Hi there! I am moving to the Frankston area on the Mornington Penninsula; I was wondering if anyone knows of any popular spots for to go windsurfing, or any local advice that I need to be aware of.

I have lived in Britain all of my life and have loved the windsurfing there, yet now I am moving to Melbourne for the rest of my life and hope to still carry on with blasting around on my sputnik/axxis/erruption and ride.

Thank you very much.

Karl Tweedale

Hi there,

Welcome to Oz!

There's heaps of sailing area's around Frankston / Mornington Peninsula.

Best bet is to check here every Friday and see where eveyone else is off to.

Welcome Karl, Keast park is also a good place to check out, will work with any direction that does not have East in it. From Frankson you will want to drive north about 10 minutes, its right opposite a 7/11 servo, and is beside a bowls club. Going further south, there is Mornington where a local called Leman frequents, he can fill you in on the spots around there. Further south there is Mt Martha, Safety Beach and even further still is Rye, all popular spots depending on direction.

As mentioned, keep an eye on Windsurfing Vic as a lot of people will post up where they intend to sail for the weekend.

Good morning and welcome, Karl,

As you might already know, we have only two windsurfing outlets in Melbourne, www.shq.com.au/ (closest to you) and www.rpstheboardstore.com/ (another 10 minutes' drive)

You might consider going to a newsagency and getting a Melways street map. The locations that follow are cross-referenced to the Melways.

Frankston Lifesaving Club, Melways 100A, B6. A known car-breaking-in area. Works in northerly and southerly.

Frankston, bottom of Oliver's Hill, Melway 102, A4. Works in northerly.

Mornington, Melways 104, D10. You need to explore this area for sailing spots or get advice from "Forum Lurkers".

Mt. Martha, Melways 144, K11. Works in westerlies.

Safety Beach, Melways 150, D11. Works in W and SW

Rye, Melways 168, J4 (in the Yacht Club area). Works in NE, N and NW.

Between Safety Beach and Rye there are many beaches to pick from, but the two above are the most popular.

Coming back to Frankston and heading north:

Keast Park, Melways 97, D11. Works in N and S

Bon Beach, Melways 97, C4 (off Williams Gve). Works in N and S.

Parkdale, Melways 87, B10 (at Parkdale Yacht Club). Works in S and E

Mentone, Melways 86, K8. Works in S and E.

Most of the parking areas north of Frankston are "fee payable", around $3/hour or up to $12/day, so take coins with you.

As in the northern hemisphere, we are having a very odd season here. We normally get Southerly afternoon sea breezes, but these have been rare this year.

Coming from the UK, you need to be very careful in our sun from October to March, between 10 am and 5pm. Suggest use an SPF 30+ sunscreen on all exposed skin (and the top of your ears) and wear a floppy hat with a big brim.

Hope this helps.

Karl,

Welcome to Aus and Victoria.

The above list is very good start. Also refer to Windsurfing Victoria website and newsletters for beach and other windsurfing related info.

Regards,
Stephen

www.wv.org.au

welcome fellow pommie.

no weaver fish here - phew !!

just a few sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, coneshells, blue ring octopus and bogans to contend with.

but DEFINATELY no weaver fish

Welcome Karl!

Welcome. Great list by WindmanV. You picked a good area for windsurfing, tons of options in most wind directions.

There are no shortage of Pommie windsurfers around here, so you're in good company. Just incase you get homesick.

Welcome to Australia! I don't think you will be home sick much and will probably sail more than you did in the UK. As Leman said we have loads of Pommie windsurfers a scouse, Ginger pom and many more...

Can I take this opportunity to say thank you very much for all of your advice (especially windman); you have all been a great help! I will set foot on Aussie soil on the 11th of January (can't wait to do the long haul flight with 4 year old, 2 year old and 9 month old....I will arrive looking older and even balder than I already am!)

Looking forward to 1 last sail over here in Gosport (Hampshire) in the freezing conditions before gear gets shipped for 8 weeks! Now where did I put that windsurfing gimp hood, the 5mm wetsuit and my pair of marigold rubber gloves?

Regards, a merry christmas and good health to you all!

Karl

Select to expand quote

karltweedale said...

Looking forward to 1 last sail over here in Gosport (Hampshire) in the freezing conditions before gear gets shipped for 8 weeks!

Impressive! If you can sail in England's winter, you'll have no problem here at any time of the year (but bring your 5mm wetsuit, etc).

Hello, Karl,

Thanks for the kind words.

I suppose we will recognise you on the water because you will be using Tushingham sails?

Welcome Karl and looking forward to meeting you! - and season's greetings!

Definitely bring your 5mm steamer - useful here in winter. We even see the odd gimp hood here also (hello Old Salty, aka condoman!).

Along with Windman's excellent list there are a number of choice spots if you want to drive a bit further, and depending upon whether you like flat water blasting, ocean waves or B&J.

For speedies like me Sandy Point is mecca - you only have to look at the top rankings on www.gps-speedsurfing.com to see how lucky we are to have it nearby. Wave sailors also enjoy the long rock free ocean beach on the other side at Sandy Point. There is also the delightful Inverloch near Sandy Point - great for weekend trips and if you want to drive westwards Geelong and the Bellarine peninsula have some superb sailing spots. (some of the crew over there are a bit weird though! [}:)]).

Anyway, safe travels and I hope you don't get snowed in!

Karl

Good time to arrive. We will have won the ashes by then... second thoughts.. tuesday alvo at about 3pm will be just as good.

www.thewindmap.com

is also good for VIC locations