Howdy all,

I'm thinking of doing a trip to Sandy Bay, Exmouth, WA for some Windfoiling. Has anyone been and foiled here ? It looks good in the one video I just had a look at on you tube. About to look at some more.
Can anyone can give me the low down on the place, ie predominant wind directions , normal wind strength, is the wind reliable and consistent, surface conditions of water (it looks nice and flat), depth of water for foiling ( I assume it's tidal), best time of year for good wind, nearby accommodation or camping areas? Any info appreciated, Tnks.

Just had a look at some more videos. It looks cross off shore ( port tack ) , ie port tack on the way out from the beach ? Also looked pretty windy (20+ kts) . I'm wondering if this was a winter or summer day ?

And it might have been Sandy Point, not Sandy Bay or the two might be nearby ?

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Sambo # said..
Howdy all,

I'm thinking of doing a trip to Sandy Bay, Exmouth, WA for some Windfoiling. Has anyone been and foiled here ? It looks good in the one video I just had a look at on you tube. About to look at some more.
Can anyone can give me the low down on the place, ie predominant wind directions , normal wind strength, is the wind reliable and consistent, surface conditions of water (it looks nice and flat), depth of water for foiling ( I assume it's tidal), best time of year for good wind, nearby accommodation or camping areas? Any info appreciated, Tnks.

Just had a look at some more videos. It looks cross off shore ( port tack ) , ie port tack on the way out from the beach ? Also looked pretty windy (20+ kts) . I'm wondering if this was a winter or summer day ?

And it might have been Sandy Point, not Sandy Bay or the two might be nearby ?

You may have been watching my video from a few months back ! I was sailing on the SUP and my mate was sailing the Starboard but this was on a south easter.

haven't foiled it but sailed it a few times. Wind in a seabreeze is cross off and can get very strong with messy water state for fins, but it is great fun. Problem I see with foiling is you would have a short run as the inside reef can be quite shallow at low tide and starts maybe only 400m from shore. You wouldn't risk sailing over it with the foil. SB can also be a bit fluky when the rest of the coast is pumping. It's also quite a hike into the National Park from Exmouth unless you are staying nearby at one of the camps (check out DPAW website). It's also quite a walk to carry your gear from the car park to the point to launch from. Anytime from September on can be very windy.

That said, it is an amazing place to sail and an absolute blast in 25 knots on high wind slalom gear. Above 25+knots on an incoming tide, the water state can get uncomfortable on slalom gear so freeride/wave gear is also an option for a fun blast. In a decent easterly, I can see the potential to launch closer to the car park (opposite the shade huts) on the foil and probably with much longer runs heading out to the north east. That would likely be the better option on the foil. Reef much further out but look out for the odd coral head.

I hope you make it !

Also check out Wobiri for wavesailing and slalom and the Bombie for wave sailing. Graveyards for B&J (heaps of kiters though sometimes)

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wa881 said..

Sambo # said..
Howdy all,

I'm thinking of doing a trip to Sandy Bay, Exmouth, WA for some Windfoiling. Has anyone been and foiled here ? It looks good in the one video I just had a look at on you tube. About to look at some more.
Can anyone can give me the low down on the place, ie predominant wind directions , normal wind strength, is the wind reliable and consistent, surface conditions of water (it looks nice and flat), depth of water for foiling ( I assume it's tidal), best time of year for good wind, nearby accommodation or camping areas? Any info appreciated, Tnks.

Just had a look at some more videos. It looks cross off shore ( port tack ) , ie port tack on the way out from the beach ? Also looked pretty windy (20+ kts) . I'm wondering if this was a winter or summer day ?

And it might have been Sandy Point, not Sandy Bay or the two might be nearby ?

You may have been watching my video from a few months back ! I was sailing on the SUP and my mate was sailing the Starboard but this was on a south easter.

haven't foiled it but sailed it a few times. Wind in a seabreeze is cross off and can get very strong with messy water state for fins, but it is great fun. Problem I see with foiling is you would have a short run as the inside reef can be quite shallow at low tide and starts maybe only 400m from shore. You wouldn't risk sailing over it with the foil. SB can also be a bit fluky when the rest of the coast is pumping. It's also quite a hike into the National Park from Exmouth unless you are staying nearby at one of the camps (check out DPAW website). It's also quite a walk to carry your gear from the car park to the point to launch from. Anytime from September on can be very windy.

That said, it is an amazing place to sail and an absolute blast in 25 knots on high wind slalom gear. Above 25+knots on an incoming tide, the water state can get uncomfortable on slalom gear so freeride/wave gear is also an option for a fun blast. In a decent easterly, I can see the potential to launch closer to the car park (opposite the shade huts) on the foil and probably with much longer runs heading out to the north east. That would likely be the better option on the foil. Reef much further out but look out for the odd coral head.

I hope you make it !

Thanks for the detailed info. When u say messy water state for fins, what size chop are you referring too. Being cross off shore on a sb it wouldn't get too messy would it ?

It's not that the chop is big, it's actually quite small but it's the crazy state it can get to especially on an incoming tide that makes it hard on the knees. Closer into shore it obviously gets better and high speed gybing just off the point in flat water is a blast.

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wa881 said..
It's not that the chop is big, it's actually quite small but it's the crazy state it can get to especially on an incoming tide that makes it hard on the knees. Closer into shore it obviously gets better and high speed gybing just off the point in flat water is a blast.

Yeah right. Thanks.

Sam I've slapped Sandy Bay for a few years, we go around August and the wind's generally eastish. I'm told later in the year the wind's better but I like to do other stuff also with my wife. Last year there were mobs of wingers and this year I'll be giving that a crack.
We stay a month in the national park but you have to book early in the year, another option is Yardie Creek Homestead, Sandy Bay is a fair drive from Exmouth.
Cape Range/Emouth area is an amazing part of the world which draws us back each year, besides sailing there's lots to see and do.
Here's a long video video from last year, no slapping or foiling in it but gives a good idea on the area, if too boring for you there's some drone of Sandy Bay at 15.29
With a bit of luck I'll see you up there, I'll be the old guy going arse up on his gybes

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firiebob said..
Sam I've slapped Sandy Bay for a few years, we go around August and the wind's generally eastish. I'm told later in the year the wind's better but I like to do other stuff also with my wife. Last year there were mobs of wingers and this year I'll be giving that a crack.
We stay a month in the national park but you have to book early in the year, another option is Yardie Creek Homestead, Sandy Bay is a fair drive from Exmouth.
Cape Range/Emouth area is an amazing part of the world which draws us back each year, besides sailing there's lots to see and do.
Here's a long video video from last year, no slapping or foiling in it but gives a good idea on the area, if too boring for you there's some drone of Sandy Bay at 15.29
With a bit of luck I'll see you up there, I'll be the old guy going arse up on his gybes

Enjoyed the vid, thanks Bob. Super filming and soundtrack. Peaceful

Low tide is too shallow for foil but mid to high is a nice flat water foil spot. Another place in the NP to flat water foil is Mesa. Tends to be plenty deep enough. There's a few patches of reef that would be too shallow on low tide but you can see them easily enough to avoid. The other advantage if you have 4wd you can drive on beach to waters edge so no need to carry down the path like Sandy bay.

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firiebob said..
Sam I've slapped Sandy Bay for a few years, we go around August and the wind's generally eastish. I'm told later in the year the wind's better but I like to do other stuff also with my wife. Last year there were mobs of wingers and this year I'll be giving that a crack.
We stay a month in the national park but you have to book early in the year, another option is Yardie Creek Homestead, Sandy Bay is a fair drive from Exmouth.
Cape Range/Emouth area is an amazing part of the world which draws us back each year, besides sailing there's lots to see and do.
Here's a long video video from last year, no slapping or foiling in it but gives a good idea on the area, if too boring for you there's some drone of Sandy Bay at 15.29
With a bit of luck I'll see you up there, I'll be the old guy going arse up on his gybes

Thanks mate. Nice clear blue flat water. Enjoyed the vid.

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shaggy696 said..
Low tide is too shallow for foil but mid to high is a nice flat water foil spot. Another place in the NP to flat water foil is Mesa. Tends to be plenty deep enough. There's a few patches of reef that would be too shallow on low tide but you can see them easily enough to avoid. The other advantage if you have 4wd you can drive on beach to waters edge so no need to carry down the path like Sandy bay.

Does it get reliable consistent wind on the sea breezes? What's the angle, ie cross shore, cross off etc ? What's the average Seabreeze wind strength? How long are the runs? And does it get crowded ? Also when is the best time of the year to go ?

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Sambo # said..

shaggy696 said..
Low tide is too shallow for foil but mid to high is a nice flat water foil spot. Another place in the NP to flat water foil is Mesa. Tends to be plenty deep enough. There's a few patches of reef that would be too shallow on low tide but you can see them easily enough to avoid. The other advantage if you have 4wd you can drive on beach to waters edge so no need to carry down the path like Sandy bay.

Does it get reliable consistent wind on the sea breezes? What's the angle, ie cross shore, cross off etc ? What's the average Seabreeze wind strength? How long are the runs? And does it get crowded ? Also when is the best time of the year to go ?

Yep sea breeze pretty reliable. I usually go October time and generally will foil/fin late morning early arvo on flat water of Mesa as the wife prefers and then head for wave sail further up in arvo. Average sea breeze probably 20-25 October onwards. As for crowded lucky to see others on the water. Busy at Sandy bay with kiters and there were quite a few wings at Graveyards last year.

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shaggy696 said..

Sambo # said..

shaggy696 said..
Low tide is too shallow for foil but mid to high is a nice flat water foil spot. Another place in the NP to flat water foil is Mesa. Tends to be plenty deep enough. There's a few patches of reef that would be too shallow on low tide but you can see them easily enough to avoid. The other advantage if you have 4wd you can drive on beach to waters edge so no need to carry down the path like Sandy bay.

Does it get reliable consistent wind on the sea breezes? What's the angle, ie cross shore, cross off etc ? What's the average Seabreeze wind strength? How long are the runs? And does it get crowded ? Also when is the best time of the year to go ?

Yep sea breeze pretty reliable. I usually go October time and generally will foil/fin late morning early arvo on flat water of Mesa as the wife prefers and then head for wave sail further up in arvo. Average sea breeze probably 20-25 October onwards. As for crowded lucky to see others on the water. Busy at Sandy bay with kiters and there were quite a few wings at Graveyards last year.

Cool. Thanks mate. Might see ya there this year.

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firiebob said..
Sam I've slapped Sandy Bay for a few years, we go around August and the wind's generally eastish. I'm told later in the year the wind's better but I like to do other stuff also with my wife. Last year there were mobs of wingers and this year I'll be giving that a crack.
We stay a month in the national park but you have to book early in the year, another option is Yardie Creek Homestead, Sandy Bay is a fair drive from Exmouth.
Cape Range/Emouth area is an amazing part of the world which draws us back each year, besides sailing there's lots to see and do.
Here's a long video video from last year, no slapping or foiling in it but gives a good idea on the area, if too boring for you there's some drone of Sandy Bay at 15.29
With a bit of luck I'll see you up there, I'll be the old guy going arse up on his gybes

Lovely filming! We're heading up end July for some snorkeling and camping - no sailing this time. How warm was it when you went in August - In the water and at night? Ie did you need a steamer, or a puffer in the evenings?
Cheers.

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kateontour said..

firiebob said..
Sam I've slapped Sandy Bay for a few years, we go around August and the wind's generally eastish. I'm told later in the year the wind's better but I like to do other stuff also with my wife. Last year there were mobs of wingers and this year I'll be giving that a crack.
We stay a month in the national park but you have to book early in the year, another option is Yardie Creek Homestead, Sandy Bay is a fair drive from Exmouth.
Cape Range/Emouth area is an amazing part of the world which draws us back each year, besides sailing there's lots to see and do.
Here's a long video video from last year, no slapping or foiling in it but gives a good idea on the area, if too boring for you there's some drone of Sandy Bay at 15.29
With a bit of luck I'll see you up there, I'll be the old guy going arse up on his gybes

Lovely filming! We're heading up end July for some snorkeling and camping - no sailing this time. How warm was it when you went in August - In the water and at night? Ie did you need a steamer, or a puffer in the evenings?
Cheers.

Sorry Kate I've only just seen your Q's
Weather's normally perfect, I can snorkle hr plus no wetty and I hate the cold, but then my wife does wear a spring suit and can get cold. I've never worn a wetty windsurfing up there but see others do, but I do hate wearing a wetty
Day n night for us it's just shorts and T shirts, great snorkling at Lakeside, get there early when it's quiet.
Cheers Bob