Open question - are there any potential locations for Speed Sailing International to hold a event as part of the world series in Australia.

All of our initial enquiries have led us to believe that Sandy Point is the best but very unpredictable especially when you are planning a global event.

There has to be some other speed gems out there that are a bit more predictable and safe for a 10 day comp.

Any sensible feedback would be welcome....

Do you have a time of year in mind?

going by the last couple of years you would have to be lucky to set a date and get it right

If LG was 5-10 knots windier that would be the obvious choice for 500m events.

Sandy Point I agree is unpredictable. This spring for instance, when normally we should have had half a dozen strong fronts, we saw a couple of fronts worthy of the trip and one didn't put out at all once we got there!

The trick is strong wind (30+) with regularity, smooth water and accessibility. No picture postcard tropical islands only accessible by ferry for instance.

Stanley in NW TAS could be OK. Works in plenty of different directions, regularly windy. Red Bull Storm Chase event was held just around the corner! Guys sail there almost every other day getting reasonable speeds. Top speed of 46+ (gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2014-01-06&team=27).

Shark Bay in summer has the goods with wind an a few spots

Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

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choco said...
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Agree choco. ...awesome spot.. just spoiled by all the crow eaters....
Perfect spot for a comp..may not get nuclear winds to break records but consistent wind for an event..

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red said..

choco said...
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Agree choco. ...awesome spot.. just spoiled by all the crow eaters....

the election went well

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red said..

choco said...
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Agree choco. ...awesome spot.. just spoiled by all the crow eaters....
Perfect spot for a comp..may not get nuclear winds to break records but consistent wind for an event..

That said, 35 knot winds are possible and in LG conditions, 45+ speeds are easily achievable.

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Bonominator said..

red said..

choco said...
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Agree choco. ...awesome spot.. just spoiled by all the crow eaters....
Perfect spot for a comp..may not get nuclear winds to break records but consistent wind for an event..

That said, 35 knot winds are possible and in LG conditions, 45+ speeds are easily achievable.

Guys need to HTF and use bigger sails and boards

Through the summer months you will always get wind better than nothing, this weeks forecast;

Ha ha choc only 20 knots today we couldn't be bothered !
Been on 10 days off and 8 have been 5.8 and under days,
Thursdays looking 30+ will be on the water next 3 days.

Cruel but kind Jim! Have a blast!

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choco said..
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Lol

Distance from:
Adelaide: 382 km
Melbourne 530 km
Canberra 1,185 km
Hobart 1,253 km
Sydney 1,395 km
Brisbane 2,212 km
Perth 3,074 km
Darwin 3,406km

It is close to Beachport. Population 878.

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boardboy said...

choco said..
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Lol

Distance from:
Adelaide: 382 km
Melbourne 530 km
Canberra 1,185 km
Hobart 1,253 km
Sydney 1,395 km
Brisbane 2,212 km
Perth 3,074 km
Darwin 3,406km

It is close to Beachport. Population 878.

Gees... bit unfair!.. lol.. no matter what location is chosen in Australia its going to be bloody long way for somebody.. i think the "not a remote location" is more about that the metropolis of beachport (pop 878) is only 5-10 minutes away with accommodation, food and services... i have to agree that for anyone not in vic or sa its a bloody long long way away!

I can see you guys are having fun with this discussion, imagine what its like when you are looking remotely......as red has pointed out, we would need a place where there was some life as sponsors don't like this, otherwise we would hold the event in Luderitz / Walvis Bay in Namibia but as there is a need for a Round in Asia / Australasia....thought I would ask the experts

WE also need to plan a year in advance ideally and so it has to be predictable hence why my comment about Sandy Bay - yes but not predictable.....

Keep trying, we would love to hold a event there and squeeze a few dollars out of the respective state :-)

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GlobalTraveller said..

I can see you guys are having fun with this discussion, imagine what its like when you are looking remotely......as red has pointed out, we would need a place where there was some life as sponsors don't like this, otherwise we would hold the event in Luderitz / Walvis Bay in Namibia but as there is a need for a Round in Asia / Australasia....thought I would ask the experts

WE also need to plan a year in advance ideally and so it has to be predictable hence why my comment about Sandy Bay - yes but not predictable.....

Keep trying, we would love to hold a event there and squeeze a few dollars out of the respective state :-)

If youre serious, you need to contact the state windsurfing organizations, in wa its windsuring western australia

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boardboy said..

choco said..
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Lol

Distance from:
Adelaide: 382 km
Melbourne 530 km
Canberra 1,185 km
Hobart 1,253 km
Sydney 1,395 km
Brisbane 2,212 km
Perth 3,074 km
Darwin 3,406km

It is close to Beachport. Population 878.

Last March I drove from Cairns to LG and back, had a great sail, got a couple of PB's but met some dodgy characters If you do the trip buy a wetty, it's a bit cold
Everywhere in Australia is a long way from somewhere else in Australia.

Especially if you live in Perth. It's practically another country!

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red said..

boardboy said...

choco said..
Lake George! great over summer not a remote location no tides to worry about and can be sailed in any wind direction best time Jan through to early March.

Lol

Distance from:
Adelaide: 382 km
Melbourne 530 km
Canberra 1,185 km
Hobart 1,253 km
Sydney 1,395 km
Brisbane 2,212 km
Perth 3,074 km
Darwin 3,406km

It is close to Beachport. Population 878.

Gees... bit unfair!.. lol.. no matter what location is chosen in Australia its going to be bloody long way for somebody.. i think the "not a remote location" is more about that the metropolis of beachport (pop 878) is only 5-10 minutes away with accommodation, food and services... i have to agree that for anyone not in vic or sa its a bloody long long way away!

lol that's what I was getting at not far from the pub

Beachport has a pub, pier, two camping parks, restaurants, motel and shops. It's a lovely place to spend some time!

Sandy Point has only a takeaway and a general store, a small camping park and lots of rental houses. But the other things are in abundance within a 20 minute drive! It also has mountains, forests and spectacular National Parks quite close for those no wind days, and a pretty good surfing beach.

Melbourne international airport is only two hours away.

Lake George is a magical place and I plan to spend a lot of time there this summer, but Sandy Point regularly has much stronger winds.

At the end of September and start of October we used to run the annual Speed Fortnight. We has at least a couple of 35 knots+ WSW days every year. Even since we stopped running it, it has been the same. Before that in the late '80's and early 90's the Sandy Point Speed Classic, and later the High Wind Carnival held at the same time of the year rarely missed out on great winds. If you have at least two weeks waiting time it's hard to miss at that time of the year. Three weeks and you'd be laughing!

Forget video timing though. Neither place is suitable for it. Has to be GPS based to be practical.