Hi,

I have just recently moved to Tasmania (from hot, humid and crowded Brisbane) for study and our new house is in Lindisfarne overlooking the Derwent. I was a keen beach catamaran sailor in days past and it seemed logical that I should try out windsurfing since the water is basically at the bottom of my driveway.

However despite some nice days the past few weeks I have not seen anyone else on the water here and I note that water quality might not be that great:
www.derwentestuary.org.au/file.php?id=238

Is it a bad idea to windsurf here (and being a beginner I would be in the water a lot :-) but if it is OK is something like this a reasonable start (as a student money is tight)
http://hobart.gumtree.com.au/c-Stuff-for-Sale-sports-other-sports-leisure-fitness-Windsurfer-suit-learner-W0QQAdIdZ353981333

Thanks!

Must of been in the wrong spot mate. In Hobart they get a solid 25+ people windsurfing on a weekend. Doran's road is the ideal place to learn down your way.

Hi, check out this site:
www.windsurfing.org/tas.htm
Contact one of the many helpful reps from WT down south, and they will set you up with some proper gear to learn on, for a very small donation to WT. Lessons can also be organised. (call Damo at JaySails).
Learning by yourself on that gear on Gumtree would most likely lead you to have a bad time, and be put off a great activity.
There are a couple of excellent learner locations not far from Lindisfarne (Doran's Rd and Pipeclay Lagoon), where you can learn in water shallow enough to stand up in.

Thanks for the info - I might just get in contact with Damo as that sounds like a good idea. Is it OK to go in the Derwent though, part of the appeal was being able to walk down and have a go whenever I see some whitecaps :-)

yeah, as easty says that gear is a recipe for frustration. give me or 'ant' a pm and we can set you up with a club learner board to try.
the drwent is fine for sailing in but there are more learner freindly spots as mentioned.
cheers damien

yeah, as easty says that gear is a recipe for frustration. give me or 'ant' a pm and we can set you up with a club learner board to try.
the drwent is fine for sailing in but there are more learner freindly spots as mentioned.
cheers damien

I started windsurfing about 9 months ago. Part of the original appeal was being able to go windsurfing directly from work at Taroona.

I quickly found that sailing at Dorans Rd, Cremorne Lagoon, Marion Bay or Mortimer Bay was much, much more beginner friendly. You can sail so that you are always in waist deep water, on a good day there are lots of others around to give you tips and at the right spot the wind is more consistent and the water smoother than on the Derwent. These advantages definitely outweighed the extra 50 minutes driving per session.

I've got the water starts sorted now and feel safe on the open water (after about 25 sessions) so I've started heading out on the Derwent occasionally. I haven't had any really good sessions on the Derwent yet as the wind seems a bit less consistent, but it's been fun nonetheless as you can cover some good ground and explore Hobart :-) I think the water is reasonably safe but I try not to drink too much of it :-) As I've got better I've become pickier with the conditions (same as snow...) and will often drive further for good wind even if the Derwent is sailable.

As for gear, don't buy the old board of gumtree if you want to really get into windsurfing. The beginner boards from the club would be great to learn on (wish I'd known they existed). My first gear was about $600 for 2003 vintage board, sail, mast, boom, harness etc. including shipping from the mainland. A world of difference from an old board like the one in gumtree that I tried previously.

Oh and coming from QLD you might need a new wetsuit. I use a full length 3/2 surfing wetsuit which is way too cold in Winter, for Winter sailing you'll also want booties (I also find that as I still come off lots, if I don't wear them I get cut up feet).

Doing things on the cheap I've found that my old dive wetsuit is hopeless (impossible to sail with due to lack of flexibility) and that my Ronstan sailing wetsuit boots are hopeless as they lack the dexterity for windsurfing. You seem to be able to get windsurfing specific winter wetsuits for a couple of hundred bucks. (I'm hoping my 3/2 will still get me through this winter).

Lastly, having previously owned & sailed a Hobie 18, I can honestly say windsurfing is a hell of a lot more fun than sailing beach cats!

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skinduptruk said...

why are these 5/4/3 cheaper than their 3/2???

http://www.anchorwetsuits.com.au/_product_49136/Steamer_-_Ocean_Action

That is cheap. That's the same as mine and I've had it for about 2years now.

DON'T LEARN ON THE REALLY OLD GEAR.
It's really difficult to get going and then has no relevance to new gear.

With the WT Learners you'll be going in a month.

That anchor wetsuit looks like a bargain -- are they any good FoS?

The water quality is ok in the Derwent, just close your month when you fall in. I sail at Sandy Bay and have never been sick from it.

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xarvia said...

That anchor wetsuit looks like a bargain -- are they any good FoS?

Yeah mines alright. I used it all the time.
Sealed seams etc so yeah, for a budget wetsuit it's good.