Inverloch Windsurfing club

We have a bloody good location for windsurfing at Inverloch and it would be a great place to set something up.
A few of us had discussions about a possible club down at Inverloch on Sunday and I would like to float some ideas to see the interest.
Obviously 14 people attended on Sunday for the free clinic by RPS which suggests to me people are interested in lessons.
The thoughts are:
1) We form a club( I have had experience in doing this) and charge a membership fee. The club may or may not be affliated with Windsufing Victoria depending on insurance matters. We charge a membership fee and volunteers provide member services to the members eg club training days, club race days,newsletter, promo clothes discounted deals etc. On club training days guest instructors are paid to run clinics and those attending pay for small group lessons that are booked in advance. The Angling club/caravan park are approached for storage and the use of facilities on club days which they would be paid for. For this to work we would probably need a membership of 20 people, as a minimum, paying a membership fee of $120( a guess) pa plus tution/ storage/ facility use.

2) Infromal association of like minded mad bastards and bastardess( sorry got carried away) windsurfers that organise our own clinics and split the fee. This would work with a smaller number of people.

All thoughts and suggestions would be greatfully appreciated.

Great initiative OldSalty...

The informal option for me....

-Maybe a couple of get togethers during the warmer months, BBQ's, etc.
-Like the idea of the clinics.
-Race days would be great but IMO there's just not enough room due to the sandbars, other water activities, etc. Maybe a slalom type course on the "other" side of the main sandbar? Around a marker and back? Or possibly a speed based comp. would be more appropriate on the current side of the bar we sail?

Either option, it would be nice to see more windsurfers come down. it's a great place to get into the sport and progress. And on the right conditions great for the intermediates and more advanced.

Might be the best option by the look of things....

great ideas...I've often wondered why there is'nt a stronger scene down here (ie like the boardriders clubs in Sydney.) I also reckon that it would be a good thing to have a bit of a collective voice when it comes to future use and protection of the Inlet.
I'd be happy to join, help out, do whatever (maybe even sponsor an event or two)

Let me know if I can help out
cheers,
Mick

I would like to be kept informed on any proposed club, with interest in joining.

The lessons for beginners to intermediates would be helpful.

Good call Old Salty. You're not a convener for CFMEU as well are you? I'm in - Inver's become a 2nd home over the summer months and there's clearly a like minded group that would like something 'more'. Not necessarily kisses and cuddles or wifeswapping, but maybe the odd barbie/beer.It was great to see so many people out on Sunday - many of whom had made the journey out from the city. There would definitely be a market for some local instruction.

Oh, and I definitely think that there is scope to get the 'other halves' involved in this. There are quite a lot of (mainly female) beginner windsurfers who are keen to learn to windsurf but they're not on the forum, and they're only access into the windsurfing scene is through their partners.

I can name four or five off the top of my head who would be dead keen on lessons and learning, who have already had a go and want to do more. Inverloch / SP clinics would be just the go to get them more involved.

Matt - Love to get you involved in the teaching and may be a speed clinic - we are aware of WV.
Flicky - There will always be some freestylers out there needing guidance. Once they see you strut your stuff there might be a few others out there that want to have a go also.
Drift/Flicky - love your ideas just keep them rolling
Carbonart 62 - will keep you informed. may start with a few informal things first to test the water and roll from there
Croweman ahh the cfmeu - could have been in another life
Jman - you are the snoring nazi! Public warning. Do not sleep with this man
The best thing we can do to get this going is spread the word and get people to respond to this post so we can guage the interest.

Good stuff Mick

How do we determine the time was done at Inverloch? Photo of GPS in front of the Angling Club sign?

I'm in.
Who's up for it?

Jman, bring the Russian down and Bondy and lets see what we can do.
Ejmack - looks like you are going to have to get a GPS

Looks like the nail polish and the leopard skin dress is coming out!!

Thats a pretty decent donation drift... If you do the ratio thing, you might find 25kn in 10kn of wind is possible...

Pound Creek or Wonthaggi are the ones to use -> the Wilson's Prom dial doesn't measure up with what we get on the water, unless it is blowing easterly. eg: in a SW'er it can read up to 30kn higher than what Shallow Inlet actually gets.

As for metering-the-wind... its possible to setup an anemometer on one of the sandbars, to average the windspeed throughout the day - just need a good anemometer... and someone to volunteer to set it up, etc.

Sounds like a great idea to increase the fun factor and encourage new people.

I particularly like the idea of encouraging women. I have been struggling to get my partner hooked. I reckon that lessons from one's own partner can be a recipe for disaster, so a group lesson just for women might be a real success. I know they have regular womens/girls surf days at Smiths Beach on Phillip Island and I have been amazed at how popular they are.

Maybe an arrangement could be set up with one of the windsurf shops to bring some sets of learner gear?

I confess to sharing a room with Jman and the KGB at last years cup week at Sandy and the KGB vastly outsnored Jman!

Placing the wind meter on the club, would result in wind speeds measured that weren't representative of what we get on the water...

You'd need to place it in the middle of one of the sand banks.