Select to expand quotehobs76 said..
Hi anyone
sailing and have any spare gear Townsville or Magnetic Island today plenty of wind around?
what do you need
Select to expand quotehobs76 said..
Hi anyone
sailing and have any spare gear Townsville or Magnetic Island today plenty of wind around?
Sorry didn't see this till way too late! And now it's very much diving wind..
Morning southerlies work so well at
Magnetic! Great bump and jump session. Gap in the middle to change down and grab the Dyno.
Nice going Greg ...and good speeds ..
your foot straps are still to tight for my big feet 
A few of us out in Mackay today, pity there wasn't much wind. Bloody nice day to be out on the water though.
No pics but a great session at Townsville Sailing Club getting some young and some not-so-young sailors in the water on sailboards. Here's hoping to the emergence of a vibrant windsurf culture up here in the Ville. Many thanks grich62 for the extra gear and instruction. Onward and upward with this. Next session January.
Select to expand quotesnorkel962 said..
No pics but a great session at Townsville Sailing Club getting some young and some not-so-young sailors in the water on sailboards. Here's hoping to the emergence of a vibrant windsurf culture up here in the Ville. Many thanks grich62 for the extra gear and instruction. Onward and upward with this. Next session January.
Another one last Sunday..again a ton of fun. Some new windsurfers hooked and the club very supportive. It's a thing!
Good to hear mate. Any clues as to what has attracted them? Do they have sailing backgrounds?
Select to expand quoteOrange Whip said..
Good to hear mate. Any clues as to what has attracted them? Do they have sailing backgrounds?
Sailors, returning windsurfers and some newbies. Quite a few members of the public have shown interest. That the club is supportive is brilliant and we want to work so windsurfing complements not competes. The Bowen experience is really positive and there's lots to emulate from them.
Select to expand quotesnorkel962 said..Orange Whip said..
Good to hear mate. Any clues as to what has attracted them? Do they have sailing backgrounds?
Sailors, returning windsurfers and some newbies. Quite a few members of the public have shown interest. That the club is supportive is brilliant and we want to work so windsurfing complements not competes. The Bowen experience is really positive and there's lots to emulate from them.
So what do you tell them when they ask where to buy gear? Probably been 40 years since there was a shop in Townsville.
Select to expand quoteOrange Whip said..snorkel962 said..Orange Whip said..
Good to hear mate. Any clues as to what has attracted them? Do they have sailing backgrounds?
Sailors, returning windsurfers and some newbies. Quite a few members of the public have shown interest. That the club is supportive is brilliant and we want to work so windsurfing complements not competes. The Bowen experience is really positive and there's lots to emulate from them.
So what do you tell them when they ask where to buy gear? Probably been 40 years since there was a shop in Townsville.
Online shopping is the only way now unless you are in the Sunshine coast or Brisbane 
- but these stores are online as well so all good
Back in the good old days we even had a store up in Cairns "2XS" by the legends Ian and Margie Robertson the store slowly faded away to surfboards and parts only until the Japanese tourism died then clothes only
Select to expand quoteOrange Whip said..snorkel962 said..Orange Whip said..
Good to hear mate. Any clues as to what has attracted them? Do they have sailing backgrounds?
Sailors, returning windsurfers and some newbies. Quite a few members of the public have shown interest. That the club is supportive is brilliant and we want to work so windsurfing complements not competes. The Bowen experience is really positive and there's lots to emulate from them.
So what do you tell them when they ask where to buy gear? Probably been 40 years since there was a shop in Townsville.
There was a period about 30 years ago when there were two shops in the Ville! Bruce Hodgens' NQ Sailboards was here for many years and a mainstay of the local trade. These days I direct folks to the many good shops that trade online- especially the ones in SEQ.
We had a shop in Mackay during the 80's called 'The Windward Mark', owned by a gynaecologist, Warren Brooks. He was a keen yacht sailor who got into windsurfing. He once sailed the Sydney to Hobart in his yacht called 'A Bit of Fluff', the name raising a few eyebrows locally at the time. How times have changed 
Hiya NQ Crew! Port Denison Sailing Club in Blowin' Bowen is running a windsurfing weekend on 26/27 March. This will have a mix of LT training coached by Windsurfer Class Champion Dennis Winstanley, some practice LT racing, and the opportunity to practice Freerace/ GPS supported by KA 72 and Windwanderers. The freerace will be an any board any GPS event- we just want people to get out there and have a go! There is lots of accommodation available including camping at the sailing club. More details to follow but costs will be around 40 dollars. See you there it's going to be great!
With the tragic death of a young person from Box Jelly envenomation may this please be a reminder for NQ people to suit up at this time of year. Long pair of Lycra pants and a long sleeve rashy can save your life and prevent a world of pain and scarring. The excellent sunblock provided is a big bonus. Add some boots/ socks if you like ( I do) and protect your feet from a wide range of "stuff" including the jellies
Yep most of us look like a sack of piglets in Lycra but it's so worth it.
such a tragedy today and let's see this not repeated.
Select to expand quotesnorkel962 said..
With the tragic death of a young person from Box Jelly envenomation may this please be a reminder for NQ people to suit up at this time of year. Long pair of Lycra pants and a long sleeve rashy can save your life and prevent a world of pain and scarring. The excellent sunblock provided is a big bonus. Add some boots/ socks if you like ( I do) and protect your feet from a wide range of "stuff" including the jellies
Yep most of us look like a sack of piglets in Lycra but it's so worth it.
such a tragedy today and let's see this not repeated.
Wise words snorkel, very tragic about the young fella at Eimeo beach. I frequent this spot with my Windsurfer LT and SUPs and like you go the lycra pants and long sleeve shirt. I'm not a fan of the surf shoes as I reckon it reduces board feel. However this time of year I wear them. Hauling kit to and from the beach gets a bit burny on the soles of your feet and good piece of mind with stingers about.
What do other people find in regard to likelihood of stinger conditions? Ive heard hot temps, northerlies and recent rains flush them out of their breeding spots up creeks.
Yes, it's tragic that a 14 year old died at Eimeo beach recently from box jelly stings.
I assume there will be a law suit coming. I believe that the beach was patrolled by SLSA at the time and they had dragged between the flags and declared it safe to swim. I assume the deceased was swimming between the flags.
So all and sundry (including the Mackay Mayor) have subsequently reinforced the need to wear stingers suits if swimming at local beaches in summer. Thing is, the water was calm and warm, recent winds had been northerly and we've had recent rain, ideal conditions for boxies to be present at that north facing beach. Apparently the deceased emerged from the water covered in tentacles. There's no way I would have swum at that beach on that day, even wearing a stinger suit. A stinger suit does not protect your head, hands or feet. You may not die if your head, feet and hands get covered in tentacles but it would certainly be an experience none would want to endure.
I wear a stinger suit when I sail. Most people at my local wear one. The only time we don't is when we wear a wetsuit. When it's windy there are no boxies, they like calm conditions but the suits offer sun protection also so worth using IMO.
Agreed. Northerlies, flat water, later in the Wet, and shrimp or small fish in the water all flag additional risk but my general NQ rule is if not in a wetsuit, need to be in stinger gear.
Small area, non lethal boxie stings hurt like all hell and can scar badly. The suit is a small price to pay.
On a vastly cheerier note hope everyone has seen the Port Denison Sailing Club LT and GPS event is a go for 26-27 March! Check out the website. Any board, any GPS is okay and for the LT crew there will be coaching as well as some morning races. There's even camping at the clubhouse!! This is a great chance to get NQ windsurfers together!!
I'm in. I've booked camping for the Bowen LT and GPS weekend and will be coming up from Mackay. Lets pray for some nice conditions.
If you are doing GPS remember to jump onto KA72 and set up an account ( if you don't already have one)!
Yep, I'm in.
Camping at the yacht club, looking forward to great weekend of sailing.
^ how was blowin' Bowen? Any pics. No wind here, spent all weekend working on my no wind machine, my GC8 
