Hi,
I'm moving to Albany.
Been a bit slack with the windsurfing for the last couple of years but want to get back into it.
I usually sail at Safety Bay (Carlisle Street).
Anyway my question is -- is a normal weed fin going to be ok for sailing in the Harbour or do I need one of these delta fin things
Fine for the harbour, but if you want to sail at the Lilacs speed strip (it's awesome!!) you definitely need a delta
Come on down and welcome to town Leftfield!
Much depends on the boards you've got but you could get away with a weedy like a JP weed wave 21 on the speed strip which is what myself and another local guy regularly used in our freeride boards for years before eventually switching to Fangy deltas as the abrasive weed will eventually stuff up the leading edge on a normal G10 weedy! I've used a Tribal superweed 24 when there's more water but they're a bit too grabby when there's lots of weed floating either on or just under the surface. You could also sail out from near the yacht club over at Little Grove where a normal or longer weed fin will work fine
Thanks for the replies.
Do many others just sail round the harbour of is it mostly speed strip stuff?
I look into the delta things just in case I fancy trying to kill myself.
edit- looks like my smallest fin is a 26 wind wave so definitely have to do this.
I'm not moving down until end of January so might see some of you down there then.
I chatted to a guy who was setting up on the beach at Quanarup Road last summer. Is that a good place to sail too?
Thanks for the replies.
Do many others just sail round the harbour of is it mostly speed strip stuff?
I look into the delta things just in case I fancy trying to kill myself.
edit- looks like my smallest fin is a 26 wind wave so definitely have to do this.
I'm not moving down until end of January so might see some of you down there then.
I chatted to a guy who was setting up on the beach at Quanarup Road last summer. Is that a good place to sail too?
The majority of people you would see out in a good easterly are on the speed strip but they're mostly out of towners with a number of locals regularly windsurfing from near the yacht club and sometimes off Goode Beach. I sail the speed strip occasionally as well as from near yacht club and also get out in the ocean between Middleton Beach and Emu Point when I can (my fav!) mostly on FSW gear. I'm not keen on Quaranup as the rigging area is crappy and tides can be a hit and miss affair. There are other spots around town in both Princess Royal and Oyster harbour plus out in the ocean that are sailable. You could sail in practically any wind direction if needed!
Whatever you do, you have to try the speed strip, it's an amazing experience to fly over mirror smooth water.
But you do need a short 55deg rake fin to get into the weed. Borrow somebody else's gear to give it a try.
Thanks for the replies.
Do many others just sail round the harbour of is it mostly speed strip stuff?
I look into the delta things just in case I fancy trying to kill myself.
edit- looks like my smallest fin is a 26 wind wave so definitely have to do this.
I'm not moving down until end of January so might see some of you down there then.
I chatted to a guy who was setting up on the beach at Quanarup Road last summer. Is that a good place to sail too?
The majority of people you would see out in a good easterly are on the speed strip but they're mostly out of towners with a number of locals regularly windsurfing from near the yacht club and sometimes off Goode Beach. I sail the speed strip occasionally as well as from near yacht club and also get out in the ocean between Middleton Beach and Emu Point when I can (my fav!) mostly on FSW gear. I'm not keen on Quaranup as the rigging area is crappy and tides can be a hit and miss affair. There are other spots around town in both Princess Royal and Oyster harbour plus out in the ocean that are sailable. You could sail in practically any wind direction if needed!
So looks like I might be able to get out for a sail on Friday or Saturday this week. Haven't got a delta fin so....
Whereabouts near the yacht club is an ok place to rig?
Is it ok to go in the club itself?
Chipana Drive just before the yacht club?
I don't want to tred on any ones toes and sail from the wrong spot.
Cheers.
Graham
Thanks for the replies.
Do many others just sail round the harbour of is it mostly speed strip stuff?
I look into the delta things just in case I fancy trying to kill myself.
edit- looks like my smallest fin is a 26 wind wave so definitely have to do this.
I'm not moving down until end of January so might see some of you down there then.
I chatted to a guy who was setting up on the beach at Quanarup Road last summer. Is that a good place to sail too?
The majority of people you would see out in a good easterly are on the speed strip but they're mostly out of towners with a number of locals regularly windsurfing from near the yacht club and sometimes off Goode Beach. I sail the speed strip occasionally as well as from near yacht club and also get out in the ocean between Middleton Beach and Emu Point when I can (my fav!) mostly on FSW gear. I'm not keen on Quaranup as the rigging area is crappy and tides can be a hit and miss affair. There are other spots around town in both Princess Royal and Oyster harbour plus out in the ocean that are sailable. You could sail in practically any wind direction if needed!
So looks like I might be able to get out for a sail on Friday or Saturday this week. Haven't got a delta fin so....
Whereabouts near the yacht club is an ok place to rig?
Is it ok to go in the club itself?
Chipana Drive just before the yacht club?
I don't want to tred on any ones toes and sail from the wrong spot.
Cheers.
Graham
Welcome to Albany Graham!
FYI you'd be fine sailing off from Harding Rd with a 26cm weed wave fin as the tide won't be particularly low in the arvo and it's mostly the speed demons who sail on the speed strip well upwind from the Harding Rd or Lilacs launch spots who really need deltas atm. I used non-delta fins there for many years (a JP 21 weed wave and a Choco 28 weed speed) before finally getting some, which tbh are a must when the tide/water depth is on the low side and there's lots of floating weed-bergs out there!
You could try sailing from the Sailing Club itself (grassed area below clubhouse) but the gate is often locked, except on Saturdays when they're racing and could find a rigging spot amongst the dinghys if you're polite and lucky!
At this spot beside Chipana Drive (called 'Theodore Bayfront' in Google Maps for some unknown reason!) you'll likely meet other locals sailing there too, though will still need a weed fin there:

Thanks for the replies.
Do many others just sail round the harbour of is it mostly speed strip stuff?
I look into the delta things just in case I fancy trying to kill myself.
edit- looks like my smallest fin is a 26 wind wave so definitely have to do this.
I'm not moving down until end of January so might see some of you down there then.
I chatted to a guy who was setting up on the beach at Quanarup Road last summer. Is that a good place to sail too?
The majority of people you would see out in a good easterly are on the speed strip but they're mostly out of towners with a number of locals regularly windsurfing from near the yacht club and sometimes off Goode Beach. I sail the speed strip occasionally as well as from near yacht club and also get out in the ocean between Middleton Beach and Emu Point when I can (my fav!) mostly on FSW gear. I'm not keen on Quaranup as the rigging area is crappy and tides can be a hit and miss affair. There are other spots around town in both Princess Royal and Oyster harbour plus out in the ocean that are sailable. You could sail in practically any wind direction if needed!
So looks like I might be able to get out for a sail on Friday or Saturday this week. Haven't got a delta fin so....
Whereabouts near the yacht club is an ok place to rig?
Is it ok to go in the club itself?
Chipana Drive just before the yacht club?
I don't want to tred on any ones toes and sail from the wrong spot.
Cheers.
Graham
Welcome to Albany Graham!
FYI you'd be fine sailing off from Harding Rd with a 26cm weed wave fin as the tide won't be particularly low in the arvo and it's mostly the speed demons who sail on the speed strip well upwind from the Harding Rd or Lilacs launch spots who really need deltas atm. I used non-delta fins there for many years (a JP 21 weed wave and a Choco 28 weed speed) before finally getting some, which tbh are a must when the tide/water depth is on the low side and there's lots of floating weed-bergs out there!
You could try sailing from the Sailing Club itself (grassed area below clubhouse) but the gate is often locked, except on Saturdays when they're racing and could find a rigging spot amongst the dinghys if you're polite and lucky!
At this spot beside Chipana Drive (called 'Theodore Bayfront' in Google Maps for some unknown reason!) you'll likely meet other locals sailing there too, though will still need a weed fin there:

Thanks GazMan.
Might see you out there.
Thanks for the replies.
Do many others just sail round the harbour of is it mostly speed strip stuff?
I look into the delta things just in case I fancy trying to kill myself.
edit- looks like my smallest fin is a 26 wind wave so definitely have to do this.
I'm not moving down until end of January so might see some of you down there then.
I chatted to a guy who was setting up on the beach at Quanarup Road last summer. Is that a good place to sail too?
The majority of people you would see out in a good easterly are on the speed strip but they're mostly out of towners with a number of locals regularly windsurfing from near the yacht club and sometimes off Goode Beach. I sail the speed strip occasionally as well as from near yacht club and also get out in the ocean between Middleton Beach and Emu Point when I can (my fav!) mostly on FSW gear. I'm not keen on Quaranup as the rigging area is crappy and tides can be a hit and miss affair. There are other spots around town in both Princess Royal and Oyster harbour plus out in the ocean that are sailable. You could sail in practically any wind direction if needed!
So looks like I might be able to get out for a sail on Friday or Saturday this week. Haven't got a delta fin so....
Whereabouts near the yacht club is an ok place to rig?
Is it ok to go in the club itself?
Chipana Drive just before the yacht club?
I don't want to tred on any ones toes and sail from the wrong spot.
Cheers.
Graham
Welcome to Albany Graham!
FYI you'd be fine sailing off from Harding Rd with a 26cm weed wave fin as the tide won't be particularly low in the arvo and it's mostly the speed demons who sail on the speed strip well upwind from the Harding Rd or Lilacs launch spots who really need deltas atm. I used non-delta fins there for many years (a JP 21 weed wave and a Choco 28 weed speed) before finally getting some, which tbh are a must when the tide/water depth is on the low side and there's lots of floating weed-bergs out there!
You could try sailing from the Sailing Club itself (grassed area below clubhouse) but the gate is often locked, except on Saturdays when they're racing and could find a rigging spot amongst the dinghys if you're polite and lucky!
At this spot beside Chipana Drive (called 'Theodore Bayfront' in Google Maps for some unknown reason!) you'll likely meet other locals sailing there too, though will still need a weed fin there:

Thanks GazMan.
Might see you out there.
Hopefully sometime, though not this weekend as I'll be in Perth.