As a visitor to Melbourne, I just wanted to check what spots y'all would recommend for the NW wind that might happen on Sunday. I've kited at Rosebud on a previous visit, which was good fun & had friendly locals but it was quite a distance from the city. Frankston seems a bit closer & I could get the train there.
Thoughts? Other suggestions?
Kite beach at Brighton is the usual local spot in a northerly. It's very good in NW. Gusty and horrible and slightly offshore in true N, but doable if you're competent and careful.
www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.9156302,144.9884973,16z
Most of the beaches between Carrum and Seaford are also doable in a N. Still gusty but quite nice water and sand.
North of the pier looks quite nice on the map. I kited there 10 years or so ago and it was fun. The beach can be a bit narrow at high tide.
Legend has it that kiting is not permitted at Frankston to the S of the pier. It's quite close to the boat ramp, the road and I think it's infested with jet skiers.
Thanks for the advice Gorgo.
Brighton looks even closer to town so looks ideal. I'm guessing kite beach is the bit north of the surf lifesaving club, & south of the rocky reef thing?
I'll chat to locals but any specific rules apart from keeping my distance from flagged areas & swimmers?
Last time I went out of Ricketts Point (for the hell of it), suddenly I had the place to myself on a NW and it was fine. Had a great session, but as soon as you show smiles - they come in hordes and suddenly the point was packed with 20 kiters. Back in 2011.
Ricketts rocks (pun intended). No-one there except dog walkers. No-one goes there because its not the place to be seen and its not on the MKH tour destination list. Small blessings.
Ricketts is an awesome spot, in the right conditions, and it gets infested with windsurfers on strong days.
It's no good on nice sunny days because the beach gets packed with families and the lifesaving club has flags out.
For most wind directions there are other more user-friendly beaches.
I was talking Ricketts North in front of sailing club, for a winter W/NW so no pole dancers, flags, restrictions or families. The south side (Watkins Bay) is actually a no-boating zone so kiting/windsurfing is banned not that stops anyone.
