QLD
1128 posts
Sunshine Coast Spring Winds – A Thing of the Past?
I've done quite a bit of research into Sunshine Coast spring sailing conditions over the years, backed up by my own windsurfing and kitesurfing records. The trend is pretty depressing.
Our once-reliable 15–22 knot NE sea breezes, occasionally pushing 25+ knots, have become increasingly rare. These days we're lucky to get a few fickle 15-knot afternoons.
Warmer ocean temperatures, wetter conditions, cooler days, and fewer sunny days all seem to be contributing. October alone has been extraordinarily wet, with far more days below 25°C than historically normal, not by a small percentage either , same for September ...we used to even get Ne's in late August.
Years ago, you'd sometimes need a rest day between consecutive sailing sessions. Now you're lucky to string two decent sessions together in a month! No wonder so many people are selling their gear.
The silver lining? Western Australia. A few weeks over there can deliver more quality sailing than an entire Sunshine Coast spring and summer combined. That's where most of my sailing plans now revolve, while hoping the SE winds deliver something decent back home in the first quarter of the year.
Not exactly an uplifting outlook, but my advice is to save your pennies and frequent flyer points and head west for your spring/summer wind fix. That's where the reliable wind is!
Or a drive south to NSW can often unlock much better sea breezes
SA
2892 posts
Same in Adelaide. Not getting any of the normal winter and spring systems now for past few years. Straight into SSE winds, or trough lines all over the chart.
SA
2892 posts
"I saw this and thought of you".
BOM are hiring techies for Willis Island and Norfolk Island 6 month deployments. If I had a sht job in industry, or unemployed, I would jump at it, no hesitation. They are hiring to start next April, which I believe is the trade wind season. Pretty cool work, and they will look after you with pay and conditions, and you get to sail every day and not a long drive to/from. I reckon Willis Island gig would be allowances+. Google APS jobs, and then set search to BOM on this site. Those tradies, I reckon 6 months would go pretty quick. What gear to pack though ?
QLD
1128 posts
sounds dream ... I'm not techie ..but neither are the BOM as they are wrong so often ..so I'm totally 100% qualified..Bahaha. it's on my to do list one day to get a tax payer funded cushy number :)
My windsurf career started on a tropical island sailing every windy lunch break in season! (split shifts)... so I'm certainly qualified for island life !..
