Florida Trip!

[ricki]

Originally Posted by OttoNP

Rick,

I talked to you last year about this trip and it was very helpful. I think you were traveling then. From your how's the wind posts, sounds like you are in the area. Should I try to drive up to Delray or just go in front of my hotel again?

Later,
Nick

p.s. Last year there were others kiters there as well, some school with a banner they put up; however, they were pretty reckless by launching near beach goers and riding between swimmers. Kind of surprized me...I would have sent this via pm, but don't have enough posts...

Hello Nick,

I was tied up with a free diving course, more at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=6950

Anyway, your prospects for useable wind are much better in November as a rule than late August. If you can bring both sized kites I would say to do so. You may not have enough wind for either one, then again you never know.

I am disturbed to hear your report about the school. Doesn't sound very good at all. Best policy in LBTS is to stay well away from bystanders and bathers, regardless of what you see the school doing. If such behavior is continued it will likely see them thrown out of the area. If you have clear areas near your hotel, best to launch and get out past 100 yards from shore and stay out until time to come in. As Mike was saying there is usually little difference in the wind between LBTS and Delray. The only exceptions are localized thermal winds and areas outside the influence of squall clouds.

Have a good trip, hope you luck out with some useable wind.

[OttoNP]

Originally Posted by RickI

Hello Nick,

I am disturbed to hear your report about the school. Doesn't sound very good at all. Best policy in LBTS is to stay well away from bystanders and bathers, regardless of what you see the school doing. If such behavior is continued it will likely see them thrown out of the area. If you have clear areas near your hotel, best to launch and get out past 100 yards from shore and stay out until time to come in.

The school was out last 11/2007, and don't worry I did not follow their example, I was very surprized they did that. I walked way up the beach away from all the sun bathers/bystanders to launch and immediately body dragged out past 100 yards and rode. Body dragged back in at same spot. This is pretty normal kiting behavior at almost every spot I've been too...

Will there typically be more kiters at Delray or LBTS?

I am always extra careful when coming to a new area; I know locals are always worried about visitors, so I try to be extra careful and set a good example.

I'm on a work related trip right now across the country (with a little kiting on the side), just went through OK, stopped by a local lake there, Foss lake. Unfortunately it was a little lite, but I put up my kite anyway incase there was some wind higher up and because I was there. I was able to plane out and ride a little just to say I did...looks like a great spot for an inland lake...

I'm in Phoenix now, planning to drive out to Rocky Point Mexico Sat and Sun, then I'm off to L.A. to try my luck on the Pacific...Monday...then, back to Michigan when I have Tuesday off, to search for some local winds...

[ricki]

Originally Posted by OttoNP

The school was out last 11/2007, and don't worry I did not follow their example, I was very surprized they did that. I walked way up the beach away from all the sun bathers/bystanders to launch and immediately body dragged out past 100 yards and rode. Body dragged back in at same spot. This is pretty normal kiting behavior at almost every spot I've been too...

Will there typically be more kiters at Delray or LBTS?

I am always extra careful when coming to a new area; I know locals are always worried about visitors, so I try to be extra careful and set a good example.

I'm on a work related trip right now across the country (with a little kiting on the side), just went through OK, stopped by a local lake there, Foss lake. Unfortunately it was a little lite, but I put up my kite anyway incase there was some wind higher up and because I was there. I was able to plane out and ride a little just to say I did...looks like a great spot for an inland lake...

I'm in Phoenix now, planning to drive out to Rocky Point Mexico Sat and Sun, then I'm off to L.A. to try my luck on the Pacific...Monday...then, back to Michigan when I have Tuesday off, to search for some local winds...

I am not surprised that you didn't copy the schools example, sound too sensible for that. And am gratified that you normally encounter more responsible behavior in other areas. It is a very good policy to scope out new launches before rigging up and going. You will likely find more kiters off South Delray than LBTS if there is good wind. I probably mentioned avoiding the area near the pier in LBTS last year, a touchy area with the township due to past rider problems.

Wow, you cover a lot of ground. Hope you find some good wind sessions somewhere! I've not had a kite up for over a month, I think. Still, it's OK as I wasn't really expecting to be able to. I've even missed a number of rideable sessions. Looking forward to the return of frontal season though.

Have fun

[BigR]

Rocky Point Mexico Sat and Sun

Have fun out there!

At least you'll enjoy the seafood there if there's no wind.

if there is wind the place to go to is all the way to the west end of town then keep going till you get to La Cholla, where the coast bends north.
the tides are freaking wild crazy over there. in or out over a mile so don't leave anything in low water, you'll never see it again when the tide rises

[OttoNP]

I did get to ride two days at Rocky Point, awesome spot, as well as Leo Carillo...

So far in August, I have ridden:

Lake St. Clair MI, Metro Beach
Lake St. Clair MI, Blue Lagoon Marina
Foss Lake OK, sort of, just planed out, but I'm counting it...
Sea of Cortez Mexico, Rocky Point
Pacific Ocean CA, Leo Carillo
Lake Huron MI, Tawas City

Hoping to at the Atlantic this weekend...

This Friday is looking good...what is the best place to check for wind in Lauderdale by the Sea?

I was looking at sailflow Dania Pier...there is one for Fort Lauderdale, but it looks inland.

Also, does forecast usually hold? In MI it is total garbage. Only created to get your hopes up, only to crush you after you take the day off and waste it waiting for the wind...

[ricki]

Originally Posted by OttoNP

I did get to ride two days at Rocky Point, awesome spot, as well as Leo Carillo...

So far in August, I have ridden:

Lake St. Clair MI, Metro Beach
Lake St. Clair MI, Blue Lagoon Marina
Foss Lake OK, sort of, just planed out, but I'm counting it...
Sea of Cortez Mexico, Rocky Point
Pacific Ocean CA, Leo Carillo
Lake Huron MI, Tawas City

Hoping to at the Atlantic this weekend...

This Friday is looking good...what is the best place to check for wind in Lauderdale by the Sea?

I was looking at sailflow Dania Pier...there is one for Fort Lauderdale, but it looks inland.

Also, does forecast usually hold? In MI it is total garbage. Only created to get your hopes up, only to crush you after you take the day off and waste it waiting for the wind...

The ikitesurf station on the Dania Pier isn't a bad indicator of realtime winds. The same station does an OK job for LBTS as well. A bunch of active links and some live images for weather info appear at:

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=6734

The NWS marine forecast for the area is about the best one I have found for this area. None are perfect of course. It is looking pretty light. At times like that, if it is clear, you can have afternoon thermal winds that don't usually show up in the forecast.

[OttoNP]

Thanks for all the links, hopefully I'll get some riding in, but if not it's still better than working....