Forums > Windsurfing General

How crowded is your spot?

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Created by Krisiz1 > 9 months ago, 13 May 2011
Krisiz1
WA, 331 posts
13 May 2011 10:03PM
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I was looking at some footage on YouTube that must have been shot on a puddle in Europe. I guess there were 200 boards out! No way you would want to sail there. After parking 2 km away and rigging up on top of someone else there couldn't have been any clean air on the water!! Those guys must be dedicated! A busy day where I sail is 1 person per 2 sq km, thats 15 guys in 30 sq km (although if there's a kiter out he will still get in your way) It makes you realise how lucky we are in Oz!! Is it the congested on the East Coast? (on a windy day)

AJEaster
NSW, 695 posts
14 May 2011 8:28AM
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At Port Macquarie (Mid North Coast NSW), on an average sailing day of, say 12-15kn, we would have 2-3 sailors and 5-7 kiters at the local spot.

Once the wind picks up (15-20kn and 20kn+), the kiters thin out to 4-5 and sailors increase up to around 4-5......get to see some vintage gear on those days where the non-regular sailors drag out the archives

Now the above is just for wavesailing, if we include the river/lake speed fellas, well i guess ad another 3-4 regular sailors, so in total around port there is prob a 50-50 ratio of sailors to kiters. I like the current crowd, good blokes/girls and not too busy

WINDY MILLER
WA, 3183 posts
14 May 2011 11:16AM
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a crowded day is 5 poles and a couple of bag ladies.



ULF
QLD, 261 posts
14 May 2011 3:14PM
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The most I have seen in Redcliffe is 10 Windsurfers, It used to be 3 or four. The word is getting out. Tea bags stay in close so you only need to watch them in the last 200-300 m. Bit scary out back for them

wormy
QLD, 679 posts
14 May 2011 3:22PM
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ULF said...

The most I have seen in Redcliffe is 10 Windsurfers, It used to be 3 or four. The word is getting out. Tea bags stay in close so you only need to watch them in the last 200-300 m. Bit scary out back for them


8 polies on a good day.
Same here, why don't they get past knee deep water. Asked our local bag ladies and they say "bities out there".
Less and less bag ladies around here. Now only one or two locals.

Jeffrosail
QLD, 169 posts
14 May 2011 3:38PM
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I remember living in Sydney in the mid to late 80's. Windsurfers went in the Harbour around Five Dock after work in the summer months. There were 20 on a low wind/cloudy day and about 100 on a clear sunny afternoon. Those were the good old days (bit too crowded). Daylight saving helped after work. Here at Lake Cootharaba there can be between 3-15 in summer on the weekends depending on how much wind there is.

Mark _australia
WA, 22109 posts
14 May 2011 2:40PM
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I'm going from zero to about 150 soon so we shall see how that goes

Greenroom
WA, 7608 posts
14 May 2011 3:54PM
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Mark _australia said...

I'm going from zero to about 150 soon so we shall see how that goes

I think you will be pleasantly surprised Mark

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7924 posts
14 May 2011 7:04PM
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Prime time in summer at Coal Pt on the lake I'd say about 12 -15 sailboarders..no kites..midweek 3 or 4 ..winter Valentine or Belmont..generally me..maybe 1 or 2 others although quite a few formula guys race each weekend at Marmong or somewhere.
Belmont winter about 20 kites + me..
Back in the 80's - 90's I remember 23 sailboarders off Valentine.. actually rammed one one day..

joe windsurf
1480 posts
14 May 2011 7:09PM
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poleys must be w/s ers and bag ladies kiterrs :-)
not a terminology used in kanada

i w/s alone - one spot is too small and too "polluted" for others
the other is too small , some wind shadow and some rocks

when i go to the busy sites on a busy day i ask myself whether i am really getting away from it all :-(
no parking, hard to find a rig spot and are there rules on the water ??

these spots are on the local river - sections of the St-Lawrence

the dedicated windsurfers head off to a larger body of water called Lake Champlain
thinkin of goin there this year
however, rig spots n poison ivy are the pains over there :-(

how much to fly down to the AUZ ??

joewindsurfer.com

Carantoc
WA, 6359 posts
14 May 2011 8:32PM
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On a good day I see nobody.

On a really really bad day lotofwind will drive down the beach in his beat-up old ute with 6 of his homeys in the back. But they usually just drive past.


dinsdale
WA, 1227 posts
14 May 2011 9:04PM
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joe windsurf said...
how much to fly down to the AUZ ??
joewindsurfer.com

I dunno, but more if you wanna get to the best side

lotofwind
NSW, 6451 posts
15 May 2011 1:21AM
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Carantoc said...

On a good day I see nobody.

On a really really bad day lotofwind will drive down the beach in his beat-up old ute with 6 of his homeys in the back. But they usually just drive past.





Thats cause we get sick of dodging your riderless rig washing in all alone
You get lots ofswimming practise.
Beat up old ute?????Didnt you use to drive an old beat up landcruiser??

jh2703
NSW, 1222 posts
15 May 2011 8:27AM
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Can't say i've sailed in a crowded spot, My local never has more then a few people out at anytime and you can find yourself alone quite a bit. I like to sail with lots of people, I guess it's different for wave sailors as they want good clean wave with long rides and no one in their way but for the flatwater sailor there's plenty of room.

Enjoyed here....really fast, guys and girls ripping past each other, popping loops here and there, a lot of fun.





My local....on a busy day.



gregc
VIC, 1298 posts
15 May 2011 2:50PM
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Crowded??? LBG never crowded although if the blue green algae doesnt kill you the fishermans lines may. Sanctuary Point I reckon can get a bit crowded, nothing like D-bah or the super point on a good day but crowded none the less. I must say I dont really like sailing alone always prefer a crowd.

steveBayside
VIC, 169 posts
15 May 2011 9:59PM
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Melbourne: max i counted in one go was c. 40
Northerly @ Green Point, last year

shannon8888
NSW, 517 posts
15 May 2011 11:43PM
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no polies at my local.....due to limited pensioner parking and zimmer frame access

shannon8888
NSW, 517 posts
16 May 2011 12:10AM
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hoop said...

So Shannon, how is Fluffy these days?
Oh sorry ,that's right I forgot.
Sorry.



karma hoop karma

hoop
1979 posts
15 May 2011 10:15PM
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Bring it on.
R.I.P Fluffy

pm01537
QLD, 18 posts
16 May 2011 12:24PM
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wormy said...

ULF said...

The most I have seen in Redcliffe is 10 Windsurfers, It used to be 3 or four. The word is getting out. Tea bags stay in close so you only need to watch them in the last 200-300 m. Bit scary out back for them


8 polies on a good day.
Same here, why don't they get past knee deep water. Asked our local bag ladies and they say "bities out there".
Less and less bag ladies around here. Now only one or two locals.


This is my 'local' spot Zushi (Japan).


This is a pretty empty day - plenty of room (first 20 secs). On a weekend, it's get as crowded on the water as Circular Quay - hard for beginners like myself. ps what's a "bag lady"? (female kite surfer?) (Sorry, long-term aussie expat.)

izaak
TAS, 1964 posts
16 May 2011 12:31PM
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wonder what it would be like trying to get a good postition at the start of this race??....They get over 1000 competiors for this event!!

We probably get around 5+ out every time at my local spot, but because Tassie has so many spots it spread all over the state. Down south of the state they regulary get over 20+.So many people are getting back into the spot in Tas,It has really taken off again.

K Dog
VIC, 1847 posts
16 May 2011 2:39PM
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pm01537 said...

wormy said...

ULF said...

The most I have seen in Redcliffe is 10 Windsurfers, It used to be 3 or four. The word is getting out. Tea bags stay in close so you only need to watch them in the last 200-300 m. Bit scary out back for them


8 polies on a good day.
Same here, why don't they get past knee deep water. Asked our local bag ladies and they say "bities out there".
Less and less bag ladies around here. Now only one or two locals.


This is my 'local' spot Zushi (Japan).


This is a pretty empty day - plenty of room (first 20 secs). On a weekend, it's get as crowded on the water as Circular Quay - hard for beginners like myself. ps what's a "bag lady"? (female kite surfer?) (Sorry, long-term aussie expat.)



Japan a good place to Windsurf? How is the water quality? Temp? Winds? Gear costs?

shannon8888
NSW, 517 posts
16 May 2011 4:17PM
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shannon8888 said...

hoop said...

So Shannon, how is Fluffy these days?
Oh sorry ,that's right I forgot.
Sorry.



karma hoop karma


kinda expected better from fellow wind addict with light hearted banter ,going for the ball not the man ,so no need for an apology, guess you can't be fully blamed for your lack of education

you know your mum not being there, out all hours of the night turning tricks just to put food on the table while your dad was carrying beef carcasses from the cool room to the cutting room floor, kind of admire her you know your mum

easy to be internet tough guy from 4000 k away . i usually chuck rocks at old people in the park this time looks like i hit my mark ....later old timer

pm01537
QLD, 18 posts
16 May 2011 6:48PM
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K Dog said...

pm01537 said...

wormy said...

ULF said...

The most I have seen in Redcliffe is 10 Windsurfers, It used to be 3 or four. The word is getting out. Tea bags stay in close so you only need to watch them in the last 200-300 m. Bit scary out back for them


8 polies on a good day.
Same here, why don't they get past knee deep water. Asked our local bag ladies and they say "bities out there".
Less and less bag ladies around here. Now only one or two locals.


This is my 'local' spot Zushi (Japan).

This is a pretty empty day - plenty of room (first 20 secs). On a weekend, it's get as crowded on the water as Circular Quay - hard for beginners like myself. ps what's a "bag lady"? (female kite surfer?) (Sorry, long-term aussie expat.)



Japan a good place to Windsurf? How is the water quality? Temp? Winds? Gear costs?


I've never windsurfed anywhere else so difficult to say. Generally, though I think conditions are pretty mushy (inconsistent). Nothing like what you'ld get at Dahab or Southern Rhodes or Maui. Check out Zushi or Miura in Japan at Windguru if you're interested.

ikw777
QLD, 2995 posts
16 May 2011 7:08PM
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Two windsurfers per 250 square miles on Sunday.



Krisiz1
WA, 331 posts
16 May 2011 10:55PM
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Intersesting. I was expecting reports of numbers like 50 or 100. Has anyone checked in from Melville beach or Safety Bay? I only ask because when I bought my first Wally from Court Yachts in Nedlands in 1981 there would only be me and my mate on his "Sodim". By the time I bought my new "Storm 10" in 1983 it was packed there on a weekend. I was just curious what it is like now.
Similarly, I haven't sailed at Safety Bay for a few years, but getting out via the lagoon was a bit hairy, probably 60 windsurfers and half a dozen seagull poop encrusted moored boats.
On a broad average I estimate from this thread the number of windsurfers out on a windy weekend is less than 20 ?? That does indicate windsurfing is quite a niche sport.

Wet Willy
TAS, 2316 posts
17 May 2011 2:06AM
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On an average good day in Singapore (10-15kts or so), I share the water with anything from 10 to 50 other windsurfers, maybe 3 or 4 kiters, sometimes as many as 100 lasers or optimists, and 50 or more tankers and container ships.

On a rare VERY GOOD good day (18-25 kts, say) suddenly it's just me and about 5 windsurfers. And the ships, of course!

Zed
WA, 1243 posts
17 May 2011 8:47AM
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Windsurfing off a seal colony ensures numbers are low and no kiters.

WaynoB
NSW, 393 posts
17 May 2011 12:28PM
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Jeffrosail said...

I remember living in Sydney in the mid to late 80's. Windsurfers went in the Harbour around Five Dock after work in the summer months. There were 20 on a low wind/cloudy day and about 100 on a clear sunny afternoon. Those were the good old days (bit too crowded). Daylight saving helped after work. Here at Lake Cootharaba there can be between 3-15 in summer on the weekends depending on how much wind there is.


Hi Jeffro,

I was one of those 100 sailors at Five Dock (Rodd Point) back in the 80's. Organised the racing there for a few years there. Yes we really did have up to 100 sailing at the twilight races, but it was a handicap start, so the slowest went first and the fastest like Lars Kleppich or Rick Murray, went last. Made for some close and exciting racing. We regularly made the local papers with stories and photos.

Those days are gone. Now I live on the Central Coast. Wave sailing has about 3-4 sailboards and about 15-20 kites. Bay sailing is about 6-8 sailboarders and no kites. Too many overhead obstacles for the kiters.

GazMan
WA, 835 posts
17 May 2011 5:37PM
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In 'Angelus' (Tim Winton fans will know where I'm talking about!), haven't seen another windsurfer on the water at the beach I usually sail from in prevailing (E-SE) seabreeze direction for at least a year! Occasionally, there would be a couple of kiters out near where I launch from as well as some further down the beach in Ellen Cove (most poleys and kiters in the area usually sail on the nearby harbour or out of town).

evlPanda
NSW, 9202 posts
18 May 2011 12:51PM
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I've seen like 20+ out at The Train on the Gold Coast. Gets a bit hairy actually, gotta pick a path well in advance. Sure I've seen 12+ at Shearwater too.

Actually, on the Broadwater at least, I usually count more windsurfers than kiters. Am I imagining things?



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"How crowded is your spot?" started by Krisiz1