Dear All,
I am dutch and I am going to Perth on 19 September till 10 October.
I rented a campervan and I am planning to go and windsurf in Perth, Lancelin and Geraldton. I do not want to take all my windsurfgear with me because otherwise I will have to pay a lot to take it with me in the airplane.
I am doubting between my waveboard or my freestyleboard, because I really do not know what kind of conditions I can expect especially because I am heavy and I do not really like to be underpowered.
My weigth is 93 kilo and I have the following gear:
JP freestyle 100 liter 2007
JP Real World Wave 91 liter 2007
Sails:
NP 4.2 expression
NP 4.7 expression
NP 5.4 alpha
NP 6.1 expression
What should I take with me???
PLease help me out with some advise because I really need it.
Thanks in advance.
Hang Loose
OK, so I'm not a West Coast expert, but I reckon you should bring the waveboard and all the sails as WA is known for waves rather than flat water.
I know the fear of flying with equipment. I would recommend that you airfreight your clothes out in advance...
I just sent a quiver bag from London to Melbourne through an airfreight company for GBP220 - it contained six sails, three masts and a boom, and weighed the maximum 32kg.
The reason I say airfreight your clothes (assuming that you can do without them for a week in advance of the trip) is that a big quiver bag or board bag is charged on VOLUME, not on WEIGHT, and hence it costs a lot. If you send 20kg of clothes, deckplate, wetsuit, etc, then that gives you your whole check-in allowance to use for your windsurf gear which is measured on weight for check-in baggage.
A JP RWW packed lightly (lots of bubblewrap) and without straps should be 9kg tops, and 2 masts and 4 sails and a boom will probably be approx 18kg. If it's getting desperate, I'd ditch the 4.2 and take the rest, seeing as you're a big lad. I don't think WA gets proper silly windy until later in the year - can anyone confirm?
If you're flying qantas, make sure that you're not on a codeshare flight that's operated by British Airways - they don't accept windsurf boards anymore.
Hope this helps.
With your weight bring the 6.1 (might be overpowered maybe) and a wetsuit - chance of wind is marginal and last thing you want is to be bobbing around in the water at this time of the year.
www.seabreeze.com.au/info/wind.asp
Hope I am wrong
I would bring the wave board and sail some waves. Then you got more options where to sail. Lano, coros and greenhead all have flat water before the waves start. If you like being really powered you may be ok with just the 5.4 and 6.1. If there is room, pack the 4.7. You will need a wetsuit. Most locals will still be in their 3x2 full suits. Enjoy the trip.
I disagree.... staying south of Geraldton the seabreezes will not be that strong yet.
FSW and 4.7 to 6.1 sails.
Geraldton is likely to be 5.4 and 6.1 weather in early October, and for a 93kg guy (I am same) a 100L will be needed. You'll miss out on the ability to really ride waves properly but at least you'll be planing.
Thanks a lot guys.
I think I am going to take my JP freestyle with me because I can still catch some small up to medium sized waves with it if I change my fin and I will still be able to windsurf in more marginal conditions ( 14 knots).
I am also going to take all my sails with me because I saw the forecast for coming week at Ocean Reef and Swanbourne and it looks very good (sunday or monday up to 30 knots)
I am really happy with the advice.
Thanks a lot.
Sebastiaan
Today is one of those "silly windy" days we were talking about.
Hope you brought those small sails!
