Hi guys. I have just sailed up from Brisbane in my yacht and am currently anchored out from the Whitsunday Sailing Club. Can anybody give me some advice as to the good spots to windsurf locally? My only transport is my dingy (which I can put my gear in). I've only brought a 96 litre board and a 5 and 6 metre sails. Any info appreciated. cheers.
mmmmm, what an underwhelming response. It would seem I'm the only person at Airlie Beach who windsurfs. Thats okay I'll figure something out....How about Bowen ?..
Select to expand quoteRichiefish said..
mmmmm, what an underwhelming response. It would seem I'm the only person at Airlie Beach who windsurfs. Thats okay I'll figure something out....How about Bowen ?..
Next to your boat looks like a good spot 
Richie, if you are going to blowen Bowen, be sure to spend a couple of days anchored at Montes Resort on your way. They have cold beer and great lunches at their beach bar.
Hope you are enjoying your trip, cold and rain the last couple of days here but sunny today.
Hey Richie,
I spent a season up there as a kid. I used to sail right off the main beach at Airlie, the wind used to consistently howl every arvo.....good times. Wish I was there with you buddy. At some point you are also going to have to live the dream and sail off whitehaven beach. Might be some beautiful young swedish backpackers who can help you get there.
I always thought dingo beach ( up the coast a little near gloucester island) looked like a choice place to sail in a south easterly. you should be able to anchor reasonably close. note, i haven't sailed there we just go to dingo beach pub during the airlie beach race week lay day
Select to expand quoteclub309 said..
I always thought dingo beach ( up the coast a little near gloucester island) looked like a choice place to sail in a south easterly. you should be able to anchor reasonably close. note, i haven't sailed there we just go to dingo beach pub during the airlie beach race week lay day
Sailed Dingo years ago in a SEer; was great, shallow clear flat water right up to the beach, chasing stingrays around,
Cool. I'll be heading up to Montes next month for the Shag Island Yacht Club Festivities. As for Airlie, forcast looks good for a blow on Mon Tue next week.All I've been getting are these idealic lovely warm days with little wind (so far.). I'll also give dingo beach a go, thanks club 309. I'll probably be sailing
in the Airlie fun races and maybe the Hammo races too if I feel like it.(know a few boats attending not mine)...I hope you're not working too much Jo. See my facebook page for pics. 
gear in dingy ready to go to the beach.
Hi Richie.looks like it may be ok next week for a Bowen trip if no lows pop up down NSW way,has been no wind here in Townsville and the only time I have been out are on trips away to Green Island.I 'm thinking of Sun Mon Tues at the moment
Right near your boat! Can sail off the beach near coral sea resort and it funnels through the bay, gusty but windy when it's on... Also around the corner take your boat to 'funnel bay' and blast there , it's not called funnel for no reason!
You can also sail at Shute harbour on shore wind there in a SE...watch out for toad and stone fish.
And of course 'blowen' up the road...
And there is a nice sandy spit on the Airlie side of Hayman that you can anchor near then do speed runs in a SE.
Should keep you busy and away from the back packer bars!
Hey I saw a guy windsurfing here this morning. Not enough wind for my 96 L and 6m but he was getting along alright on a biggish board and Ezzy sail. so I'm not alone. And there's wind comming in a few days !
Hey Richie. I think you will find it was Darryl on a SUP. Not sure how long he is there (visiting from Hervey Bay) but he is accruing points like a madman on www.windwanderers.org.au/ while he can 
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-07-04&team=8
You wont be on the 96L til you get to Bowen is my guess
If I see him again I'll yell out ...Yeah an SUP with a mastbase fitting would be perfect for the current weather here. I'm sure it's getting windy on Sunday arvo thou and then blowing for a few days. (see central coast wind forcast)
Hi Richie, yeah that was me sailing off the beach at Airlie,only to get points for Windwanderers ( sailing slowly in strange places).Would love to sail with you but heading home tomorrow, just spent 10 days cruising round the islands and using the sup everywhere.Plenty of wind all week but all our anchorages were well protected so the sup was the only option.Hope you find some wind soon.
Plenty of wind this morning returning from Hook to Airlie, constant 20+knots.
Select to expand quoteploppy said..
Hi Richie, yeah that was me sailing off the beach at Airlie,only to get points for Windwanderers ( sailing slowly in strange places).Would love to sail with you but heading home tomorrow, just spent 10 days cruising round the islands and using the sup everywhere.Plenty of wind all week but all our anchorages were well protected so the sup was the only option.Hope you find some wind soon.
Plenty of wind this morning returning from Hook to Airlie, constant 20+knots.
sounds good Ploppy. That was me heading in to the sailing club in my inflatable dingy as you went past...Yes I am always anchored on the wrong side of the island for the small board. Might have to get me one of them there SUP thingos.
Heh Richiefish
Airlie...spent 3yrs sailing there. Sailing of the beach in a SE breeze is OK...use a big board as it can switch off in a second and as mentioned before very gusty 
. Had more than one long swim home
. Now on a northerly it another thing...brilliant...sail from Cannonanvale beach near the stinger enclosure (crap anchorage, but great sailing).
Bowen is brilliant. Had some very memorable sails in Se and Ne breeze.
enjoy the cruise
climber
Bowen was ok today but not what was forecast,I was out on a 6m.Tomorrow is looking better.
Here too. (still at Airlie) Went on 6m but gusty with many holes. Good to get wet thou. Tomorrow should be better.(and the rest of the week)
Had a good sesh today (Wednesday) from 12 till 2pm off the new sandy beach here at Airlie. Stoked !!! gusty 15-25 knots with a few lulls but bloody good.
Select to expand quoteRichiefish said..
Had a good sesh today (Wednesday) from 12 till 2pm off the new sandy beach here at Airlie. Stoked !!! gusty 15-25 knots with a few lulls but bloody good.
16 degrees, drizzle and no wind here in Brissy, I think you picked a good time to head north
Select to expand quoteevilC said..Richiefish said..
Had a good sesh today (Wednesday) from 12 till 2pm off the new sandy beach here at Airlie. Stoked !!! gusty 15-25 knots with a few lulls but bloody good.
16 degrees, drizzle and no wind here in Brissy, I think you picked a good time to head north
It's been a good trip so far but I miss sailing with my ol' buddies from CRASE ...
..(all by myself windurfingwise at Airlie)
Ha, was just up there last week on a rent a wreck but left the gear at home. If its very south maybe grab one of the public moorings off Langford and rig up on the sand spit. Check it out at low tide and there should be some good flat water behind the bar and reef flats to cruise around over.
Select to expand quotesailpilot said..
Ha, was just up there last week on a rent a wreck but left the gear at home. If its very south maybe grab one of the public moorings off Langford and rig up on the sand spit. Check it out at low tide and there should be some good flat water behind the bar and reef flats to cruise around over.
Yes I think I know the company to which you refer. I'll have a look at Langford on the chart. What do ya reckon Whitehaven would be like in a SEster ? Looks like the wind is going to drop off in a couple of days thou. Thats okay it'll come back
I'm here for another six weeks or so.
As Sailpilot says,Langford is the go could be superb if it blows.
Sailed past it when we were there and saw its potential, could be some strong
currents though.
Yes Ploppy's right, there can be a fair current rip through there, neap tides would probably work best.
As for Whitehaven, its pretty good if the winds up, just need to get away from the shoreline. I've sailed from the main tourist area and its reasonable wind, I suspect it will be better up the hill inlet end. The bars are always moving up there, can get a reasonable little wave just offshore there too if the winds up.
Select to expand quotesailpilot said..
Yes Ploppy's right, there can be a fair current rip through there, neap tides would probably work best.
As for Whitehaven, its pretty good if the winds up, just need to get away from the shoreline. I've sailed from the main tourist area and its reasonable wind, I suspect it will be better up the hill inlet end. The bars are always moving up there, can get a reasonable little wave just offshore there too if the winds up.
Yes , one certainly has to be aware of the tides up here. I'll give Funnel Bay a go too.
