VIC
8 posts
Happy Cup Week all!
Just wondering if a few of you could advise on Sandy Point?
As i am a beginner, i wish to find a place where the wind is up and has fairly shallow water. Is this a good place for me to go seeing it approx 3 hr drive.
Cheers.
VIC
147 posts
Hey MG,
Personally I don't think Sandy Point is a great learning place. Although flat and windy it is also quite busy and has very strong current on incoming and outgoing tide. If you are still at a stage where you lose your board often it can be tricky to retrieve it if you take too long.
You could consider Inverloch inlet. Shorter drive and probably a much better alternative for learning.
As far as best places for learning go, head down to Rye on a northerly. Shallow water, onshore wind and loads of space.
Cheers
VIC
2777 posts
what space coyote said.....
Sandy point is not necessarily shallow there is a sand bar about 80m across the channel. but the current can also be quite strong.
Inverloch is much better for beginners
VIC
8 posts
Thanks Space & Harry - Inverloch it is by the sounds.
Cheers
VIC
1614 posts
As others have said, Shallow Inlet can be awesome, but if the tide is honkin I could imagine beginners getting into trouble real quick. It also has that sharky feel though I've yet to see one there.
When you say beginner, are you a complete noob or beginner as in you can hold ground and working on toeside and little jumps? The conditions you should kite in are much more limited if you're not yet holding ground upwind or able to relaunch confidently if you roll through your lines or put the kite on its back etc.
As a beginner I understand you may want to avoid crowds and be out of the way, but there's much to be said for heading out with better kiters (conditions permitting) so they can give you some pointers and even help out if things go a bit wobbly. Don't be shy of asking other kiters if you're unsure of the conditions or local protocols. You'll generally get some very helpful tips.
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210 posts
Y not out in the open ocean.
On a mid tide there is loads of flat water between the waves as the beach is quite shallow for a way.
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710 posts
Inverloch is better than Sandy Point for beginners, BUT it also has a fast outflow that can make it tricky on an outgoing tide.
We rescued one kiter who was heading towards the pier on Sunday. On Saturday a couple of kiters completely detached their kites, which could have caused carnage.
On Monday some guys were flying a kite on the busy surf beach in a gusty northerly. We considered walking over and telling them it was not a good idea & not safe. Then one got lofted and came down hard. They gave up after that. Nearly got a Darwin Award nomination.
VIC
119 posts
Generally inverloch is usually safer as suggested- however it's only an ideal location during south west winds for beginners. If it's anything from west to north east inverloch isn't an option. This is when you should think about sandy point surf beach or the inlet. If you're a beginner stay in water you can still stand up in with onshore winds at the surf beach- otherwise, if it's offshore- head to the inlet and you might find some luck with a steady easterly coming through. These are my local spots- happy to lend more detailed advice to anybody who wants it- it's better to actually talk to people at the beach after they've been riding or before they go out if you want good advice.
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134 posts
thanks for the heads-up Gippy. Could you be a little bit more specific about what works at sandy point..
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119 posts
Ideal conditions for sandy point surf beach- west through to south east wind- middle to low tide; ideally when the swell isn't cranking. However staying close to shore on a low tide should sort that. Or in different wind directions, north through to south east at the inlet. Because there isn't much room at High tide round the road entrance to the inlet- you can walk further up towards the small sign that says 'no vehicle access possible beyond this point' for more room to set up- or even walk further south east along the shore line to find some huge space near the sand dunes. Or else- during low tide- there's plenty of room for launching- just beware of other water users, as well as the poles and the odd branch that can be found in the inlet. P.s. They pulled four sharks out of their on the weekend- so make sure you go with a friend or aren't going to be body dragging too long ;)
VIC
133 posts
hey gippy, what's the low down on the sharks they pulled out of there ? Gummy sharks or nasty ones ?
I've been down to Sandy point a couple of times and spent a bit of time in the water when my safety snapped once. I'm looking for tales that I can tell my grandkids along the lines of ..."kiting in shark infested waters"... Not really but more for future reference - ie. keep away from where the water flows into the sea as thats where the bad boys hang out.
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119 posts
Just gummys that I saw. However a sharks a shark. Where there's one there's many- same as any other stretch of coast. However when I had to swim in the other week the thought doesn't leave your mind.
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147 posts
i heard stories that sandy point is a breeding ground for sharks. But I have been windsurfing/kiting there for the last 10 years and have never seen anything other than a gummy.
Regarding best direction for the inlet - SW is awesome. SE is pretty good too. Both work best at low tide.
VIC
119 posts
well, if a shark's forincation habits are anything like mine then I'd bet they breed anywhere and everywhere ;)
And as for the wind direction for the inlet, all directions are usually good, but for beginners onshore is always a must for kiting. Even if you can swim in, you'd probably prefer not to if something happened.
VIC
119 posts
for instance, tomorrow afternoon is forecasting a strong south-west wind. I'll be heading to inverloch- as long as it isn't too gusty it should be a good afternoon for a beginner if you come at low-mid tide around 3PM. Should be plenty of room to launch and body drag. Forecast says 18 gusting to 24kts.
