The craziness is underway in Cape Town

[maxiumum]

thanks. do you know what's the water temperature in the moment?

[Blackened]

thanks. do you know what's the water temperature in the moment?

16.5C

I don't like cold and I'm riding a 3/2. Mate I'm with is in a 2mm shorty most days. Air is plenty warm, so as long as you're not body dragging a lot with water flushing your suit, a 3/2 is plenty.

[maxiumum]

sounds good, thanks for your help!

[Hugh2]

The forecast for today for Bloubergstrand was a weak SEaster rather late in the day, after SW all morning, and so it was. SEaster came through my flat in Milnerton around 5PM, and we went down to Sunset Beach to launch with local friend David, around 6. Ken on 11m, David on 10m, and me on 9m. It was the usual side-off at Sunset, but with wonderful waves the windsurfers, and one excellent foil rider, were enjoying. Unfortunately the wind was not strong enough for us to enjoy them much, but we made our way downwind and had a decent session, ending at Kite Beach at sunset at 8PM. Better than nothing. Tomorrow might be a repeat.

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[Blackened]

Saw a lot of kites waving about yesterday when driving to dinner. Probably could've ridden the 12m, but oh well. Hopefully it stays true to forecast tonight (16-23kn) and we get a good 9m session in.

[Hugh2]

You got your wish, Blackened, as the forecast was spot on. We launched at Sunset Beach, Ken on 11m and TT, me on 9m and surfboard, and did a slow downwinder from 5PM, enjoying the medium sized waves and relative absence of other kiters in the section from Sunset to Dolphin. I was well powered up. Dolphin was a gauntlet run. At Kite beach we met up with our other US kiting friend, Tim, who had just arrived so he could have a sunset session as the crowds dwindled. Going to climb Table Mountain tomorrow in the absence of much wind.

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[Jan:)]

I don't like cold and I'm riding a 3/2. Mate I'm with is in a 2mm shorty most days. Air is plenty warm, so as long as you're not body dragging a lot with water flushing your suit, a 3/2 is plenty.

You can get away with 3/2, but most people I know (including me) there use 4/3 or 5/4.

3/2 is somewhat risky in case something goes wrong and you have to swim for a while.

[Blackened]

You got your wish, Blackened, as the forecast was spot on. We launched at Sunset Beach, Ken on 11m and TT, me on 9m and surfboard, and did a slow downwinder from 5PM, enjoying the medium sized waves and relative absence of other kiters in the section from Sunset to Dolphin. I was well powered up. Dolphin was a gauntlet run. At Kite beach we met up with our other US kiting friend, Tim, who had just arrived so he could have a sunset session as the crowds dwindled. Going to climb Table Mountain tomorrow in the absence of much wind.

Almost! If I had a 10m, it would've been perfect. Just a bit too light for the 9m at 95kg, so went out on the 12m and was overpowered most of the time. Had fun doing board offs though! It was crazy busy at Dolphin. When I first went out, everything was fine, but then the crowds turned up about 6pm, so it was difficult controlling an overpowered kite in tiny spaces. The amount of times you jump with plenty of room, but someone 100m away decides it's okay to speed tack into your landing area. Or short tacking the beach for no reason. "Sweet, clear space, wide flat, 1 guy tacking opposite underneath, boost, board off, turn towards the beach and smile for the spectat... f***." Gave up after an hour.

Also find it weird how many learners are out there. They're able to go back and forth, but they can't jump, struggle navigating waves and have no idea how to manage traffic. Surely they'd go somewhere with less kites than dolphin or kite beach? One guy last night only stayed in the flats and ran away anytime he saw a breaking wave. Quite frustrating for those of us doing long tacks to give others a clear chance in the flats. He gave up after 30min and just stood on the beach with his kite at 11 over the water, but that was preferential to him being actually on the water.

Haven't gone up Table yet. Hopefully get to it when the wind has died again. Today is exercise day, tomorrow is winery tour before KOTA Thursday.

[Hugh2]

For those who don't know, there is a great hike up the front of Table Mountain, immediately behind the cable car station (starting just to the west of it), called India Venster. It winds up the main face of the mountain before curling around to the west face and up a gully to avoid the vertical climbing rock at the top. It is a steep hike and would take a fit person two hours without many breaks. We took almost 3 hours this morning, starting at 6AM to avoid the heat (and traffic). My phone said it was five miles and 180 floors, so about 2000ft elevation gain. I then take the cable car down as my knees are too old for walking back down. If you are at all uncertain about the route (there are some online descriptions), just pay attention to the yellow footprints marking the trail, or follow a group who know the trail, but it is mostly self-evident. Today the views were obscured by fog, but usually the views are spectacular. The other way up is Platteklip Gully, which is the obvious gully up the middle of TM, but it is a long boring slog in comparison.

[the_dec1der]

Hi Hugh, always enjoy reading your updates. I just arrived in CPT. Am wondering what website you use for windforecast. I feel like windfinder is not very reliable at kite beach.
See you on the water