Sooke kiting

[juandesooka]

I walk my dog on Whiffin Spit daily, and see all kinds of wind there, both easterlies and westerlies. I imagine the possibilities for kiting, but then there's a whole bunch of negatives....correctly angled launch areas free of debris, wind shadows, strong tidal currents, escape routes downwind. With all the kiters passing by, I guess if it was realistically do-able, probably people would be doing it regularly.

The Sooke Basin seems a natural ... I know it used to be popular for beginner windsurfers. Quite windy on its day, large enough to probably not have wind shadows, but maybe not great launch/landing options. On a westerly, you could launch at Billings spit, but if you end up downwind ... where do you land? There's also vicious current at the end of the spit. On an easterly, you may end up at Billings spit, but where do you launch from? (speaking as a beginner who can't yet go upwind ... for an expert rider who can launch into a nearly onshore wind, good options there perhaps to kite right along shore?)

I was flying my trainer at Billings Spit on a strong NE, noticed it's a straight shot from there to Whiffin Spit, thought it might be a good downwinder ... end up a short walk from my house. However, I got talked out of it, probably wisely ... possibly hole-y wind, underwater hazards, pilings, crab traps, plus if you got in trouble and got caught in an outgoing tide, big trouble if you can't get to shore. Maybe ok for a more advanced rider, not great for a beginner.

So....back to Gordons for me, awaiting consistent thermals. And looking forward to Nitinat soon.

[JL]

I've windsurfed Sooke basin (the launch was the rd. by the old mill on Goodridge rd.) & observed RainX windsurfing the outside of Whiffen spit. Problems for kiting these areas would be VERY sharp rocks/gravel & no landing areas except perhaps the beach @ low tide.