Big Bay

Good wave spot when the wind gets stronger. Big Bay itself is quite a narrow spot with rocks on the left and right. Windsurfers usually stay there. Waves are incredibly clean just downwind of the rocks that are downwind (called Outers). The waves turn in behind the rocks, makes for a very clean water surface, nice! The beach is sometimes a bit short for the lines, depending on the tide. Quite a bit of kelp often around, but manageable. The wind tends to be a touch weaker than in kite beach and tends to arrive a bit later (kite beach is upwind in a SE). When the wind gets very strong, it also tends to get gustier. Can be annoying at times. Wind mostly sideshore from the left. Due to slightly strange local effects, the wind is generally sideshore or onshore. In the summer, the wind is mostly S to SE, but of which are pretty exactly sideshore; this is the perfect wind (called Cape Dr.) and can get very strong at times - up to 40 knots. The wind tends to pick up in the mornings and get stronger. So if super strong winds are predicted, get there early! NW is mostly a bad weather or winter wind. Less reliable, but often associated with big waves. Surfing is possible all year round, although the summer months (December to March) have the best winds. In the winter, you will mostly find NW winds (from the right), although these come rarely. Steady winds. Sideshore: NNW and SSE. Long wetsuits needed all year round - although people were seen in shorties some times. Air around 30°C in the summer, down to 15°C in the winter. The water is pretty cold, around 10-15°C in the summer and 13-17°C in the winter. The longer the South Easter (prevailing summer wind) blows, the colder the surface water gets. Doesn't matter much in summer though. Water: Chop, Smallwave, Mediumwave. Features: Shop, Toilet, Food, Parking. Rider ability: Intermediate, Expert.

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