Melville beach should not be kited in winter - AT ALL. In winter it is the most dangerous kite beach there is. Even with the normally gusty summer sea-breeze cross-shore it is a place where everyone should take extreme care & caution - and obey the 50M launch & land zone regulations. In winter it is just irresponsible madness. You are risking yourself and your kit. But most importantly you risk your likely stuff up to adversely effect WAKSA's ability to keep this important site open in summer. Not to mention the potential for mixing it with the other beach, footpath and road users. DONT DO IT. There are plenty of beaches to choose from - choose a different one.
i dont no the beach but on the east coast the winds are gusty when theres storm fronts but dont most people no how to read the weather? i sometimes prefer kiting in winter cos the waves are bigger..
melville is deffs a no go!! i kited at leighton beach today around 2pm, wind was gusting 15-25 knots, i used my 6m. waited around until another kiter was on the water before going out. wind was fine until a storm appeared on the horizon. came back to the beach with about 5 mins to spare before the squalls hit. waited until 10 mins after the rain had past. thougt the wind was fine until 10 mins later a squall came through with no rain with was up around 30+ knots, my kite was bending on the leading edge. ditched my board, kept the kite at 11o clock to body drag me in. released the safety before i got to the sand and that was the end of my session. the mistake I made was going back out after the squall had pasted. very rookie move which could have been a lot worse
Well done Surfy31, good to get tested out there...sounds like you did all the right things really.....esp. going to the ocean.
Most of us have had similar experiences and I certainly try to avoid them....the ocean may be mean and nasty, but more gentle than a tree, truck, house or pedestrian.........the river bites, don't kite there, esp. in winter fronts.....easterlies rock on the river anytime.
Melville Beach is nearly non existent when the tide is high like it is during fronts. Plus loads of windsurfers love the onshore west wind riding across the bay.
If you can ride hard upwind its ok otherwise your gonna fight trees.
If you need to ask that, you shouldn't be kiting tomorrow at all....
