i did a quick search

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=2821

the phone numer for the sports centre is 07 4946 8286.

hope that helps.

ten year old gear is great if it is rigged correctly, i would happily sail for a week on an old windsurfer of any kind to let the wife and kids go shopping, relaxing....whatever!!!

damn that doesn't sound good, sounds like it might be a trip somewhere else next summer for some lessons.

I have been to both Hamilton and Linderman. At Hamilton, expecting to find an old Wally to muck around on, I asked for the biggest sail possible and I was pointed to a nearby shed where I found a 6.5m 2002-2004 model monofilm sail and F2 Xantos board and shock horror a clamp on boom - better than I was expecting.

Did the same thing at Linderman and got a 7m monofilm sail (early 00 model) and decent board.

The only problem is the water sports usually shut down in over 15kts.

Usually the resort gear is crap but on both occasions I was surprised.

It was a couple of years ago now so I don't know weather they still have that board or not. I am never too hopefull in regards to resort gear but was pleasently surprised on these occasions.

The main beach for watersports at Hamilton faces NE and is very protected in the main prevailing winds from the SE. The currents around the islands are very strong (often have overflows and all sorts of funny things).

You would need to sail around 500m at least to get out into the main current off catseye beach (the main resort beach) so in a NEerly, the current wouldn't bother you. Massive tides up here so at low tide the beach is empty - Hamilton probably has 3m-4m tides. Mackay where I live is up to 6.5m.

I remember stuffing around in a southerly with flukey bullets - i had one run on the plane and the rest stuffing around bobbing back and forth. I don't know of any great access points to the southern side excpet by boat or goat track. You could go in the channel between Hamo and Dent island but would want to watch the current - not good for beginners and I guess you would launch from the marina walls????? and would also want to watch the boat traffic

Overall - Catseye bay, the main resort beach is okay for having a bash when new or desparate but not ideal for learning-unless in a Northerly wind or much good for blasting back and forth unless in a strong Northerly.

If you were really keen to get out, I am sure there are places to launch from but would want to watch, tides, currents and water traffic. Hamilton is in a very easterly location in regards to the QLD coast and does get good wind.

At least there should be no stingers by now (altough the lifesavers found a box jellifish with 2.3m long tenticles in a 30cm deep low tide lagoon on a Mackay beach two weeks ago). On the islands I wouldn't think there would be too many problems this time of year.

sorry...this is the beach

Cheers for the info Bluedog... Looks like a good excuse to get the girlfriend hooked and skilled up - I'll do some light-wind freestyle for entertainment...

We're both divers, so definitely heading for the reef for a couple of trips.

Can;t wait!

My school is taking my grade to Hamilton for camp in two weeks. There wasn't any option for doing windsurfing while there, but i'm looking forward to mucking around on the cats.

iantas said...

im actually sailing from yapoon to Hamilton island, spending about 20 days island hopping around the Whitsundays, sucks i cant take my own gear that i am still needing to buy. oh well guess fishing and kayaking should be the order of the day....

That trip sounds great. I have sailed from Townsville to Mackay broken up into Townsville - Bowen, Bowen - Airlie and Airle - Mackay legs in a Roberts 25 I used to own. The Townsville to Bowen leg was just me and my wife starting at 6:oopm, the other legs a few friends and myself - I think the first trip put my wife off a little!!

I hear the Persy's are great and once north of Scawfel there are heaps of great little islands to discover/explore - the bay Northerly facing bay at Scawfel is awesome. Even I can catch fish so anyone can do it.

Gestalt said...
i'd be taking my own gear if i did it again, and i'd take a floaty slalom board and small board. there are so many places to windsurf. just go straight off the boat. at least you'll be out in the wind line.

there are some places with very strong currents and some places that aren't so bad. sweet spot all up.

So, in theory, I could windsurf Whitehaven beach? NE or SE.