So im heading to Hamilton island next month and am wondering if anyone offers lessons, im no longer really a beginner and am sailing with a harness and am really looking at getting on some newer gear to learn to waterstart and some gybing. i have done a google search and cant find much info.
Cheers Iain
i did a quick searchhttp://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=2821
the phone numer for the sports centre is 07 4946 8286.
hope that helps.
Hi Iain,
Sorry to bare bad news, but the gear available at Hamilton Island is a joke. From memory they had 2 rigs available, and both were around 10 years old.
Its a huge shame really as it would be an awesome setting to cruise around on some nice slalom gear.
You'll have more fun on the Hobie Cats.
Cheers
ten year old gear is great if it is rigged correctly, i would happily sail for a week on an old windsurfer of any kind to let the wife and kids go shopping, relaxing....whatever!!!
Hi Guys,
I was there last year and I can confirm the sailboarding gear is very basic, prob 15 years old, tie on boom, massive boyant board, old mylar sail, they only had 2 sizes around a 5m and a 3m.
Good to go out and splash around, but there is also restrictions on where they will let you go. No footstraps or anything of the sort.
My advice is it would be good to teach your family, but I would not get excited to go ripping across the bay, as that will not happen.
They also close the sports down when it is windy, so thats a double bummer.
damn that doesn't sound good, sounds like it might be a trip somewhere else next summer for some lessons.
The reason there is not much sailboarding gear there is because the current just out of the bay is too strong for learning. Contact Dennis Winstanley he will be able to help you. 0418 259501
I have been to both Hamilton and Linderman. At Hamilton, expecting to find an old Wally to muck around on, I asked for the biggest sail possible and I was pointed to a nearby shed where I found a 6.5m 2002-2004 model monofilm sail and F2 Xantos board and shock horror a clamp on boom - better than I was expecting.
Did the same thing at Linderman and got a 7m monofilm sail (early 00 model) and decent board.
The only problem is the water sports usually shut down in over 15kts.
Usually the resort gear is crap but on both occasions I was surprised.
Hey bluedog - when were you there? Wondering if that F2 is still around.
I'm heading up for a beach / scuba holiday with the girlfriend in a few weeks, and she's desperate to do some more windsurfing (just beginning). I spoke to the guys at Hamilton and they said that they had a 3.5m sail and a 5m sail and a couple of old hifly boards...
I asked if I could bring my own gear and they were really enthusiastic - said that the wind (and current) were really strong and there was great windsurfing away from the beginners area, but if I wanted to take my own stuff at my own risk in the good places then go for it.
I'm going to take my 4.2, boom, skinny mast etc and stick it on one of their boards for the gf... I would take my full kit, but already booked with jetstar and they don't like windsurf gear. Next time I'll fly virgin blue...
It was a couple of years ago now so I don't know weather they still have that board or not. I am never too hopefull in regards to resort gear but was pleasently surprised on these occasions.
The main beach for watersports at Hamilton faces NE and is very protected in the main prevailing winds from the SE. The currents around the islands are very strong (often have overflows and all sorts of funny things).
You would need to sail around 500m at least to get out into the main current off catseye beach (the main resort beach) so in a NEerly, the current wouldn't bother you. Massive tides up here so at low tide the beach is empty - Hamilton probably has 3m-4m tides. Mackay where I live is up to 6.5m.
I remember stuffing around in a southerly with flukey bullets - i had one run on the plane and the rest stuffing around bobbing back and forth. I don't know of any great access points to the southern side excpet by boat or goat track. You could go in the channel between Hamo and Dent island but would want to watch the current - not good for beginners and I guess you would launch from the marina walls????? and would also want to watch the boat traffic
Overall - Catseye bay, the main resort beach is okay for having a bash when new or desparate but not ideal for learning-unless in a Northerly wind or much good for blasting back and forth unless in a strong Northerly.
If you were really keen to get out, I am sure there are places to launch from but would want to watch, tides, currents and water traffic. Hamilton is in a very easterly location in regards to the QLD coast and does get good wind.
At least there should be no stingers by now (altough the lifesavers found a box jellifish with 2.3m long tenticles in a 30cm deep low tide lagoon on a Mackay beach two weeks ago). On the islands I wouldn't think there would be too many problems this time of year.
A couple of shots to add. You can see the sail.....and the beach looks great (at high tide) and wouldn't be bad in a NE. Awesome spot for a Holiday at this time of year. Get to the reef if you can and Whitehaven Beach
im actually sailing from yapoon to Hamilton island, spending about 20 days island hopping around the Whitsundays, sucks i cant take my own gear that i am still needing to buy. oh well guess fishing and kayaking should be the order of the day....
Cheers for the info Bluedog... Looks like a good excuse to get the girlfriend hooked and skilled up - I'll do some light-wind freestyle for entertainment...
We're both divers, so definitely heading for the reef for a couple of trips.
Can;t wait!
So... windsurfing out into the channel, with strong currents, older gear in unknown condition, and lots of sea life to check (you) out, is that advisable? I'm planning on doing a bare boat charter next year and was hoping I could rent some gear, somewhere.
My school is taking my grade to Hamilton for camp in two weeks. There wasn't any option for doing windsurfing while there, but i'm looking forward to mucking around on the cats.
Oh, I almost forgot....anyone going to the Whitsundays, get hold of a book called "100 Magic Miles" the boating bible for the Whitsundays and a just a great book to have.....it will tell you where the nasty currents and saltanas are!!
yes mate,
i anchored off whitehaven overnight. forecast was for light wind and harold island provides some protection. the area of strong current is at the south end of whitehaven. the current rips through there and it's very very deep.
usually the strong currents and tricky conditions occur in the channels between isalnds as the tide gets squeezed and the topography produces bullets. some times you can be in 10-15 knots and sail around a headland to receive 20-30 knots from a different direction.
i sailed a 27' cat be myself as the guys onboard weren't sailors. its very easy. hardest thing was anchoring. especially with a cat as there is a lot of drag.
