Windsurfing Adelaide Local Coast Beaches

Adelaide presents the advanced sailboarder with conditions as fun as anywhere in the world, and summer brings strong sea breezes ideal for all types of windsurfing. Our prevailing summer sea breeze is from the SW, and from the October Long Weekend right through to Easter it is generally fairly reliable for 5.0m sail or smaller sailing conditions.

Ideal weather for local Adelaide sea breezes are daily temperatures of 22 - 27C with morning breezes from SW to SE. Any breezes from East - NE to West - NW work against the afternoon sea breeze. An incoming tide in the afternoon also promotes stronger sea breezes, as cold water from southern currents flush into the shallow St. Vincent's Gulf creating greater temperature differences between land and sea.

Most of Adelaide's local beaches have a sand bottom so there are no big rips or reefs which is good for intermediate sailors. In Adelaide you will see windsurfers spread far and wide at all the following locations, but if you are still unsure where the best spot to go is then just us a call st the shop and we'll answer your questions. Lets take a look at the local scene, starting with the most Northern beaches.
NORTH HAVEN (enter via Australia II Drive)

Best Conditions: North - Westerlies provide excellent flat-water slalom/speed conditions and ocean swell outside (Inside on the odd freak day!). Good jumps are available beyond the breakwater. Sail from in front of the North Haven Surf Lifesaving Club. Southerly sea breezes through to SE winds also provide good jumping conditions, sail from the next Eastern car park. You will see a lot of kitesurfers chasing the flat water on the Northerly days as well but there is plenty of room for everyone on the water and in the car park. Worst Points: Occasional heavy seaweed and poor rig up areas.
LARGS BAY SAILING CLUB

Good slalom in NE to Northerly (clean airflow down the beach provides un-interrupted wind). OK in some South-Westerlies. Generally flatter water than on some other northern beaches as it takes a long time to get deep here. The curved shape of these beaches allows for safe landings after exhausting runs (or equipment breakages). You are almost guaranteed of being blown back onto the beach, but be prepared for a walk back up-wind. The shallow bottom allows easy water-starting and there are no problems with beach room or parking.
SEMAPHORE (north side of jetty)

Good onshore wave conditions in SW to West winds. Can also be good slalom in Northerlies. Council have provided a tap for washing down, bring your own hose and connections. Worst Points: Strong northerly current. Sail powered up!
SEMAPHORE (south side of jetty)

The best beach for summer sea breezes along with North Haven. Generally 5 knots or more, stronger wind than other metro beaches during the summer. Being closer to the dry North seems to enhance these convectional breezes. Car park between Hart Street and Jervois Street has tap for wash down and good access to beach. Also OK on Winter Southerlies.
THE POINT - A.K.A ''KITE BEACH'' (at the end of Bower Road, Semaphore)

Good for any Southerlies that are threatening to go SE. Also OK in a North/Westerly. This beach is now the main spot for Kitesurfers, which is OK cause there is lots of room here for them to spread out. You can still sail here but at the moment the council is in the middle of rebuilding a sandabar.  It will be interesting to see the end result when the construction is finished apparently in early december.
THE CHICKEN SHOP (behind the shops on 255 Military Road West Lakes Shore)

This is an ideal location in summer, which tends to host the windiest sea breezes along the entire coastline. This is the place to windsurf late in the day after a good sea breeze (especially when all other beaches have swung offshore and are patchy). The chicken shop will still crank a strong breeze till it is dark. Good grass rigging up area with an outside shower. The waves are often a bit choppy here as the wind has stayed strong all day but you can get some great jumps here. The beach is a popular haunt for short boarders and has talented freestyle and wave sailors ready to impress spectators.
WEST LAKES (the lake)

First timers can experience the flat calm waters of West Lakes. The lake is a popular location with nice grassed rigging areas and a number of accessible car parks. An excellent location for those learning or just looking to cruise around on a floaty board. Can be a good blast for slalom sailors in a howling southerly but the lake tends to be a bit gusty from the surrounding buildings. Take the whole family and love it!
HENLEY BEACH (sailed in front of the local Henley Pub)

Known to locals as 'Front Yards. This beach has been regularly sailed for years by slalom and wave sailors, but tends to be more onshore compared to other locations. It can also be sailed in SE land breezes (which occur late in the day) TIPS: Beware of the vicious shore break on windy days, and large freak swell patterns which frequent this location.
NORTH GLENELG (sailed just north of the Patawalonga breakwater)

This used to be a very popular beach for sailboarding. The recent construction of several large buildings and a Marina has caused this beach to be gusty on all but the best SW breeze. Swell size tends to be larger than on the northern beaches, but the strength of the sea breeze is slightly less. In summer, local wave sailors get to sail conditions not unlike ''Hell's Gate'' in Geraldton (WA), with unreal port tack jumping and backhand wave riding. Slalom sailors get their thrills from the icy smooth water inside the sand spit, ideal for the committed lay-down gyber. Beware of shallow sandbars and filthy water flushing from the nearby locks.
SOMERTON

This is where a regular group of sailors are keen to sail in any conditions. Most sail between the Somerton Yacht Club and Whyte Street. The Club also caters for the course-racing fraternity who sail, each weekend. The beach is a popular haunt for first-time short boarders, but still has talented speed and wave sailors ready to impress spectators. TIPS: Only sail on low to medium tides, as access on windy days with high tides tends to be tricky (jumping from large rock formations). Don't ask how people get in on these days. Insane!
SEACLIFF

Located between Kingston Park and the Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club and in the lee of Marino Point, Seacliff is a reef/sand combination providing excellent wave/slalom conditions. Mainly a Winter break (perfect in gale force South/Westers), the water conditions remain very smooth in Summer sea breezes, although the sea breezes are lighter compared to the northern beaches. Good in summer for the first-time short boarder or slalom board gybers, as the water remains ''Chest Deep'' for 200m to seaward. TIPS: Beware of the rocky shoreline in front of the local caravan park as it's quite hard to walk on and is fin munching. Also, the offshore land breezes fill in here quicker than everywhere else, and combines with early evening gully winds. Beginners beware!!! When the breeze swings offshore here then it is time to pack it in for the day or head to the northern beaches.
SELLICKS BEACH

Known to locals as ''The Funnel'', is this gully wind location. When the temperature is forecast for a really hot day, this place cranks some nuclear winds late in the afternoon. Sailed when the SW sea breeze has not arrived on Metropolitan beaches, but light SE winds are prevailing. Water surface conditions range from smooth to very choppy, as winds tend to be very offshore. When Sellicks is ''On'', it makes the Canary Islands look tame. Winds will range from 20-50 knots. Out of the question for long boards or inexperienced short boarders. TIPS: Only sailed after 4pm in the afternoon, as this tends to be prime land breeze time. Ultimate conditions for it to work are light South-East to East winds in Adelaide and warm to hot land temperatures. Beware of bullet gusts. Windsurfing S.A. Wave Sailing Spots If you are prepared to do a bit of driving and have some patience you will be rewarded with some epic wave sailing days. Here are a few places to head.
NORTH HAVEN

Some crew do actually go wave sailing here in winter. On certain freak days there is swell and wind in the corner next to the breakwater. Only works on some days in a W or NW for winter. More big jumps than ''down the line'' action here. MID-COAST Just 30 minutes south of Adelaide on the coast ''the Mid'' has several top spots between Moana and Southport to ride in proper reef swells and good winds. These spots work best anytime in winter when the strong northerlies blow or in the southerlies during summer. One of the most popular spots is ''3-poles Seaford'' which is just up the hill north of Moana. Depending on the swell and the tide the easiest way to find the right beach is to check each car park and just looking for other windsurfers who are either rigging up frantically or just peer over the cliff. Beware of the walk up and down the paths to the water and the sometimes-sharp reef. Keep clear of the surfers down there as well or at least let them have a few waves! There is also a web-cam to check the swell size too.
ALDINGA (Snapper Point & Dead Cow Bombie)

Head down past the Mid and Maslins to Aldinga beach. Snapper Point has a big reef that you can sail when the tide is high enough or go 2 car parks north to sail the bombie on any tide. This place works best when Seacliff is cranking in a SW or Southerly. It is an aquatic reserve so there are ALL sorts of fish swimming around here. Not a good place to go on your own. Stick to sailing where the local hardcore masters are out and look after your fin! This place can get TOO big to sail on a massive stormy! Best wind direction S-SW.
KENT RESERVE (Victor Harbour)

Sail between The Bluff and Granite Island. Big jumps to be had!
MIDDLETON POINT (Near Victor Harbour)

Not ridden that much these days as it is more of a surfing spot but it can be good if Day St is too big or too onshore.
MIDDLETON DAY ST

If the forecast is for strong NW or W winds and all the local beaches and the Mid are onshore then this is the place to go. Mainly starboard tack heading out jumps. It can get over mast high waves here in winter but if you can check the swell on the web-cams before the long drive. This break can have some very big clean waves to ride but there is often a bit of a famous windless ''dead patch'' on the inside which is really depressing with a 4 foot wave coming to clean you up when you are going nowhere but sinking. Once out the back you can get a very long ride in with a heap of top to bottom turns over the sandy bottom. If it looks too big and scary just watch the gurus sacrifice themselves. It is very entertaining!!
GOOLWA (Beach)

This place is the same as Day St (above) but the swell is just bigger and messier but sometimes it can work well. ROBE The 3 ' hour drive south to Robe is well worth the effort in summer as it is a prime summer wave sailing spot. The bay is curved so you can windsurf anywhere along the coast to get side shore conditions. The swell is big, clean and predictable and works best in SE ' SW winds. Third Ramp is about 10km north of the town and this is the main windsurfing or surfing spot. You can drive up the dirt road off the main highway in any car, or if you have a 4WD you could drive along the beach from the main town beach (1st Ramp). This is also the location of our Easter Comp too. Be there!
BEACHPORT (Rivoli Bay Beach)

This beach works if Robe is too onshore in a westerly breeze. The water is very clean and crisp with a sandy bottom and some good swells. It is about ' hour drive south of Robe and also has a big salt water lake in the back of Beachport if you just want to blast on some flat water.
BEACHPORT to PORT McDONNELL

This coastline is scattered with secret spots from ''Pebbles'' and ''Black Fellows Caves''. It hides some of the wildest coastline about and has people coming back from its beaches babbling stupidly about some over mast high waves. It is easier in a 4WD but not a must if you don't really like your 2WD! It is best to hook up with one of the local experts or ask one of the Adelaide windsurfing shops how to get there.
Windsurfing S.A. Inland Lakes & Rivers

Being near the Murray River we have lots of freshwater spots to windsurf and most are within 1-hour drive from the city. Most places have a better wind direction but in the relatively protected waters of a lake you are always fairly safe.

GOOLWA

Located South of Adelaide (near Victor Harbour) this freshwater lake is an excellent spot to learn to windsurf. There is plenty of room and good rigging areas right along Barrage Rd. The Aquatic Club is the most popular spot where there are also shops and toilets in a big car park. Right up near the barrage is also good if there are a lot of boats near the aquatic club.
MILANG

Located on Lake Alexandrina between Goolwa and Strathalbyn, this freshwater lake is huge (45km across!) It is generally slightly windier than Goolwa with less congested water. It is a long swim back so don't snap your universal if you have to sail here on your own. (not recommended)
BOGGY LAKE

Found by some local Murray Bridge windsurfers in the early 90's this place is now really popular. It is a bit hard to find on your own but if you head through the hills or from Strathalbyn to Langhorne Creek. 17km from Langhorne creek heading toward Wellington there is a patch of water on your right. This is it! Through the gate or just follow all the cars in the area with the roof racks loaded with windsurfers. It is just a paddock next to a lake with no facilities at all, but it does have flat water and the strongest most consistent wind in nearly any wind direction.

A farmer owns the land but he will let windsurfers in there on a few rules.

1. No Dogs
2. No burnouts or speeding
3. No Litter
4. Lock the gate every time
5. No hassling the sheep or cows!
6. Fires OK depending on Fire Season Restrictions.

Camping up there is common and there is plenty of grass to rig up on. For the speed sailors sail upwind to the speed strip next to the reeds on the south shore. It does not get any better. There is usually a big crowd there on the weekends. If you cannot stay upwind yet on a windsurfer or a kite then Boggy is not very good because there is no beach to come in downwind. Being able to touch the bottom for about 200m means you can always walk back and also allows easy water-starting.
MENINGIE

Located on Lake Albert 200km SE of Adelaide this is a popular stop on the way down to the southeast coasts of Robe. You can windsurf near the Yacht Club or near the Caravan Park. Get the right conditions and you'll be windsurfing fast on relatively flat water.
LAKE GEORGE

This hot speed and slalom spot near Beachport is worth the 4 hour drive from Adelaide. It is the flattest water speed sailing that has to be seen to be believed. Windsurfers on a police radar gun on this lake have clocked speeds of 70 km/h! You can drive out to ''The Spit'' if you want to get right to the best speed track or just blast off the ''5-mile Drift''. Just ask the locals in Beachport.
Now that you know more about Adelaide conditions, remember these simple rules for SAFE windsurfing:

  1. Always tell someone where you are going windsurfing and when you will be home or sail with a buddy
  2. Rig your gear right - the first time. Avoid rig failure - you are what you rig!!!
  3. Drink lots of water before windsurfing to avoid dehydration. Water resistant 15+ sunscreen is also a must
  4. Avoid collisions at all costs
  5. Know your limits (ability and fitness)
  6. Beware of offshore winds