With a belter of a forecast for Sat in Sydney (20-25knots) how do you convince your non-sailing wife to go to the beach and then also covertly ensure that she won't be sand blasted to infinity whilst you enjoy an hour or so sailing.

Let's face it, at 20 knots+ there are not many sun shelters that actually stay erect so what are the altenatives? Does anyone have a solution or do you just go it alone and leave them at home???

Please help ...... looking for a quick fix before Saturday. Heading up to Umina (Northern end) hopefully, where it will be slightly offshore so there is no real way of avoiding a fair amount of sand blowing along the beach

It's either leave them at home, or let them sit in the car with a book.
It's no fun for non sailors on the beach if it's that windy.

Where I was sailing last Saturday at Sanctuary Point, there isn't that problem. The wind shadow where you rig means that in a NE there is hardly any breeze at all on land, yet 20 metres into the water its pretty windy.

If you can only convince your wife to drive you the 2.5 hours south and then back again, you have got it made!

Would it work if you decided to go for a casual drive and just happened to stumble across this spot while all the gear just happened to be in the car?

He he he he yeh I think she might notice the nose of the board between us as we drive up the freeway

I was thinking there must be some sort of extreme beach shelter that just won't collapse on top of them whilst your out enjoying a quick blast.

Perhaps 3 poles deep into the sand in a triangle and a piece of canvass or something that will at least stop the sand whipping across them.

It's never good coming back to the beach and having to dig them out. Makes for a quiet trip home

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It's never good coming back to the beach and having to dig them out. Makes for a quiet trip home

Sounds like a perfect ending[}:)]

There is a good RSL club close by at Ettalong. If thats not her style why not setup camp down at Ettalong? Its fairly sheltered and there is grass by the water and a peaceful beach along the river. The long term solution is to get your wife involved in windsurfing. My wife learned to windsurf this summer. While she won't be going out in 20 knot winds soon, by understanding windsurfing she is more encouraging and understanding of me windsurfing.

find her a good coffee shop/shopping area and drop her on the way. WOrks for me

Buy an underwater camera and get her to swim out and take photos. The sand won't get her out there! Geez im smart

No point fighting with it. Even if you manage to "convince" her, it'll blow up in your face eventually. Anyways it's gonna be the same challenge when raining, cold, etc.

Leave her home, she can find activities of her own. Then reconvene at the end of the day - withdrawal symptom works here.

Unless you need her to carry equipment of course...

Look son, just give her 50 bucks tell her to go get her nails done for a few hours. while she has gone sneak out and windsurf. easy done dude chicks love to get there nails done.

All good ideas, most of which cracked me up

Don't get me wrong ... she loves the beach but not in the same conditions as I do but this looks like it might help ...



Failing this I guess a book, $50 for nails, membership to the Ettalong RSL and a map of Ettalong's highlights might save the day?

On a more serious note, has anyone heard how the kiter that was shockingly injured at Umina late last year is doing???

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Penski said...


On a more serious note, has anyone heard how the kiter that was shockingly injured at Umina late last year is doing???

My news is about a month old but I heard he was in hospital with severe injuries, conscious with no recollection of the accident. The injuries sounded like they will require many operations and a great deal of time to mend.

Age old problem

In WA it's also bl*&*^ hot on the beach.

I tried one of those beach shelters (Caribee ? easy set up job), could handle the wind but it was way too hot.

The best solution I've seen is either a Camper Van or a Pop up camping trailier.

A well known guy here has invested in a Taj Mahal like van, inlcuding toilet and hot shower.

His Mrs is very happy and on extreme days doesn't even bother to leave the van

Mitsubishi dual cab 4x4 y any chance
On our salt lake we would lose any kind of shelterthat caught the wind som I made a tent from shade cloth. 90% green for the roof and 60% cream for the sides. It sets up with the poles on the insides then the sides act as the tensioning. everybody gets inside and you van look straightthrough the sides.
Wind blows through and cools it down , sand/salt doesnt blow in, no sunburn. has survived 30knts(just)
ours is a bit fancy and I cant find a photo but I think you could easily make one in the shape of a "traditional tent . Ours is more like a beduin stucture.
The important thing is to use dark 90% on top and light60% on the sides.
Shadecloth sews very easily and can be sewn on most domestic machines.
I'll keep looking for a photo

I got mine a paddle board. She's now out on the water too and loving it.