Out of interest, is there anywhere good to kitesurf in or near Canberra?
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Gez

Heres a reply I posted on yahoo a while back. Nothings changed. Sinny, the other kiter I refer to in the text recently broke his neck so you might have it to yourself (and the 30 or so windsurfers). He should be back on the water in time for summer.

If you want to see some pics of the launch etc email me.

Later,

Pete.

Ive just moved from Canberra to the Central coast.

While I dont recommend it you can actually sail in the lake. In
summer canberra receives Easterly winds in the afternoon/evening
after a southerly on the coast (check out the BOM AWS at Braidwood
halfway between Canberra and the coast, if its blowing Easterly by
3:30 you usually get and Easterly in the evening). The easterlys
range anywhere from 10kts to 25kts (gusts are +/- 5kts) and are the
most consistent wind in canberra.

In the easterlies I used to kite with one other bloke in the basin
west of the National Museum. There are about 50 or so windsurfers in
canberra who sail off "blue gum point" (??) between yarralumla (Sic?)
and the canberra yaught club. There really is only one launch which
is about 100 or so metres upwind of this point. The launch is really
sketchy with winds gusting over trees about 10-15m upwind and trees
about 10m downwind. Kite upwind of this point, if you drift down
into the sailors you have to suck it up and either go down wind
between the island and the point or go in behind the point (ie sail
into the wind shadow, drop your kite and swim in) alternatively you
can kite further down wind and land at the police launch, but I have
had to swim the last 20-50 m more than once.

Westerlies are usually very very gusty (5-25 kts) and I wouldnt even
bother really unless you were desparate. The best place in a westerly
is in the east basin, the launch is a little better, but definately
not what I would recommend to anyone who hasnt got quite a far bit of
experience. The lake is shallow enough here to launch from the water
if you have someone to launch you. If (most likely when) you end up
down wind, you have to climb out of the lake over a rock wall.

Bottom line is that easterlies are quite good after work in summer,
but there isnt really enough room. I wouldnt recommend trying to
kite in canberra until you have a (fair bit) make that a lot of
experience, and it is probably best to watch some of the other guys
(if there are any left) have a shot before giving it ago. Make sure
you know where to get out as well. Talk to Scottie at Second Wind in
Fyswick before you have ago, because as far as I know kiting may have
been banned.

The coast (2-3 hrs away) is, on the other hand, epic. Better beaches,
stronger winds and less crowds than anywhere else I have kited.
Heaps of sick setups. Check out Gerroa, Shoalhaven Heads, J-Bay and
surrouding areas, Further south there are some good spots near
ulladulla, Broulee ... Merimbula.

Take it easy,

Pete.
If you have anymore questions email me at peter.weatherhead @
ozemail.com.au

You heard wrong.

NNW gets messed up by black mountain, and the telstra tower.
NW-WSW are alright, still really sketchy for kiting though. Definately not worth travelling for, and possibly not even worth it if you live there, just depends on how desperate you get.

PEte

Hey Gez,
This is your dad.
Mom misses you and is always telling me to give you a call when I go out. As of late the conditions or my schedule have kept me far from the water. Yesterday was to be my day but did not have the guts to go out in such gusty conditions. Did have a couple mates go out up at longreef in the off shore but they are both 4+ years of experience so could handle it. I would have ended up in the whale migration path had I tried it.
Hope to meet up some time when the conditons are a bit more favourable.
Later

Thanks Pete

It would be good to catch up when we head north.

Gez

Hey Col, are you really 62 you old bugger – no wonder you think ‘sheeting out’ means emptying your colostomy bag.

Gez, don’t worry we know you can’t be not on board’s son because you’re to bloody short, any of their children would have to be at least 6 foot. Mind you, didn’t standing next to Mom make you feel short and inadequate as a man?
And by the way, regarding this post, never go outside the family to ask about kiteboarding. We’re your family - you want to know anything ask us. If this happens again you might wake up with half a monkey kite in your bed if you know what I mean.

Not On Board – don’t lie about your age, Mom told us how old you REALLY are, prehistoric just like you kites.

Col, Tele Tully and I went out today; you should have seen the move he pulled off. It was a triple menace, guinead, with a groin grab to JD Landing – awesome!

Who’s up for Kurnell at the weekend?

gez i am just trying to imagine what you would look like with guinea
on your shoulders.i bet you wouldnt mind trying guinea to switch with pimp to not on board. are you a kiwi? I here tully is going to try a double k. bitch to groin on saturday. tully watch out for soprano.i here he wants to take your bag to the cleaners.[}:)][}:)][}:)]