Looking at the forecast, it looks like it could be a nice afternoon on Tuesday (in regards to the wind, not temperature!). Dorans seems to be the go to location, but its always super choppy and not always as much fun on slalom gear... Is there anywhere else to go? Or have I just been unlucky on the few times I've been there?

Hey Jock, Doran's isn't always that bad for slalom gear. Generally, if its been blowing a bit, the waves get blown into sort of organised lines, like a mini swell. It can be good fun to blast along the flat water in between the lines, with the odd chop hop or carve thrown in to mix things up. Following a trough will take you downwind a bit, good for speed, so yes it can be a bit more lumpy heading back the other way, over the waves. There certainly can be some short steep faces when the waves hit the shallows, these are fun to weave around or to launch off. Forecast is looking good, pity some of us have to work. Enjoy it!

Faith = restored! ahaha, thats a pretty good rap, really looking forward to it now! One other question though, with regards to the tide... Does it become un-sailable if it gets too low? The tide charts say 0.3M low tide at 7:15 or so, will that make it challenging? Or is it just a matter of now getting sucked down too low towards the shallows?

Hey jock, I know funds are low and time, short between school and taxi, a free style wave board or similar is your best friend.between78, and 90 litres some very cheap boards avalible local. Have only expirenced slalom sailling a couple of times ,and have found if conditions don't suit, sailing can be quiet piss me off,sh,t anit happening , so many variables, .free style wave boards very forgiving and fun to hone the skills on .best of both worlds,some thing to think about , not every direction wind in Hobart has SUPER flat water to sail in so theese boards are great. Just some old school thinking.

Thats what is next on the list, don't worry! Ahaha, but between getting a car and everything else, it has taken a backseat on my priority list - ill just have to play with the toys I have!

Bloody slalom sailors I think damo has Simon billings freestyle wave boards going cheap,,,,,,,,,, get ya priorities straight, cheap Holden wagon,cheap fsw, best of both worlds

Yeah the appledude is right, a cheap holden and fsw board will open limitless boundaries, especially if you want to do jumpy and spinny type stuff. Holdens jump and spin really well!
0.3 m tide is pretty low, you'd have to sail out off the sandflat I reckon, so launch from the boat ramp.

Im starting to be convinced... So given that im 80kg, what size board/sail would be best? Given that i would only probably use it above 20 knots..



And thats good advice about the tide, thanks!

Hey Jock, I'm 80kg and use an 86 Kode FSW. A 5.0 wavesail is pretty good for 20-30 knots.

Love my 86 Starboard Kode fsw too. Wavesail with it as well. Bloody good all rounder.

Guess Id better get saving then! Ahaha, gotta get aaaaaallll the gear.

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JockyC said..
And thats good advice about the tide, thanks!

Just noticed you said the low is at 7.15 so might be OK over the flats if you're out mid arvo. Keep an eye on depth though!

Jock the small board you recently bought will be fine to use in a bit of chop. It's 96 litres from memory

I think because i have to go after school the wind will be a bit ballistic (Gusting up to 50 knots) and tide mixed with some swell could cause me problems! Looks like a study afternoon...

Hi Jock. I have a IS90 and a Exocet cross 84 (wave/freeride) in my trailer (I weigh 75kg). Dorans can be good for both types of gear, it just depends on the day and I normally just choose after looking at the chop and how gusty it is when I turn up. Get a 5.2 and a 4.2 then you'll have all high wind situations covered. The wave gear can be so much fun on the river when you get those 80-100kmh wind days and you wouldn't even look at getting the slalom gear out. Still pretty comfortable in those conditions with a 4m

Is being a FSW important, or is it the same/similar for 'just' a wave board? Because there are about 1000 cheap 'wave' boards for sale on this site, but less 'freestyle wave' boards.. Loving this advice!

I would say you definitely want a FSW for bump and jumping. They are faster, go up wind better, jump better etc. Some of the single fin wave boards of past fit ok in the bump and jump scene.