Rye Front Beach (Victoria, Australia)
Rye Front-Beach Victoria, Australia
Rye Front Beach is located on the Mornington Peninsula on Port Phillip Bay about 100 km from Melbourne (1.5 hours drive).
It is a great location for bump-and-jump and flat-water-blasting for both windsurfers and kitesurfers. Due to the shallow water it is also a great spot for beginners & improvers as you can easily stand up. It is a great place for windsurfer learning to gybe in a northerly.
This spot works in NW, N, NE & E. It can also work in a W & SW however the more S it becomes the gustier it gets due to the land obstructing the wind. A true northerly is great for kitesurfers but not so good for windsurfers as it is directly on-shore meaning you are sailing across the shallow sand bars. Cross-on-shore is better so you can get out into the deeper water.
Rye is also a popular spot during winter when the northerly winds blow as the air temperature is warmer than the southerlies and the northerlies tend to be stronger & more consistent during winter.
Sandbars are the number 1 hazard at Rye, particularly for windsurfers. At low tide there are sand bars that appear out of the water which makes some of the water super flat; ideal for kitesurfers. Even at high tide a big fin on a windsurfer is likely to strike these sand bars which are lurking only 30 cm or so below the surface so take care.
Access, Rigging & Launching
There are several free parking spots along the waterfront in Rye where you can pull up and rig up on the beach. One popular spot is opposite Daly Avenue where there is a grassy/sandy rigging area and public toilets nearby.
Like all spots at Rye due to the shallowness of the water windsurfers will need to wade out a bit before it is deep enough to start.
WIND:The best wind directions here are from North West to East however the best direction tends to be either from the North East or North West. North is direct on-shore and can be difficult to get our far enough to get away from the shallows and the sand bars.
SAILING:When the wind blows from the North West to East it is cross-onshore to on-shore creating some chop so the main type of sailing here is bump-and-jump of flat water blasting in the lighter winds.
ABILITIES:Because the water is shallow for a long way out so can be a good place for people to learn to sail or to improve your skills.
SEASON:Whilst the best time to sail at Rye is generally during the warmer weather, for those who are happy to brave the elements this spot can be sailed all-year-round when the wind blows from the north (which is generally warmer).
WATER:The water is generally clear and blue but on the coolish side
LAUNCHING:Launching is off a sandy beach which sometimes has a small shore break
POTENTIAL HAZARDS:From the shore the first 100 metres is pretty shallow and particularly so at low tide making it challenging if you are sailing with big fins (greater than 30cm)
Rye is a tourist hot spot and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, camp grounds and houses for rent.
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- N
- E
- W
- NE
- NW
- SW
- Flat Water Blasting
- Bump and Jump
The best wind directions here are from North West to East however the best direction tends to be either from the North East or North West. North is direct on-shore and can be difficult to get our far enough to get away from the shallows and the sand bars.
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Flat Water
- Chop
- Bay
- Cold Water
- Moderate Temp Water
- Salt Water
- Sand
- Shore Break
- Easy Launching
- On-site Parking
- Town
- Accommodation
- Camp Ground
- Bar
- Restaurants
- Public Toilets
- Sand Bars
Rye
Victoria
3941
Australia
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