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I might be moving to sydney at the end of this year and i was just wondering if anyone can tell me where good places to windsurf are??
I will probably move around manly northern beaches.
Cheers Owain.
Judging by the recent season we have had, I'm not sure its possible to windsurf in Sydney 
Good places to windsurf include Lancelin, Maui and Geralton. Unfortunately none of them are in Sydney.
Don't take any notice of them Sydney is a great sailing location - You can compare the 3 pm January windroses on the BOM site, even allowing for more exposed location of the Sydney anemometer it's up there with Perth. Used to go up there most weekends, can barely remember one when it didn't blow at least one day.
Sydneysiders don't know how lucky they are.
True,
I used to live in Wollongong. I do not think the weather is that different between Sydney and the Gong. I used to go windsurfing every weekend no matter what and in summer I would go if it was windy.
However this season has been pretty ordinary.
In relation to the original question, good spots probably depend on where you are going to live. As the roads in Sydney are generally very congested, especially in the afternoon then it would be best for you to both live and work somewhere close to where you want to sail. Otherwise it will be too much of a hassle to get there.
The question also depends on what sort of windsurfing you like. However if I had my choice of dream spot to live and work it would be living at Kurnell and working at Kurnell Public School.
i prefer flat water for freestyle and i will be moving around manly, queenscliff
is balmoral near there slash a good place to windsurf?
On the north side, Narrabeen Lake is pretty good for sailing. There are also a few spots in Pittwater: Bayview, Sandy Point, Palm Beach (north and south of the golf course). But of all those, Botany is still better. Longer runs with less hills / buildings to interrupt the wind.
Owain I live in Manly/Fairlight - I sail Long Reef for waves or Wanda (for wind and waves), in a Westerly Narrabeen Lake is worth a go, and you can always sail Manly/Fairlight in a Southerly - just watch out for logs! Balmoral seems to pick up a better NE than a lot of the places on the Northern beaches - it's just a bit gusty and probably too choppy for freestyle.
A NE in the top corner of Botany is the place to go for flat water freestyle and is about 30 minutes from Manly.
I also live in Manly and Botany Bay is not so far to go. If you are travelling around 11-1pm then it;s a pretty clear run and definately the best place for flat water.
Otherwise the mud bath at Narrabeen is ok for freestyle.
would it be worth while possibly looking for a place to live in the eastern suburbs ??
i would really only be able to go on weekends any how. So i guess i could drive to botany on a sat and sun if the wind allows.
Given that the south sydney wavesaling team is about to lose the teams wavesailing event, its probably better for flat water sailing down that way.
i used to live and sail northside, moved down to the eastern suburbs a while back. certainly windsurf more than I used to. as far as I can tell its just windier down south. coogee to botany bay is probably 20 minutes for some flat water, or about 40 to get down to kurnell. from memory anyway - haven't had cause to do either of those drives much this year.
Long reef has the best wavesailing in Sydney, but it's 5 to 10 knots lighter wind than botany/wanda. It's a short drive from Manly.
When I lived in Manly, I used to sail Manly harbourside in a southerly - it has a nice long fetch. Launch from the west of the baths. Watch out for ferries and jetcats.
You can also wavesail Manly beach in a southerly wind.
> Flat water freestyle
Me too.
So Balmoral's great for a few months in the summer - onshore winds, easy to get to middle harbour, etc. Good shops for resting, and not talking about the sightseeing... Parking right by in the weekends if you arrive early enough. Rotten wind in the winter though (full offshore).
Narrabeen: OK in the summer, seen worse in the winter. Out of the 3 beaches, choose your starting spot carefully to avoid offshore, that's all.
Botany Bay: probably the best for flat water, though can get boring - no features, few shops. I like (used to like) Sanderingham in the summer for onshores, and Kurnell in the winter - great place to catch the offshores. Kurnell's a bitch to drive to though, and absolute nothing there. Speaking of Botany Bay, around the airport strip too, of course.
You moving, Manly: Manly's a dump, it's for misguided tourists, misguided immigrants and geriatrics. Avoid.
OK, the northern beaches, like most places has pro's and con's.
Living at manly is busy, crowded but still nice. The further you go north the more laid back it becomes. Most sailors live from DY/Collaroy to Mona Vale.
Its possible to sail manly but very crowded. As stated Fairlight is a good place to sail.
Long Reef is probably the best place to sail but unfortunately it doesnt really work in a nor-easter anymore. We got it good once last summer. In a southerly it cranks, side on and waves, B & J and lots of options like Makaha etc if your game.
Collaroy is good in a SE or nor-east but is dumpy and onshore.
Narrabeen Lake works pretty good in most directions except due S or N/NW. Just turn up and ask around.
Newport is the bomb in S/SE but is for experts only.
Palm Beach is good on Pittwater and surf side but is incredibly crowded in summer with tourists and Home and Away wannabes.
Im sure someone will vouch for the city beaches and the "shire".
Living in Manly will be a good base. Only shop in Sydney is Wind-Surf n Snow at Collaroy just off Pittwater Road. The boys will help you out.
Hope this helps.
thanks ka43
much needed advice
hopefully will be there late this year early next
cheers owain
Snapped the mast (with a big bang) 
on Fri arvo at Botany - about 1.5 - 2km out.
Big thanks to the guys who stopped to help - partic John who helped me de-rig.
Long paddle back - I was the only one who was glad the wind didn't get up
gashed finger too - watch out for sharp ends on carbon fractures.
Anyone got a 460 30% mast??
on Fri arvo at Botany - about 1.5 - 2km out. Goodluck in with your mast shopping.
If you want to live in sydney and windsurf you would be best off in the southern suburbs. You will be close to all the top spots and you will also be closer to the city. A train from cronulla to the CBD is only 40mins or 45mins by car in peak hour(25mins off peak). If you wave sail you will also be much closer to gerroa 1hr15min away. Dont move to the northern beaches you will only pay too much in rent and spend all your time driving.
I second what Krusty said.
St George or Sutherland shires are great places to live for what you describe.
Not trying to insult anyone but don't want to send Owain to the wrong spot. You'll think that the St George area is a hole if you were prefering a beachside spot like Manly.
The quality of life on the Nth beaches is much better than the southside. Better (and more) beaches and more to do. If you have to drive a bit further for wind, big deal.
Who gives a rats arse how close the CBD is? Do you want a 45 min ride on a sh1tty train, or a 30 ride across Sydney Harbour from Manly on the ferry? Tough choice.
You've already been given the rundown on wind for Sydney. Flat water, botany is the top spot and the drive is fine from Manly for the distance it is.
KA43 is right. Longy is the best wavesailing spot in Sydney, but doesn't get the same consistancy of NE breezes that Wanda gets. Southerlies, are the same everywhere in strength.
i like the point you make qwerty
my location will be primarily determined by the ease of access the the city and the quality of the location as i will only be able to windsurf on weekends
thanks everyone for posting their insight into the location
cheers owain
Guys, you miss 2 things.
First, Owain says he digs flatwater freestyle. If the case, then it's Botany Bay year around, or perhaps Balmoral and middle harbour from there when not in waves.
Second: winter, guys. Offshores for at least 6 months. If you're north, you're stuck with Narrabeen. Botany Bay is the best in the winter, certainly not Pittwater.
