My girlfriend and I are planning a trip (9 weeks!) to wa next month. We'd like to sail around Geraldton area (which seem to be the windiest spot) exploring southward to Margaret River. I'm advenced sailor 170pounds and she's a courageous and strong intermediate (read love surf)30 less or so. Since we flight from Montreal Canada and we're gonna to carry all the gear, choosing the right equipement to bring seems to be trivial...help and advices please!
1st, Equipement: do we carry 3 boards? (74wave, 78fsw, 95fsw). Sails range would be from 3.8 to 5.4? Shorty?
2nd, Transportation: limited budget, is the small camper van the best way to move and camp next to the spots? Is a 4x4 essential to access remote ones? Camp in a tent a good option for 2 months? I think buying in perth when we arrive is an option, isn't it?
3rd: Smart or stupid to bring a laptop? Enough hotspots to get the forecasts frequently. Maybe it is useless because it blows everyday!
I'll be glad to read your comments, thanks
Hi simong, interesting name...i like it.
seabreazes kick in about 2pm and get stronger as the day goes in.
futher north = more reliable/stronger wind...stick around the gerro area and above, if you want the most time on the water.
hire a camper van - google wicked for el cheapo...
4x4 not essential.
heaps of second hand boards over here either in the 6 windsurf shops in perth...2 in gerro or on this website...so maybe just bring yer own rig and buy boards here...when u finished with board take it back to shop for them to sell on consignment.
one board each should do the trick, go 5-15 ltrs above ur kg weight depending on skill level,
plenty of internet cafs/librarys etc
adios
Sorry Simong, 170pounds is meaningless to me, over here we're lucky enough to use the metric system, means our weight is immediately convertible to displacement in liters.
I disagree with windy miller here. If you're an experienced young wave sailor, and going to spend most of your time north of Perth I'd say go for a sinker, it's only South of Perth (read Margaret River) a floaty would be more suitable. And on better days a sinker/semisinker would still be fine.
There's only a few spots that require FWD, depends how much exploring you want to do.
I'm 67kg and 62 years old so I use a slightly floatier board than the young guys, (don't like having to swim too far when the wind drops out). In Geraldton I'd use a 75l board and a 4.5m sail most of the time. The young locals up there my weight would be on 60/65 liter boards. In Perth I use 2 boards 85l for light conditions and a 75 for stronger, my 5.3 sail gets the most use, but the 4.7 gets out fairly often.
Muchas gracias for the infos, finally, it seems that you suggest la aventura! We'll see what's available on arrival...
Can't wait to be there, 16 nights left!
See you guys.. We're easy to spot, to pale frenchies!
WA can be very hot so you may be better off with a car (air conditioned) with roof racks and staying in better accomodation.
2 days of chewing flies in windless 100+ fahrenheit and you'll know what I mean.
North of Perth there is limited shade (not many trees) thats why it's windy 
South of Perth ain't as hot, more trees, less wind. (Gerro 25-35kn, Margarets 15-25kn)
Leave your boards at home. As mentioned there are plenty of cheap boards 1 or 2 seasons old. (follow some of the shop links on this site)
You'll have plenty of company, the most I have counted at Corro's is 60 + sailors and 30+ kiters. 
Be nice to the locals (ie offer beer) and you may be pointed in the direction of some less crowded spots 
Simong
Just read this thread. Whipping boy is on the money.
I'd be inclined to leave the board/s at home unless you have a board that you must use for some reason that you couldn't purchase here. There are plenty of new and s/hand boards around in the local shops. Added to that is you don't have the hassle of flying with them. Sails - well they are easier to transport but weigh more so you may end up paying with the airlines - once again plenty around.
Be ready for some hot weather and not much shade. You will be guaranteed in 9weeks plenty, of great sailing with lots of waves to play in. When getting a car or camper once again as whippingboy wrote - aircondition is a good choice.
Also beware that you may get times where there is no wind for a few days in a row, this usually coincides with hot weather 35deg+. Can get a tad warm in a tent in the sun.
You will though love the sailing - no shortage of wind.
As for a wetsuit, a lot of the locals wear shorties in summer but since you're used to Canadian weather you will probably not need it.
I would recommend camping to keep it cheap then splashing out once in a while at a backpackers place for a couple of days. The heat and flys are only really miserable on the few days that the wind doesnt blow.
just bring 1 board, theres plenty of wind. If you can take it on your chosen airline its easier than farting around wasting time here buying stuff.
You will probably stay around Coronation Beach for a bit, you will need water as none (except seawater!) is available and it is 30km out of town.
Coming up in a week!! Bringing a board each, a quiver bag and credit cards. Ready and eager to hit the road (not really, we need a van). Expect to crash in a backpacker in perth an then find a camper. Hope it's gonna be a windy summer.
Thank you everybody for the comments, see you on the water...
PS We just had a foot of snow in montreal, I already miss skiing, I guess we can't get them both!
