Guilde to windsurfing locations

[ulfp]

As "new" to windsurfing in the region, I get the impression that there are three “nearby inn-places” for the Singapore windsurfers: Kuantan, Jason Bay and Bintan (ManaMana).

I have tried Bintan on several occasions, so decided to visit Jason Bay last Saturday after I heard that some other Singapore windsurfers was going there.

I have always assumed that Jason Bay is the bay south of K Sedili, so that’s where I went. (come to think of it, I never asked anyone for the actual location, so please correct me if I went to the wrong place). The bay has all the characteristics mentioned in other posts (cows, insects, long-walk at low tide, great for jumping with starboard tack heading strait into the waves), but I could not find any windsurfers! Conditions (waves and wind) did not seem too exciting, so after driving up/down the bay a few times without finding any windsurfers, I decided to drive down south to a small bay at Desaru that I sailed the weekend before (the bay at the "La Cemara" resort south of Tanjong Balau).

At "La Cemara", I parked inside the resort 100-150m from the water (dependent on tide) and 30m to the "beach shower" ('Angmo' smile gets you through the security). Here it is more on-shore conditions (about 45 degrees) and perhaps not as safe (got mid-bay out-current and cliff/stones/reef/whatever at the south-end), but shallow beach/bay with big waves great for jumping and wave fun&crush (looks similar to the pictures of Tanjong Balau). After sailing a few hours on 6.7, the wind was getting "borderline" (difficult to get out through the sometimes “man-height” breaks on borderline wind), so I decided to drive back north to try the bay south of K Sedili (the coast road is of decent quality with NO traffic, so the drive is less than 25min). Could still not find any windsurfers, so went out alone about 4km from north end of the Bay. The waves here are only 1/2 the size compared to "La Cemara", but a lot cleaner.

So why am I posting all this? Well, perhaps the rest of you who have explored all/some of the places in various conditions could provide some description/guidance on:

[*]how to get to the good spots (where is Jason bay? can't find the name on any map)[/list]
[*]what you get when you are there (i.e. stories like above on expected conditions)[/list]
[*]what places to avoid (empty, bad, dangerous, etc.)[/list]- I have never sailed up at Kuantan, so I wonder what you get up there that is worth the extra 200km drive?
- How is the road/traffic and how long does it take drive there?
- Why is Jason Bay better (more popular) than the other Johor/Desaru places?

- I have spent a few weekends at Bintan sailing both at ManaMana, and the bay east of ManaMana,  but even though I have had OK wind, I find that for the corresponding wind, I get better wave conditions (i.e. waves with steeper wave faces) at the Johor/Desaru beaches (or is this because I have visited ManaMana at the wrong time/tide or sailing at the wrong spot)?
 
 [ 09. February 2003, 11:25 PM: Message edited by: UlfP ]

[P.J.]

Kunatan ( Balok Beach 10-15km away from city in the direction towards Trengganu ) is frequest by PA sailors . Usually during Christmas and Chinese New year. There will be at least 10 cars ( families up there ). The journey from JB is about 300km, going by the coastal road. The road has very much being improved. Average speed about 80-100Km/Hr. We took 5.5 hours include stop for the families to have lunch.

Going Kuntan is not just windsurfing. others include cheap food , shopping , hair wash...and get together with the Malaysia sailors. Usually we stay at DeHru hotel. they have a special rate for windsurfer.At the baech outside, wind is side-on shore and easy to launch. Sailing far out you get very nice rollers . Usually the wind starts after Noon till evening. So enough time for a good breakfast and some shopping before that. Safe bet is to go after Jan.

This trip I took a drive to Chearating ( another 30Km north ) , The wind is obvisouly much stronger ( 2-3 knots more ) and by 10am wind is howling. However, the dumpers and on-shore conditions makes launching tough.

Nice place to explore.Check with the PA guys next years, they will be glad to provide info
 
 [ 09. February 2003, 11:15 PM: Message edited by: H2O ]

[sukhdev]

Ulf, been up and down the malaysian coast since '82. Best wave spot is a tiny bay just north of the harbour in kuantan, sudden steep shore makes for big waves, usually much taller than elsewhere but not sailable any more due to harbor security. Cherating as PJ says has good onshore waves but this is skinny mast territory; one fall on conventional masts and  you will need a new one. Going further north, there is a wave spot north of Kemaman that is good enough to surf but again wind direction is not ideal.

Best sideshore location is Balok Beach in Kuantan, after desperately searching in 82/83 we sailed here, being by far the safest spot around. Waves are small and mushy, though clean faces for nice jumps. Bottom turn conditions very rare.

Manamana needs the right conditions to go off; incoming tide, real swell and the wind a tad more easterly than normal; then the centre reef is nice, so is the next bay you sailed in.

I'd say for all round nice sailing Kuantan is still the best spot. Just downwind from DeRhu where everyone sails, you get a nicer break,waves peak better. Worth a long weekend if the forecast looks right. Its much faster to go overland through Segamat than by the coast road (safer too).

You've got the right board though; a conventional wave board is too slow. My current favorite for any of these spots for waves is a 255x56 that I had made which is ultra light with a fast rocker but very thin rear rails and full rounded fore rails.

I guess its about time to do a section on sailing spots...

[P.J.]

You could check the weather at :

http://www.kjc.gov.my/english/weather/forecast/ship.html

If it says dangerous for small craft, the wind is honking. I have monitored last week when I was there, Accurate only for the same day and the next day forecast.

I do take N-S than cut across from Segamat. But This time I tried the coastal road, is a very nice drive

[ozymandius]

quote:Originally posted by UlfP:

I have always assumed that Jason Bay is the bay south of K Sedili, so that’s where I went. (come to think of it, I never asked anyone for the actual location, so please correct me if I went to the wrong place). The bay has all the characteristics mentioned in other posts (cows, insects, long-walk at low tide, great for jumping with starboard tack heading strait into the waves), but I could not find any windsurfers!

You are right.  This is Jason's Bay.  The local name is Telok Mahkota.

[ulfp]

quote:  
Shukdev:
I guess its about time to do a section on sailing spots...

Great idea, why don't you add to your web site (both pictures and text...)

 

quote:
ozymandius:
You are right. This is Jason's Bay. The local name is Telok Mahkota.

The bay is 10-15km, so where is the best place to sail and launch?
I understand that the Singapore sailors go to some resort (good for parking and fresh rinsing water). When I was there, I could see two resorts: One "shaggy" resort about 3-4km from north end (where I was sailing), and one "neat" right at the south end just north of the river. Is it safe to park a Singapore registered car anywhere near the beach or are the Singapore sailors using the resorts to get some extra "security".

[<PA>]

Hi Ulfp
       You missed by 1 day. 7 guys were having good time (Blown out )on friday.Full powered 5m
condition for 2hours, 2m high wave.Intend to return on the next day,Sat, but trip was cancelled
on sat morning due to unfavourable condition.You are right on the spot at the run down resort.We parked our cars in the resort and paid 5 ringgit per head for the use of the facilties like washing our equipements and showering at the wash bay at the end of the day.  

[<PA>]

Let me correct meself.it was on thursday.sorry.
still got water in me head.  

[ulfp]

Send me a mail at ulf_pet@hotmail.com next time you are going up.

By the way, what is your criteria for "unfavourable conditions". Is that when  http://www.kjc.gov.my/htdocs2/data/M004E.html (as mentioned by H2O) shows less than 40-50 km/hr and not "dangerous for small craft" or do you have some other "magic" indicator.

[<marcus>]

Hello guys

I will be coming to malaysia to windsurf. how many knots or beaufort do we generally get in the different months of the year. I undertsand that NE monsoon is the best season, what strenght is this?
So I can see what sails to take, I wil be ther for the whole year

thanks a lot

[<Juri Munkki>]

This reminds me: if any of you have any spare time available, it would be really great if you could list your local windsurf spots on a site called www.mytrims.com . They're doing a lot of work to become a real windsurfing portal with a database of windsurfing  equipment and locations.

It's truly a global site, although because of its origins, a big proportion of the windsurf sessions and locations are in Finland...  If we all chip in, it can be an awesome resource.

[sukhdev]

Marcus,

depends on your size/sailing orientation. NE is december to march, in Kuantan for me at 85kg a 3 sail quiver would be 9.x, 7.x, 5.8 or so. That would pretty cover it; with boards sized accordingly. Outside the NE depends where in M'sia you sail. West coast is light all year around, for me a 10.x at minimum would be a must.

If I had to have a 2 board quiver for NE in Kuantan, it would be one 7x cm wide and one 90 litre or so onshore board (for fun, racing would be another issue).

[<f2>]

To the guys that go up M’sia to windsurf,
How sure are you that there’s wind? At least during the NE its 90% chance of  blowing.
I am just asking this because when one drives up it becomes a whole day affair even longer then golfing in m’sia. The question is how likely will it blow and lets do a poll here, how many will go up if the chances for wind is just 50/50. Btw any one willing to go Tanjong Balau on weekdays? Let me know, I’ll drive or who ever
can't wait for the NE man. Anyway m'sia always gets it 1st.

[<Visitor>]

I believe Taiwan or Vietnam would get NE before M'sia ....  

[<f2>]

quote:Originally posted by <Visitor>:
I believe Taiwan or Vietnam would get NE before M'sia ....  

ya i know but for sure before spore