www.surfertoday.com/windsurfing/the-best-flat-water-spots-in-the-world
Some interesting admissions and omissions for Australia
Surprised Green island Cairns was not include, and Sandy Point about 45min further east of Inverloch was not included (remember in the day all the speed records were nailed at SandyPoint Vic.
Mmm sitting here on the spit at lake George looks flat to me, what a crap list for Aussie, wonder how true the rest of the list is ???
This list is a joke. Only 4 main land Europe spots and besides Tarifa none are well known. Not a single spot in France or the Netherlands. No La Franqui, Leucate or Gruissan which have the largest windsurf scene in France and are absolute top flatwater spots! Same with the dutch spots Strand Horst and Grevelingen. Lake Garda in Italy, Silvaplana in Switzerland? I guess the person who came up with this list just looked at some travel brochures and looked where the PWA, Eurocup etc went and decided to pick the best looking.
Plus Columbia River Gorge and Hood River? That's the same spot and far from flat water!
As for WA this place can deliver pbs rsoles is its name im not calling you fellars that!
I got a message to say my computer was slow ( banner) when i watched this- if you get that don't click on its a scam!
Yes that list was written by a freesailor who doesn't do waves. The WA spots are not our real flat water speed sailing spots, so I'm guessing none of the others are either.
Portland Harbour is not particularly flat when a decent wind blows (distant memory!!) They missed off both UK perfect flat spots, with West Kirby being one of the best in the world, and The Ray also holding records in its time.
Stroppo serious question, if a cambered sail is so stable and the centre of effort is locked in by cams etc why are the harness lines so far apart ? Do you have a fixed or sliding hook ? Are you running adjustable out haul ?
Just wondering. Cheers.
Bunch of NZ spots missing to.
Deano
Habits Deano just habits i use a normal hook and with a bit of width so u an tune for the gust with limited messing around draught will shift when u are over powered and a fixed out haul and when this vid was made i only had one sail in my dismal quiver so i had to make do sh#t hot spot thow slowys fastest speeds in wa here thats says somthing !
^^^^^^Dan that footage looks awesome - sunny day, flat as, windy and not crowded. Do you get to sail the spot often? What are the peak speeds you guys are pulling at the lake there? SALAVATING!!!!! Just googled the location, it would take me less time to fly over on two flights, even with transit, than it takes me to drive to Sandy Point on my once a year speed hit. More expensive to get there, sure, but TEMPTING
Stroppo, I couldn't appreciate how fast you were going till you looked back a couple of times - then Whoa, it all comes into perspective to seeing the wash you leave spraying up so far behind you......Yieeew
The spot is 40min drive from Chch. The wind is magnified through Gebbies pass at the end of Lyttelton harbour and hits the lake at the perfect angle. The lake has no natural opening to the ocean, this is done by human intervention when the lake gets to a certain level and is opened to the sea. So the lake level is the key factor to sailing here. Currently just coming up to a usable level now. Winds that works here are NW to NE. The NE being super steady. The run is about 500 metres long but the sailing area is about 2.2kms long. Water level is knee to waste deep in the said sailing area. Fantastic to adjust gear or stop for a rest. Only discovered the area in the last couple of years and its been the lake level stopping us from using it at times. Wind strengths are 15 to 50+knots with 25 knots being the average, but can be easily more. Board speeds are over 40 knot for an experienced sailor. Only 1 40knot 10sec run has been recorded by Mike but then destroyed his board due to an hidden object that has now been removed. I almost PB each time I go there when its windy. I'm now just under 40knots as a peak but now I can do way better if I get the conditions. The first video is in a NE and the second in a NW. The NW run is shorter unless your a crazy man
The list is obviously put together by a travel agent, not a windsurfer.
Dan, great footage. Looking forward to your next vid.