Hey there antipodean windsurfing friends, I wondered if you could help me out with some tips/recommendations?
My wife & I are travelling to Queensland (flying to Brisbane) in August 2018 for a couple of weeks - partly to go to a friend's wedding and partly, I am hoping, to fit in a few days (or even a week?) of windsurfing in your lovely part of the world.
Are there some good rental spots you could recommend? So far I have found www.surfconnect.com/ (which may be the only option?)
Is there anything closer to the Great Barrier Reef? I had a fantastical vision of being able to combine visiting that with windsurfing. Seems like its probably impossible though...
In case it makes a difference, skill levels are: me typical freeride-type and scared of waves; wife: working on using harness.
Also what's the situation with sharks? Risk/no risk?
Sorry if that's a stupid question, but it's the kind of big scary headline you get spoonfed in a far away place such as our home.
Many thanks!
Sharks won't bite you if you don't bite them.
Where are you coming from? Where are you going while here?
Sailing around Brisbane in August will be in our winter (cold westerlies) Late August we may start getting Northerlies.
North Queensland will be a better option.
Not much hire gear around but you may find some friendly locals willing to let you tag along for a session an borrow/use some of their gear.
Hey thanks for replying, lack of hire stuff does seem to me an issue! I think we'd be imposing pretty hard on someone to borrow their kit, so would feel bad about that...
Our mate's wedding is late August so we can either spend an extra week before or after that... wedding is in Dalby so we'll go to the coast either before/after for potential windsurf time...
It looks like your winter is typically 21-23 degrees - over here (in the UK) that's an "average" summer's day!
Cheers
Maybe contact RQYS in Brisbane mate if you want to have a sail in Moreton Bay.
Ex Belfast almost 11yrs thankfully, it's your Summer in Winter here. Slainte
Best chance for wind in August is north Qld spots like Bowen and Green island, but no-one rents out gear so you're stuck. Better to plan another holiday to WA in summer. August is a beautiful time for north Qld travel though with daily tops in Cairns and surrounds about 27 degrees. Aussie sharks are sensitive and shy creatures averaging only 5-6 metres long. Please don't molest them while you are over here.
I found that wetsuit even in the middle of winter is optional on Gold Coast. Regarding sea creatures: I would worry more about hitting the turtle, or stomping onto sharp shells, ( sea urchin) if your beach is not perfectly sandy like Gold Coast. Ooo, one more sea creature pose more risk than a shark. Kiter Fish and Jetski Fart, Speedboat too.
Then the crab pot line will get you eventually if you lucky enough to have your windsurfing gear here.
Mate, August is always really dodgy for consistent wind in SE QLD, you've just gotta fluke it and be in the right place at the right time usually. If you can't track down any hire gear, and your family are around the Bribie area (and haven't gone to NQ or the Gold Coast) then you're welcome to just come sailing with us. I'm sure we'll have enough bits and pieces between a few of us to cobble a rig together for you to use. Basically, if there's wind and enough water there'll nearly always be one of us sailing. When it gets closer to August and you know your itinerary, send me a PM and I'll let you know how to get in touch and where to find us. There's plenty of sharks but it's the turtles, eagle rays and dugongs that keep you on your toes.
Hey thanks a lot guys, some good reassuring shark info there (but I may still have trouble convincing my wife!) and Paddles thanks a lot for the offer to help finding kit. As it's sounding a little tricky we'll do a bit more thinking about how to spend our time and I'll get back in touch nearer the time...
Turtles & dugongs would be amazing to see! We should just do a bit of snorkelling to spot some of those guys instead if w/s is looking difficult.
Enjoy summer - over here I'm waiting for temps to get back above ~8C before heading out again!
Cheers
