Learning away near Aspendale and Chelsea the last few weeks but looking to learn where to go to avoid bumps as I practice.

Wheres the flattest water during 12-16 knots on a Southerly or SW wind between Brighton and Frankston?

Want to concentrate on getting better, beach starts, water starts using the harness etc, not just getting knocked off by chop.

Thanks all!

Gnotuk in a blow is probably the worst place on the bay.

Not only do you have waves coming in from the bottom of the bay, but you get counter chop heading towards Frankston. Sure can mess you around!

On a positive note, if you can gybe successfully in a blow at Gnotuk, you’ll be able to gybe anywhere in the world.

As for locations, you might try Keast Park, Bon Beach (Williams Ave, then turn right into the carpark), Parkdale Yacht Club, Hampton Life Saving Club and Dendy Street, Brighton. Don't sail at Green Point in a southerly.

Hope this helps.

It's a bit less windy than bayside but you could try Tulum at Balnarring.

Pretty shallow and flat as it's protected by the reef on a Southerly but don't stray to the left or right of the buoyed area at low tide or you'll break your fin off.

Buoys are ideal for gybing round too.

great, thanks both - wondered why I am always the only one there

Got a lot to learn. It's fun be consciously incompetant

If you get the chance and feel like a nice 1.5hr drive down the highway, get down here to Inverloch. The inlet in perfect for learning in 12-16kts, sand bars every where for safety, and loads of other people will be on the water too.

I do. Have joined IWC and will be back down as soon as time permits
Invy is Miss right but I want to find Miss right now too

Try Dendy St Brighton.

In that wind strength you'll find it's a fairly smooth, side-to-on swell out to sea and perfectly flat on the inside for gybing.

Inside the reef at Shoreham beach. The pines. The reef stops the waves/chop and a southerly is cross shore.

Head down Jetty rd to the bottom car park next to the old SHQ beach kiosk at Sandringham Harbour. SHQ run there windsurfing lessons down there. Always flat in a southerly but you do need to dodge moored yachts. Well protected with Harbour walls.

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WindmanV said..
Gnotuk in a blow is probably the worst place on the bay.

Not only do you have waves coming in from the bottom of the bay, but you get counter chop heading towards Frankston. Sure can mess you around!

On a positive note, if you can gybe successfully in a blow at Gnotuk, you’ll be able to gybe anywhere in the world.

Funny all the reasons I love Gnotuk so much, if you can tame the beast you will have a blast... But definitely not a place to learn when the wind is up. You need to stay to the southern end of the beach and you will find nice swell out the back of the no boating pole, head north a few hundred meters and it is a washing machine in a constant spin cycle...

Hello!

Several questions:

Gnotukker: were you sailing this saturday at Chelsea / Asp? Think I saw you while kitesurfing...
Good question, I'm at the same stage!

WindmanV: What do you call Gnotuk?
Edit: Google maps answered this one for me :-)
If it is the area around Chelsea, is there really a big difference with Bonbeach? I haven't really seen much difference between one and the other, but again, mainly kitesurfing...


Windsurf0709, Isn't Dendy street forbidden to windsurfing since last year? I remember a couple of guys getting fined there... but maybe is it only during summer...

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Renaud said..
Hello!

WindmanV: What do you call Gnotuk?
Edit: Google maps answered this one for me :-)
If it is the area around Chelsea, is there really a big difference with Bonbeach? I haven't really seen much difference between one and the other, but again, mainly kitesurfing...

Hi Renaud, let me answer that one. Gnotuk is in Aspendale. There is a foreshare parking area off Gnotuk Avenue which is similar to Bonbeach. It used to be a very popular windsurfing spot some 15 years+ ago, but now its only tea baggers that go there. Gets some big wind swell on a howling SW which was epic for jumping.

Cheers Mate, and i won't take offense for the tea bagger comment :-)

I had the windsurf in the car on Saturday, but was a bit too choppy for my poor skill level...

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Renaud said..
Hello!

Several questions:

Gnotukker: were you sailing this saturday at Chelsea / Asp? Think I saw you while kitesurfing...
Good question, I'm at the same stage!

WindmanV: What do you call Gnotuk?
Edit: Google maps answered this one for me :-)
If it is the area around Chelsea, is there really a big difference with Bonbeach? I haven't really seen much difference between one and the other, but again, mainly kitesurfing...


Windsurf0709, Isn't Dendy street forbidden to windsurfing since last year? I remember a couple of guys getting fined there... but maybe is it only during summer...

Hi Renaud
It wasn't me on Saturday - Cup Day yes, but Saturday I could only go in the afternoon and by that stage I thought it pointless for my skill level as it was so chopped out.

I did drive to Bonbeach (Williams ave rhs) earlier and there was a noticeable difference - in the 15 metres from shore it seemed calmer / ie the swell wasn't as steep as Chelsea or Aspendale - so I think it is a better option as easier to get going - surprised me that it was that different tbh.

thanks everyone for the tips - This Saturday is looking good - decisions decisions!

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fishlogan said..
Inside the reef at Shoreham beach. The pines. The reef stops the waves/chop and a southerly is cross shore.

I've surfed there a lot - honeysuckle, little Noosa and the Pines - doesn't it get too shallow in parts? I'd imagine the rock reef would have taken the scalps of a few fins over time - or do you need to wait for high tide?


what about the little bay at Pt Leo near the car park and Crunchies? or is that too protected from the wind?

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Gnotukker said...

fishlogan said..
Inside the reef at Shoreham beach. The pines. The reef stops the waves/chop and a southerly is cross shore.

I've surfed there a lot - honeysuckle, little Noosa and the Pines - doesn't it get too shallow in parts? I'd imagine the rock reef would have taken the scalps of a few fins over time - or do you need to wait for high tide?


what about the little bay at Pt Leo near the car park and Crunchies? or is that too protected from the wind?

Shoreham on the reef you need high tide to sail over it and there are a few boulders that will crunch fins. But it's not bad for wave sailing with a good swell. But I'm talking about to the left of the reef. Can sail that at any tide and it's usually pretty chop free.
Pt Leo is a bit crappy for wave sailing and it gets choppy but suicide point to the left is a pretty good wave riding spot too. But not very good for flat water sailing.
Thus is a clip of someone sailing suicide point.

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fishlogan said..

Gnotukker said...

fishlogan said..
Inside the reef at Shoreham beach. The pines. The reef stops the waves/chop and a southerly is cross shore.

I've surfed there a lot - honeysuckle, little Noosa and the Pines - doesn't it get too shallow in parts? I'd imagine the rock reef would have taken the scalps of a few fins over time - or do you need to wait for high tide?


what about the little bay at Pt Leo near the car park and Crunchies? or is that too protected from the wind?

Shoreham on the reef you need high tide to sail over it and there are a few boulders that will crunch fins. But it's not bad for wave sailing with a good swell. But I'm talking about to the left of the reef. Can sail that at any tide and it's usually pretty chop free.
Pt Leo is a bit crappy for wave sailing and it gets choppy but suicide point to the left is a pretty good wave riding spot too. But not very good for flat water sailing.
Thus is a clip of someone sailing suicide point.

Thats a ripper clip, watching Jono makes me wanna go wave sailing!