Just trying to workout how to get google maps on here so we can zoom in to winsurfing spots
Someone else got some IT skills?

G'day Houston,
I've been thinking how to word a post about listing all the spots that you guys all know about, like where they are, how to get there, where to park, where to launch, which winds for which spot etc.
In a forum like this, it won't be really possible to embed an active google map I don't think.. certainly not one that contains all your personalised place-marks.
The best way would be for someone to collate all the info, do it up in one massive post, embed the map like you've got below, but also include the Google Earth KMZ link for the place-marks (the direct link to the yellow pin's on your map above) so one can click and actively manipulate their own google earth.
Being the newbie here, I have no real idea of locations, but if you guys want to send me all your locations, I'm happy to collate it all and get it posted as a sticky at the top of Windsurfing Tasmania.
I'm probably not your best option, but happy to if no one else wants to do it. :-)
Cheers,
Johnny

Been having a think about this as I've travelled around the East Arm - over the weekend, wondering how we can share the 'local knowledge' a little better.

Not sure how this concept will work, see what you guys think. I can add users as editors to modify the map, or make it open for everyone to edit.
I like the idea personally of having users photo's linkable so you can really 'see' - but for now perhaps this good enough?
Anyway - I've only added in the two at Low Head for a concept test first, no doubt there are much better options/ways of doing this...

I believe users need to have gmail accounts to edit/save the maps etc. Although this link will remain constant to this map, and any updates that are added.

http://g.co/maps/ph775

That looks good!!

That's pretty much what I had in mind, except - WOW - how much work has gone into this! :-)
I like each placemark has a clickable hyperlink to their own page, with specifics of the particular spot. What I had in mind - except they have used their own site for the info.
Probably not my call on how we do it - but I reckon this is invaluable.
I'd be happy to help get this going, there's a bit of time involved, but if you guys can supply good info/pics/tips/maps then why not?

so many people ask the same question about where to go in what wind etc.
does seabreeze allow sticky's?.
the' welcome to windsurfing tas' has to be left in a little box at the top for the 'no sticky ' reason.
Would be great if we could have a locations giude at the very top of the forum all the time.

I've already had a chat to Laurie (seabreeze mod) who doesn't have any problems with us adding another Sticky to the top of the Windsurfing Tasmania Forum.

All we need is the information guys!
Are we going about this the wrong way? Does the association want to handle this or get it rolling? I don't want to tread on anyone's toes...

I'm more than happy to collate, format, make it look good, and source, hassle you guys for more information if you are all happy for it to happen. But I need the information from you guys.

I can get Laurie to add it as a sticky once everyone is happy?

I can't find a way to embed a live google maps overlay in this forum though. I'm waiting to hear back from Laurie if this is possible - we may just have to have images that then link off to Google Maps overlay like I have made here http://g.co/maps/ph775 which would still work fine.

Go for it Johnny

Not upset at all if somone is doing th work, and you doing a really good job too,

I like the cars and sails as icons

That's a brilliant start Johnny
You're definitley not treading on anyones toes, we're all is this together and the WT committee and all sailors will be rapped with this.
Great idea to have photos of each spot on the map.
In the description could you say what the spot is best for,eg:
Flat water blasting
Speed
Ideal for beginners
Wave - down the line
Wave - jumping
Bump and jump

A link to google maps should work well
I suggest you give it a crack

Thanks Houston (and Fos!)

Thanks to Al's suggestion of the old nomadic site, I've managed to 'obtain' their Location pages from their old site.
But we need spot info for all the places that you guys sail regularly.
I'm thinking we should get a template sorted, so we get consistent and relevant information, and then get you guys with 'local knowledge' to fill it in, with your own spin, add a couple of good photo's, then I can whip up the Google Map overlay, with hyperlinks to the 'Spot guide' page.
Once a few of us agree on a template for the info - I'll post a new topic calling for everyone to email me their Spot Guide, and photo's and I'll collate it all and shazam.... sounds easy doesn't it :-)

How does a standard site info template like this sound: *Some of the below info may or may not be true - demo purposes only!!*

Spot Name: Lagoon Bay - Low Head, 41°4'S, 146°48'E
Ideal for: Flat water blasting, chop jumping
Parking: ~20 cars, 15m to beach
Rigging: Great rigging spot on grass, next to car park - 3 big steps down to beach easily carry gear
Winds: Westerly Onshore, but sailing in both Northly or Southerly directly across river is great
Current: River current is around 6knots - 2hrs +/- of the turn is best sailing
Waves: In the river, very small chop waves, but no breakers
Tide: High tide is right up to rock wall at beach, low tide uncovers nice shallow bay, encompassed by a sandbar roughly 250-300m from beach - see map image

Comments: Ribbon weed can wrap around fin, rocks at each end of beach would have oyster shells, but the entire beach is very safe. Other side of river (Kelso) is gravelly with some oysters too. At low tide the sandbar that borders the bay is chest high - staying inside this sandbar will keep you out of the channel enough. You can rig at southern end of beach, where there is a small lighthouse and car park for roughly 10 cars, but not as easy as the northern end.

perhaps rather than Lat and Long, directions ?

like Houstons to get to the Marion Bay lagoon, and we meet at the cemetry

looks like your all over it johnny ...what a great idea....thumbs up from me

Ok, and thanks guys!
How's this?

Spot Name: Lagoon Bay - Low Head, 41°4'S, 146°48'E
Directions: Head North through GeorgeTown into Low Head, follow road until reaching the signposted Lagoon Bay entrance to the left of the playground
Facilities: Toilets, Playground, 2x Gas BBQ's, Large Hut/picnic area, beach shower-excellent for washing gear as well
Ideal for: Flat water blasting, chop jumping
Parking: ~20 cars, 15m to beach
Rigging: Great rigging spot on grass, next to car park - 3 big steps down to beach easily carry gear
Winds: Westerly Onshore, but sailing in both Northly or Southerly directly across river is great
Current: River current is around 6knots - 2hrs +/- of the turn is best sailing
Waves: In the river, very small chop waves, but no breakers
Tide: High tide is right up to rock wall at beach, low tide uncovers nice shallow bay, encompassed by a sandbar roughly 250-300m from beach - see map image

Comments: Ribbon weed can wrap around fin, rocks at each end of beach would have oyster shells, but the entire beach is very safe. Other side of river (Kelso) is gravelly with some oysters too. At low tide the sandbar that borders the bay is chest high - staying inside this sandbar will keep you out of the channel enough. You can rig at southern end of beach, where there is a small lighthouse and car park for roughly 10 cars, but not as easy as the northern end.

I've updated the two links for Low Head to now point to the easiest place I could think of, a blogspot page.
See http://g.co/maps/ph775
Each Sail Icon has a link to it's relevant page with a pic and info. For now, at least it'll give us somewhere to throw ideas around, and get things right. Us geeks call it a sandbox :-)
Now I need some spot guides, and/or pics guys.
I'm sure you not all mute or completely illiterate
Email me anything, including pic's to johnhuett at gmail.com

very good johnny (sounds like a Men at work song)

I'll get some together and forward them.

1 important spot,
the annual BBQ/Drinks
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Tasmania/bbq-at-Ants-on-the-5th-November-its-on/

Mortimer Bay
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Tasmania/Mortimer-Bay/

some other links
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Tasmania/New-to-sailing-in-southern-tassie/

Johnny bloody brilliant great to see I'm not the only computer geek in town

A suggestion on small change to format, kept the same headings but moved them:
Spot name
Ideal for
Winds
Directions
Parking
Rigging
Facilaties
Current
Waves
Tide
Comments

In the "Ideal for" if it's ideal for beginners put that in. The guys that will use this site will be mainly those that are beginner to intermediate so think about them when you are editing the information
Would be good if the photos have someone sailing, then sailors get perspective of the spot.

Were you able to access the Nomadic site?

Thanks again man. Yea, great ideas for the order, and content - keep em coming!

I tried to get access to the nomadic site. The site is suspended by the hosting company, so I contacted them. They will only supply the site content to John (the site owner) at his registered email address. (I've PM'd John on seabreeze).

Meanwhile, I managed to 'find' the content that was on the site, and save it all. So I have all their old "locations" pages and images, which I will add to our list of sites as well. They've got some good info from what I skim read.
Cheers.

I've updated the Lagoon Bay page - access from the Google map (http://g.co/maps/ph775) or direct: wtspotguide.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/lagoon-bay-low-head.html

Also, added a few links to photo's from you guys, and the streetview photo as the heading photo - just an idea

Awesome job Johnny, I will take the camera out to a few spots locally around Devo and Burnie. Tides are one of the biggest things to be careful with up here. So I will try and get some photos of low and high tide taken of the same spots.

Johnny you've nailed it....can't get better than that

I'll give John Pott a ring about getting the nomadic site up and running, I suggest we don't use the nomadic locations till we get confirmation from him that it's OK, he put heaps of work into that site and it belongs to him

Awesome man. I wanted to hear from him before I did anything with it.

There's no need to resurrect the site, unless he has updated info or pics etc, just his approval is all I need.
Worst case we have the spots which we can list which is better than nothing. Then we can get updated info from those of us who visit them perhaps.
Thanks again
Johnny

Just been talking to Potty, he's looking into getting nomadic up and running again for us, he'll let me know when it's done then he'll hand it over to us. I'll let you know when I hear from him again

Oh wow man that's huge! I'll keep plugging away on my sandbox until then.
I'll put a post up calling for local knowledge/spot guides later, and keep building our knowledge base.
Cheers

Very small knowledge base in the windsurfing community we're all a bunch o mad dumb pricks.....or at least you guys up north are

not gonna bight not gonna bight not gonna bight not gonna bight.....

At least we don't sail on a one way ticket

not gonna bight not gonna bight not gonna bight