Has anyone been kiting on the italian Lakes? If so where and what's it like in May. I will be over there in the lakes distric for a week and would really like to hire some gear and have a crack.

what's a specimen?

an italian astronaut!

Lake Garda in Italy can get very strong winds in May, The lake works like a funnel, the northern part reaches into the Italian Alps, so mountains form the wall with little towns along the narrow level stretch around the lake.
The VENTO can blow in the morning from 4am till about 10am from the north, then the ORA can start blowing from the south around 1pm and goes all afternoon.
90% of all Euro windsurfers have probably been to Lake Garda at some stage due to its wind reliability.
I have windsurfed the morning VENTO on 4- 5m sails fully powerd, with the lake kicking up 1.5 m wind waves. But you might be there in a dry spell. Launching a kite can be a bit difficult, off a boat or through a tunnel passing under the main road. And if you fall in, it will take your breath away, fill your bathtub with ice cubes to find out why.

The northern part of the lake is best for windsurfing and kiting,
Malchesine , Riva and Torbole are the spots, where the action is, and its a lot of show with topless beauties , material crazie oldies , bars Euro discos, etc and if you have a budgie smuggler phobia, dont go there

Ray

Kited Lake Como and Silvaplana a couple of years ago. Both had strong gusty winds when I was there. Gusty was REALLY gusty. Aparently it's not normally too gusty at Silvaplana, I was unlucky. I was wearing a 5mm wettie, and booties. The strangest thing of all is falling in and tasting fresh water. But I also found I sunk much lower in the water for body dragging due to the fresh water. Chop was big and bumpy. Made me appreciate what I have at home, but worth doing it for the novelty factor and pictures to prove it.