Where to kite when the wind blows South Westerly in Cape Town

Was at Haakgat recently and the wind was blowing south westerly. Wind from this direction is not common but when it happens it is known that it will not pick up the nuclear speed of the afternoon south easter. It was only predicted to get to 14 knots later in the day. A kite tourist from Australia asked me where she could go to kite on the south westerly. My mind went back to when I had waited some time ago at Dolphin Beach where the south westerly which was predicted to be 13 knots had not materialised. On my way home to Melkbos I noticed that as I moved north the wind was blowing more as predicted. I then realised that I had been waiting in the wind shadow of Table Mountain for a wind that had been blowing  outside of the shadow.
I was not sure what happened at Witsands, Scarborough or Cape Point during a south wester, as when the south easter blows it generally blows harder towards the more south you go. 

As the south westerly is predominantly cross on shore or pure on shore in places this does affect the swells at virtually every ocean kiting spot around Cape Town. However there is still fun to be had.

I answered the kiter as best I could. However, that evening I looked at some wind charts off a few kite spots around Cape Town. The picture became a lot clearer though I cannot guarantee that these conditions repeat every time the S.W. blows.

For comparison I added the sum of the wind speed at 12 midday and then 17:00, when it usually is close to it.s maximum daily speed, and the average in between, and then divided it by 3 to give some sort of comparative score.  The score does not reflect the consistency of the wind so have a look at this on the graphs, as the last thing you need is the wind dropping off and your kite dropping into the ocean.

Check this out:

General wind direction at Kitebeach

Cape Point: 3 knots at 12 midday 10 knots at 17:00 hrs. Averaged about 6 knots in between. Score 5.3

Witsands: 5 knots at 12 midday and 5 knots at 17:00 hrs. Average in between 4 knots. Basically unkiteable. Score 4.6

Muizenberg: 11 knots at 12 midday 17 knots at 17:00 hrs. Dropped to an average of about 10 knots in between. Note the wind dying from time to time. Score 12.66

Strand: 14 knots at 12 midday and 14 knots at 17:00 hrs. Consistent all day. Score 14.

Kitebeach: 12 knots at 12 midday 15 knots by 17:00 hrs - dropped in between to an average of about 9 knots. Score 12.

Melkbosstrand: 11 knots at 12 midday. 14 knots at 17:00 hrs. Averaged about 15 knots in between. Score 13.3.Consistency good all day.

Langebaan: 16 knots at 12 midday and 16 knots at 17:00 hrs. Averaged 16 knots in between. Score 16. Consistency good all day however look at the gap between highs and lows - gusty.

O.k. so whats the conclusion ? Get away from the mountains and head east to Strand or north - the further north the better. Will it be like this every time it blows south westerly - not sure but the odds are that getting as far from the influence of the mountains the more the chances of a good kite session are increased.