Evening All,

Heading down to Oz for Christmas and wanted to know if anyone could help point me to good windsurfing rental spots in Melbourne and Torquay area?

Tips on stores that sell second hand gear would also be appreciated. Likewise on spots.

Cheers...

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JesterHyde said..

Evening All,

Heading down to Oz for Christmas and wanted to know if anyone could help point me to good windsurfing rental spots in Melbourne and Torquay area?

Tips on stores that sell second hand gear would also be appreciated. Likewise on spots.

Cheers...

SHQ, the ZU, RPS and Core boardsports (torquay) are the main shops in Vic.

I think the Zu does kit rental... though if you're down for a while it might be cheaper to buy on here and sell after.

Agree with GP.

Also depends on the sailing you are planning on doing , how long you are here , and your budget and what you will have as transport.

You may be able to come to an arrangement where you buy some second hand shop owned kit, and get a agreed buy back if you don't damage it?

Just a suggestion, but no guarantee any shop will go for it.

Sailing - Pt Danger at Torquay is great for waves, careful of the tides and can get congested there when its on. Lots of spots on the bay for a blast. Summer usually blows from the south, so St Kilda through to Sandringham, Rickett's Point, Parkdale Bonbeach are all OK. Inverloch if you have a car. I'd buy 2nd hand kit from a shop and try to sell it back on leaving.

Thanks for the tips. Most appreciated...

I hope you Gents don't mind me tapping you for some more info but I am wondering what you think of the wind conditions in Melbourne generally. Looking into 2nd hand kit to buy & probably leave for later trips, but wasn't sure about conditions.

I am around 70 kg 180cm, intermediate sailor. So I was thinking of a Freestyle Wave type board around 85 - 95L and two wave sails of 4.5 & 5.5. Using in 16 - 20kts & 20 - 24kts respectively.

Oh yeah, likely sailing up around City Beaches on the Bay & some wave sailing down towards Torquay. Need to keep kit as efficent as possible so limiting to one board, two rigs.

Anyone have any wisdom to share on that thought process?

Cheers...

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JesterHyde said..

I hope you Gents don't mind me tapping you for some more info but I am wondering what you think of the wind conditions in Melbourne generally. Looking into 2nd hand kit to buy & probably leave for later trips, but wasn't sure about conditions.

I am around 70 kg 180cm, intermediate sailor. So I was thinking of a Freestyle Wave type board around 85 - 95L and two wave sails of 4.5 & 5.5. Using in 16 - 20kts & 20 - 24kts respectively.

Oh yeah, likely sailing up around City Beaches on the Bay & some wave sailing down towards Torquay. Need to keep kit as efficent as possible so limiting to one board, two rigs.

Anyone have any wisdom to share on that thought process?

Cheers...

I think you are on the money.

The conditions here are mostly SW seabreezes over summer ranging from 16-22knots. St.Kilda near the city gets the best wind at the peak of the seabreeze and its a little bumpy, so a FSW would be the way to go.

Select to expand quote

JesterHyde said..

I hope you Gents don't mind me tapping you for some more info but I am wondering what you think of the wind conditions in Melbourne generally. Looking into 2nd hand kit to buy & probably leave for later trips, but wasn't sure about conditions.

I am around 70 kg 180cm, intermediate sailor. So I was thinking of a Freestyle Wave type board around 85 - 95L and two wave sails of 4.5 & 5.5. Using in 16 - 20kts & 20 - 24kts respectively.

Oh yeah, likely sailing up around City Beaches on the Bay & some wave sailing down towards Torquay. Need to keep kit as efficent as possible so limiting to one board, two rigs.

Anyone have any wisdom to share on that thought process?

Cheers...

Sounds reasonable - only suggestion would be that the sail sizes should be 5.0 and 6.5.

I am around 70kg's and can get going on my 5.0 and 90L board in 15 knots. I reckon 5.2 and 4.5 with ~90L FSW board would cover the biggest range for you.

Sounds like it's time you bought some kite gear. 2 weeks on the city beaches in Melbourne that time of year with a 11 m kite and twin tip you would never look back .

^^^^ Only if u squat to piss[:

Wavehog, appreciate the suggestion but stick with what I know and love.

I understand, my comment was really related to my thoughts on the ease of travel with kiting gear in relation to windsurfing. Are you traveling with family or solo, and for how long?

Couple of weeks & tribe in tow...

I will give you that, portability is one thing kiting has over windsurfing. Other points are often the subject of vigorous debate but not that one.

DOne a fair bit of legwork trying to line up gear for our trip and can't say the forecast is doing me any favours!