Hello, I'm an addicted windsurfer 16 years old. Because I don't have a drivers license I'm wondering if it is possible and if anyone has ever tried taking the bare essentials of windsurfing onto public transport, i.e. bus and train. You're opinions or experiences will be much appreciated.
This won't help a great deal (as it'll require all new kit) but I know Tushingham and Starboard designed a "city dwellers" quiver, where two or three sails could all fit on the same - 3 piece - mast and the board was about 2m's long. It all fitted in a big bag with wheels and you could take it on a train, bus, tube etc..
It wasn't a gimmick either - it was proper/quality stuff.
I always managed to get lifts from people as i lived an hour's ride from the water!
hobie14t - I'm based in the hills area of outer Perth so I don't know if anyone who lives here would be able to give me a lift. I usually go with the family every possible chance but during school holidays I would like to be going more often (everyday).
racycoot - Too far to cycle, takes 45min to get to the river/ocean by car.
junior freestyle - Excellent, I don't know any other 16 year olds that sail so it's good to know they're out there. And that's what I was thinking, taking the gear on buses and trains somehow. So by trolley you mean a Coles trolley or something?
and
Crash Landing - Yeah you're right, i wouldn't be able to get a whole new kit before I get my license so it wasn't a great help. But certainly a good suggestion.
Maybe you could talk one of the windsurfing shops/friends close to the beach into letting you leave your gear with them over the summer holidays and you could cycle it from there.
Another option could be leaving it at a yacht club, i think they have sheds available for that kind of thing, not sure of the costs.
From memory, the only bus that will let you take surfboards is the 400 to scarborough and even then it has to be under 2 metres. In my experience they are fairly strict on that. I think you could get away with windsurfing gear on the train as long as it wasnt at peak hour, but still it would be a mission!
I brought two sails with me to Perth from Sydney and had to get down to Safety Bay on the bus.
The driver from the airport wasn't going to let me on but after a bit of persuasion agreed as long as I stayed at the back of the bus out of people's way. He said they weren't supposed to let people on with anything longer than 2m long as it was a hazard.
It was the same thing when I changed buses, but they all let me on after a bit of discussion.
I wouldn't like your chances on getting all your kit on, as just the hassle of getting it through the door and keeping it away from people was a struggle.
