Kiteboarding On New Providence (Nassau & Paradise I)Baha

[ricki]

Hello,
> Very little is on the web related to kiteboarding in bahamas.
> I am going there Jan 3-9th staying on Paradise Island off Grand
> Bahama Island. Can anyone give me beta where to kite/what to expect??
> THANKS in advanced!!
> J
reposted from: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group...ssageNum=68945


Paradise Island is off of New Providence by the town of Nassau. Grand Bahama Island is a fair distance off to the NW and is where Freeport is located. I will go under the assumption that you will be visiting New Providence island.


A map of New Providence
From: http://www.npt.nuwc.navy.mil/autec/images/nassau.gif


From: www.skypic.com

Paradise or Hog Island as it used to be called is located along the upper left side of the photo. Note the long beach arcs along the left or northern side of the island. They are good for roughly west to north to easterly winds with some exceptions for headlands. There can be a swell running close to shore and larger waves further offshore as you will note in some of the aerial photos. The east end of the island, I haven't checked this area out by the way, but if you can get there it looks like it would be rideable for S to W winds near the NE corner. NOTE: Be sure to watch out for tidal currents particularly near the ends of the island. Tidal currents in cuts in the Bahamas can be very strong.

If you are off tourist season, the available space goes up. Near the peak of tourist season when you are to be there it may be fairly crowded at spots along the beach so you would do well to travel to portions along the north coast of Paradise where there are fewer people to preserve access.
I would plan on avoiding the beach in front of and near Atlantis around the central portion of Paradise. There is a Club Med just to the west that has windsurfing so you should fit in there and less populated areas at points further to the east.


The east end of Paradise.


A view further to the east off Paradise and including Athol Island. Be sure not to get caught in tidal rips that may flow through the cut.

In January the winds may come from virtually any direction but probably spend most of the time out of the NE to E but will clock around under the influence of cold fronts sweeping off the USA.


The west central portion of Paradise. Club Med is just to the left or west of Atlantis.

If you decide to go across Potters Cay Bridge to New Providence quite a few other launches open up to you. Many areas near the island are shallow and so assisted launching from the shallows can be readily available. Some areas have beaches, with tourists, while other areas do not. So it is good to have the option to launch from the shallows.

I would avoid riding in the harbor area for a variety of reasons including excess traffic, variable winds and poor launch and landing areas.

Some weather/wind forecast info can be found at:

http://asp1.sbs.ohio-state.edu/text/bahamas/FPBA31.MYNN

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0303

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Int...=none&pid=none

The closest thing to realtime winds,(that I have found so far) is located off island at the north end of Grand Bahama Island at:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=spgf1


Have a good trip and let us know how it goes!

[ricki]

Hello,
> Very little is on the web related to kiteboarding in bahamas.
> I am going there Jan 3-9th staying on Paradise Island off Grand
> Bahama Island. Can anyone give me beta where to kite/what to expect??
> THANKS in advanced!!
> J
reposted from: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group...ssageNum=68945


Paradise Island is off of New Providence by the town of Nassau. Grand Bahama Island is a fair distance off to the NW and is where Freeport is located. I will go under the assumption that you will be visiting New Providence island.


A map of New Providence
From: http://www.npt.nuwc.navy.mil/autec/images/nassau.gif


From: www.skypic.com

Paradise or Hog Island as it used to be called is located along the upper left side of the photo. Note the long beach arcs along the left or northern side of the island. They are good for roughly west to north to easterly winds with some exceptions for headlands. There can be a swell running close to shore and larger waves further offshore as you will note in some of the aerial photos. The east end of the island, I haven't checked this area out by the way, but if you can get there it looks like it would be rideable for S to W winds near the NE corner. NOTE: Be sure to watch out for tidal currents particularly near the ends of the island. Tidal currents in cuts in the Bahamas can be very strong.

If you are off tourist season, the available space goes up. Near the peak of tourist season when you are to be there it may be fairly crowded at spots along the beach so you would do well to travel to portions along the north coast of Paradise where there are fewer people to preserve access.
I would plan on avoiding the beach in front of and near Atlantis around the central portion of Paradise. There is a Club Med just to the west that has windsurfing so you should fit in there and less populated areas at points further to the east.


The east end of Paradise.


A view further to the east off Paradise and including Athol Island. Be sure not to get caught in tidal rips that may flow through the cut.

In January the winds may come from virtually any direction but probably spend most of the time out of the NE to E but will clock around under the influence of cold fronts sweeping off the USA.


The west central portion of Paradise. Club Med is just to the left or west of Atlantis.

If you decide to go across Potters Cay Bridge to New Providence quite a few other launches open up to you. Many areas near the island are shallow and so assisted launching from the shallows can be readily available. Some areas have beaches, with tourists, while other areas do not. So it is good to have the option to launch from the shallows.

I would avoid riding in the harbor area for a variety of reasons including excess traffic, variable winds and poor launch and landing areas.

Some weather/wind forecast info can be found at:

http://asp1.sbs.ohio-state.edu/text/bahamas/FPBA31.MYNN

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0303

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Int...=none&pid=none

The closest thing to realtime winds,(that I have found so far) is located off island at the north end of Grand Bahama Island at:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=spgf1


Have a good trip and let us know how it goes!