Hey Kiwiburger

This was me 3 months ago. 3 lessons down at botany, up an riding, bought all the gear and then you're on your own.
I live in Collaroy so the natural place to go is Fishermans Beach. Theres a few obstacles where most of the guys setup ...namely pine trees and rocks which both seem pretty hungry for kites. I launch about 100m south of this and haven't had too many dramas. The downside is there is no one to help you launch and land so after watching multiple Youtube clips on How To...I have it pretty sussed. The other bit is the seaweed which once your tangled in it....session over and an hour at home and several beers untangling the mess. It is good as a learner because going upwind is still a skill to be learnt and walking up the beach around bay and not many people lying on the beach. Problem is the wind. It is always 5 knots less than everywhere else so you cannot always go out in NE.
On the other side is Long Reef which is great in a southerly but the surf is usually up when its south. If you Surf and can keep the kite in the air you should be right. Best no to go out when the bombie is breaking and / or when there are lots of surfers.
The other place I have started going which is pretty clear of obstacles and few people is south/ mid Narrabeen. Anywhere near Balmoral Boards just turn in there and find a place to setup. I think this is where I will start going next.
I have been pretty frustrated over summer checking the wind and it just not being quite strong enough for my 12 Kite. A guy told me the other day it is best just to make the trip to Botany and get some good practice in. Its just too far.
If you are heading down to any of the above lets us know...I'm down there whenever I can be.

The northern beaches is a very difficult place to learn and if you're not confident in the surf actually quite dangerous. The rips, heavey shore dumps, longshore drift, "holy"wind and busy beaches make it challenging and from having done it mysel******amn frustrating and gruelling with open ocean swims and heavy shorey beatings.

If you're nervous definitely nail the basics on flat water with minimal tides. Most good sea breezes on the northern beaches are accompanied by some fairly serious swell and associated hazards. If you're already a accomplished surfer and are happy to get well and truly rumbled then go for it (this is the only way I think I got through it) but otherwise don't do it to your self and your kite...you'll both end up broken shells of your former selves.

Every thing is soooooo much easier on flat water. When I was nearly at breaking point I drove up to Tuggerah lake and did a couple of sessions there where there is far fewer crowds, poles, groynes and dick heads on jetskis compared to Botany. About a 2 hour drive but worth the trip. But a few hours in the car compared to pulling you're mangled kite and lines from the surf after yet another kitemare and taking hours to untangle I know which I'd prefer

If you do brave the ocean then good luck and my best advise is just use those legs as shock absorbers and absorb the bumps and waves - just work them like pistons.

Good luck

What is the "seabreeze convection" and why doesnt the northern beaches get the same amount of wind as elsewhere in Sydney?

Phoney said..

What is the "seabreeze convection" and why doesnt the northern beaches get the same amount of wind as elsewhere in Sydney?

Think back to your geography lessons from school. The hot air in summer generated in Sydneys western suburbs rises up as the day warms. Since Sydney is a basin, trapped between the coast and the Bue Mountains, that air has to be replaced, so it sucks in cooler air from over the ocean. A convection current is set up. Our seabreeze on the coast is the rest of this cycling of air. The northern beaches because of the escarpment close behind don't have access to this convection.

Just watch out for the fisherman in camp chairs every 10ms over xmas....not a particularly friendly bunch for learners. Greta spot though.

It's all about topography mahn! Lee waves, the coander effect and the funnelling of air masses by hills etc have massive effects far far from where they are. But heh I agree I'd expect the gong to be crap due the height of the escarpment - but maybe it funnels if all south into lake Illawarra / kangaroo valley creating solid seabreezes due to the very constant and very high cliffs. The northern beaches are broken up with ravines and river valleys ?allowing loss of air mass / wind up into the hillsies. Just postulating but the northern beaches are very wank