Hi,
I'm a beginner with only 6 hours worth of practice. Not much but I'm hooked! I love watersports and anything that involves a board.
I live near south Frankston.
Does anyone know the best beaches to practice around here? Sandringham was good to practice but was wondering if there is anything closer?
I have my own board (145L) and sail.

Cheers

I learnt at Mentone / Sandringham harbour / St Kilda Harbour and Elwood beach...
All good spots to learn and have their pros and cons.

Good to go where other people are sailing to gain knowledge and tips. Bonbeach is probably going to be your best location. Williams Grove is a regular spot and even in light winds some people will probably be kicking around.

Good luck and welcome to the sport.

For light winds Bonbeach. Over winter Rye is great spot when it's northerly.
Other local spots is Seaford keast park and frankston near Oliver's hill

I learnt down there:

Mount Martha
Seaford
Rye

All good spots and you can't get into real trouble with predominantly onshore winds. Go to BonBeach for tips from others as this is often a great way to progress rather than sailing alone.

Parkdale is great as well, 90% of the time its onshore so you can't get into too much trouble. Nice bay, and good spot to catch the seabreezes over summer. A good group of guys who sail there on a regular basis. They're a friendly bunch too and will be happy to provide advice.

Rye is a great place to learn.
Clean water, no dumpy shore break, even in off shore winds, as long as you are inside the poles the water only gets to waist to head high making it great when learning to waterstart.
You can attempt more gybes and not be too concerned about not pulling them off if you know you can touch the bottom, flick the sail over and start over again, instead of floundering in deep water and getting exhausted.
Just need to take care on low tide with a large fin.

Select to expand quote

iwindsurf said...
Rye is a great place to learn.
Clean water, no dumpy shore break, even in off shore winds, as long as you are inside the poles the water only gets to waist to head high making it great when learning to waterstart.
You can attempt more gybes and not be too concerned about not pulling them off if you know you can touch the bottom, flick the sail over and start over again, instead of floundering in deep water and getting exhausted.
Just need to take care on low tide with a large fin.

As we get into winter, can definitely vouch for Rye in the northerlies.... though it needs to be a cold day to make it down there....

Select to expand quote

K Dog said...

iwindsurf said...
Rye is a great place to learn.
Clean water, no dumpy shore break, even in off shore winds, as long as you are inside the poles the water only gets to waist to head high making it great when learning to waterstart.
You can attempt more gybes and not be too concerned about not pulling them off if you know you can touch the bottom, flick the sail over and start over again, instead of floundering in deep water and getting exhausted.
Just need to take care on low tide with a large fin.

As we get into winter, can definitely vouch for Rye in the northerlies.... though it needs to be a cold day to make it down there....

Where do you launch from in Rye, i've heard its good in a Northerly.

Typically here:

-38.370581,144.835022

But haven't been since Winter, and its a great spot. You get this protected area for speed and flat water (easily stand), and then waves (for the bay) further out.

Rye:

Best in Winter in the northerlies

Thanks guys for the help. So far I have been to Bonbeach and Rye.

Today was my first day at Rye with a northerly wind. I went to the exact location recommended above in the picture. Although I was still struggling getting started it was definitely one of my best days. I will need to learn these beach starts (eventually water starts) and tacking very soon. I'm getting a bit tired from lots of uphauling.

Thanks again.

Kurt

Here is a quick photo I took at Rye.

Hi guys
Hijacking the thread but looking to head out at lunch on sat. Looking for some flatter water then Bonbeach where I live as I have a mate im trying to get hooked on sport as well. TriP to Rye an option however just wanted to know if sandringham is fine for a northerly as well.

Also the water at sandy by the boats gets quite shallow at low tide, should I head further round the bay there or is the best place right where the sandy beach guys do their lessons?

Ginno

Beginners go to Balnarring Beach MELWAY 193 C10 at the end Mason Smith Road, any reasonable southerly direction, check tides always fun with the dolphins, cheers

Does anyone know if rye get the same chop as bonbeach on a northley? Can use that to gauge if I head down there with a few friends or just go to sandringham this Saturday... Thanks - ginno

Sandy if nice and flat in a northerly but very gusty. Green point about a km north, cuts out the wind somewhat. There are always heaps of guys at GP in northerly. Sandy is doable but might be better of going 300 m north to Hampton Beach. I use to go there when learning in northerlies. Wind is cleaner at GP (still gusty) but you sail straight out into the bay. At Hampton, he will only get blown back into sandy Harbour if things go wrong and he doesn't go out too far.