Any opinions on the best place to learn to wave sail in WA? Preferably not 1km off the beach or sharky.. :D

On a small to average swell, Wedge Island is a forgiving beach break with plenty of room for mistake. It can get very fub on bigger swell and side off wind.
On a bigger swell, Dutch Inn in Cottesloe can offer a relatively mellow reef wave.
Both are close to shore and will allow mistake aplenty. Wedge is a bit of a drive from Perth (2 hours).

Scarborough can be quite technical when there is an actual wave to be had. On bigger day, the current and dumping waves can make it a bit unfriendly. But it is in the metro area and will give you the opportunity to train regularly.

Mettams can have a wave on bigger swell but it can get messy and you can end up over the reef. Not my favourite.

Lancelin main break can be quite friendly and somewhat mellow (especially the inside reform) but a bit of a swim out. And Avalon (Mandurah) has a nice easy wave on bigger swell. The issue is that a mistake could take you onto the reef.

Margaret river, Greenhead and Gnaraloo offer much better waves but they are for competent wave riders. Mistake can be costly.

I am not familiar with waves spot in the Geraldton area.

As usual, it is worth taking the time to look at people on the water and ask advice before getting in (though I am often by myself when sailing at wedge).

Enjoy!

Dutch Inn for sure.......

What was daunting about Lano? how far out it is I'm guessing based on your question?

I'd be off to Dutchies then.

Swindy said..
In the winter fronts that aren't too far away now get out at safety bay, shoalwater, point perron. It offers some great bump and jump conditions, much better than in the summer and if the swell is big enough to get in over the outer reef the occasional wave to ride. This should increase your confidence sailing a bit of distance away from the shore in some full on conditions but still safe. Then head for the real thing next summer.

I sail at safety bay quite a bit and i'm a fair distance from shore, but then i'm on slalom gear usually so i'm not putting myself in wipeout zones where i'm likely to lose or break my gear on a wave and have to swim back. I was just looking for something a bit closer to get a bit of prac on, but i'll probly just have to suck it up and go back to Lanno coz this is making me look like a sook now haha. :P

Metro:
Avalon
Gearies
Shoalwater (winter)
Dutchies
Mettams

Corros hands down for jumping and backhand

Eneabba

Margies - just do it

Esperance.

Maddlad said..

Swindy said..
In the winter fronts that aren't too far away now get out at safety bay, shoalwater, point perron. It offers some great bump and jump conditions, much better than in the summer and if the swell is big enough to get in over the outer reef the occasional wave to ride. This should increase your confidence sailing a bit of distance away from the shore in some full on conditions but still safe. Then head for the real thing next summer.

I sail at safety bay quite a bit and i'm a fair distance from shore, but then i'm on slalom gear usually so i'm not putting myself in wipeout zones where i'm likely to lose or break my gear on a wave and have to swim back. I was just looking for something a bit closer to get a bit of prac on, but i'll probly just have to suck it up and go back to Lanno coz this is making me look like a sook now haha. :P

Its a different place in winter. Nothing like you have been racing in.

Swindy said..

Maddlad said..

Swindy said..
In the winter fronts that aren't too far away now get out at safety bay, shoalwater, point perron. It offers some great bump and jump conditions, much better than in the summer and if the swell is big enough to get in over the outer reef the occasional wave to ride. This should increase your confidence sailing a bit of distance away from the shore in some full on conditions but still safe. Then head for the real thing next summer.

I sail at safety bay quite a bit and i'm a fair distance from shore, but then i'm on slalom gear usually so i'm not putting myself in wipeout zones where i'm likely to lose or break my gear on a wave and have to swim back. I was just looking for something a bit closer to get a bit of prac on, but i'll probly just have to suck it up and go back to Lanno coz this is making me look like a sook now haha. :P

Its a different place in winter. Nothing like you have been racing in.

Yeah ive sailed there in winter too, nothing too mad wind wise though.

Coros allows you to do everything you can dream of wave riding! People saying it's just jumping or for back side riding are wrong, learn to open your sail more! You can get fully vertical front side riding coros and front side airs no problem.

Also, the season is not over, you don't have to wait for next summer and it's totally worth the drive for one good day

Stuthepirate said..
Margies - just do it

Learn to wave sail...Margies?

I don't reckon that is actually very good advice, but I'm also pretty sure that most people who are "learning to wavesail" could figure that out well before they attempt to blast out through the keyhole - or at least I hope so!

Agrid said..
I reckon Margaret River boat ramp is ok for experienced sailors wanting to learn wavesailing.

Yes. Here is a photo of a friend of mine, sailing offshore of the boat ramp and sailing back into Gnarabup under 3/4 sail and storm daggerboard on a stock windsurfer in about 1982. Yes beginners board work out there fine and there was a swell that day 15 -18 knots plus. Just don't sail out to the reefs out the back (see the whitewater in background) as you can run into them and I did that once but skeg remained intact luckily. Quite a lot of weed but once past the shoreline not an issue.

bucket said..
On calm days places like lano and corros can be super easy and suitable for getting used to waves. Then all it takes is a bigger swell and strong wind and they can turn much more tricky for a novice wave sailor who is positioned in the 'wrong spot'. I think you really need to read the conditions on the day and be aware of not only your skills but level of fitness. I have been caught (not fit enough and probably over confident) a few times and getting pounded and being pushed to my limit (gave me a bit of a scare).

While that is true .... it is equally as true for anywhere there is wind and water.

The main point of suggesting these places specifically :
- there is big flat-water bit on the inside where you dont get nailed by the beach-break,
- the waves get progressively bigger as you sail further out - so just dont sail as far.

Agrid said..
I suggested experienced sailors, who presumably sail with a friend and know how to self rescue, might go ok at boat ramp. Learning to wave sail where its shallow enough to stand is only going to end up with broken gear.

If you're not an experienced wave sailor, stay away from boaties. 2 kooks just means 2 rescues. Sure small days the current is fine, but the wave breaks on shallow reef then, and lots of holes to get pushed into. If you don't know how to handle yourself in surf, you're gonna have a bad time.

There is a pretty big difference between sailing around in flat water and sailing in surf. Especially reef passes.
Boaties is pretty far out so can be hard to judge size and if you go out and it's got some size and the right direction, if you break gear or the wind drops you might get dragged through Bombie. No one wants that. Even surfing when you don't have to drag a sail around people have been dragged through bombie.

So while many kooks have sailed these places and survived, a few have needed a rescue, and even a couple of chargers have died.

So again, experienced flat water kooks, don't learn to wavesail at boaties. Terrible suggestion.

mathew said..

bucket said..
On calm days places like lano and corros can be super easy and suitable for getting used to waves. Then all it takes is a bigger swell and strong wind and they can turn much more tricky for a novice wave sailor who is positioned in the 'wrong spot'. I think you really need to read the conditions on the day and be aware of not only your skills but level of fitness. I have been caught (not fit enough and probably over confident) a few times and getting pounded and being pushed to my limit (gave me a bit of a scare).

While that is true .... it is equally as true for anywhere there is wind and water.

The main point of suggesting these places specifically :
- there is big flat-water bit on the inside where you dont get nailed by the beach-break,
- the waves get progressively bigger as you sail further out - so just dont sail as far.

If you're sailing 'on the inside' I don't consider that wave sailing. I assumed this thread was about being positioned in with proper waves.

bucket said..

mathew said..

bucket said..
On calm days places like lano and corros can be super easy and suitable for getting used to waves. Then all it takes is a bigger swell and strong wind and they can turn much more tricky for a novice wave sailor who is positioned in the 'wrong spot'. I think you really need to read the conditions on the day and be aware of not only your skills but level of fitness. I have been caught (not fit enough and probably over confident) a few times and getting pounded and being pushed to my limit (gave me a bit of a scare).

While that is true .... it is equally as true for anywhere there is wind and water.

The main point of suggesting these places specifically :
- there is big flat-water bit on the inside where you dont get nailed by the beach-break,
- the waves get progressively bigger as you sail further out - so just dont sail as far.

If you're sailing 'on the inside' I don't consider that wave sailing. I assumed this thread was about being positioned in with proper waves.

I think Mathew meant they are good as you can sail the reform "on the inside" and also if you do get rinsed you are immediately out of the waves in the lagoon

Maddladd - Corro. just do it for a couple weeks next summer

Mark _australia said..

bucket said..

mathew said..

bucket said..
On calm days places like lano and corros can be super easy and suitable for getting used to waves. Then all it takes is a bigger swell and strong wind and they can turn much more tricky for a novice wave sailor who is positioned in the 'wrong spot'. I think you really need to read the conditions on the day and be aware of not only your skills but level of fitness. I have been caught (not fit enough and probably over confident) a few times and getting pounded and being pushed to my limit (gave me a bit of a scare).

While that is true .... it is equally as true for anywhere there is wind and water.

The main point of suggesting these places specifically :
- there is big flat-water bit on the inside where you dont get nailed by the beach-break,
- the waves get progressively bigger as you sail further out - so just dont sail as far.

If you're sailing 'on the inside' I don't consider that wave sailing. I assumed this thread was about being positioned in with proper waves.

I think Mathew meant they are good as you can sail the reform "on the inside" and also if you do get rinsed you are immediately out of the waves in the lagoon

Maddladd - Corro. just do it for a couple weeks next summer

Cant drive that far sorry Mark, i have an anxiety disorder that stops me travelling. Lanno is as far as i can go north at present. Cheers for the suggestion though. :)