WA
4564 posts
Not sure where to stay but did inter lessons last weekend.
Mike and Isaac couldn’t be a better pair to learn from.
Had shocker with other end of town tying to get lessons.
This group at Safety Bay from Go Windsurfing are well skilled and have good gear.
Going back for second half of lesson this week.
VIC
107 posts
Thanks for reply Mineral1.
What sort of wind strength and sail size did you do your lesson in.
WA
15105 posts
Hi Itch,
Safety Bay is a good place to learn/sail especially after living in Sydney!
Just for reference, I was using a 6.6m in 20-25knots over there, and was quite comfortable. In comparison, the same sail size over here, say at Kyeemagh (Botany), is not as much fun as the water in Safety bay is flatter and the wind less gusty and more consistent.
Go Windsurfing are a great group to hire your gear from as its just there at the beach, but do yourself a favour and check if they have enough gear for you then as they can get quite busy. Sometimes too busy! The benefit of hiring their gear is that you don't need to transport it.
Just remember that in the same conditions, almost everyone wants the same sail size and board. Funnily enough, if you are heavy like me, then no one wants your 7.0m sail in 25 knots :)
One week is good fun, but two weeks is better.
I have stayed at an apartment in Rockingham which had a view of the water and it was a great place to stay. Do a search on accommodation in Rockingham.
VIC
107 posts
Thanks for your reply FormulaNova.
What size board did you use most of the time you were sailing there?
I sail on a 145 here on the east coast and hope to be able to go down in volume, if I can nail my carve jibes with the help from lessons.Also to acheive water starts.
WA
15105 posts
Hi, sorry for the late reply.
I weigh about 93kgs, and the size of board all depended on the wind strength. I think I went down to a 103L board and a 4.7m sail on a 36 knot day! It was pretty difficult to keep the board on the water but fun nonetheless.
I think my most common board size in Safety Bay was probably 117L or thereabouts. The 135L was okay in light wind, and had surprising range. The chop that seems to make a board of that size uncomfortable in Sydney just didn't seem to exist there. It was just the amount of wind and the ability to hold the board down that limited you.
I think I used a 145L a few times, but only because the wind was lighter and the other boards were snapped up by other people!
I think Safety Bay is a great place to learn how to carve gybe. I still can't, but at least I can't blame the conditions, just the technique!
It's funny how having consistent wind can make waterstarting really easy. I spent most of my time there the first time waterstarting when I could have just beach started instead, just to get the practice!
Just keep in mind that a week is really the minimum you would want to go for. The wind only really kicks in after lunch, or even later. Sometimes 11am, somtimes 3pm. You can only really sail till 5pm or so if you are renting the gear, so also keep that in mind. If there is wind before lunch, then its probably a frontal wind that'll remind you of Sydney windsurfing conditions :)
If you are really expecting full time instruction while you are sailing, make sure that is the case before you book. If there are a lot of people there, and there probably will be over the New Year - early January period, instructor time can be hard to get.
WA
138 posts
Depending if we get a good season here you will get seabreezes from mid morning on until after sun set. Not just frontal conditions that gives us early sea breezes, those are rare to never in a good summer! The more time you put in the quicker you'll nail those carve gybes too. A perfect spot for learning, although it gets busy in the 'pond' area on a good weekend of wind.
With regard to accomodation there are plenty of Bed and Breakfast establishments along the beach front as well as back from the beach. All within 5 minutes of the beach. Most look good, never stayed at any though as i live here! Seem to recall i have a web link which listed most of them, will try and find it for you. Good Luck.
VIC
107 posts
Thanks for the replies guys.
I would like to sail for two weeks,but my two kids would have had enough sitting on the beach time by the end of one.My son will probably not sail.Still trying to get him on the water.Daugther and Wife progressing well.
Will go up to Perth the following week for the lets play the tourist thing.May be I can sail on Swan River.[}:)]
WA
138 posts
Itch here is the web address i promised - www.rockingham-tourism.com/
Gives some good notes on the general area with accomodation etc.
If you're here in summer why not send the wife off shopping, the main shopping centre is open 7 days a week. Maybe an expensive idea !
If you need any more help yell out.
PS If you're desperate then go sail the river, otherwise stick to the ocean. The river is smelly, slimy and full of boats on the weekends, not to mention it gets less wind.
WA
15105 posts
Itch, keep in mind that Perth's not that far from Safety Bay and takes about 45 minutes at most. Why not do the tourist thing when the wind doesn't turn up? Spend the mornings looking at the sights, and retiring to Rockingham of an afternoon :)
Sometimes you can get a week of no wind, so if you can, try and make your plans flexible, that way you can get the best of both worlds!
WA
57 posts
Hi,
I am a local windsurfer and live close to the Bent Street Ramp in Safety Bay, this is the rig up location for most visitors. Quite close by is the Palm Beach Caravan Park that is also often used by visitors. Its only a minute or two from the rig up area, located besides Lake Richmond and space to store trailers etc.
Palm Beach Caravan Park. Address :, Crn. Fisher & Lake Street , Rockingham. Postcode :, 6168
I don't think they have a web site but worth considering. Safety Bay is about 50 minutes from Perth via the freeway but at the moment there is a railway construction programme underway the entire length of the southern freeway causing significant delays. Best to stay local I think.
Cheers,
Bob Dunlop
