Hi folks
Planning my first trip to Green Island in a couple of weeks. Just after some tips from the FNQ regulars and those who have done it before.

Best caravan park to stay in or around Cairns?
Best transport to and from the island?
Is there parking near the wharf?
I suspect I am going to need something like a kayak trolley to wheel my gear, what do you guys use?
I have one 105l board, 3 sails 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, fins 27 weedy and 32, 36, 40 pointers, which I hope would cover most conditions. Any tips on the gear part?
Launch spots and main sailing area?
Is it sailable in all tides?
Any options to leave my gear on the island?

Best coffee in town?
Best Irish pub? (or any pub that has Guinness on tap)

Or any other tips that you can think of would be much appreciated

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Tasdoc said..
Hi folks
Planning my first trip to Green Island in a couple of weeks. Just after some tips from the FNQ regulars and those who have done it before.

Best caravan park to stay in or around Cairns?
Not sure but something close to the marina
Best transport to and from the island?
Great Adventures fastest boats same cost and take the local Windsurfers / kiters
Is there parking near the wharf?
Yes - just opposite the marina 2 minute walk pay per hour outside park or day rate undercover in "the Pier"
I suspect I am going to need something like a kayak trolley to wheel my gear, what do you guys use?
Roller bag - or check the tread on here with the DIY trolleys
I have one 105l board, 3 sails 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, fins 27 weedy and 32, 36, 40 pointers, which I hope would cover most conditions. Any tips on the gear part?
Sails and board OK (Slalom gear) for someone 80 - 100 kg
Launch spots and main sailing area?
North east corner flat water beach next to the jetty Bump and Jump
Is it sailable in all tides?
Need to be over 1.4m with a weed fin / delta - 1.6m and you're peachy
Any options to leave my gear on the island?
Possible tbc
Best coffee in town?
A few around the marina, and in town
Best Irish pub? (or any pub that has Guinness on tap)
P.J O'Brien's???
Or any other tips that you can think of would be much appreciated

feel free to give me a call, I can offer some info Peter 0425 857 068

How'd it go?
I'm up there soon and keen to try it out.

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Tasdoc said..
Hi folks
Planning my first trip to Green Island in a couple of weeks. Just after some tips from the FNQ regulars and those who have done it before.
Best transport to and from the island?
Is there parking near the wharf?
I suspect I am going to need something like a kayak trolley to wheel my gear, what do you guys use?
I have one 105l board, 3 sails 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, fins 27 weedy and 32, 36, 40 pointers, which I hope would cover most conditions. Any tips on the gear part?
Launch spots and main sailing area?
Is it sailable in all tides?
Any options to leave my gear on the island?

Best coffee in town?
Best Irish pub? (or any pub that has Guinness on tap)

Or any other tips that you can think of would be much appreciated

I've got all the same questions as tasdoc
But I'll just have a JP slw 165ltr board and 6.4 sail, and 8.5 with a 56cm fin

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ausbinny said..

Need to be over 1.4m with a weed fin / delta - 1.6m and you're peachy
Any options to leave my gear on the island?
Possible tbc

Oh, i just uncovered the quote reply, thank you ausbinny
Will i be peachy with 56cm over 1.6m tide?
Seems to be some suitable tides start of July.

54cm is a pretty large fin, i don't think you wont be able to sail over the reef flats on southern side of the island. But should be able to go downwind (north side) of the island, where it gets a bit choppier but is deeper. See pic below thanks to Billy. :)

Still relevant today for those making the trek north this year. Welcome all to FNQ 2024.

Great map.
I'll try to get it in my head like a race car driver puts the track in their head

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dmobbsy said..
How'd it go?
I'm up there soon and keen to try it out.

It was just great. 4-5 days in a row of consistent 18-30 knot winds. Was there again last week, much lighter winds this time around, still sailable on 7.0+ and a bigger board.
It's very much tide dependent, I was fine on my 27cm weedspeed from 1.3m up. Used a 36cm pointer from 1.5m when winds were lighter. Not sure about the 56cm though

Check out Benny McCarthy's posts on the Gpsteamchallenge website, he uploads GPS tracking data, so you can look at the map and get an idea of where to sail
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor/view/8439

Thanks Tasdoc
Looks like I might have a 28 fangy fin to test out so I might get a go at it out there.

56cm !! WTF! no idea why anyone would own one that big ? certainly not going to be your friend at GI!

probably won't need your 5.5m

Great Adventures have a 'week pass' which is the way to go for a windsurfing trip, great value.

It 'sounds' like you may be a newbie inexperienced sailor , just be aware you are sailing on a tiny island in the middle of the GBR with OFFSHORE Winds !!.. ie break something , run out of wind etc you need to get back u wind to get back to the island ...otherwise next stop Port Douglass via Crocks, Sharks etc , make sure you are a good swimmer !

Wear a Life jacket if sailing alone ...better still cary an EPirb or similar.

It is sailable high and low tide your just need to know where...be aware at low tide it takes quite some time to get back to the island over the reef etc , so don't cut your ferry ride back to fine.!

It's an awesome spot , but it can be tricky and it's not really a beginner spot ..so need to be switched on, aware of your surrounds and capabilities. Booties recommended, coral spikes and stone fish are real.

Have an awesome time, hope to be up there in a few weeks .

This low tide out the front

Coffee food- The cafe down from the marina opposite the park (follow the walk way on the water ) is good for breaky with views
few funky cool coffee cafes in the CBD down lane ways etc all good coffee

The roof top bar is worth a drink at the new fancy hotel on the esplanade is good

Salt bar Sunday/Monday nights

Cairns has everything for cheap and nasty food at the night markets to excellent restaurants all over ..take your pick !

The Italian near the Casino is a local legend , always good .."prawn star' looks fun but haven't eaten there so can't say.

lot to pick from , heaps really , can't go wrong , .... some interesting late night options for doof doof and wild nights in the CBD

As with most tourist spots the best food, cafes etc are not on the main tourist esplanades etc ...such a great time of year to be up there its buzzing this time of year

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JonesySail said..
56cm !! WTF! no idea why anyone would own one that big ?

It 'sounds' like you may be a newbie inexperienced sailor

Have an awesome time, hope to be up there in a few weeks .

56cm is a pretty small pointer as far as I understand it on wide boards.
Compared to the wild skills I see some have, I am a newbie. (Derek Hynd said 'humility is the greatest teacher)

I'll be well inexperienced at GI on my first time and take it easy, or not. Picking up a fangy fin on route.
I'll be out there in a week. Hope to see you there.
beautiful photo

Couple of weeks ago on a 1.4m tide you can sail at the sand sea grass area but with a Delta / Fangy style of fin

www.instagram.com/reel/Ct39-1yp9jW/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==

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JonesySail said..

Salt bar Sunday/Monday nights

Gilligan's

looking at the menu ...not sure if they do coffee?

How about leaving gear out there for a few days - any tips on who to speak to about that?

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dmobbsy said..
How about leaving gear out there for a few days - any tips on who to speak to about that?

There's only a few high-paying guests who stay on the island overnight, and maybe a couple of locals with their own boats. Everyone else leaves on the last ferry each day.
If you pack your gear up into a locked board bag or even just a neat pile and left it up at the main sailing spot I would assume it would be fairly safe overnight.

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A Bomber said..
it would be fairly safe overnight.

I spoke to some friendly people out there about leaving it.
Big job carting it all out, now I'm probably about to start carting it all back.
Wind was too much for me yesterday with the kit I have.
Sailing on one fin screw as I stripped a ferrule in the fangy.

My ass got wooped. Good fun. Didn't die.
I have a 7 day ferry ticket.
Might just watch the FNQ mob hit it today.
Or steal one of their small sails and a ferrule when they out there, go join them and as they give chase sail back to Jimmie's beach

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dmobbsy said..
Or steal one of their small sails

Oh, this mob has bigger sails.
damn.
The writing on this board is perhaps not true, I should take it back to the shop
It can't be the sailor surely..
I'm just a tourist with kit.

It requires a fair effort to try it here. I'm glad that I am just not here to sail or I might be bummed at Huey it's blowing a tad much.
I won't do that. It's fun to visit and try.
Really enjoyed watching the guys on 'the right stuff' with local knowledge do their thing yesterday.

Definitely a tricky spot to sail i think. Even for experienced sailors, there is the added difficulties there of tide, and trying to score it in limited windows of ferry times.
I persevered for 7 days.
Being happy just to be out there, on the tropical beach, was a good time for me.
Whether i got a good sail or not, i wasn't phased.

On the first day:
Zero sailors around.
The joint spun me out and I thought I was on the wrong island. I couldn't even figure out where to leave my kit or rig up. It took me a full day just to figure that bit out on my own.
Leaving all my (new to me) kit there to camp on its own under the trees overnight as i headed back to mainland was a strange feeling.

On the second day:
A croc growled at me as i walked past his place.
There was wind, so i sailed out from the beach to the north.
Wildly out of control. Not good. But i sailed and made it back to the Island, I was happy with that.

On the third and forth day:
I had to sit my ass on the beach and watch the local mob blast by at close to 40kts in shin deep water meters off the rock wall as i watched in awe. I couldn't handle it while learning short board with fangy.

On the fifth day: ? Dunno, a day got lost somewhere - maybe the croc ate me and spat me out again.

By the 6th day I was pretty content that I'd had a go, got wet, gear survived and pack up day was fast approaching.
I'd be happy to get my gear off Island unscathed and back to home turf where it will shine.
But then Huey chimed in, as he always does, and swung to my favour.
Wind went a little east, got warm, and dropped a bit.
Go time.
I'd seen them do it, now it was my turn to try.

I was having a good sail out off the beach alone in the lower tide. Then the Dr turned up.
I didn't think i'd be getting around the corner on this trip, no way, but fark it, I followed him around the corner.
Then it happened....

The fangy fed..

It took a bite of the reef, I got ejected forward, and landed on my ass.
Out on the reef flats, I sat in what I reckon was 30-40cm of water for about 30mins while the Dr blasted back and forth past me.
Wtaf is this black magic i asked myself.
Scratching my head while moorooned on shallow reef, luckily fangy and kit were relatively unscathed from the little love bite, I soon figured out that there was no middle speed, it was go or woe.
Had to get the board up and planing quick or the fin was on the bottom.
Waited waited waited.. happily marooned waiting for tide.
I did alot of waiting for tide out there.

I went the fastest I've ever gone and came the closest ever to a carve jibe i've come.

On the 7th day;
Another little sweet sail before the wind dropped right out.
Lucky, because i don't know how i would have got the big table top board down the wharf to ferry if it was still blowing like it had for the past week.
Sorry Dr, we know who jinxed it.

I finally found Tooti on the last day, someone on the Island whom I was told might give me information.
Tooti's advice on the seventh day was, 'don't follow the Dr', everyone knows that. Woops.
But i'm glad i did. An experience i'll never forget.

Billy sent reply at 2pm that i needed to wait until 2.30 but i'd been out there since 1 because it looked deep enough and so good and i didn't want to wait.

Internet **** itself first few days and i'd forgot tide heights (take screen shots or tide chart), without local knowledge, there is bugger all chance of figuring it out on your own looking at the water.

Lots of people gave me advice, but it was still a handful for the brain to juggle it all and figure it out once there.
But i'm glad i did.

I'm probably lucky to be coming back unscathed.
If you are like me, and semi-experienced, don't go there.
It could get very ugly very easily out there.
But if you are like me you will go anyway. If you do, take your time, ask for lots advice from locals, and wear booties. I am glad i listened to that bit.

Glad to see you survived and by the sound of it enjoyed it ? :) I did try and politely suggest it wasn't an ideal/easy newbies spot:)
My turn next week, as my office will be relocating to cairns next week:)
New toys to christen, pre season train done, :)

Indeed you did Jonesy. Fair advice. I just wasn't sure how newbie I am so had to go and find out. Very challenging, the whole thing, getting gear there, getting myself there and back each day, all of it. But very rewarding. Beyond happy. A great experience.
My home spot is always offshore, Jimmie's Beach. It was once regarded as being in the top 10 flat water spots in the world (until council limited parking and formula events ceased as a result). Wind is lighter, water is deeper.
I look forward to getting the big SLW back there with a big looooong fin. But now I have a fangy I will have to take it on a trip to Lake Primbee and Lake George I think. Preferably during lighter winds with big board

I hope you get some good days out there.

Never follow Dr Camakaze
Glad you got to experience Green Is