Wondering where best to wavesail in Albany. Was checking out Sandpatch y'day and although no-one out reckon it could be a good spot. Anyone sailed there before?

DL said...

I'd probably advise against sailing there unless you are Laird Hamilton, or want to make it into the news.

Maybe try Mutton Bird, Nanarup or Mids?

Lol, looks awesome though! I was sailing at Mistaken island, but thats pretty flat, might try Nanarup, but am sorely tempted by Sandpatch. Keep an eye on the news!

Mark _australia said...

OK now I'm curious what is wrong with sandpatch... I heard there was no wavesailing down there anyway?

Prevailing wind direction seems OK, cross/on, but more onshore which could be a little bit of a problem. On a big day don't think it would be sailable, it wasn't big y'day and there were walls of whitewater all along the coast, no holes to get out. I'd give it a shot on a small day, but leave it to the likes of Mr Hamilton on anything bigger than 3ft!

Hi everyone, i havent posted here for a while, but im on holidays in Albany at the moment after a week in busselton where i windsurfed on christmas and boxing day on my dads old hifly 555 in the best windsurfing conditions ive ever seen, but the problem was that before we left geelong we couldnt find the harness spreader bar so we didnt bring the harness. Were going up to perth for a couple of weeks on tuesday, then monkey mia after that, so im wondering if there are any windsurfing shops down here so we can buy a preferably 2nd hand harness.

sand patch, as well as having deceptivly huge waves, also was deceptivly huge sharks regularly patroling and the wind experienced at the top of the hill is often 3 times stronger than that of the wind on the water, thus the reason they put the wind farm in. mids for onshore slop mutton bird for a more solid wave in a SW'er and nanarup would be worth a look in. Denmark has parrys beach, which works in a SE very nicely

not really about waves in Albany, but on the topic of Albany does any of the locals know anyone who does lessons here?

Zed said...

Mark _australia said...

OK now I'm curious what is wrong with sandpatch... I heard there was no wavesailing down there anyway?

Prevailing wind direction seems OK, cross/on, but more onshore which could be a little bit of a problem. On a big day don't think it would be sailable, it wasn't big y'day and there were walls of whitewater all along the coast, no holes to get out. I'd give it a shot on a small day, but leave it to the likes of Mr Hamilton on anything bigger than 3ft!

Hi Zed,

I live in Albany and windsurfed last Saturday on harbour in Sou'wester but this is not generally the prevailing wind direction for this time of year as we mostly get E/SE seabreezes (though we do occasionally get SW seabreezes like we did on Friday).

Can't say I've heard of any locals wavesailing around here lately, I gave up wavesailing when I moved to Albany 7 yrs ago and now just into freeride sailing. Suggest you give Ereth at Crumps Canvas a call, he would most probably know the best spots (assuming you're still in town). Nanarup could be a possibility, and Scotty McKercher gave Lights Beach at Denmark a good rating in a UK windsurf mag many years ago. Not sure how you would get your wave gear down to the beach at Sandpatch, tis a long way down the steps and likely much harder coming back up after a solid session!

Good luck if you decide to take the plunge!!!

Cheyne beach although an hour East of Albany has a nice curving sweep and hard sand for driving on. Well formed beachbreaks for miles and miles. White sand and crystal water. I had a good sesh there this time last year in a Southerly but could be good in East winds too,