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clementd
clementd
QLD
14 posts
QLD, 14 posts
21 Jun 2006 5:24am
Hey
I'm thinking of moving to Melbourne (Aouth African currently living in UK)
I know Perth is amazing, but what is Melbourne like? What are the best areas to sail within 50k ish of the city? Are there waves?
What is the prevailing wind? SW? when are the best times of year for sailing?
Thanks very much.
I'm an intermediate, more interested in being in the sea than flatwater.
RAL INN
RAL INN
SA
2898 posts
SA, 2898 posts
21 Jun 2006 5:55am
One word for you.
GEELONG
mathew
mathew
QLD
2172 posts
QLD, 2172 posts
21 Jun 2006 6:53am
Melbourne is situated around Port Philip Bay - which is mostly bump-n-jump, and has 15-18knot seabreezes most summer afternoons (Dec-Feb).

If you travel to the west past Geelong (about 100km - 1-1.5hrs from Melbourne), there is Bells Beach plus lots of other great spots for surfing / surf-sailing.

Travel east for about 180km (about 2.5 hours) and you have Sandy Point for speed sailing, plus it also has some good surf sailing.

clementd
clementd
QLD
14 posts
QLD, 14 posts
22 Jun 2006 6:14am
Thanks for that info guys..looks like I'll try and get work in Geelong!
mineral1
mineral1
WA
4564 posts
WA, 4564 posts
22 Jun 2006 3:57pm
clementd, you think you need to go where? Too cold mate, toooo cold for ya.

You can always visit Melbourne, but Perth is where you need to be. More South Africans here, than in South Africa, and yep your native tongue is the second language here in the Perth. Well almost, it’s the only place I know of that a couple from work ex South Africa visiting the Fremantle markets and started speaking in Afriarns (not sure how to spell it) and about half dozen people greeted them in Africarns.

What type of work you interested in?
clementd
clementd
QLD
14 posts
QLD, 14 posts
23 Jun 2006 6:20am
Hi,
I'm an Electronics Engineer, so South East is better for me work wise (unless I can get a job with a mining company) which I wouldn't mind.
Yes Perth would be my first choice if I could find a job there, and the houses weren't so expensive!!
where do you live?
WINDY MILLER
WINDY MILLER
WA
3183 posts
WA, 3183 posts
24 Jun 2006 9:34am
i used to live in Melbourne, then moved to WA.

One of my better decisions....



clementd
clementd
QLD
14 posts
QLD, 14 posts
26 Jun 2006 5:59am
better decisions...is that windsurfing wise, or overall???
I would like to know the reasons because I'm moving to oz b4 the end of the year and it'll either be perth, melbourne, or brisbane.
ideally I'd like perth for all the wind, but jobwise I might be better off in melbourne.
any thoughts?
nebbian
nebbian
WA
6277 posts
WA, 6277 posts
26 Jun 2006 5:20am
Hi ClementD,

Melbourne is one of those places that you either love or hate. I lived there for a year and a half, and hated it. But then again some people love it. It has:

* 9 months of winter. I don't mean sunny, snow covered mountains, I mean 9 months of constant greyness and drizzle.
* Great cafes and pubs. The pubs down there are the best I've been to.
* Pretentious attitude. Maybe if you live there you don't notice it, but coming from somewhere else you feel like saying "Pull your head out of your b#tt and smell the roses!".
* Good public transport. The trams there are great for getting around, much better than Sydney.
* Crazy road systems. They've got something called a "Hook turn" which takes a considerable amount of time to get used to.
* No surf.
* No fishing.

So, good points and bad points. It's more set up for being seen sipping cafe lattes in your new black turtleneck shirt and designer sunglasses than playing around in waves, for the simple fact that you have to drive a heck of a long way to find any waves.

You pays your money and takes your chance.

I'm now living near Brisbane, and it's the best move I've ever made
jonesmb
jonesmb
QLD
77 posts
QLD, 77 posts
26 Jun 2006 7:51am
Windsurfing wise I'd rate Melbourne above Brisbane.

Stronger more consistent wind, daylight savings, 15 mins from city to the beach. The amount of windsurfing I've done since I moved to Brisbane has roughly halved.

But as Nebbian says its a personal preference thing but I could easily move back to Melb after 3 years in Brisbane.
WINDY MILLER
WINDY MILLER
WA
3183 posts
WA, 3183 posts
26 Jun 2006 6:09am

I agree with Nebbian PLUS Melbourne GETS ALL the best sporting events i.e. grandprix/tennis and of course it's the home of aussie rules.

but if you want waves and winds.... WA is the place to be in the warmer months plus you should be able to get work over here...but you will always be looking for excuses to take time off.
hardman
hardman
1116 posts
1116 posts
26 Jun 2006 7:43am
I'm originally from Melbourne did my first 10 years of windsurfing in and around Port Phillip Bay, on the East Coast from Inverloch to SandyPoint and East Coast Point Danger etc.

Becasue my main passion in life was windsurfing I thought I'd go on a working holiday to WA, well that was 12 years ago, loved it and stayed.

WA's advantages for windsurfing: everything!! The only spot in Vic that is better for anything is Sandy Point, for SpeedSailing, but the water is very cold. Wa has beautiful consistent summer seabreezes, for an average of 6 months a year, probably 2/3 months of light winds Mid April to mid June, Strong winter fronts with huge swells (3 to 7 metres) End of June to September, Seabreezes From October to Mid April. The water is warmer average temps 17 to 24c, versus vic 10 to 18c. Crystal clear and Clean ocean water versus the oil slick of Port Phillip, though the Ocean is very clean. And one hell of a huge coast line, down the line wavesailing in and around Perth, so for windsurfing the 2 don't compare.

Weather, Perth has a southern medit climate, warm to hot and very dry, wet mild winters. Melb's climate is variable, from freezing to hot and that's summer, winters are just freezing.

As for Lifestyle, Perth/WA is all about the outdoor elfresco lifestyle, some say a little bit boring, whereas Melb has a rich cultural life far superior to Perth. Unemployment is 3.5% in WA, the Economy is booming and will for at least another 10 to 20 years. One disadvantage is that it means land and house prices are very expensive, and I would say Melb would have much greater diversity of employment oppurtunities. Though if interested in Mining, you can make big big dollars. Hope this helps.
RAL INN
RAL INN
SA
2898 posts
SA, 2898 posts
26 Jun 2006 10:00am
Melbourne for jobs,
The job you get may dictate whether You can live in Geelong,

Geelong is cheaper and 20mins from Torquay. = Pt danger.

agood wettie will have you sailing all year, and some of the big winter southerlies bring big swells.

Geelong is about 45mins to edge of Melbourne on the freeway. and that side of Melbourne is very industrial, depends on what type of job you want.

The Geelong area also gives you good sailing options in practically all wind directions.
The water temp is better in winter in the open water.
poor relative
poor relative
WA
9106 posts
WA, 9106 posts
26 Jun 2006 8:41am
I came to perth 12 years ago, from South wales, Uk. Initially wanted to use Perth as a base for earning money.....which i did, just never left.
Its a no brainer, if you like wind, waves and outdoors, arent too bothered about work and career oppertunities go Perth.
If you like a faster pace, less wind less waves more cafes and lattes go Mebourne.
decrepit
decrepit
WA
12885 posts
WA, 12885 posts
26 Jun 2006 2:52pm
quote:
Originally posted by poor relative

I came to perth 12 years ago, from South wales,



So THAT explains it!!!!
Haircut
Haircut
QLD
6491 posts
QLD, 6491 posts
26 Jun 2006 6:16pm
melbourne - great 24hour nightlife and great wind on the coast during october to feb (not port phillip bay though) you'll need to head east or basically somwhere between phillip island and wilsons prom as the wind there is often significantly stronger than around the bay. cold water 14 in winter and 19 in peak of summer

perth - apparently great winds nov till march . cold water

brisbane - great water temp(19 in winter and 23 in summer) and air temperature , but wind moved from vic to goldcoast 6 years ago. Not as much wind here, but if you are prepared to up your sail sizes the temperature sure makes up for it
mineral1
mineral1
WA
4564 posts
WA, 4564 posts
26 Jun 2006 4:58pm
clememtd, I live in Perth, and work for Caterpillar dealer.
Looks like you have received a good response to your original question.
If your into anything a mining Company can use, your in.
Huge shortage this side of Country with the mining boom.
If your not into mining gear, and want to stay local, plenty of work anyway, mining has soaked up most available, locals are always looking.
Ship building Industry in Southern suburbs of Perth, Major electrical utilities chasing people, list is endless.
As one other put it, if you want warm climate, all year round Queensland is the preferred spot, other than here.
Check out sea temperature surface (1 meter depth) tab on the side of the graph screen, will give you an idea on what’s cold and what’s not this time of the year.
Just in case, any of your mates who are heavy duty diesel mechanics, or auto electricians who have exposure to mining equipment bring them as well, we can bloody well use them right now.
.
Bayblaster
Bayblaster
VIC
122 posts
VIC, 122 posts
26 Jun 2006 8:40pm
Hi, I live on the bay in Melbourne, Spring is the best time here. We havent had much wind this year so far. The water is freezing and the bay conditions on the Peninsula side can be sketchy. Tight steep chop. Neither great for slalom or waves. I'm not a fan of Geelong but it's close to Torquay where JP learnt to sail.
Does anyone know if Sydney is good for windsurfing?
I agree if windsurfing's a big lifestyle thing then set yourself up in Perth. Alot of people have moved there to take advantage of the wind.
slowboat
slowboat
WA
560 posts
WA, 560 posts
26 Jun 2006 7:47pm
Hey clementd. I'm an electronical enjuneer in Perth. I've never had a problem finding work here doing hardware/software. For project management/industrial process control etc the mining boom seems to be causing a local shortage so no probs there either. Pay still seems to be crap unless you contract. I work freelance so I can sail when its windy.

Eastern states has more options. Plenty of jobs in Sydney and Melbourne. All flavours. Especially since half of Oz seems to be moving here...

As for the sailing, if you aren't into speed then WA is normally the best. And its 'warm'- even in winter.
clementd
clementd
QLD
14 posts
QLD, 14 posts
27 Jun 2006 1:48am
Man...great response, I'm impressed. Thanks for all your opinions!

Yes that's kind of re-inforced what I thought. I would love Melbourne for the cultural side/sports events etc, but I HATE cold weather, and unpredictable weather and long winters is not something I want anymore (living in UK).
Anyway still depends where I get work, but Perth sounds great. Plus got some mates there.
When I get a bit better I want to try wavesailing, I get bored going up and down on flat water (although it's nice to practice moves).
Just learnt to waterstart! it's brilliant!

Cheers everyone.
clementd
clementd
QLD
14 posts
QLD, 14 posts
27 Jun 2006 1:51am
quote:
Originally posted by slowboat

Hey clementd. I'm an electronical enjuneer in Perth. I've never had a problem finding work here doing hardware/software. For project management/industrial process control etc the mining boom seems to be causing a local shortage so no probs there either. Pay still seems to be crap unless you contract. I work freelance so I can sail when its windy.

Eastern states has more options. Plenty of jobs in Sydney and Melbourne. All flavours. Especially since half of Oz seems to be moving here...

As for the sailing, if you aren't into speed then WA is normally the best. And its 'warm'- even in winter.



So what Electronic Engineering do you do? Apart from mining what other companies are looking for people? Is there a lot of manufacturing or is it mainly chemicals plants, power stations etc. My background is hardware development of electronics modules with project management.
what is the best way to get a job in WA?

Cheers
RAL INN
RAL INN
SA
2898 posts
SA, 2898 posts
27 Jun 2006 5:30am
I should have realised, a bloody Pom.

WA's the place for you.
Haircut
Haircut
QLD
6491 posts
QLD, 6491 posts
27 Jun 2006 6:13am
Pommy eh?! Even Melbourne will seem like paradise Clementd.
slowboat
slowboat
WA
560 posts
WA, 560 posts
27 Jun 2006 7:10am
There are quite a few R&D companies in Perth. Many service the mining industry but a lot have nothing to do with it. I've found work in automotive, broadcast, medical, industrial (lab) products, aircon/lighting, remote power... If you are a hardware engineer like me you probably wouldn't want one of those mining jobs anyway! But hardware engineers get crappy pay because its supposed to be fun (insert nerd glasses here).
poor relative
poor relative
WA
9106 posts
WA, 9106 posts
27 Jun 2006 7:17am
quote:
So THAT explains it!!!!

Yeee my rugged good looks, my charasmatic personality, my very sexy accent, and my sidesplitting sense of humour are indeed inherited from my celtic ancestory.
quote:
I should have realised, a bloody Pom.

Careful Ral, careful i sure aint fkn english.
hardman
hardman
1116 posts
1116 posts
27 Jun 2006 7:25am
quote:
Originally posted by poor relative

Yeee my rugged good looks, my charasmatic personality, my very sexy accent, and my sidesplitting sense of humour



MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM....... It's been a while hasn't it......
poor relative
poor relative
WA
9106 posts
WA, 9106 posts
27 Jun 2006 7:45am
It has been far too long my bundle of love blubber.
RAL INN
RAL INN
SA
2898 posts
SA, 2898 posts
27 Jun 2006 9:40am
Every now and then, when Us real Aussies feel over run by bloddy pommie Barstards.

we Turn australia on its edge and everything loose falls into WA.

Usually it works a treat for poms due to them being too busy whinging about the sudden change in angle, to remember to hang on.
poor relative
poor relative
WA
9106 posts
WA, 9106 posts
27 Jun 2006 8:38am
oo oo oo is that a 20-30kn Nor wester outside.....and a 4m swell oo oo oo oo i wish i was in Melbourne.
greenleader
greenleader
QLD
5283 posts
QLD, 5283 posts
27 Jun 2006 9:04pm
at this time of the year rellie.
i don't think so, enjoy your thermals.
and hamsters!
clementd
clementd
QLD
14 posts
QLD, 14 posts
28 Jun 2006 2:22am
Actually I'm not a POM !!!!!!! I'm South African...just earning some pounds in the UK damp. Been trying to get out of here for a while.
(no offence to POMs), but it's not my cup of tea!
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