I have decided I am going wind chasing rather than stick to one location which has been limiting at times with 6 kts in my location whilst the forecasters are predicting 20 kts elsewhere.
After spending most of my time on flat water I am looking for areas on Port Phillip Bay that are relatively flat and what wind direction works the best? Easy beach access, water depth, not too crowded, no. of windsurfers, launching area etc comments would also help
I'm fairly new to the sport so havn't as yet experienced a lot of what's to offer in the bay.
Point Ormond - My fav. spot in the bay on a northerly. (NW-N in my opinion) Seems to stay quite flat, unlike other spots in the bay on Southerlies. Nice grass rigging area close to the car and water. Nice gentle drop in water depth. Nice wide beach. Not too crowded. Only con's I can think of are - 1. Northerlies can be quite gusty, and 2. Paying for parking.
I'm keen to try Ormond a little more this winter. From what I have heard and seen Melbourne has some pretty decent Northerlies during the colder months.
Hampton Beach -
thewindmap.com/wiki/index.php/Hampton_Beach-Australia_%26_New_Zealand
I'm keen to try on a Southerly. Maybe it's a little more protected from the swell?
Hampton is a S is pretty good, BUT there is a sailing club south of hampton and a large cliff which can mess the wind up but once you get out about 100-200m the wind evens up with very little chop. Some times if it goes a bit SSE then you have to go even further out.
Sw or S - Rickets point, Beaumaris at the Yact club. Lots of Reef which = great waves for jumping. flat water on the inside. depends how much you walk around on the bottom, you may need booties. ask a local about were to go out between the reef. Always plenty of people sailing there.
SE or W - Rickets Point - The life saving club. Easy to sail and gets good waves when its big
W or NW or WSW or SW - Edithvale Aspendale etc.. all along that beach is great sailing. good sand bars gets massive waves. can be a shorebreak and strong current when its 25knots+
