SA
97 posts
I'm aware of Kent Reserve, but do any Victor locals know if there are restrictions or issues kiting adjacent to the Flinders Parade/ Bridge Tce area? Is it unsuitable or restricted for kiting? Looking to head down one weekend later in October and want to be doing the right thing.
Thanks, Brian.
SA
311 posts
Hey bro
There are no offical restrictions in that area, but we launch from the top (northern) end of bridge, there is a reserve of sorts there (with a dunny)
we ride it in southerlies when there is swell so you can cruize over to Olivers Reef, Good beach usually especially in low tide does not work that often as the reef need bucket so swell and its often off shore. Watch out for the yatchies as they use it from their club and race around the bay. if there is a Yacht race keep well clear of that, normally small ones. its not a bad spot if you like deeper but flatter water, gets chopy but if you head lee of Olivers in a small swell the reef will still take some chop out of it.
We have never had any issues with the Yacht club as generally its not the best spot and the northern area from the resserve will keep you away from them.
if we get a 10ft swell on the south coast and 25 knot southerly winds pulling through 'the pines' off the main drag of bridge street, you will see me there, but its not ever happened yet, one day
if you want flat water kent is the pick, keep to the southern point away from the beach goers and keep up or downwind from the Yacht moored in the harbor, a couple of crew have written off kites by clipping the mast top, not really necessary experience. Best in South or SSE SE pattern, SW is offshore
otherwise you have Middleton and Goolwa, in the southerlies when they are marginal they get a bit fickle and there is every man and his kid in the water, better in stong SW or SE winds so you can head out back and ride waves, watch out for clubbies at Day street, they take over often on weekends and make sure you are surf savvy and confident if the swell picks up.
and why is Yacht so hard to spell?
SA
311 posts
Thanks Brian, glad you are loving the Rebels
Best wind for Kent is S SSE SE on the summer pattern if you have a SE patten all cooking up. There is no real seabreeze at Victor, there is a marginal one at Goolwa, up east of the on ramp, but if its pure seabreeze its normally fickle, but in a SE pattern with a bit of strength it builds later in the day.
The best thing for wind is to wait until late, at Kent you might have a 15-20knot SE prediction and you rock up at 2.00 pm and its 10 knots, then there is lots of talking **** on the beach and some guys desperate to fly downwind and land in the poo seaweed zone near the outlet of the Innman river.
Then everyone goes about 4.30 to their Sat night parties, photo shoots and facebook entries, but we wait a bit and the Sellicks hill wind machines starts up and kicks a mean 20 - 25knot howling SE at kent - I suspect from some kind of suckage over the hill, and its on until dark.
This also seems to happen at Goolwa, comes in late until dark. on some good days the SE pattern will just rock all day, but on calm days don't bother, there is just not enough sea breeze pull.
Daz
SA
112 posts
Thanks for the info.
On a similar tack can you give us some details for kiting at goolwa as well, there never seems to be kites on the lake! is it allowed?
Thanks Jim
SA
311 posts
Hey Jim
yes the lake, the old windsurf zone of the Aqua Cafe or what was known as windsurfers beach is not really any good for kitesurfing, its so gusty and twisty that you will likely put the kite down and end up with a boat mowing you down, its just too many water users, sticks, power poles, beacons out there. the worst thing is the gusty conditions, and never try it in a Northly, I did it years ago and the wind is so twisted up that you will barely make it out without a beating.
There are no rules to not kiting there, but Kudos would preven it really, its really the ultimate kook effort, and if we started kiting it probably would not be long before it was banned.
Better option is to go to the river mouth, now we were driven out of there a few years back by the park ranger banging on about permited acitivies in the park, but guys have been doing it and seem to be okay, it blows pretty well for seabreeze here, probably the best seabreeze of the south coast, best in fuller tides as otherwise it can be dry, try and keep away from the boats and the bardges, and kite over the flat water shaow area to the South East, its very nice to kite there.
if you want river experience the hit Milang, Milang gets a pretty good sea breeze and now they have moved out some of the old Jetty wharf and some star droppers, some of the boys nearly hit, its pretty good, grass, taps, hot shower (take some change) and the pub.
If you really need sea breeze go to boggy, its back up and running, Boggy lake being 20Kms west of Wellington you can see it on google earth, this picks up the best seabreeze in the world, adn you can kite over to the other side of the bay and kite in glass, lots of fun, jump city, glass, mud, cow poo and all kinda good fun
Waves: get onto the beach at 4wd ramp Gooloowatoo and head east along the beach and try and find a spot there, seabreeze not so good, sand is horrid, like volcanic ash, but in a pumping SE wind, spectactular, your kite will be covered in sand no matter how you try and stop it.
Have fun
Daz
