Starbord tack wave sailing spots

9 years ago
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Steve411
Steve411
QLD
30 posts
QLD, 30 posts
3 Dec 2016 9:24am
What is the most consistent starboard tack waves sailing spot in Aus? Don't care if it's a point, reef or beachie. What's the closest town etc.

Cheers,
Steve
LeeD
LeeD
3939 posts
3939 posts
3 Dec 2016 12:05pm
From California, all we hear about is Margaret River, W Australia, for Diamond Head (Oahu) tack wave riding. Wave is mushier, slower, and quite often smaller than Diamond Head, but it's the same wave riding direction.
Steve411
Steve411
QLD
30 posts
QLD, 30 posts
3 Dec 2016 3:02pm
Must have the tacks mixed up, I mean riding a right hander as opposed to a left like Margies.
hardie
hardie
WA
4133 posts
WA, 4133 posts
3 Dec 2016 2:06pm
I'm no expert here, but most WA breaks on the west coast of WA are (highly regular) left handers, goes with the wind and swell direction, very seldom some breaks give you a rideable right hander. Same for south Coast of WA, though Esperance occasionally has some nice rights.
Knottedup
Knottedup
573 posts
573 posts
4 Dec 2016 5:32am
The best places in Aussie are all Port tack.
However for starboard tack going State by State these are my tips.
NSW the 3 best are:
-Windang Island the southern end of Port Kembla beach Wollongong area.
- Flat Top 30 minutes north of Coffs
- Flat Rock north of Ballina
Qld – Biggest and most consistent D'bah on the NSW- Qld border.
Vic- I go with 13th Beach north of Torquay
WA – Rottnest Island
Can't help you with Tassie the west coast which is strongest and biggest is really only set up for Port Tack.
SA can't help you.

If you want one spot Windang Island is my pick.
stehsegler
stehsegler
WA
3571 posts
WA, 3571 posts
4 Dec 2016 7:45am
Knottedup said..
NSW the 3 best are:
-Windang Island the southern end of Port Kembla beach Wollongong area.
- Flat Top 30 minutes north of Coffs
- Flat Rock north of Ballina


Makaha off the Long Reef headland?
dan berry
dan berry
WA
2562 posts
WA, 2562 posts
4 Dec 2016 3:54pm
LeeD said...
From California, all we hear about is Margaret River, W Australia, for Diamond Head (Oahu) tack wave riding. Wave is mushier, slower, and quite often smaller than Diamond Head, but it's the same wave riding direction.


Dont know where youve heard that mate. I would say margies picks up bigger more consistent swell than most places on the planet. The only similarity to diamong head is the tack
Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23647 posts
WA, 23647 posts
4 Dec 2016 5:27pm
^^^ +1
Maybe they only film Oahu on the small days to keep us away, cos I have never seen it look like Margies
gmitton
gmitton
SA
1461 posts
SA, 1461 posts
4 Dec 2016 8:43pm
Sailed both multiple times. Wave is faster, bigger and thicker at Margies...
R1DER
R1DER
WA
1474 posts
WA, 1474 posts
4 Dec 2016 10:18pm
Why are we discussing Diamond Head and Margaret River they are both port tack and the op wants starboard tack options?
geared4knots
geared4knots
TAS
2649 posts
TAS, 2649 posts
5 Dec 2016 8:11am
Tas for starboard tack.
Marrawah greens beach and Bluff, north east wind
Bruny Island- cloudy bay - westerly wind
Carlton beach - north west/west wind
Sandpits - west wind

and a few others
Steve411
Steve411
QLD
30 posts
QLD, 30 posts
5 Dec 2016 7:51am
That's right there is a few spots around Marrawah.
geared4knots
geared4knots
TAS
2649 posts
TAS, 2649 posts
5 Dec 2016 9:04am
Marrawah,this is the time of year too, summer North easters, just swell not as reliable as south/west winds (predominant direction ).
You can sail both tacks regularly during the week!
John340
John340
QLD
3410 posts
QLD, 3410 posts
5 Dec 2016 8:57am
Knottedup said..
The best places in Aussie are all Port tack.
However for starboard tack going State by State these are my tips.
NSW the 3 best are:
-Windang Island the southern end of Port Kembla beach Wollongong area.
- Flat Top 30 minutes north of Coffs
- Flat Rock north of Ballina
Qld – Biggest and most consistent D'bah on the NSW- Qld border.
Vic- I go with 13th Beach north of Torquay
WA – Rottnest Island
Can't help you with Tassie the west coast which is strongest and biggest is really only set up for Port Tack.
SA can't help you.

If you want one spot Windang Island is my pick.


Its been many years since I ventured into the surf, but places I've sailed in the past:
Qld - Currumbin Alley (Gold Coast)
NSW - The Cliff (Newcastle)
- Blacksmiths (Belmont)
Victoria - Bells beach (Torquay)


pilchard
pilchard
SA
626 posts
SA, 626 posts
5 Dec 2016 12:10pm
Beachport, Port Macdonnell SA. Portland, Port Fairy and Warnambool Vic. Winter through to Spring anything from 2-8m swells and 15-50k North around to SW winds. Mostly beach break setups.
Recommend 4/3 wetsuit
Not consistent though
dan berry
dan berry
WA
2562 posts
WA, 2562 posts
5 Dec 2016 10:50am
Best starboard tack ive sailed in australia is windang by far. More so 7 or 8 yrs ago. The bluff is good but gusty as hell. Currumbin is good but waves abit ****ty for sailing ive found
BenKirk
BenKirk
NSW
600 posts
NSW, 600 posts
5 Dec 2016 2:54pm
I'd say Windang is far better than Makaha from a waveriding perspective.
Knottedup
Knottedup
573 posts
573 posts
6 Dec 2016 3:04am
dan berry said..
Best starboard tack ive sailed in australia is windang by far. More so 7 or 8 yrs ago. The bluff is good but gusty as hell. Currumbin is good but waves abit ****ty for sailing ive found


The reason Dan says "More so 7 or 8 years ago" is before that time there was only one rock wall built.
It was a total failure, the sand fully covered it up in no time at all and the wall neither helped or hindered the sailing.
As far as keeping the entrance open it would have to be the worst idea ever.
It actually kept the entrance closed and the residents screaming at the Council.
They had to pay more rates for something that was simply dumb.

Then they built another 2 rock walls both are higher and further out to sea than the first.
This didn't help the wind however it did put the break further out to sea, lengthening the ride over what was the average length of ride prior to the 2 walls.
The surfers loved it.
The wavesailors mostly still don't mind it as well. However it can be a bit tricky getting out when the wind is a light.
It does also at times bring some conflict on with the local surfers as to who "owns" this spot.
Before that there was hardly ever conflict, the wave mostly broke too fast for surfers but was a perfect speed for wavesailors.

You just can't kill off quality and Windang has plenty of that
LeeD
LeeD
3939 posts
3939 posts
6 Dec 2016 6:17am
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.
russh
russh
SA
3027 posts
SA, 3027 posts
6 Dec 2016 9:53am
Handful of head high ones for Mr Mc

www.windsurf.co.uk/scott-mckercher-margaret-river-radness-video/
Al Planet
Al Planet
TAS
1548 posts
TAS, 1548 posts
6 Dec 2016 10:40am
LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.






PhilSWR
PhilSWR
NSW
1104 posts
NSW, 1104 posts
6 Dec 2016 11:30am
LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.


Another solid spot LeeD is Canton Beach. Worth a Google search.
LeeD
LeeD
3939 posts
3939 posts
6 Dec 2016 8:32am
Good stuff, and you're welcome.
John340
John340
QLD
3410 posts
QLD, 3410 posts
6 Dec 2016 10:45am
LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.
Almost every vid of Diamond Head is head high, with Naish riding some much bigger stuff that breaks and explodes off the bottom.
Not saying bigger days don't exist, but it's like Jeracoacoa in Brazil. How many big days have you seen there? Locals say it get's way overhead. Vid always show it thigh high....barely.
Heck, beginner wave sailors say Waddell Creek is always big.
Advanced sailors say it's always head high.


Reminds me of the Monty Python "When I was a lad" skit
Steve411
Steve411
QLD
30 posts
QLD, 30 posts
6 Dec 2016 10:56am
Sweet vid! Sailed Margies many moons ago. So long ago I even had a Martin Littlewood thruster! It was great there but totally sucked ass on the east coast. Wonder where it ended up?
stehsegler
stehsegler
WA
3571 posts
WA, 3571 posts
6 Dec 2016 9:42am
LeeD said..
Seen a handful of vids of Margies, always barely head high, not breaking to the bottom, so a green escape hatch if you get caught too deep.


That feeling when you realize the actual size of the wave is not quite as small as it seemed when you looked at it from the point.
bowsa
bowsa
QLD
629 posts
QLD, 629 posts
6 Dec 2016 12:05pm
MARGIES IS NOT STARBOARD TACK FOR F SAKE !!!
stehsegler
stehsegler
WA
3571 posts
WA, 3571 posts
6 Dec 2016 2:11pm
bowsa said..
MARGIES IS NOT STARBOARD TACK FOR F SAKE !!!



It is if you mirror the photo... but it does get bloody big.
Knottedup
Knottedup
573 posts
573 posts
6 Dec 2016 2:19pm
Bugger it let's go with the flow
Where are the best Port tack places in Oz?
Now we'll hear of some great places to sit around and wait for the right wind.
Even if it comes from the left side as you look at it.
Steve411
Steve411
QLD
30 posts
QLD, 30 posts
6 Dec 2016 4:51pm
russh
russh
SA
3027 posts
SA, 3027 posts
6 Dec 2016 6:03pm
bowsa said...
MARGIES IS NOT STARBOARD TACK FOR F SAKE !!!


I DONT THINK ANYONE SAID IT WAS FFS - AND STOP SHOUTING
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