner or later!
Thinking of getting one of these in the next few months (standup paddle board) you can put a sail on them and they are fantastic for light wind wave sailing on small 1-3ft waves! Im thinking it will be perfect at North Wall and also the headland at Slade Pt going into mcready creek looks great to! Sets are far apart and are full and take ages to break.
Yep, thought about one of those too, should be great at north wall with a sail.also on the sea side of east point can gets some nice waves.
Put a deposit down on one of these (10'6" SUP that takes a rig). Will be using it a bit with me 5.3 wave sail to play around catching small waves at north wall and muck around doing some lightwind freestyle and cruising @ illawong 
hope to see a few of yas out over the coming weeks 
Hada go of the new 6.2 Naish today went well in the light NE before lunch! If only the tide was a little later today! Oh well always Sunday :D
Hi Guys
I met Dennis last week as he was about to go windsurfing down at Illawong, he offered me some gear he hasn't been using, however I have lost the pieces of paper I wrote his phone number on.
So if your reading this Dennis, could you please PM me your number so I can get hold of you.
Alternatively, could someone else from Mackay let him know I want to contact him.
Cheers
