When to kite?
Hai yun tai (海韵台)
Wind speed: 10-14 knots (min)
Angle needed for a NE wind: 50 degrees
Angle needed for a SE wind: 205 degrees
One always tries to be optimistic when looking at the wind forecast. Sometimes the forecast looks great, but we're left standing on the beach bedazzled to where the wind has gone?
This mostly comes down to failing to check the wind direction. In the Winter, anything with too much N in it, under 40 degrees will probably not be kiteable. Whereas in the summer, anything more than 210 degrees will also not be kiteable.
Furthermore, it is important to know that in the Summer, we get mostly thermal winds. Therefore, the temperature needs to be hot enough to create a 'Sea breeze effect'. If the temperature is too low or is too cloudy, there will be a big chance that there won't be any wind, even if the forecast says so. However, if the land is allowed to heat up, then at around 1.30pm the wind will start to kick in. Once the land cools down, the thermal winds tend to stop at around 4pm.
*Firstly, it is important to check the angle of the wind if you're planning a holiday down here, or even just deciding whether it's worth your time to make the trip down to the beach.
** For the S winds, even if the wind forecast predicts wind in the morning, this will mostly be unlikely as there isn't enough time for the thermal effects to start going.
Wind speed: 10-14 knots (min)
Angle needed for a NE wind: 50 degrees
Angle needed for a SE wind: 205 degrees
One always tries to be optimistic when looking at the wind forecast. Sometimes the forecast looks great, but we're left standing on the beach bedazzled to where the wind has gone?
This mostly comes down to failing to check the wind direction. In the Winter, anything with too much N in it, under 40 degrees will probably not be kiteable. Whereas in the summer, anything more than 210 degrees will also not be kiteable.
Furthermore, it is important to know that in the Summer, we get mostly thermal winds. Therefore, the temperature needs to be hot enough to create a 'Sea breeze effect'. If the temperature is too low or is too cloudy, there will be a big chance that there won't be any wind, even if the forecast says so. However, if the land is allowed to heat up, then at around 1.30pm the wind will start to kick in. Once the land cools down, the thermal winds tend to stop at around 4pm.
*Firstly, it is important to check the angle of the wind if you're planning a holiday down here, or even just deciding whether it's worth your time to make the trip down to the beach.
** For the S winds, even if the wind forecast predicts wind in the morning, this will mostly be unlikely as there isn't enough time for the thermal effects to start going.
The Flat Spot
Angle needed to kite for a NE wind: 33 degrees
So you think it might not be kiteable today. Well, it could be your lucky day! For the more experienced kiter, why not try out the best spot in Xiamen. The flat spot.
Description:
The flatspot is a sandbar 1km out from the shore that seems to be growing yearly, resulting from the non-indigenous sand which makes up Xiamen's beaches being washed away into the middle of the sea.
As a result of this, it has provided us kitesurfers with a world class spot.
In the past, the sandbar would appear only on low spring tides, however, with most low tides it is out.
On special spring tides, there can be around 20 lagoons in the middle of the sea. This can be phenomenal...
Features:
The sandbar creates a natural barrier, shielding the sea from the effects of the wind. This provides butter smooth water, and fun wave kickers on the eastern side.
When to kite at the flatspot:
One is not always graced with the combination of the right wind and tides. The majority of Xiamen's wind comes in the afternoon. Therefore the low-tide needs to coincide with this. There are days where it is possible to kite the flats in the morning, but it seems to be a rarer occurrence (only in the winter).
Dangers:
It is not advisable to kite there alone or if the wind is too offshore. Equipment has failed many times out there, and a 1 km swim back with all your gear can take you well over an hour....It's good to have a helping friend to give you a tow or carry your board for you.
Tide check: tide chart or 'windfinder tidal graph'
The flat spot on a lowish low tide (1.80m) can start coming out around 2 hours either side of the low tide. Look out for a full moon, tides can get very low.
Angle needed to kite for a NE wind: 33 degrees
So you think it might not be kiteable today. Well, it could be your lucky day! For the more experienced kiter, why not try out the best spot in Xiamen. The flat spot.
Description:
The flatspot is a sandbar 1km out from the shore that seems to be growing yearly, resulting from the non-indigenous sand which makes up Xiamen's beaches being washed away into the middle of the sea.
As a result of this, it has provided us kitesurfers with a world class spot.
In the past, the sandbar would appear only on low spring tides, however, with most low tides it is out.
On special spring tides, there can be around 20 lagoons in the middle of the sea. This can be phenomenal...
Features:
The sandbar creates a natural barrier, shielding the sea from the effects of the wind. This provides butter smooth water, and fun wave kickers on the eastern side.
When to kite at the flatspot:
One is not always graced with the combination of the right wind and tides. The majority of Xiamen's wind comes in the afternoon. Therefore the low-tide needs to coincide with this. There are days where it is possible to kite the flats in the morning, but it seems to be a rarer occurrence (only in the winter).
Dangers:
It is not advisable to kite there alone or if the wind is too offshore. Equipment has failed many times out there, and a 1 km swim back with all your gear can take you well over an hour....It's good to have a helping friend to give you a tow or carry your board for you.
Tide check: tide chart or 'windfinder tidal graph'
The flat spot on a lowish low tide (1.80m) can start coming out around 2 hours either side of the low tide. Look out for a full moon, tides can get very low.