Haakgat - perfect conditions 5.12.14

Perfect wave conditions at Haakgat. Swell 4-5 feet with 8 - 10 foot faces, solid peaks, and rolling off to the left. Sunny and wind about 18 knots. Here are some pics. To scroll the pics click on one and scroll the icons at the base of the page.

Boosting off a peak

Kite thrown low to accelerate before bottom turn. 2011 North Rebel

The brakes come on

Kiter with RRD Religion 2015 kite on the wave. Beautiful looking kite - colourful and soft pronounced patterns. One of the best lookers for the season.

Colourful Shadow

Oops

Cape Point klaps 60 knots

Was a windy day yesterday. Downloaded a few charts of the wind last night. This one of Cape Point was interesting. The wind averaged around 35 knots there all day and then boosted in the late afternoon getting to an average of 43 knots with gusts at 61 knots.

Recomended kite size  .......... ? 

Kitesurfing Competitions and Events of the Season

If you would like to know when and where the offical kitesurfing competitions and events of the season will be held please check out the link below:

http://www.saka.co.za/#!page2/cjg9

Repairing your Kite and boards

This post is to assist those who have arrived on the west coast of Cape Town to enjoy kiting - and then .......... a kite goes down and gets ripped by the waves and wind or lands on the only thorny branch on the beach............ or a favourite board gets trashed.

For board repairs:

Cape Doctor - Angus "Goose" Welch  021 557 0740

Angus makes boards - twintips, directionals, mutants, SUP's and windsurfing boards. They are quality boards. Angus shares the Naish shop in Tableview besides having a workshop in Killarney Gardens. I ride one of his boards and love it. In summer during the windy season his workshop becomes more focussed on repairing boards.

http://www.capedr.co.za/

Long Ocean Boards - Greg Long  021 510 1452

Greg also makes boards - twintips, directionals, racing boards and windsurfing boards. My first twintip board was one of his. I have seen him whipping at speed through the waves at kitebeach on one of his directionals.  

http://www.longocean.co.za/

https://plus.google.com/100873948353009399615/about?gl=za&hl=en

The Board Box

Havent used these guys but they are based in Paarden Island which is close to Milnerton, Blouberg and Tableview.

http://www.theboardbox.co.za/contact-us

Ripped Kite or Punctured Bladder:

Second Wind Sails - Paul Lagesse  082 650 9290

Paul has a workshop in Paarden Island - full of kites and windsurfing sails in the season.

http://www.secondwindsails.co.za/

Fix-a-Kite - Eric Groenewoud.  072 110 2642

Eric used to be based in Tableview but moved to Yzerfontein a couple of years ago. He comes in regularly to pick up kites to repair. Quality repairs and reasonable.

http://www.windfinder.com/directory/detailed/8695.htm

The History of Kiteboarding

This is the best short movie on the history of the development of kiteboarding I have ever seen. It includes a large collection of footage from the early stages of the sport.

Click below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e61HxV2Hquw

Winds stack up

The winds predicted for Cape Town and surrounds are stacking up as an object of art and beauty for kiters. Greens are being replaced by yellows, browns, reds with the a few spots of mauve.  See the charts below. Bear in mind that you can generally add about 5 knots or more to the afternoon wind speeds at some of the spots due to the "venturi effect" created by the mountains and local topography. Note how the winds increase as you progress south from Cape Town to Misty Cliffs and then on to Cape Point.

Chart for Cape Town - 15.11.14

Chart for Misty Cliffs - 15.11.14

Chart for Cape Point - 16.11.14

Storing Kite Gear

Was concerned about my kite gear getting stained with oil on the garage floor and shelves so I erected a rack in my garage. I made it from pvc pipes and threaded rods. It hangs from the beams above my car so is out of the way and everything can get all around ventilation. Added hooks for the kites.

Rack for Boards

Rack for Kites

Loaded up