Wikapedia say of Puna Arenas: Climate The seasonal temperature in Punta Arenas is greatly moderated by its proximity to the ocean, with weather.com specifying average lows in July near 1 °C (30.2 °F) and highs in January of 14 °C (57 °F). This is not to say that it is known for stable constant temperatures, only small variability with season. Punta Arenas is also quite dry, with only 43 millimetres (1.7 in) of rain in its wettest month of May. Among Chileans the city is also known for its strong winds (up to 130 km/hour). Winds tend to be strongest during the summer when city officials put up ropes in the downtown area to assist with unique wind currents created by the buildings.

from Wikipedia. Dungeness Spit is a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) long sand spit jutting out from the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula in northeastern Clallam County It is the longest natural sand spit in the United States. Have you been there Roo?

G'day Choco, Found Dungeness 3 years ago around the same time ARooBar was discovered. Biggest problem with Dungeness is the lack of wind, its just not very consistant and very strong. It tends to work in the same weather pattern as ARooBar but the wind is never as strong. From my research I've found there are very few places in the world with strong consistant winds. My starting point was the great winds of the world, if they have been named they tend to be strong and regular, ie Chinook, Mistral, Khamsin, Sirrocco etc. http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wind/The-Pampero.htm Add in a particular topographical feature that accelerates the wind and you've got a good starting point. That's what led me to Punta Arenas in the Magellan Strait in Chile. Roo

Roo, it looks like the wind might be closer to home from this world graph. Though I note it is missing some spots (Wellington NZ , Namibia etc) I guess what is good for windmills may not be perfect for speed sailing.

The Useless Loop course we used was on this pond, P3 - http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-26.319778,113.34618&z=14&t=h&hl=en. Wind direction was pretty much due south, so course was a little bit tight, whereas the other potential course on P2, next big pond to the south, was too broad. Very windy and very salty however, and no showers for a week. Not pleasant living conditions.

Where abouts in Pond 3 ? Which is Pond 3? The photos looks like Clough bar.

Tried it, it's shorter than it looks. Many of those places in the estuary look great on google earth but when you try them it turns out you need more wind than available. On that one day a year then maybe... but then again if you just go down Hardies you can bear off wherever you like, and the weed still keeps the chop down.

Tim, with the breeze mainly being southerly it may be too broad but it definitely looks like it is worth checking out. The main run is about a kilometer. Ado says they get a large tide up that way so the sand spit at the north end may be under half the time.