Windsurfing near Plimmerton
- Kio Bay (24 km)
- Shark Bay (24 km)
- Worser Bay (26 km)
- Seatoun (26 km)
- Waikanae Estuary (27 km)
Nearby Windguru Forecasts
Plimmerton (or Plimmy for short) is an accessible wave sailing spot north of Wellington that is great for beginning wavesailors. There are grass rigging areas, and a wide sandy beach with not much shorebreak. The waves break on a sand bar a few hundred metres offshore, and they are tide dependent. A high tide means that the waves won't really break on the bar (unless the swell is very big) and the shorebreak will be bigger. Low tide means bigger waves on the bar and a small shorebreak. Outgoing tide means steeper waves and a bit more chop, while incoming tide causes the waves to be mushier with smoother water between them. Waves are mostly waist to head high with occasional logo high days, and are quite slow.
It will work in winds from the North (gusty sideshore) to the West (steady onshore). NW to NNW winds are generally are the best compromise between steady wind and enough sideshore. These wind directions mean that starboard tack jumping and port tack riding are the go here. Typical sail sizes range from 5.5 down to 3.5. The wind at the beach is usually lighter than out on the bar, so a bit of slogging can be required out through the shorebreak.
Links
More info and photos available on the Spotguide at http://www.wwa.org.nz. For latest forecasts see the Mana recreation marine forecast at the NZ Met Service (http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=manainshore) website.
Wind.co.nz (http://www.wind.co.nz) a subscription service has a sensor for Plimmerton that provides wind, tide, temp, pressure, information updated every ten minutes. The home page provides free less detailed information.
Deepfried (http://www.deepfried.tv/webcam/webcam.html) hosts a Plimmerton camera which gives a good indication of whether there is swell or not.