Windsurfng can be a harsh mistress, esp when there's no wind.

I'm trying to think about the advantages to SEQ as a windsufing locale but I'm not coming up with much except for saving money on wetsuits.

Is there anything that makes SEQ better than...

Having less dependable and less wind in general means there is plenty of time to check out the wildlife when you are up to your knees slogging back from the islands...

Also very good for practicing your balance.

Looks like the wind in Perth only picks up at night when everyone is asleep. Makes you wonder where the wind is coming from

Come back el-nino, all is forgiven

Any new gear bought this year will still be new next year!

I'm mildly confused about the pessimism.
No northerlies, but lots of good SE wind with more to come.

SEQ also has many, many pretty girls, clean safe water and it's on the same planet as the rest of the world.

Not that I mind WA, it's a cool place too. Our winters are nicer though.

Give me northerlies any day personally- or a good season where there is a mix of ne'ers & se'ers. From sailing every other day in the last few years to this is a bit hard to take for many.

Good clean water? All the waterways around Moreton Bay still only got D's on the report card, that said it seems to be mainly soil runoff which is holding the scores back. It is getting cleaner & it definitely seems the wildlife is increasing.

I think everywhere has pretty girls, dare to become involved and it doesnt matter what the wind is doing cause then you'll never be sailing [}:)]

Having spent 15yrs in the West and now been 7yrs in SE Qld, there are no advantages what so ever. A fantastic season in SE Qld wouldn't register on the radar of a WA sailor. To be honest, sailing is more complicated here. In WA @ 80-85Kg, I'd have a 80l wave board every 2-3yrs and 4.0,4.7,5.0 & 5.3, replacing the sails-rigs as they were destroyed. In SE Qld I still need that gear for when it blows, but also have gear for 10-20knt days, and paddle boards, and surfboards.

Only advantage that I can comprehend is that, like my gear, I'm not wearing out as fast. Have concentrated more on career though(advantage? thinks not). As there's less sailing, there is a lower level of fitness and competence and so I weigh more and need more, less managable gear.

Sailing is but one aspect of life though, give it another few years here in Qld, move the kids on and with a new career path having been created here in Qld, I'll be looking for a new windy location to live & play, but probably won't be WA, done that.

Good days in SEQ are great, but a scarce encounter for the hardcore sailors like Brent. Chuck in a SUP, a couple of surfboards and a Mountain Bike and it's starting to look like a paradise! Those crappy 2 foot days at your local beachbreak are suddenly a ton of fun on a 9'6" SUP. We have the best MTB trails in Australia, all within 30 minutes drive.

The key is to stay versatile and just revel in it when the Nor-easters finally blow.

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KenHo said...

I'm mildly confused about the pessimism.
No northerlies, but lots of good SE wind with more to come.

SEQ also has many, many pretty girls, clean safe water and it's on the same planet as the rest of the world.

Not that I mind WA, it's a cool place too. Our winters are nicer though.

Good SE where are then all Ive seen are squally,rainy and cold pretty crap really compared to a good NE.
Dunno if WA gets the wind they use too they seem to complain as much as we do about wind, seems they had a really crap winter this year.
Like MK said the last few years we have been sailing every second day this time of year.

After sailing sandy point in that cold water a few times its always nice to come back here.

SEQ rocks!

Nice seabreeze this arvo.

Yep, went down to golden beach with the intention of fishing but to my suprise a nice little NE turned up, nice on a 7.2 120l. Blue skies, clear warm water, yeah SEQ's not bad at all.

I think I've probably got a broader definition of SEQ than most.
For me, it goes as far as Elliott Hds, including the Sunny Coast and Burrum. It's a lot hotter as you go north, and the wind is steadier and less squall dependent.
It's not that I don't love northerlies, just trying to be positive.
I agree, the SE winds down here at the GC are ****e.
As Dr Gas said though, there are lots of compensations for when the wind does not blow.
Bundy gets 200 sailing days some years, but my life down here is richer.

Dr Gas, I need to talk to you about MTB trails. I have 10 days off now, and there is no stinking wind.

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vando said...

KenHo said...

I'm mildly confused about the pessimism.
No northerlies, but lots of good SE wind with more to come.

SEQ also has many, many pretty girls, clean safe water and it's on the same planet as the rest of the world.

Not that I mind WA, it's a cool place too. Our winters are nicer though.

Good SE where are then all Ive seen are squally,rainy and cold pretty crap really compared to a good NE.
Dunno if WA gets the wind they use too they seem to complain as much as we do about wind, seems they had a really crap winter this year.
Like MK said the last few years we have been sailing every second day this time of year.

After sailing sandy point in that cold water a few times its always nice to come back here.

So Sad, there is NO comparison what so ever , having lived in both states WA rocks for sailing, when it blows it blows hard and for many days in a row until it gets dark and even without DLS that means sailing till 7.30.
Winter time anywhere from Mackay up is heaps better for wind (and warmer)...Elliot heads has to rate as one of the btter most consistent places in Aust all year round, great flat water run, and fun high tide bump and jump, but not really wave riding conditions as such, catch is you have to live in Bundy.
yep Qld you need All the toys to survive, and have to say is much more suited to Kiting due to normal winds being 10-20 knot range and so many sandy shallow places. Just plan a life around being in WA every summer, Nth Qld winter or Maui!

Been here 10yrs now worst season i can remember, i guess look at the dam levels and that will be why we have had few NE s. Still a very nice place to live, just went back to the UK for a week.......what a dump..............sorry but that country is bleak and miserable, not just talking about the weather either!

Sacrifice made... can't stand this weather pattern any longer, booked a trip to Perth for two weeks over Xmas, will go to SW WA and beg, borrow gear from old mates. At least we know it will be windy with good swell here for everybody. Mind you, I've just created a heat trough for WA's Xmas.

agree, seq is generally **** but...

I have wave sailed port tack one day and starboard tack the next on lots of occaisions. At least the wind blows from both directions so you don't get too one sided and not too many 'regular wind' places have that advantage.

Dont say that im going back for three weeks!

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sonic said...

Been here 10yrs now worst season i can remember, i guess look at the dam levels and that will be why we have had few NE s. Still a very nice place to live, just went back to the UK for a week.......what a dump..............sorry but that country is bleak and miserable, not just talking about the weather either!

Someone better get out there cos it's sailable right now! (stuck at work )