I have ten years or so left to plan this.
Requirements:
Lots of 20-30kt days per year
Low population levels but not so remote I can't get marine ply delivered.
Affordable real estate (I ain't made of money)
Open water preferred over flat
Warm rather than cold
Any state in the nation considered.
What about Hopevale area in Qld You will find your lots of 20 to 30 knot days in winter and crocs and stingers in summer!
In WA I expect that you end up with heaps of sailing in summer and almost none in winter. In a good season you could sail almost every day. On a bad season like this one you could take up lawn bowls instead.
Are there any great places in winter? I wonder if Melbourne is one of those surprising places where its okay in summer and winter?
What about Hopevale area in Qld You will find your lots of 20 to 30 knot days in winter and crocs and stingers in summer!
In WA I expect that you end up with heaps of sailing in summer and almost none in winter. In a good season you could sail almost every day. On a bad season like this one you could take up lawn bowls instead.
Are there any great places in winter? I wonder if Melbourne is one of those surprising places where its okay in summer and winter?
Incorrect about winter, the SW corner of WA is subject to frontal storms over winter
Geralton
But he's going to be 70!
Busselton
I'm addressing his question and not any potential delusions
What about Hopevale area in Qld You will find your lots of 20 to 30 knot days in winter and crocs and stingers in summer!
In WA I expect that you end up with heaps of sailing in summer and almost none in winter. In a good season you could sail almost every day. On a bad season like this one you could take up lawn bowls instead.
Are there any great places in winter? I wonder if Melbourne is one of those surprising places where its okay in summer and winter?
Incorrect about winter, the SW corner of WA is subject to frontal storms over winter
Ahh, okay, I stand corrected. I am only used to good old Safety Bay where someone of 70 years of age would lower the average age in the area.
I think its pretty cold here in winter, and I am sure its even colder in the SW. Its cold there in summer.
I agree Gero, SUP in winter and if really hanging for wind you drive to Perth once a fortnight for two days of frontal sailing. Or foil... The summer makes up for the slight lack of winter winds. Just not this year
I retired out of FNQ, bought a nice place (cheap) in Mandurah WA but spend a good part of the year grey nomading. Mandurah has great open ocean sailing, close enough to other spots and when you get older there's plenty of flat inlet water and mobs of great crew. It is cold winter and no I don't sail then, not keen on layers of rubber. I did think about Perth metro but crazy expensive near water and busy, my wife said no to Gero and on reflection I'm glad.
Oh and retire as soon as possible, you don't need a fortune and life is short, way short, just saying
I retired out of FNQ, bought a nice place (cheap) in Mandurah WA but spend a good part of the year grey nomading. Mandurah has great open ocean sailing, close enough to other spots and when you get older there's plenty of flat inlet water and mobs of great crew. It is cold winter and no I don't sail then, not keen on layers of rubber. I did think about Perth metro but crazy expensive near water and busy, my wife said no to Gero and on reflection I'm glad.
Oh and retire as soon as possible, you don't need a fortune and life is short, way short, just saying
Hey firie ....your doing it mate ..WA is a great state ..and in my opinion has the best wind ...follow the sun Shifu ,
Having a good windsurfing crew ..is good ..but I hope to retire in WA ..And travel up and down as the wind comes in ..
it blows up north WA in winter ...and howls in shark bay in summer ..
Some people just don't understand windsurfers ...lol....wind is our drug ..but a good one ..
And I`m 74 in august, still sailing in heavy weather (RRD/Fox and Ezzy sails in the hole line.
And my limits: Lower than 4 grades Celcius in the water, cannot use gloves. Sailing in Sweden.
JJ
....wind is our drug ..but a good one ..
No, ibuprofen is our drug.
....wind is our drug ..but a good one ..
No, ibuprofen is our drug.
hhmmm not heard of that one ..i have heard of forkemall ,i take that on occasion..
Geralton
But he's going to be 70!
Busselton
I'm addressing his question and not any potential delusions
I've never been to Australia, what is the issue with Geralton? Hot, cold, isolated or ?
Turn 60 this year
ILLAWARRA is my pick - great community of water junkies, vast range of local conditions, great climate all year round, ideal base for exploring the entire NSW coast and beyond
Foil, slalom, waves, speed, cruising, SUP, surf, open ocean, flat water, the lot
Affordable real estate (I ain't made of money)
Definitely not in Australia.
I've never been to Australia, what is the issue with Geralton? Hot, cold, isolated or ?
Hot when the SW winds disappear. Isolated, but it is quite a large regional city with most services. Not so much wind in winter. No flat water speed spots without a 400+km drive.
I loved the place when I have been there in summer.
Somewhere around Mandura would be hard to beat IMHO, but for me in retirement, travelling is the solution.
My retirement plan was always Sandy Point, but that was formulated in the days when it was a world class flat water speed venue. Now I am retired here, and the speed strip has changed to just 'pretty good' with occasional great days, I still think this is the place for me, but I spent most of the summer at Lake George the last few years. I don't sail much at all for the 4 months of winter, but this is close to the snowfields, which is my winter passion. The South Gippsland hills on my doorstep are about as good as it gets for Motorbike riding. So I can't think of anyplace that would suit me better. I don't like heat much and I like green. This place is mild in summer and OK in winter since I ski then, and it is always green!
IMHO, no one place is ideal. Variety is the spice of life. Follow the wind. Follow the snow. Follow your passions.
Not quite true Andrew, if you're game there's a short flat water run on the southerly reef at Coros. But you have to approach it from the waves, and it's tide sensitive, nasty hard reef to land on at speed. There can also be a very small wave travelling down it, that you hit the back of. I've only done it on wave gear, unfortunately without wearing a GPS. So no real idea how fast I was going, but I'm fairly sure it was over 30kts
Everywhere!
Me now, no wind don't care, had a great 4 weeks sailing at Lake George, now heading back west but slowly
Not quite true Andrew, if you're game there's a short flat water run on the southerly reef at Coros. But you have to approach it from the waves, and it's tide sensitive, nasty hard reef to land on at speed. There can also be a very small wave travelling down it, that you hit the back of. I've only done it on wave gear, unfortunately without wearing a GPS. So no real idea how fast I was going, but I'm fairly sure it was over 30kts
Fair enough. I have sailed that but I didn't think it really qualified.
I don't recall anyone posting speeds from any offshore speed strips around Geraldton. Can anyone point to one?