Forums > Windsurfing Wave sailing

Starbord tack wave sailing spots

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Created by Steve411 > 9 months ago, 3 Dec 2016
Steve411
QLD, 30 posts
3 Dec 2016 9:24AM
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What is the most consistent starboard tack waves sailing spot in Aus? Don't care if it's a point, reef or beachie. What's the closest town etc.

Cheers,
Steve

LeeD
3939 posts
3 Dec 2016 12:05PM
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From California, all we hear about is Margaret River, W Australia, for Diamond Head (Oahu) tack wave riding. Wave is mushier, slower, and quite often smaller than Diamond Head, but it's the same wave riding direction.

Steve411
QLD, 30 posts
3 Dec 2016 3:02PM
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Must have the tacks mixed up, I mean riding a right hander as opposed to a left like Margies.

hardie
WA, 4081 posts
3 Dec 2016 2:06PM
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I'm no expert here, but most WA breaks on the west coast of WA are (highly regular) left handers, goes with the wind and swell direction, very seldom some breaks give you a rideable right hander. Same for south Coast of WA, though Esperance occasionally has some nice rights.

Knottedup
573 posts
4 Dec 2016 5:32AM
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The best places in Aussie are all Port tack.
However for starboard tack going State by State these are my tips.
NSW the 3 best are:
-Windang Island the southern end of Port Kembla beach Wollongong area.
- Flat Top 30 minutes north of Coffs
- Flat Rock north of Ballina
Qld – Biggest and most consistent D'bah on the NSW- Qld border.
Vic- I go with 13th Beach north of Torquay
WA – Rottnest Island
Can't help you with Tassie the west coast which is strongest and biggest is really only set up for Port Tack.
SA can't help you.

If you want one spot Windang Island is my pick.

stehsegler
WA, 3464 posts
4 Dec 2016 7:45AM
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Select to expand quote
Knottedup said..
NSW the 3 best are:
-Windang Island the southern end of Port Kembla beach Wollongong area.
- Flat Top 30 minutes north of Coffs
- Flat Rock north of Ballina


Makaha off the Long Reef headland?

dan berry
WA, 2562 posts
4 Dec 2016 3:54PM
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Select to expand quote
LeeD said...
From California, all we hear about is Margaret River, W Australia, for Diamond Head (Oahu) tack wave riding. Wave is mushier, slower, and quite often smaller than Diamond Head, but it's the same wave riding direction.


Dont know where youve heard that mate. I would say margies picks up bigger more consistent swell than most places on the planet. The only similarity to diamong head is the tack

Mark _australia
WA, 22303 posts
4 Dec 2016 5:27PM
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^^^ +1
Maybe they only film Oahu on the small days to keep us away, cos I have never seen it look like Margies

gmitton
SA, 1428 posts
4 Dec 2016 8:43PM
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Sailed both multiple times. Wave is faster, bigger and thicker at Margies...

R1DER
WA, 1461 posts
4 Dec 2016 10:18PM
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Why are we discussing Diamond Head and Margaret River they are both port tack and the op wants starboard tack options?

geared4knots
TAS, 2647 posts
5 Dec 2016 8:11AM
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Tas for starboard tack.
Marrawah greens beach and Bluff, north east wind
Bruny Island- cloudy bay - westerly wind
Carlton beach - north west/west wind
Sandpits - west wind

and a few others

Steve411
QLD, 30 posts
5 Dec 2016 7:51AM
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That's right there is a few spots around Marrawah.

geared4knots
TAS, 2647 posts
5 Dec 2016 9:04AM
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Marrawah,this is the time of year too, summer North easters, just swell not as reliable as south/west winds (predominant direction ).
You can sail both tacks regularly during the week!

John340
QLD, 3105 posts
5 Dec 2016 8:57AM
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Select to expand quote
Knottedup said..
The best places in Aussie are all Port tack.
However for starboard tack going State by State these are my tips.
NSW the 3 best are:
-Windang Island the southern end of Port Kembla beach Wollongong area.
- Flat Top 30 minutes north of Coffs
- Flat Rock north of Ballina
Qld – Biggest and most consistent D'bah on the NSW- Qld border.
Vic- I go with 13th Beach north of Torquay
WA – Rottnest Island
Can't help you with Tassie the west coast which is strongest and biggest is really only set up for Port Tack.
SA can't help you.

If you want one spot Windang Island is my pick.


Its been many years since I ventured into the surf, but places I've sailed in the past:
Qld - Currumbin Alley (Gold Coast)
NSW - The Cliff (Newcastle)
- Blacksmiths (Belmont)
Victoria - Bells beach (Torquay)


pilchard
SA, 626 posts
5 Dec 2016 12:10PM
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Beachport, Port Macdonnell SA. Portland, Port Fairy and Warnambool Vic. Winter through to Spring anything from 2-8m swells and 15-50k North around to SW winds. Mostly beach break setups.
Recommend 4/3 wetsuit
Not consistent though

dan berry
WA, 2562 posts
5 Dec 2016 10:50AM
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Best starboard tack ive sailed in australia is windang by far. More so 7 or 8 yrs ago. The bluff is good but gusty as hell. Currumbin is good but waves abit ****ty for sailing ive found

BenKirk
NSW, 600 posts
5 Dec 2016 2:54PM
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I'd say Windang is far better than Makaha from a waveriding perspective.

Knottedup
573 posts
6 Dec 2016 3:04AM
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Select to expand quote
dan berry said..
Best starboard tack ive sailed in australia is windang by far. More so 7 or 8 yrs ago. The bluff is good but gusty as hell. Currumbin is good but waves abit ****ty for sailing ive found


The reason Dan says "More so 7 or 8 years ago" is before that time there was only one rock wall built.
It was a total failure, the sand fully covered it up in no time at all and the wall neither helped or hindered the sailing.
As far as keeping the entrance open it would have to be the worst idea ever.
It actually kept the entrance closed and the residents screaming at the Council.
They had to pay more rates for something that was simply dumb.

Then they built another 2 rock walls both are higher and further out to sea than the first.
This didn't help the wind however it did put the break further out to sea, lengthening the ride over what was the average length of ride prior to the 2 walls.
The surfers loved it.
The wavesailors mostly still don't mind it as well. However it can be a bit tricky getting out when the wind is a light.
It does also at times bring some conflict on with the local surfers as to who "owns" this spot.
Before that there was hardly ever conflict, the wave mostly broke too fast for surfers but was a perfect speed for wavesailors.

You just can't kill off quality and Windang has plenty of that

LeeD
3939 posts
6 Dec 2016 6:17AM
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Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.

russh
SA, 3025 posts
6 Dec 2016 9:53AM
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Handful of head high ones for Mr Mc

www.windsurf.co.uk/scott-mckercher-margaret-river-radness-video/

Al Planet
TAS, 1546 posts
6 Dec 2016 10:40AM
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Select to expand quote
LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.






PhilSWR
NSW, 1104 posts
6 Dec 2016 11:30AM
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Select to expand quote
LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.


Another solid spot LeeD is Canton Beach. Worth a Google search.

LeeD
3939 posts
6 Dec 2016 8:32AM
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Good stuff, and you're welcome.

John340
QLD, 3105 posts
6 Dec 2016 10:45AM
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Select to expand quote
LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.


Reminds me of the Monty Python "When I was a lad" skit

Steve411
QLD, 30 posts
6 Dec 2016 10:56AM
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Sweet vid! Sailed Margies many moons ago. So long ago I even had a Martin Littlewood thruster! It was great there but totally sucked ass on the east coast. Wonder where it ended up?

stehsegler
WA, 3464 posts
6 Dec 2016 9:42AM
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LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.


That feeling when you realize the actual size of the wave is not quite as small as it seemed when you looked at it from the point.

bowsa
QLD, 601 posts
6 Dec 2016 12:05PM
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MARGIES IS NOT STARBOARD TACK FOR F SAKE !!!

stehsegler
WA, 3464 posts
6 Dec 2016 2:11PM
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bowsa said..
MARGIES IS NOT STARBOARD TACK FOR F SAKE !!!



It is if you mirror the photo... but it does get bloody big.

Knottedup
573 posts
6 Dec 2016 2:19PM
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Bugger it let's go with the flow
Where are the best Port tack places in Oz?
Now we'll hear of some great places to sit around and wait for the right wind.
Even if it comes from the left side as you look at it.

Steve411
QLD, 30 posts
6 Dec 2016 4:51PM
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russh
SA, 3025 posts
6 Dec 2016 6:03PM
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Select to expand quote
bowsa said...
MARGIES IS NOT STARBOARD TACK FOR F SAKE !!!


I DONT THINK ANYONE SAID IT WAS FFS - AND STOP SHOUTING



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"Starbord tack wave sailing spots" started by Steve411