Hi all,

I'm going to be in Hobart from Dec 29th til Jan 5th visiting all the way from France. I'll have a car and my own kiting gear. I've found some great info on the forum about wind conditions but couldn't find anything about specific spot locations. It seems like Marion Bay is a good location, but if anyone could tell me where exactly the spot is in the bay, that would be super useful. Also any other major spots that are worth checking out? I've been kiting for 12 years so can ride pretty much anywhere and am a fan of both flat water and waves.

Also, if any of you are up for kiting together, I'm be very grateful to have someone to share a kite session with.

And finally, what's the water temp like? do i need to bring a wetsuit? is a shorty good enough?

Thanks for any info you can share!!

Thanks for the info! I'll def shoot you a message if I head towards Marion. I'm basically hangin out for a week in Hobart with nothing to do except kiting so hoping to ride as much as possible while I'm there. so if anyone else if up for a kite session in the Hobart area, please let me know :-)

Also, is there a facebook group where people post up when/where they go riding or does this all happen here on the forum?

Thanks again!

plenty of spots to sail in the hobart area, though there's not really one spot thats good everyday, you really have to see what the wind's doing and choose a destination based on that.
Marion bay is a great spot in a NE, and in the summer can often blow all day, usually building from 20 knots in the morning to 30plus in the afternoon.
If we get a NE seabreeze then Marion again is an option or Goats (south arm) can be very good, cross shore with a bit of a wave, even in summer. Also there's cremorne main beach which can be great fun in the NE seabreeze but is a very popular beach for families so is not a good place for people who are learning or inexperienced.
In a W or SW carlton beach is usually the go, with the park end best sailed in a SW and the clubhouse end in a W.
If we get a SE seabreeze then the options are either seven mile beach, clifton or some of the other south arm beaches.
Marion bay can also be sailed in S SE winds, but most of us stick to south arm or seven mile.
With Dougal being on the spot he's definitely the one to tell you if its worth the trip.
Apart from cremorne all these beaches are pretty long and is usually easy to find a safe launching spot away from swimmers/surfers.
Marion bay and goats especially are usually pretty empty of swimmers.

BM: if you really need shallow water then you are a bit more limited. Marion bay lagoon and Mortimer bay probably your best bet, or 5 mile which is the back side of 7 mile beach. There's also a place which for some unknown reason they call schoolies. Its basically the northerly facing side of the south arm neck. It's not necessarily a good place for inexperienced sailors though as it's usually best in a N -NW which blows straight onto the road. Watched a guy get lofted onto the road a year or 2 ago, wasn't pretty.
Dorans road is also not really suitable for the inexperienced, it can often have the steadiest and strongest wind in a W but the only place to launch is from the bus stop in lauderdale and once again the wind blows straight onto the road. Its often crawling with polies but I think I'm the only kiter who sails there.
Cremorne lagoon is a popular place for the polies in a SE seabreeze but if the tide is out you have maybe 100m of water to play in and there are oyster beds to watch out for. At a high tide is an ok option, very shallow and often very warm.

You guys haven't mentioned what size kites you have. I would advise bringing a full range. Personally I have a 12,10,8,6 with the 10 and 8 being used the most and 12 the least. I usually ride a twin tip and like to be well powered, I'm often on a 10 when others are on 8's and probably on my 12 when Voitec's on his 7(sorry couldn't resist)

The best winds are the seabreezes which can range anywhere from 12 knots to 30 knots but are very steady. We also get frontal winds which are usually NW W or SW although we sail these and can often have a great day they can be very gusty, particularly the NW

lejeff if you don't have a phone while you are here then try posting here a week or so before you arrive just to remind us of your visit, you might have noticed this forum is not super active for the kiters but posts should get answered within a few days.

If you have a phone then you could pm a few of us the number and we could advise where your best bet on a particular day may be.
Hopefully Voitec might jump on this thread, if there's wind to be had he will be there so would be a good contact for you.

Hope you guys manage to catch some wind whilst you are here. It can be very good but not really dependable. There have been some weeks in summer where I might sail 6 days and others where I'm struggling to get 1.
Lets hope you get a good week.
unfortunately some of us have to work.

Wow! thanks for all that info! And thanks for offering up info on the day of based on the conditions. I'll have 7m, 9m and 12m and a twin tip. I'm thinking of bringing surf board too but may leave it behind just b/c it's so bulky to travel with. I'll prob have a phone while i'm there too. Thanks again for all the help. If you guys are ever in France, I'll be happy to help with local knowledge :-)

Thanks for the awesome info. I'll probably bring 8m Cab Drifter. I have a 6 & 12, but with my weight 62 Kg the 8m usually covers a massive range for me (15-30knots). Either surf board or twiny. I may bring more kites. I can't wait to come over.

Hey guys! Very excited about my upcoming trip to Hobart. I'll be arriving tomorrow evening with all my gear and staying until Jan 5th. If anyone is up for a kite session I can be reached on 0416 393 060. I'm planning on going riding as much as possible, so if there's wind, I'm up to go riding. If anyone has any recommendations based on the upcoming conditions, i'd be super grateful for pointers as to which location would be best. Thanks!!

bonus question, what is the best resource for seeing forecasts and current wind observations in tasmania? thanks for all the help!!

might be a good week, big NE this morning, SW for tomorrow, SE Thursday afternoon and Ne again Friday

lejeff said..
Thanks smeghead! your help has been amazing :-)

i forgot i was tied up in tarraleah today but will try to go riding tomorrow afternoon if it's not raining, otherwise weds and thurs for sure :-)

Ah, I sent you a text this morning, explains why you didn't reply.
You would have had to hit Marion pretty early to get a good sail, unless you have a 4 or 5. Was about 40 knots by 11:00

Hey Peat! sounds great! will let you know in the morning once i've sorted my schedule with the rest of the group i'm traveling with. nice meeting you today :-)

I will be heading today either to Marion Bay or keen to go further to Hermitage Rd ( found this awesome spot last week).

glad you had some good sessions Jeff, enjoy the rest of your trip

Sounds like I missed it Dougal! I watched a few windsurfers at Goats and met Voitek too. I would have been overpowered on my 12 so I left it.

Some good seabreezes seem to have kicked in now - look forward to meeting up with you guys soon.

(Adam)