Been discussing this with some friends of mine recently and I'm somewhat torn on the topic of offshore/rotto surf charters in Perth.

Is there a legitimate space in Perth for operators to run surf specific charters to Rottnest and/or some of the surfable offshore waves? Having spent a lot of time in the waters around Rottnest for work and given I spend about 3-4 days a week at sea, I often get into a discussion with people about the surf offshore from the Perth coast which often brings up the topic of taking boats over to Rotto for a punt which inevitably ends up in a discussion about surf charters, or the lack thereof.

Would the surf community in Perth be accepting of a business that chartered small groups (<10 people) of surfers to places like Rottnest with the soul intention of dropping them into some waves? Would this be seen as nothing but an insta-crowd for the privileged or would it be viewed as a legitimate way of cutting out the middle man and making it easier for surfers to get a good wave (no ferry-ride, long bike ride, paying for boards and bikes to go on the ferry, etc etc)?

Obviously surf charters have been running all over the world and have been successful and accepted by the surf community, but Perth seems somewhat a unique case. 5hitloads of surfers but **** all swell. Is a regular surf charter going to be thought of as providing us more surf opportunities or would it just be ruining offshore surf for those offshore locals 'lucky' enough to own a boat?

We all hate that tosser in the carpark calling his mates to tell them the waves are cranking and we all hate that car load insta-crowd of ****wits that paddle out at the exact same time to spoil that awesome sesh that you and your mate were having...then again, who wouldn't want to be a boat with a handful of mates getting taken directly to the surf at Rotto in comfort when the waves are firing?


Disclaimer; I've no interest (nor the funds) in setting up a surf charter, I'll stick to being a poor scientist. This is just something that has come up in conversation frequently, given the insane local dry spell we've all had. I thought it would be interesting for me to get a larger sample size, given that I know there are some here who are stuck to the coast and some here who are not.

Yep I'm for it. I only surf the Coast so if it spreads the pack (albeit <10) I'm all for it. Not sure if I'll notice the 0.00001 less person at my local

Yeah I'd be all for it as well.

However from a business point of view it would be difficult to take bookings in advance without knowing what the swell and weather are going do be doing.

I think you know the answer to to this one suba, those who have a boat or a mate with a boat won't like it and those who don't have a boat or a mate with a boat will like it.

Nobody likes being in the water when a boat full of surfers rocks up. Nay from me.

Interesting concept suba..I kind of like the whole ride out to the bay at Rotto thingo when staying on the island. It sets the tone for your holiday. I have also rocked up on a boat so can see both sides of the argument. For me I'd prefer no charters, as I still see Rotto as the place that time forgot... just my opinion.

I think the Abrolhos would be a more logical area for surf charter than Perth local area.

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Andy T said..
I think the Abrolhos would be a more logical area for surf charter than Perth local area.

Too fickle...stay home

I think surf charters are more suitable in areas with uncrowded waves. Suba you mention the lack of swell as an issue but IMO the lack of quality spots in Perth is the real problem. Taking a boat load of 10 crew to already crowded waves would be shameless

It's not hard to catch a ferry is it? Or if yr keen for outer reefs buy a tinny.

Thyis has been discussed at length on numerous trips between all the lads. We all have boats and are ex fishos and divers/surfers if a charter kicked off in perth it would be great for those without boats/access however for those with them or access this would create world war 5 in all line ups 10 frothers are dropped into......
We talked about the same thing but doing like 1 week trips up the coast. yanchep,lanno,up to greenhead if theres no waves have a fish but same problem again local crew would be livid.. and some of the locals up that part of the coast are less than friendly. Props to the fella who has the balls to do it haha

Been an interesting read so far. I think I agree with the general sentiment here.

I'd like to see a 'reverse surf charter' kick off in Perth.

Maybe someone could rock up to my local in a big empty bus and take all the kooks back to the golf course...

And a school bus to take away all the groms...aka speed bumps

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Tux said...

Andy T said..
I think the Abrolhos would be a more logical area for surf charter than Perth local area.

Too fickle...stay home

I concur. Boat charters require some degree of consistency. The islands aint.