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Best place in Australia for a Windsurfer to retire to?

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Created by Shifu > 9 months ago, 31 Mar 2021
Shifu
QLD, 1902 posts
31 Mar 2021 9:34AM
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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.

hardie
WA, 4077 posts
31 Mar 2021 8:13AM
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Geralton

FormulaNova
WA, 14044 posts
31 Mar 2021 8:36AM
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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?

Ian K
WA, 4039 posts
31 Mar 2021 8:38AM
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hardie said..
Geralton


But he's going to be 70!
Busselton

hardie
WA, 4077 posts
31 Mar 2021 8:46AM
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FormulaNova said..
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

hardie
WA, 4077 posts
31 Mar 2021 8:47AM
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Ian K said..

hardie said..
Geralton



But he's going to be 70!
Busselton


I'm addressing his question and not any potential delusions

FormulaNova
WA, 14044 posts
31 Mar 2021 8:50AM
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hardie said..
FormulaNova said..
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.

DunkO
NSW, 1143 posts
31 Mar 2021 12:48PM
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I'd look at buying an opium poppy farm in NW Tassie. Sail all day and medicate all night.

DunkO
NSW, 1143 posts
31 Mar 2021 12:48PM
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I'd look at buying an opium poppy farm in NW Tassie. Sail all day and medicate all night.

Mark _australia
WA, 22089 posts
31 Mar 2021 10:36AM
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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

firiebob
WA, 3129 posts
31 Mar 2021 12:25PM
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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

Mase88
QLD, 14 posts
31 Mar 2021 2:26PM
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Everywhere!

Tardy
4919 posts
31 Mar 2021 4:30PM
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firiebob said..
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 ..

Shifu
QLD, 1902 posts
31 Mar 2021 7:19PM
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I'll be 65, not 70 youse rude bastards.

asturcon
35 posts
31 Mar 2021 5:38PM
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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

dantren
QLD, 290 posts
31 Mar 2021 7:55PM
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Shifu
Your local meets all those requirements right now
Don't leave us buddy!!!

MikeyS
VIC, 1506 posts
31 Mar 2021 9:11PM
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Tardy said..

....wind is our drug ..but a good one ..


No, ibuprofen is our drug.

Tardy
4919 posts
31 Mar 2021 6:20PM
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MikeyS said..





Tardy said..



....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..

shmish
141 posts
1 Apr 2021 5:01AM
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hardie said..

Ian K said..


hardie said..
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 ?

airsail
QLD, 1241 posts
1 Apr 2021 9:15AM
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Brisbane for the next week


Madge
NSW, 469 posts
1 Apr 2021 10:27AM
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Great wind for Brisbane, shame no one is allowed out.

Searoamer
NSW, 284 posts
1 Apr 2021 11:09AM
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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

stehsegler
WA, 3450 posts
1 Apr 2021 9:17AM
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Shifu said..
Affordable real estate (I ain't made of money)


Definitely not in Australia.

sailquik
VIC, 6068 posts
1 Apr 2021 12:44PM
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shmish said..
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.

Shifu
QLD, 1902 posts
1 Apr 2021 12:54PM
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Glad to hear suggestions from the NSW crew!

musorianin
QLD, 572 posts
1 Apr 2021 1:37PM
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airsail said..
Brisbane for the next week



We are now!

decrepit
WA, 11828 posts
1 Apr 2021 12:10PM
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sailquik said..>>>>No flat water speed spots without a 400+km drive.

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

Mark _australia
WA, 22089 posts
1 Apr 2021 12:45PM
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^^and the offshore speed strips if you have a boat.

firiebob
WA, 3129 posts
1 Apr 2021 1:17PM
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Mase88 said..

Everywhere!


Me now, no wind don't care, had a great 4 weeks sailing at Lake George, now heading back west but slowly






Dezza
NSW, 919 posts
1 Apr 2021 7:43PM
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Living the dream Firiebob

sailquik
VIC, 6068 posts
1 Apr 2021 7:50PM
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decrepit said..

sailquik said..>>>>No flat water speed spots without a 400+km drive.


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?



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"Best place in Australia for a Windsurfer to retire to?" started by Shifu