How to Get There

When crossing over the bridge to Phillip Island, drive along Phillip Island road then veer left at Back Beach Rd (on the way to the penguin parade).  Turn left at Ventnor and Cat Bay is just past the penguin parade centre on the right.  The Right Point carpart is on the top of a cliff overlooking Right Point with Shelly’s beach visible to the left and Flynn’s Reef to the right.

Surf Break Description

Right Point is a classic left hand port tack point break peeling over reef.  On its day, it is well known for fast sucky take-offs which then fattens out further down the line.  Right Point is also a very popular surf break when there is a large swell and southerly winds due to the fact the surf breaks around Cat Bay are pretty much the only offshore surf locations in Victoria in a southerly airflow.

Wave Sailing Conditions Required

Right Point is most sailed during spring and summer in big south westerly fronts.  

• Swell Size and Direction - Right point requires a big SW swell for the waves to wrap around and get into the bay.  Typically, the open beaches (Woolami) need to be at least 5 foot (swell buoys average 1.8m) before Right Point breaks (2-3 foot).
• Wind Direction – SSW to WSW.  Perfect cross shore is SW and a southerly wind is cross off-shore.  Westerly is too on-shore for down the line wavesailing conditions.
• Tide – Unless if you like re-sanding your fin after every sail, Right Point is best mid to high tide.  At low tide, the swell doesn’t get in plus it’s very shallow on the inside.

Launching

Best bet is to launch from Shellies Beach.  There is a track that leads down to Shellies beach from the carpark (not the timber stairs the surfers use).  If the swell is big, make sure you time your launch with a flat spell or you could be eating carbon because the wind is a little light behind the cliffs.

Dangers

Right Point is probably not the best beginner wavesailing location.  Local experience definitely helps when conditions get big and the wind is light.  The things to look out for are;

• Getting caught on the inside – Can get a little scary as it’s quite shallow with rocks very close by.  If you take off behind the take off point (suck rock), it can get very heavy and hollow.  Stick to the shoulder for the first couple of waves then take off deeper as you get more familiar and confident with the wave.
• Surfers – Since Cat Bay is one of the only places to surf in Victoria in a South or South West wind, there are usually a few surfers around.  Give them a bit of room and try to live in harmony with them!
• Big Men in Grey Suits! – The nobbies is just around the corner which is renowned for great whites!

Overall

Right Point is one of Victoria’s best port tack wavesailing locations.  It is a genuine point break where you can get up to 5-6 bottom top turns.  It is also unbelievable for jumping when windy and very good for learning forwards as it’s so easy to bear away when jumping.  Port Phillip Bay windsurfers will also feel comfortable here because of the port tack sailing conditions.