Hi all.

I have gotten myself a Fanatic Fly as a do it all board and have had a couple of fun sessions on it in the flat water with a small sail. Now after seeing some of the video's on here, I am feeling a bit braver and I am looking now for a good location for a gentle introduction into some smaller wave sailing. I did a search on here but didn't come up with anything.

I am northside of Brisbane and have taken it surf side for a at paddle at Bribie, but you don't get much of a run there.

I am thinking Cotton Tree might be good, but it is a fair trip. Can anyone suggest a good spot for someone on the very low end of intermediate.

To give you some idea of my experience, I have been sailing on and off since the early 80's, mostly at Cootharaba. Water starts are okay in friendly conditions, but my few experiences of trying to water start in rougher conditions have not gone well. However the board is big enough for me to uphaul easliy on it.

Looking for somewhere I can't get into too much trouble and hopefully not too busy as I don't want to ruin anyone elses day.

Thanks in advance.

Caloundra bar, pick your tides though.

Caloundra bar is not really the place for a lower intermediate. even with an incoming tide unless you are comfortable sailing upwind you'll struggle against the current which can be around 7 knots. outgoing tide and you'll be risking your life.

in a SE wind try neil street, NE try Mudjimba.

cotton tree is the same as Caloundra bar. strong currents on outgoing tides. incoming tide will be ok in a SE wind if you go inside the river mouth where the waves are smaller. you'll see lots of people learning to surf in there as well.

once you are more confident then hit the bars. Caloundra bar in a SW wind is one of the better places on an incoming tide.

when all is said and done what you want is a cross offshore wind and down the line conditions. Caloundra bar in a SE wind is no good for wave riding because it's backside conditions and a sup is not good at snapping off the lip. there is a spot on the very northern tip of bribie that produces cross shore conditions in a SE wind but you need to be able to sail upwind to get there.

Redcliffe is a good spot in 10 knots, it is a little choppy on a full tide but you can sail there quite easily. Golden beach at Caloundra, the southern end near the two holiday towers also works well in light winds Northerly, Easterly or Southerly. Def would not recommend the bar but Golden beach is a lot more suitable.

Thanks for the replies.

Gestalt, I have been to Neil st, not sailing though. North of the rock bar? I assume it's a flatter bottom, longer ride than Bribie?

Can't remember ever going to Mudjimba, but I will have a look.

Davox, I have sailed a fair bit at Redcliffe and a heap at Golden beach. I am looking more for a small swell in a low wind to try out the SUP sailing.

Cheers, Brad.

hi ballast,

yep north of the rock reef. it is not a bad spot because it gets less swell than the open beaches. it's a right hand wave. arrow shows SE wind.



best bet for Mudjimba is early morning NW/N winds and small swell.

Select to expand quote

Gestalt said..
hi ballast,

yep north of the rock reef. it is not a bad spot because it gets less swell than the open beaches. it's a right hand wave. arrow shows SE wind.



best bet for Mudjimba is early morning NW/N winds and small swell.

In this area at the conditions stipulated, you will be mixing it up with surfers and boogers. Watch out for the shore break too. Actually further out on the reef might be a better spot ??

if the waves are good then the surfers gotta share.

yeah watch the shore break.

Sounds good Gestalt. I will check them out. Thanks again.

No worries Surfinfreak, I will be keeping well clear of everyone. If it is too busy I will give it a miss. Don't know about the reef, might be a bit out of my league.

while we are talking good spots to windsup......

north kirra is sensational in a SE wind if you don't mind a drive.