OK, my GF has just been offered a sweet job in Perth and we are tossing up whether to move or not. Can you Perth sailors fill me in on some realities of Perth from a windsurfing perspective?
She'd be working at Mount Lawley and we'd probably have to be located reasonably nearby on the north side. I do flatwater sailing in Brisbane so full on wavesailing will be out for the immediate future.
How hard is it to get to a good windsurfing spots from north Perth?
Flatwater spots?
Is sailing on the river any good?
What's traffic like in Perth? Is commuting in Perth difficult generally? (Brisbane can get pretty gridlocked)
I'd thought Safety Bay looked like a good spot, but would it be a difficult drive if I was living on the northside?
Thanks for your help!
Freeway from Mt Lawley to SB isn't too bad outside peakhours.
There's a lot of sailing done in the river
Having just moved to Perth from Qld, all I can say is "Do it". You won't regret it 
Safety Bay is a long way though. Seeing as though you do flatwater stuff, closest is Pelican Pt, and it is about 10mins (at worst!!) from Mt Lawley and you'll love it.
You won't stay a flatwater sailor for long 
There is some good ocean flat / slalom also like Lancelin (90min max from City)
don't worry to much about the waves, you pretty much have to leave perth to get them
Mt Lawley; Not only a very cool area in which to live (lots of bars, restaurants, cafes, shops), but around 10 - 15 minutes from Melville Beach or Pelican Point on the river, which both offer excellent slalom conditions. You are also 10 minutes from Scarborough Beach which picks up more seabreeze in summer. This is important as it doesn't always fill in to the river.
Woodman Point is about 25 minutes and provides some decent flat water when it's windy enough to blow the kiters away.
GO FOR IT!
Yay! these are the kind of things I wanted to hear. Thanks for the replies.
Here's my current kit. What should I sell off before I come?
130 L Naish Icon
103 L Mistral Classic (I think it's the same board as the Flow - old but a real favourite kind of a friendly slalom board)
8.5 Ezzy infinity
7.5 Aerotech RapidFire
6.5 Aerotech RapidFire
5.75 Aerotech RapidFire
5.0 Gasstra slalom
I weight 82kg
Perfect quiver for the Swan River.
Maybe a smaller board with the 5.0 for today though
Keep the 103 and get rid of any sails > 5.75 (Maybe keep the 6.5 if you have to).
Safety bay should take you around 50 mins.
the 8.5 would be very handy!!!
I live in North Perth ,10 min max to Pelli point,15 to Lucky bay,40 to Safety bay.
Mostly sail in the river with sails from 4.7 up to 8.5 but the 4.7 never seems to get used . 92kg,133 Futura.
I think your boards should be spot on for the river/Safety bay,but you need weed fins at Safety bay .
Thanks for all these replies everyone. I think Perth and I would get on very nicely indeed. Just got to see how the negotiations go now...
