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WA Adventure Tips

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Created by Gestalt > 9 months ago, 13 Jan 2020
Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
13 Jan 2020 1:18PM
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I'm looking at going to WA for the LT worlds next year with family and looking for tips for the areas north of Perth. lets say a beginners guide to spots. Looking for flat water to small wave locations :-

currently thinking of
Lancelin
Cervantes
Leeman
Geraldton
Corros

are there any spots I should add or delete? looking for windy spots that would be a must see for most people. Also, I no nothing of these spots. any tips? launch spots. etc.

westozwind
WA, 1374 posts
13 Jan 2020 12:36PM
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Lancelin - flat water and waves
Cervantes - flat water
Leeman - skip it
Geraldton/Corros - flat water and waves

Just bring your small sails and you'll be fine.

mathew
QLD, 2019 posts
13 Jan 2020 2:38PM
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Select to expand quote
westozwind said..

Lancelin - flat water and waves
Cervantes - flat water
Leeman - skip it
Geraldton/Corros - flat water and waves

Just bring your small sails and you'll be fine.


You forgot the extra info...

Lancelin - stinky beach
Cervantes - sand-blasted
Coro's - bring your camera too

azuli
QLD, 333 posts
13 Jan 2020 3:05PM
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Also nice spots south of Perth.

FormulaNova
WA, 14043 posts
13 Jan 2020 1:14PM
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westozwind said..

Lancelin - flat water and waves
Cervantes - flat water
Leeman - skip it
Geraldton/Corros - flat water and waves

Just bring your small sails and you'll be fine.


Just be careful of this last line. The locals only use smallish sails as they figure they can go sailing another day. If you are a visiting tourist and you want to get the most out of your time here, bring the bigger stuff as well if you can fit it in.

Each year I have traveled over here I have brought with me from 5.5m up to 8.5m as sometimes there are poor days and sometimes there are poor seasons. Some years I have used the small sails and some years I have had plenty of sailing days but all on the bigger sails.

I do remember 'the good old days' of finding it blowing a crazy 35knots, but usually its closer to 20 or if you are lucky 25.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
13 Jan 2020 4:36PM
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I haven't worked through logistics yet but was thinking of bringing bigger gear and buying or renting smaller gear there. trying to cover 15 knots and up so I can sail as much as possible.

so for me
125lt board with 6.2/5.6/4.7 sails (430 and 370 mast, 1 boom). rent 105lt board.

for my son.
85lt board with 3.8/3/2.6/2.0 sails (330 and 300 mast, 1 boom). rent 70lt there.

lao shi
SA, 1270 posts
13 Jan 2020 8:33PM
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Just bring small sails and a foil!

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
13 Jan 2020 8:11PM
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many guys outside of perth using foils? my 125lt board could work with a NP foil. I just don't wanna get bored.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
13 Jan 2020 8:14PM
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thanks for the help so far. i'm looking to satisfy my dreams that look like these images. bottom image is down south but are any of the spots to the north like this? bottom image3 would be my dream wave.






Tardy
4919 posts
13 Jan 2020 6:14PM
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all good spots listed, i like shark bay ,but it is a 10 hour drive .but shallow water .good for family sailing ,has dolphin feeding , aquariums ,and hot bath for family as well ,no waves .

100-105 litre board .5,0 ,6.0 ,7.0 ..pack a weed fin .


lotofwind
NSW, 6450 posts
13 Jan 2020 10:03PM
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Just bring an LT, that's the best you can get these days and does absolutely everything..... so I have been told. As long as you are driving over though, as they are now not aloud on aircrafts by law due to their massive size and weigh.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
13 Jan 2020 9:03PM
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thanks Tardy. shark bay is on the list. the non windsurfers liked it.

I also added nanga bay.

FormulaNova
WA, 14043 posts
13 Jan 2020 8:34PM
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Select to expand quote
Gestalt said..
I haven't worked through logistics yet but was thinking of bringing bigger gear and buying or renting smaller gear there. trying to cover 15 knots and up so I can sail as much as possible.

so for me
125lt board with 6.2/5.6/4.7 sails (430 and 370 mast, 1 boom). rent 105lt board.

for my son.
85lt board with 3.8/3/2.6/2.0 sails (330 and 300 mast, 1 boom). rent 70lt there.


Are you looking at wavesailing only or flat water? I thought you were around the 90kg mark or a little more?

For me, I am about 95kgs, and for the light days I would be using my 8.5m. My 6.5m only gets a go when its over 20 knots consistently.

The 5.3m I have needs a decent 28 knots or more, so I have hardly used it (on the east coast).

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
13 Jan 2020 11:11PM
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I vary between 103 and 105 kg. sailing mainly flat water, bump and jump and occasionally waves but only when small.

I can get the 6.2m simmer apex going in 15 knots with a small fin so that's my 15-22 knot sail. to be honest I use it in 12-20 mostly but dredge in the lower end. 12-18 knots and i'm comfortable on a 7.2m simmer Vmax with slalom fin. this weekend in 22-30 knots I was on my 125lt board and a 5.6m blacktip. that was bump and jump and I was ok in the air and gybes but was reaching overpowered at times. in waves i'd have been out of control. even on the flat water on the weekend would have preferred a 5-5.3m to be really comfy.

GazMan
WA, 835 posts
13 Jan 2020 11:07PM
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Info re WA windsurfing locations:
www.windsurfingperth.com.au/guides/location-guide

This one looks a bit dated:
windsurfwa.com/index.html

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
14 Jan 2020 8:37AM
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great spot guides. thx.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
14 Jan 2020 8:38AM
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out of the spots being named in this thread. which ones need weed fins?

Tardy
4919 posts
14 Jan 2020 9:31AM
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I Have been out a few times at lancelin without a weed fin ,but had to change one day after a face plant .but a swept back wave fin is ok .most guys don't use one .gero wave fin .cervantes not much weed ,ok there .
shark bay is weed fin as it has ribbon weed .
you get use to weed fins ...no big drama ,but i would take one ...with a weed fins you can run over crayfish pot lines .. most times ..lol.ouch .

Subsonic
WA, 2963 posts
14 Jan 2020 10:50AM
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Gestalt said..
thanks for the help so far. i'm looking to satisfy my dreams that look like these images. bottom image is down south but are any of the spots to the north like this? bottom image3 would be my dream wave.







Cervantes and lanno will give you that.

make sure you don't check out hangover bay while in cervantes. The beach is rubbish, and the wave sailing is even worse

kato
VIC, 3339 posts
14 Jan 2020 8:59PM
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Gestalt said..
I'm looking at going to WA for the LT worlds next year with family and looking for tips for the areas north of Perth. lets say a beginners guide to spots. Looking for flat water to small wave locations :-

currently thinking of
Lancelin
Cervantes
Leeman
Geraldton
Corros

are there any spots I should add or delete? looking for windy spots that would be a must see for most people. Also, I no nothing of these spots. any tips? launch spots. etc.


Don't forget Mandurah. Flat water heaven.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
14 Jan 2020 10:27PM
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i'd love to go south . Esperance looks beautiful too. probably need 2 visits....

wa881
WA, 202 posts
15 Jan 2020 10:32AM
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G'day

If you can make it to Shark Bay even though a long drive, worth it for great slalom/freeride. Check the tides though before going. They can be very low in SB making a number of spots unsailable. That said, we have sailed out the front of Denham foreshore and even out the front of Monkey Mia resort in howling 25-30 knots. Out the front of MM is so cool, because you can walk your gear from caravan park to beach and sail 2+k's across the bay to the far side and then stand in the water to have a rest. However, it is blowing offshore there so if something goes wrong, best to sail as close to the beach as possible and take some safety gear. That said, usually some boat traffic around including Dolphin tours so help available in the unlikely event of ....

Another spot is the famous boobs bay next shell beach. Again blows offshore but awesome clear water more than 10ft deep and if something happens, you could swim to either side relatively easily.

Out the front of Denham is also great if the tide is high enough. Too low and you could be grinding your fin up to 1km out from the beach !

The other spot is little lagoon. Unbelievable slalom/freeride if windy enough for seabreeze to get over headland. Shallow lagoon with 1.5km run to each side. Protected beach for kids. Always able to sail there even if low tide, but would be a walk out to beach start. Mention of stone fish at inlet but a local we know says you could have to be unlucky and anyway that's a long way from where you gybe. This is an awesome spot. The windier the better.

Have i made any of this sound appealing

Lots for family to do as someone else said. Great part of the world, just check wind forecast and tides, which are critical to sailing Shark Bay. It is truly amazing how far out you might have to walk to get going. We had an awesome sail out front of MM 3 years ago. Last year, you would have had to walk 100m plus in sand. Then we discovered Little Lagoon which made up for it.

Safety Bay best spot in Metro for slalom and freeride IMHO

Enjoy.

bspot68
QLD, 166 posts
15 Jan 2020 9:28PM
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I'm heading over in 2 weeks, just trying to figure out what to bring ?? 90 kg riding a 103 freestyle wave was thinking 4.2, 4.7 ,5.4 should i bring anything bigger ?? going to hangout in Perth, Lancelin, and gelation and maybe margerets and advice would be great.

Sparky
WA, 1121 posts
15 Jan 2020 8:03PM
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A 5.8/6.0 could also be useful, especially with your board being quite high volume at 103l

FormulaNova
WA, 14043 posts
15 Jan 2020 8:25PM
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Are people really using such small sails for bump and jump here? I may need to work on my technique, but for flat water stuff I would be using much bigger sails than those mentioned.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
16 Jan 2020 7:14AM
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Select to expand quote
wa881 said..
G'day

If you can make it to Shark Bay even though a long drive, worth it for great slalom/freeride. Check the tides though before going. They can be very low in SB making a number of spots unsailable. That said, we have sailed out the front of Denham foreshore and even out the front of Monkey Mia resort in howling 25-30 knots. Out the front of MM is so cool, because you can walk your gear from caravan park to beach and sail 2+k's across the bay to the far side and then stand in the water to have a rest. However, it is blowing offshore there so if something goes wrong, best to sail as close to the beach as possible and take some safety gear. That said, usually some boat traffic around including Dolphin tours so help available in the unlikely event of ....

Another spot is the famous boobs bay next shell beach. Again blows offshore but awesome clear water more than 10ft deep and if something happens, you could swim to either side relatively easily.

Out the front of Denham is also great if the tide is high enough. Too low and you could be grinding your fin up to 1km out from the beach !

The other spot is little lagoon. Unbelievable slalom/freeride if windy enough for seabreeze to get over headland. Shallow lagoon with 1.5km run to each side. Protected beach for kids. Always able to sail there even if low tide, but would be a walk out to beach start. Mention of stone fish at inlet but a local we know says you could have to be unlucky and anyway that's a long way from where you gybe. This is an awesome spot. The windier the better.

Have i made any of this sound appealing

Lots for family to do as someone else said. Great part of the world, just check wind forecast and tides, which are critical to sailing Shark Bay. It is truly amazing how far out you might have to walk to get going. We had an awesome sail out front of MM 3 years ago. Last year, you would have had to walk 100m plus in sand. Then we discovered Little Lagoon which made up for it.

Safety Bay best spot in Metro for slalom and freeride IMHO

Enjoy.


Thx.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
16 Jan 2020 7:17AM
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I'm starting to think I need to include esperance if I can swing it.

It'll double my driving but it looks stunning.

Any thoughts on the south. Whats the wind like from day to day?

Any worthwhile spots. Bearing in mind I'm not going to be taking up space with the pros.

powersloshin
NSW, 1653 posts
16 Jan 2020 9:19AM
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I was looking at a WA trip from Sydney passing through LG and calculated 14,000 kms. That would mean about 14 days just driving ! I have postponed it until after retirement, it will give me time to take it easy.

Gestalt
QLD, 14119 posts
16 Jan 2020 8:30AM
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yeah that's a big drive.

kato
VIC, 3339 posts
16 Jan 2020 12:55PM
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Select to expand quote
Gestalt said..
I'm starting to think I need to include esperance if I can swing it.

It'll double my driving but it looks stunning.

Any thoughts on the south. Whats the wind like from day to day?

Any worthwhile spots. Bearing in mind I'm not going to be taking up space with the pros.


Windsurfing wise I didn't think much of Esperance. But for walks , swimming and stuff in the NP excellent. Spend more time up north as Coral Bay , Shark Bay and Exmouth are excellent for windsurfing

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
16 Jan 2020 2:13PM
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FormulaNova said..
Are people really using such small sails for bump and jump here? I may need to work on my technique, but for flat water stuff I would be using much bigger sails than those mentioned.


I think their wind is much gutsier and more consistent than what we get on the east coast..



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