Hi guys -
I´m planning to visit Tasmania´s north west to try some wavesailing for a week or two in January. Except from a day in windang and a couple in brazil I am pretty fresh at it. I´ve sailed for a number of years and can survive in 40 knots, but not necessarily in breaking waves.. Ive heard there´s plenty of room in tas, so that way there´s a better chance not dragging innocent bystanders with me under water during my enterprise, and later I´ll be heading west along the coast over to SA/WA to try the spots there. So, regarding all this, I would be grateful for some advice--
1. Is Marrawah the place to go? Ive heard Stanley has more consistant wind. But probably less waves?
2. I weigh 62 kgs, and have here in oz a 87 ltr Fanatic quad wave board (sails 4.2-4.7-5.3). Would that suit the conditions, or do I need to get myself a smaller board as well? I have a 68 ltr JP quad back home overseas, but it generally needs 20-25 knots for consistent planing (for me it does...).
..and I'm from europe and worked in NSW for a year, so I´m trying to see some of the sights before I go back home again as well.. 
Stanley/ Marrawah are very close so you can read the pattern and move between the two.
might need a smaller board if the fronts come in as it can get very windy!. Might be worth doing anyway as you will need something smaller for WA anyway.
I weigh 75kg and will be taking a 89 and 81 litre board 3.7 up to 5.3.
oh yeah take a few spares as the closest shop is 3 hours way.
"...not necessarily in breaking waves..."
The west coast can be pretty hungry, and eat up lots of gear. If you are new in the waves you would probably be better off seeing if you can get a few sails at some of the haunts further east across the north coast.
Greens Beach on the west side of the mouth of the Tamar is a brilliant 'learn to manage the waves' spot in a NW wind.
Bellbuoy Beach, on the east side of the Tamar is the most sailed beach for us northerners, as it also picks up westerly winds.
Neither of these beaches are going to eat your gear or see you floundering and drowning trying to handle waves, but both are also good wave sailing beaches.
January at low head?
Relying on fronts in the mdidle of summer. I would fully recommend low head area if there was a week of north westerlies when you get off the boat.
Otherwise i still say Marrawah,, swell small and regular south seabreezes most summer days . Along with nice north east sails at greens throughout summer, small waves unless fronts.
either way if you are on the n/west coast you can cover seabreezes at Marrawah and if a front comes through travel to the n/west coast to catch the north westerlies then travel back to greens to sail the south west the next day.
There are some windsurfers who have properties at Marrawah, might be worth some input???
Very valuable input, thanks! Sounds like I'm doing right in planning for Tasmania!
Marrawah is a must do, if you're not that experienced in waves like Geared4k said head over Greens Beach (Spot Guide will get you there) when the swell is small.
Then if its massive it's just worth a look pretty impressive scenery again check out the spot guide for directions
www.thespotguide.com.au/TAS/index.html
Greens Beach is the just down the road from the pub and Nettleys is the next beach south about 2-3km past the beach turnoff, that's worth a look but not an easy place to sail. The other spots BOL and Bluff you'll find in the Guide they are both regular but not easy sailing spots.
Marrawah is only about 50 mins from Stanley
Definitely agree, Marrawah is the place to be in January. Marrawah's Greens beach is a great place to get into wave sailing and January is known as a great month to visit, with sea breezes from both tacks as well as frontal winds. There should be a few of us around during the first couple of weeks of January, hopefully we will see you there.
There is a small free camping area right on Greens beach.
Sounds great, thanks guys!
But if I understand it correctly- if the swell is anything but small, then there is no beaches sufficiently sheltered for a rookie, and heading for stanley for bump&jump is the option, alternatively low head?
That's correct but it is unlikely that Greens at Marrawah will be to big in January for more than a day
