Kite Life

South Padre Island Report
March 24 - April 03, 2003
November/December, 2004

Location: South Padre Island is located just north of Brownsville Texas, at the very southern end of the Gulf Coast. The Island itself is a barrier which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the protected Laguna Madre. The weather is tropical and the winds are reliably strong.

Season: The kiteboarding season lasts from early spring until December. The winds tend to taper off in December, January and February and evening temperatures in the 30’s wouldn’t be uncommon. Spring break periods are very crowded on the island and you may want to totally avoid this place during the big parties. Also, summer is prime time for Texan’s to come to “The Island.”. Expect crowds. From Labor Day through Thanksgiving and again March through May (excluding Spring Break), expect little to no crowds and excellent deals on lodging. Prices tend to double on the weekends as the summer and peak periods approach.

Getting in and out of town: South Padre Island, SPI, is located at the end of the Rio Grande Valley. Along the valley you have several larger airports. The closest to “The Island” are Brownsville Airport and also Harlingen Airport. Farthest away is McAllen, which is apx 1:35 min from SPI. American serves MFE, McAllen with large jets and not commuter flights. Southwest serves Harlingen with large jets as well. Other options might include a commuter flight. All flights connect somewhere like Dallas or Houston. The McAllen Airport offers free parking out front, making it easy to unload your gear and check-in for your flight before returning your rental car.

Hotels and other options: I have stayed at:

The SPI Travelodge had very clean rooms although they smelled like mold, which is common in humid damp areas.. The room cost averaged apx. $45 per night plus tax. My ground floor room included a large tiled dinning area just inside the door. This was a great storage area for my gear. Also the ground floor drive up access was nice. Large continental breakfast included.

On a return trip, I stayed in Le Casa Rosa Motel, a brand new place located on the main boulevard through the island. The cost here was $29/nt including free local calls, coffee in the morning with doughnuts. The owner is adding free high-speed internet access soon. Also, there was a great hot tub and pool right outside my door. Poor quality breakfast, but the Whataburger is near and you can have breakfast for $4.

Recently, we stayed at La Copa Resort, located just across from the causeway. The Hotel is 1 year old and the rooms are an exact copy of La Casa Real’s rooms and other La Copa Properties. I paid $63 per night while friends were charged $79 and others $89. I booked this through Travelocity and had to pre-pay the week to get the lower rate. No drive up rooms are available. The staff here was kind of indifferent. There is a happy hour from 5:00-6:30 which includes free beer and wine along with chips and salsa! Breakfast is included with 3 hot waffle makers and an assortment of juice and cereal.

Super-8 Motel – Located in the middle of the strip this is one of a string of budget motels. My room was a mini-suite that cost $59 on the weekend and was available during the week for $29. The room was fairly clean and quiet. Free Breakfast but only one Waffle iron for too many guests.

There are several other budget options including, The Beachside Inn, Motel 6, and other discount chains. Most of the larger upscale hotels and resorts are represented here as well. I used the internet to book my room. If you are here during a non-peak time, you can easily drive up the road and check out the hotels which post their nightly rates on their signs. Expect to pay from $19/nt at the EconoLodge up to the $100’s for First Class accommodation. Reservation Trap: It seems that those booking reservations can expect to pay more than those walking in off the street during the non-peak periods. I recently stayed at the Motel Super 8 where the internet rate was $79 and I was offered $59 when I walked up to the desk and enquired. The walk-in rate during the week was $29!

Another option would be to book out a condo for the week. SPI looks like a mini Miami Beach or Waikiki. The Parkshore Condos just behind the Travelodge were located on the beach and had secure parking. Again, the internet would be a great source for booking lodging. Search the net for condo options.

Kiteboarding-

Winds- Bring all your kites! I used the 16, 12, 10, and 8.

There are several locations where you can kiteboard. Actually, there are little or no restrictions on kiteboarding, so you can go anywhere off the beach on the gulf side of the island. I had several great rides right off the beach next to the hotel.

North Flats- Located just north of the Convention Center at the far North end of town, you will find the private windsurfing/kiteboarding area called The North Flats. There is a $15/yr user fee for this private area. There area two rigging areas, one for kiteboarding and another for windsurfing and plenty of room for both. The water is SHALLOW, from a few inches to a maximum of about three feet quite far out from shore. The shallow water isn’t all that bad as it provides for the flattest water you have ever seen. Also, when you dump the kite or have a problem all you have to do is stand up and walk back. Works on all winds.

South Flats- Located right next to the convention center, this is where you ride on north winds. The water is very shallow in spots.

Jetty’s- Back on the Gulf side located in the park at the southern end of the island is an area called Jetty’s. I didn’t get to kite here. The ocean current is reported to be less here and the winds are clean. $4.00 fee to enter the park. Best on a SE. Deep water.

Holly’s- Across the Laguna Madre, apx 20 min from the island, you will find Holly’s. Located down a nasty dirt road, in the middle of shrimp farms and swampy tidal pools, this place has an industrial feel. The sand is muddy and stinks like swamp gas. However, on a SE the wind comes all the way across the laguna and is very clean. Again, very shallow conditions 1-3 feet make for very flat water. Directions: From SPI go across the causeway and through the towns until you reach the 510 Road North split-off. Drive through Laguna Vista on the 510 Road for about 2 miles. The golf course will be on your right. At the end of a white wooden fence, there is a dirt road, turn right on this dirt road. Follow the road back quite far. Finally there is a “Y” in the road stay left into the kite area. Note: There are secure shrimp farms in the area that don’t welcome visitors. Look for the kites and get better directions when you are in town.

Shop: South Padre Island Kiteboarding is located about 2/3 of the way North going from the causeway north through town. The crew runs a nice shop and encourage friendly kiteboarding in SPI. They offer free advice and have a fully stocked shop. Naish , Slingshot, Airush, and NSI are their major brands. Also they offer instruction, and this is an ideal location for learning. This should be your first stop before hitting the water. You can check on local conditions etc. Also you can get you membership sticker so you can use the North Flats area. www.southpadreislandkiteboarding.com

Dinning: There are all sorts of foods available on the island. My favorites included Texas Barbeque, Mexican, Giant Burger at Parrot Eye’s, Dirty Al’s Shrimp Baskets, and Palmedo’s for Mexican. All things considered, the Island isn’t a groumet paradise. If you are looking for a nicer dinning experience you might drive the 30 min to Brownsville.

Crowds: SPI and the entire Texas gulf coast can get very crowded during spring breaks. So much that you may want to avoid this time on the island. Traffic backs up and the spring breakers party all night, all day, everywhere. Sleep might be hard to get during this time. There is a US Break and also a Mexican Break which draw giant rowdy crowds. Plan accordingly. During my visit the place was empty, between the two break times.

Necessities: You can get everything you need at or near the island. There are two large grocery stores, drug stores, and a Hardware store which have everything you need. Shopping malls are back in Harlingen and Brownsville. There is a Walmart Supercenter under construction near the causeway.

Car Rentals: My 11 day rental came to over $300 dollars. I rented with Advantage. It is noteworthy that there were over $80 in taxes and fees which are charged by all companies. On my second trip I paid $90/wk plus tax and was upgraded to a mini-van. I booked through Travelocity.

Summary: I really enjoyed South Padre Island. The conditions are very kite friendly. The costs are quite low compared with other destinations. Sandy warm water beaches on the gulf side, and shallow warm waters on the Laguna are near perfect conditions. The local riders are very friendly. As far as I am concerned, I will be back as soon as possible.

Florida provides rich and varied kiteboarding with over 1350 miles of shoreline to choose from for year round riding. Everything from great waves in strong cold fronts and other powerful weather systems, blue water kiting, epic downwinders as short or as long as you like and a wide selection of butter to rip through. Quite a few notable kiteboarders and famous watermen got their start here such as Lou Waiman, and Flash Austin.

Florida is bounded by the fast moving warm waters of the Gulfstream to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. The State is almost 450 miles long north to south, about 365 miles at the widest point tapering down to roughly 50 miles at the narrowest. You can start in the lowlands of Georgia at the state line, head south and end up in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Orlando and Miami have long been destinations for travelers from around the world. Now, a number of those travelers also want to ride the waters of Florida too. If the wind is on, the riding experience can be epic be it in the swells or ripping across glassy sheltered waters. How about taking your pick of launches in excess of a 1500 square mile area of warm sheltered water? The Florida Keys is that and more. Head up the Gulf coast and explore countless sand bars scattered among many thinly populated areas. You could hit stretches of coast that perhaps have never been kited before. Ponce de Leon explored Florida seeking the Fountain of Youth. He was in the right place for it, just about five centuries too soon to rig up and rip! Today, no problem, just add wind and grab all the windblown gusto the state has to offer.

Some of the stronger wind months aside from hurricanes, often come with fronts in October through May. Some of the best kiting comes in these months to Florida. Cold fronts sweep completely across the entire State and in the process bring winds from one end to the other. Fronts can create rideable winds for hours to a week or more. Winds typically ease off between cold fronts for a day to several days. From May to September thermal winds can setup riding sessions in afternoons at times throughout the State. The thermal winds can be a bit lighter in speed but frequently rideable all the same. Be careful as the thermal winds can sometimes build up to squalls sweeping out from inland or suddenly shut off and even change to offshore winds around sunset.

Tropical systems can bring rideable conditions at times during the summer and fall but they can also frequently bring violent squalls. Just because it is blow’n doesn’t necessarily mean it is worth go’in, so always check the forecasts, color radar and real time winds. Powerful squall lines can be at the leading edge of cold fronts at times. Such squall lines appear in satellite and radar imagery and can be dangerous to kiters. It is best to time your setup to ride until after the line passes over you, often a fairly easy thing to do with Internet weather resources. Always be aware of weather and conditions in your vicinity when you have a kite up.

There launches rideable in winds from any direction in many parts of the state, access to some may involve some driving however. Much of the east coast is rideable with winds from the north to east to south. While much of the west coast is rideable with winds from the north to west to south. The best winds are side to side onshore. Onshore winds have been associated with a high percentage of accidents. Light onshore winds can make getting a safe distance from the shore, bystanders, etc. very hard to where responsible riding may not be on. Winds that pass over land before reaching the riding can be gusty, potentially with substantial lulls to where keeping your kite in the air may be a problem. Launches and riding areas near inlets and cuts may have strong and contrary tidal currents. Typical “rideable” wind directions are identified in this guide for various launches. Those directions with in the stated ranges that provide side to side onshore conditions are usually the best wind directions for those areas.

The riding season is year round thanks in large part to the warm waters of the Florida Current and Gulfstream. Cold fronts can take the air temperature down to 50, 40 and even into the 30’s F range at times. The further north you are, the lower the temperatures can go in a given frontal cycle. Winter water temperatures can vary from the 50’s in the northern part of Florida to the 70’s in the south. In the summer the whole State can get pretty warm to where guys might wear rash guards or just board shorts. In the colder months guys in the south may be in 3/2 wetsuits with riders in the northern parts perhaps in 5/3 wetsuits or better at times. Booties make sense at many launch areas to avoid cuts and if in doubt, put them on.

Sea lice are sometimes a factor for short durations in late spring and early fall in some years. Portuguese Man-O-War can be an issue in the winter months but are fairly easily avoided if you keep your eyes open to windward. Shark are fairly common, we just don’t see them that often. Attacks on kiteboarders have been very rare worldwide to date. Avoid riding near active fish schools, fishermen, inlets, sunset and sunrise, etc. to reduce the odds of a negative encounter.

There are many weather Internet sites that cover Florida, including:

Marine forecasts, radar, satellite images & real time winds:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/html/tbw…ineWeather.htm

Historical wind records and real time winds:
http://www.ikitesurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=171

Many riders spend a good deal of time on 12 to 16 m C kites with the odd 7 to 9 m session in more powerful winds. For the lighter wind conditions in the summer and between cold fronts some kiters bring out gear in the 16 to 20 m range. The wider latitude of the new hybrid kites allow riders to cover a lot with 12 m to 17 m kites except when the stronger conditions pump through dictating rigging a smaller kite. Rider weight, board size along with actual winds factor into kite size selection of course. Riders can expand their range with a given kite by carrying a couple of boards and 10 m line extensions. Surfboards and skimboards can expand the lower end even more. Want to learn to ride? Be sure to locate a good instructor to line up quality lessons. There are many instructors in Florida to interview and choose from.

Some leads on travel and accommodations appear below.

Air, car and hotels can be found at:
http://travel.yahoo.com/
http://www.expedia.com/

Campgrounds can be found at:
http://www.floridacamping.com/
http://www.reserveamerica.com/client/client_fl.jsp

Hotel, restaurant reviews, travel tips and ideas for non-kiting activities appear at:
http://www.frommers.com/

Where is “this” in relation to “that?” What does this launch look like (from space)?
http://maps.google.com/

You generally cannot drive on beaches in South Florida while this is permitted on a limited basis on beaches in parts of Northern Florida. Some require four wheel drive, make this determination before heading on to the beach!

NOTE: Where “Restrictions Apply” appears below means there are kiteboarding guidelines, rules and/or laws are in place governing kiteboarding. Check fksa.org and local sources for further information. Threats to access effect us ALL, residents and visitors alike. Access to ride is valuable, take care of it wherever you ride. Always research local conditions, precautions and talk to local riders before visiting an area to ride and common sense and simple courtesy when you arrive. As a rule of thumb don’t launch from most guarded beaches, go beyond 100 yards from shore and stay there until time to come in. This includes buoyed swimming areas. Launch, land and ride ideally at least 100 ft. from bystanders and avoid beach jumping. Follow “Rules of the Road” with other kiters and water users but if circumstances indicate, yield the right of way. Avoid crowds and complaints from others through courtesy and common sense. It isn’t hard to do and can assure many years of great riding if we pull it off.

So, let’s take a tour of Florida starting with the less frequented launches in the Northwest part of the State. Only a few of the launches in each area will be presented here due to space limitations. You will find additional sites described on http://fksa.org/ .

1. The Florida Panhandle
(Click the above link for even more local information)

Has a variety of launches on the Gulf of Mexico to the south with waves and chop and calmer conditions on sheltered water inside the barrier islands. The area is famous for vast white sand beaches. The beaches “can” be lightly populated at times and yet crowded at others. It can be hot in the summer and freezing at times in the winter with strong cold fronts. Some shops and instructors include:

Emerald Coast Kiteboarding
Panama City Beach, FL.
850-235-2444

XL Kites
Fort Walton Beach
1-866-XLKITES

Liquid Surf
850-664-5731

Ft. Walton

Okaloosa Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore. Rideable sandy shallows from most wind directions with some waves. Leave the park when closed and before the ranger is forced to ask you. Avoid bystanders and consider launching and landing from the shallows if the shore is crowded.

Panama City

Schooners Beach - Rideable with W to SE winds. Good downwinder launch or landing spot. Can crowded on shore in the summer. Waves can range from 1 to 20 ft. Stay clear of other water users and bystanders on the beach. Bathroom and showers. Schooners is a good stop for food and drinks.

2. Tampa Bay Area
(Click the above link for even more local information)

Has a variety of launches on the Gulf of Mexico with waves/chop and quite a bit of butter inside some of the barrier islands. Crowding at launches will vary from light to heavy throughout the year. Tampa Bay is about a 2 ½ hour drive southwest from Orlando. Checkout Jimmy B’s Beach Bar for food and drinks on St. Pete beach. Some shops and Instructors include:

Watersports West
888-401-5080

Tampa Bay Kiteboarding
727-798-2484

Ft. Desoto

East Beach – Rideable with NE to W to SW winds. Limited, crowded setup area on shore at times. Fairly calm water area with some shallows. Becomes very shallow at low tide. Camp sites are available with in the Park.

Big Beach – Rideable with NW to W to SW winds. Stay at least 300 ft. from pier, can also have strong currents in the area. Bathroom and showers.

North Beach - Rideable with N to W to SW winds. Calm to choppy water conditions with some shallows. Must be able to stay upwind to the north of the buoyed swim area where no riding is allowed. Bathroom and showers.

3. Southwest Florida
(Click the above link for even more local information)

Has a variety of launches on the Gulf of Mexico on with waves and chop and inside some of the barrier islands. The beaches can be narrow and crowded particularly during tourist season. Avoid crowds! Some shops and Instructors include:

Ace Performer Watersports
Ft. Myers/Sanibel
239-489-3513

SW Florida Kiteboarding
Naples/Marco Island
239-601-2700

Sanibel Island Lighthouse – Rideable with winds from NW to N to E to S to SW. Beach is narrow and can be crowded at times. $6. Toll to get on to Sanibel Island in addition to parking fees. Beginner to Advanced depending on crowding. Bathroom and showers. Checkout the Island Cow on Sanibel for food and drinks.

Naples – Rideable with N to W to S winds. Beaches can be congested particularly in tourist season. Beach may be narrow and setup area limited at times. Avoid crowds and stay well offshore after launch. Beginner to Advanced depending on crowding. Think about Doc’s Beach House in Northern Naples for food and drinks.

Marco Island – Rideable with NNW to W to SSE winds. Open water riding area in Gulf plus limited space within sheltered shallow calm water area. Do not ride in first lagoon or in bird sanctuary. Long walk to riding area. Can be very crowded with kiters in strong N to NW frontal winds. Restrictions apply. Intermediate to Advanced. Try out the Snook Inn for food and drinks after your session.

4. Florida Keys
(Click the above link for even more local information)

The Keys have 100’s of square miles of sheltered riding areas but very few beaches. What few beaches exist are on private property, restricted and/or tight, technical launch areas. Alternate assisted launching and landing techniques in the shallows and boating to sand bars make sense. Be careful of tidal currents and being drawn into or blown out of cuts by current. Kites going into bridges on the water can create very hazardous conditions. In recent years, the Keys seem to have the most consistent winds for the entire State. The air and water temperatures also lead the State, although wetsuits can be welcome at times in the colder months. Some shops and Instructors include:

The KiteHouse
Key West
305-294-8679

Sevensports
Islamorada
1-877-yes2fly

Islamorada
Whale Harbor- Rideable with ENE to E to SSW winds. Calm shallow water riding area. Some hard bottom and sand bars. Designated, regulated launch area, restrictions apply. Should be able to ride upwind given proximity of channel. Intermediate to Advanced. Consider Morada Bay for food and drinks. It is crowded and a bit pricey but good all the same.

Key West
Smathers Beach – Rideable with E to to S to WSW winds. Rare sand beach, sticky peat bottom nearshore with some areas of hard bottom offshore. Can be crowded in season, watchout for the roadway and powerlines. Designated, regulated launch area, restrictions apply. Sometimes put out slider and kicker. Beginner to Advanced depending on crowding. Bathroom and showers. Checkout B.O.’s Fish Wagon for light fare or for a special meal right on Duval hit the Grand Café to be served up in style by Che Paul of TheKitehouse.

Key West Flats – Rideable with winds from ALL directions. Must be reached by boats. Abundant shallow calm water to butter conditions. Be careful when navigating among shallow sand banks and grassbeds. It is a bird sanctuary so don’t annoy the birds or rangers! Beginner to Advanced.

5. Southeast Florida
(Click the above link for even more local information)

Miami Area
(Click the above link for even more local information)

Miami is the most populated area of the state, toping 2.25 Million people. It is also an very popular travel destination from Europe, Central and South America and beyond. With so many people in a limited number of beaches along with what may be the highest number of kiteboarders in the SE USA, congestion and access issues will arise. It is hoped that the Flats of Miami and the emergence of Kiting Sea Taxi’s to these incredible riding grounds away from land will relieve the shoreside stress and introduce riders to a whole new world near this major metropolitan area.

Some Miami shops and Instructors include:

Big Kite
800-747-6489

Miami Kiteboarding
305-345-9974

Skybanditz
786-290-4585

The Kite Shop
305-361-0168

Water-Play
305-860-0888

Crandon Park – Rideable with NNE to E to S winds. Calm shallow water riding area with some exposed sand bars at low tide. Breakers develop along the reef line about 300 yards offshore. Designated, regulated launch area. Riders must have IKO/PASA Level III cert., helmet, must register, use launch corridor, limited access during summer, etc.. Restrictions apply. $6.50 tolls and entrance fees. Intermediate to Advanced. Bathroom and showers. Sundays on the Bay is good for lite fare as you head off the island.

Matheson Hammock – Rideable with NE to E to SW winds with calm water conditions. Launch and land in shallows away from shore. Posted sign lists launch rules. Jumping beyond white buoys. Sand and soft bottom in areas. $4. Parking fee. Restrictions apply. Intermediate to Advanced. Bathroom and showers.

Flats of Miami - Rideable with winds from ALL directions! Must be reached by boat, be careful navigating shallows and be careful of damaging grass beds within this Federal Monument. Abundant shallow calm water to butter conditions over about 100 sq. miles situated to the south of Miami primarily over grass beds. Beginner to Advanced.

Ft. Lauderdale

Ft. Lauderdale is also a popular tourist destination and populated area. There are access issues here as well. There are no sheltered riding areas to speak of here with all the riding happening in the ocean off fairly narrow, often crowded beaches. Still, it is a happening spot with one of the oldest designated launches in the USA.

Some Ft. Lauderdale shops and Instructors include:

Tiki Beach Kiteboarding
(Formerly Kitesurfusa.com)
954-647-7228

Water-Play
954-523-7778

South Ft. Laud. Beach Launch – Rideable with NNE to E to S winds, moderate waves. Use launch corridor and stay beyond 100 yards (outside swim area buoys) until time to come in. Sand bottom. Stay out of guarded beach areas. Designated, regulated launch area. Restrictions apply. Intermediate to Advanced. Parking next door $6. Bathroom and showers. Kiters sometimes hit the Treasure Trove Bar near the beach.

Pompano Beach

NE 15 St. - – Rideable with NNE to E to S winds, chop inside sand bar, waves further out. Scenic launch south of lighthouse. Stay beyond 100 yards until time to come in. Use launch corridor and stay beyond 100 yards (outside swim area buoys) until time to come in. Sand bottom aside from reef offshore which can be shallow at low tide. Watchout for inlet traffic. Sign is posted with launch rules. Designated, regulated launch area. Restrictions apply. Intermediate to Advanced. Limited metered street parking. Bathroom and showers. Checkout Arubas on the beach for post session fare.

Delray Beach

South Beach Launch – Rideable with NNE to E to S winds. Launch, land and ride to at least 400 ft. south of guarded beach area. Stay at least 100 yards offshore from guarded areas. Nice wave riding with stronger winds. Popular riding spot with sand bottom and nearshore bars. Also popular with surfers, stay downwind or give adequate leeway. Restrictions apply. Beginner to Advanced. Limited metered street parking. Bathroom and showers. Bostons on the Beach is a nearby spot for drinks and food.

Jupiter/Juno

Jupiter Kiteboarding, the organizer of the annual Jupiter Kiteboarding Invasion is based here. Beaches can become crowded particularly during tourist season. Some areas of exposed rock exist along the coast. Some good spots for food and drinks are locate on the south bank of Jupiter Inlet. The local shop and school is:

Jupiter Kiteboarding
1-877-Fly-Surf

Juno Kitebeach – Rideable with NNW to E to SSE winds. Stay at least 100 yards north of fishing pier. Very good wave riding in stronger winds. Sand bottom in area of launch. Tides can setup a strong current. Beginner to Advanced. Limited street parking.

Ft. Pierce

The local shop and school is:

Treasure Coast Kiteboarding Center
772-201-5351

South Inlet Launch - Rideable with NNW to E to SSE winds. Sheltered calmer water south of south jetty in N to NE winds and north of north jetty in SE winds. Excellent wave riding in several breaker lines particularly in strong N to NE winds. Stay away from fishermen on jetties to avoid being hooked! Sand bottom. Beginner to Advanced. Limited street parking. Riders can hit Archie’s Seabreeze Restaurant right next to the local kiteshop.

6. Northeast Florida
(Click the above link for even more local information)

Parts of Northeast Florida have wide areas of the Intracoastal Waterway, miles across particularly around Cocoa Beach. This serves up excellent sheltered water, butter conditions with a bit of gustiness from land wind shadow at times. The great thing about this part of Florida is mainly offshore, in the ocean. Waves can start off Africa and wander clear across the Atlantic just in time to setup a perfect ramp for you to go huge off of. The Bahamian Plateau protects Southeast Florida from these waves but they make it all the way into shore here. It can be a wave riding paradise. You can drive along the shoreline in St. Augustine and swear you are in the Outer Banks of Cape Hatteras. Rolling white sand dunes, stands of sea oats, beach shacks and not a lot of people. This part of Florida can also get some of the stronger frontal winds at times. Some local shops and schools include:

Extreme Kites
St. Augustine
904-461-9415

Progressive Sports
Daytona
(386) 765-7564

Kitetricity
Melbourne
321-795-7626

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Rideable with NNW to W to S to SE winds. In sheltered Intracoastal Waterway with minimal waves. Stay away from bystanders and cars. Consider doing assisted launches and landings from the shallows. Sand and rock bottom. $5. Entrance fee. Intermediate to Advanced. Bathroom and showers. Grants Pub in Grant, FL is recommended for food and drinks.

Cocoa/Melbourne Beach Area

Ocean rideable with NNE to E to SSE winds. Primarily sand bottom with some rocky areas. Can develop nice swells here. Avoid guarded beaches, crowds and stay at least 300 ft. off the beach when riding. Area is about one hour to the east of Orlando. Inexpensive trolley is available for trips back upwind during downwinders in Cocoa Beach. DO NOT kite within five miles of Patrick Air Force Base, as it has been banned. Beginner to Advanced. Bathroom and showers. DaKine Diego’s is a good stop for food and drinks in Melbourne.

Melbourne
SR 192 Causeway
Rideable with north to northwest winds for riders that can stay upwind. Offers very smooth and glassy conditions from the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway. Intermediate to Advanced. Sand and grassbed bottoms.

St. Augustine
Matanzas State Park
Rideable with winds from NNW to N to E to SE. Free parking and beach vehicle access is available, watch out for high tide and soft sand if driving. Sand bottom with butter conditions near lowtide in flats around inlet and good waves beyond in strong winds. Watchout for adverse tidal currents near inlet, avoid inlet a couple of hours after high tide until about an hour after low tide. Peak tidal currents are strong. Beginner to Advanced. Checkout Barnacle Bill’s Beachside for food and drinks.

Jacksonville
Huguenot Memorial Park
Rideable with winds from N to E to S on the ocean which can have excellent surf. In the sheltered “Pond” wind is useable from all directions. Little room for launching on land at high tide around Pond. Becomes very shallow with sticky clay bottom at low tide. Camping is available in the Park. Sand bottom with butter conditions near low tide in flats around inlet and good waves beyond in strong winds. Watchout for adverse tidal currents near inlet. Also popular surfing spot, pass surfers downwind or give them good leeway to windward. Beginner to Advanced. Checkout Captains Cay for chow.

The Promised Land, Napeague Bay, Long Island, New York

If you are looking for a protected shallow bay that offers great sailing in any wind direction that is a three hour drive from NYC, than go no further than Napeague Bay on the East End of Long Island. Actually, you can’t go any further than Napeague Bay; it is just about as close to the end of Long Island as you can get (expect for Montauk). The bay is so pristine that clams and oysters are farmed out of the waters all season and if you are lucky while you are beach starting, you might feel a big clam beneath your feet and find yourself dinner! 

 My first visit to Napeague was about ten years ago. In my novice sailing days, I felt like I had made an amazing discovery, and today I still feel the same way about Napeague. The road to bay is as wonderful as the water itself. The area has been preserved, thanks to The Nature Conservancy and the Town of East Hampton, so that when you drive down the road that leads to the bay, you feel like you are on a nature drive as deer and rabbit scurry across the road and you can hear the distinct chirping of Ospreys as they fly over head. Occasionally, I have spotted an owl, majestically perched in the marsh, and just recently I saw a mother fox and her pups playing in the sun.

The bay is nestled in between land, dunes and a bigger outer bay called Gardiner’s Bay. In the dog days of summer the southwest thermal winds come in off the ocean and the bay is filled with windsurfers and kite surfers. It is one of the few places I have ever been to where the kite surfers and windsurfers live in harmony. The bay is about three miles by two miles and has very few deep spots so it is the perfect place for beginners.  There is a beach on the other side of the launch spot that is accessible by four wheel drives, so if do go astray, it is easy to get rescued. There is a great beach right there at the launching site that has port-a-potties, nice shallow water (for kids) and frequent visits by the Good Humor Ice Cream Truck.

 Conditions 

Napeague is the best when the winds are out of the Southwest, but offers great sailing in all directions. You can do a nice broad reach across the bay to the other side and enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the beach. If you are still chickening out on your jibes, the water is very shallow the on the other side and perfect for beach starting, so you can save all your energy for the speed runs back and forth. As you go across the bay in a Southwest wind, the winds can be stronger in the middle, so get ready to hold on! On really windy days, if you are ready for a real challenge, the outer bay, Gardiner’s bay offers intermediate to advanced sailing and is still somewhat protected so you don’t have that “open ocean” feeling if you are heading out.  If you are in Napeague bay and you head to one of the two cuts in the Northwest corner of the bay, you can sail right out (or walk along the channel, just watch out for the current!) and enjoy the big rollers and the little waves in closer to shore. Just make sure you go out there with a buddy, it is not a place to sail alone. If it is a Nor’easter blowing through, you will probably be surprised at how many people are out there; it is a favorite spot for locals when the spring and fall winds start to blow.

Best Gear

The best gear for Napeague varies based on the time of the year and if you are planning on sailing in Gardiner’s Bay. In Napeague, (or the “kiddie pool” affectionately named by my friends) the best gear is your light wind gear. Bigger sails and boards are better for the lighter winds of summer, but if a thermal kicks in, get ready to pull your sail’s down haul and switch to a smaller board. Since the bay is so shallow make sure not to use an exceptionally long fin as you will find yourself stopping short in the middle of the bay. 

For the outer bay or on windier days get out your smaller gear. Wave boards and convertible boards are the best option.

 Kitesurfing 

As I mentioned, this beach is also a favorite for kite surfing, for many of the same reasons. Windsurfers love it, shallow water, enclosed bay, lots of wind and great launching. There is an instructor there, who I highly recommend taking lessons from. His name is Skatoor and he will set you straight on the rules and the skills you need to fly safely. He can be reached at 203-984-1097. If you want to go at it alone, generally the kiters respect the windsurfers there as they know that the windsurfers have been there for a long time and they rig just down wind of sailing site and kite surf down wind of the windsurfers.

 Skills to Practice 

 I call Napeague the Jibe City of the Northeast. It is the best place to learn how to jibe and windsurf. The bay is so nice and shallow that it is the best place to learn water starting, beach starting and light wind tacking. For the advanced sailor, you can practice duck jibes, clew first water starts, and jumps since there is plenty of room to sail. 

Getting there 

To get to Napeague from NYC, all you have to do is take the Long Island Expressway (495) to exit

70 Manorville Road

(Route 111) to Route 27 Sunrise Highway heading east. Stay on 27 all the way through the town of Amagansett. Once you pass Vickie Vegetable patch on the right, you take the next right onto

Cranberry Hole Drive

. Stay on the road until the end to

Shore Road

which will take you to

Local Information & Rentals Park behind the signs for non-permit parking, it is about 100 yards away from the actual rigging and launch site. If you are unsure, ask anyone who is around, they will tell you where to park. Tickets for not having a beach permit (and those cost $150 at town hall) are $125, so is best to drop your gear and park at the legal spot. There have been no thefts that I know of at Napeague, but it is always smart to lock up your car. 

There are port-a-potties at the site, but you should pack a lunch and bring plenty of liquids as it can get at the beach, especially if you are there for a thermal. The beach can be totally still, and the wind is out on the bay only. There is one rental place right there at the launch, called Main Beach Surf and Sport. It is run by Billy Garry and if you call ahead of time you might be able to reserve gear. His number is 516-647-0678. He has instructors at the beach and plenty of decent gear to rent. Jan Milne does private instruction and has her own gear for the lessons, she can be reached at 516-380-0421. She also has female only clinics running all summer that I highly recommend.