Planning on an escape to Cairns for a week at the start of July , are the trade winds up and running at this time? Cheers

Anyone not trying to promote a business offer an opinion?

Dude - check out my post - www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=50525

Yes Strez, I mean Yorkies is so bad I wouldn't want people to come and visit as they'll just get upset.
Go north, Port Douglas is great!

www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031017.shtml

This link will give you over 60 years of accurate wind data (along with a heap of other info) for the regions North of Cairns.

April until November you can expect between a 1 and 4 % chance of calm. Averaged out that means around 2.5 days of 5knots or less in every 100. Most reliable and enjoyable trade winds in Australia.

Cairns is a bit funny--not ha ha funny but more like really annoying. You see, the forecast could for 20-25 every day for a week, and you can get yourself excited about getting out for a ride. But, if there's any moisture in the weather pattern you can find yourself skunked--like this last week where it's rained every freaking day and there's stuff all wind in Cairns. It has to do with the coastal mountains catching the moisture and killing the wind....funny.

Port D might be ok. Mackay probably better. Cape Flattery would have been blowing its doo dads off, but here in cairns it was wet and windless....all week.......

Cairns sucks go to Port Douglas or Mackay.

Agreed - aint no wind in Cairns.

Cowbouy is spot on. Heaps of great wind in Cooktown.
Don't look at Cooktown readings as its taken from the airport which is inland. Wind strength similar to Cape Flattery readings.

Walkers Bay is the spot on a low tide. You will need a 4WD to get there.

Been out regularly since late February and the windy season hasn't kicked in yet!

Archers Point has a bit more wind than Walkers Bay and acouple of beaches to launch from
The first beach on the right (Georges Beach) has flat water but you need at least 1.6m of tide to have enough water
There is free camping there but no water or facilities
If you do get up this way give me a call and we'll drive you into Walkers-it may cost you a beer at the golf club after the session thoughjavascript:insertsmilie('')
Try this link for the NQ area but don't take all the warnings too seriously-its all good up herehttp://www.tevenei.com/tvm/nq_kite_spots.htm

kiter77 said...

Thanks Cowbouy great website, looks like a great kiting spot, will try to catch up when I arrive Dave.

also check out www.intheloopkiteboarding.com

lots of pictures of NQ spots..

enjoy kiting in nq but watch the crocs...

The mrs (a non kiter ) and I will be in Port Douglas from the 3rd July, still to book a place to stay, last time we stayed at court house, sweet place, maybe to close to the bar..

Hope to get on the water a bit just at 4 mile beach, any offers of advice from locals would be great, and yes i know where to buy some beers ?

Cheers Craig

Craig66 said...

The mrs (a non kiter ) and I will be in Port Douglas from the 3rd July, still to book a place to stay, last time we stayed at court house, sweet place, maybe to close to the bar..

Hope to get on the water a bit just at 4 mile beach, any offers of advice from locals would be great, and yes i know where to buy some beers ?

Cheers Craig

We'll be in Port Douglas around the same time, 2 green Switchys hope to see you there, Dave

ascole said...

Cairns is a bit funny--not ha ha funny but more like really annoying. You see, the forecast could for 20-25 every day for a week, and you can get yourself excited about getting out for a ride. But, if there's any moisture in the weather pattern you can find yourself skunked--like this last week where it's rained every freaking day and there's stuff all wind in Cairns. It has to do with the coastal mountains catching the moisture and killing the wind....funny.

Port D might be ok. Mackay probably better. Cape Flattery would have been blowing its doo dads off, but here in cairns it was wet and windless....all week.......

I agree, same thing happend last year, 1 good day then it rained and that was the end of the wind

If you are going to spend your hard earned coin on flying up here, accommodation etc I really would consider finding a better spot than Cairns. As much as I love Yorkies, the place really is inconsistent and conditions can change dramatically day to day regardless of a consistent forecast. On Thurs we had a sensational day with 20 knots clear sky all day, Fri pissing down with rain despite the BOM claiming clear skies. Today again was absolute rubbish with a gusty 10 to 15 knots despite only a few kms out to sea it is blowing 20 to 25 all day (look at Green island).

Again if you are heading up this way have a look at Kitesurfari as the have yet to have a dud trip as it simply blows its ring out all day ever day during winter without the rain. Pt Douglas seems to be more consistent than Cairns.

Capt.Gumby said...

Frustrating aint the word..... especially when only a few kms out to sea and it its blowing 20 to 25 knots. The biggest problem with Cairns (Yorkies) is the nearby headlands (False Cape and Cape Grafton) and the cloud/moisture that seems to hang around killing the wind. Port always seems to get better wind when there is chance of rain associated with the large highs this time of year.

almost as frustrating as trying to find a outboard so we can get past the wind line