I went to visit my mate in Cairns last Anzac Day Weekend. As always, I brought my kite gear. Seabreeze always shows the Far North QLD area in the green this time of year. So I only took my 12M Nobile T5. (Jetstar are anal about the checked in bag weight).
My first kite session was at Yorkeys. See.. www.tevenei.com/tvm/yorkies_kite_map.htm.
My experience here was marred by my constant anxiety of stingers and crocs, even though the locals are very dismissive of such critters... "Nahh, dude. No kiter has ever been stung before" .. Pffft.. It's always the tourists that manage to be the first though, I was thinking. haha.
The local kiters suggested Green Isaland. They say it gets the best wind in the area. I did some research on the IPhone and they were not wrong. Apart from being a very expensive tropical resort paradise it has very consistent SE trade winds 15-25 kts. Also, I was advised that the windmeter on Green Island is 60 meters above sea level and the speed reads a little faster than on the water due to the acceleration effects as the wind passes over the island.
I offer this info from my encounter.
Where: www.google.com.au:443/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
How to get there: Fast Ferry from Cains ferry terminal. 45 minutes with the fast cat. See. www.green-island.com.au/fares-prices.html.
Cost: $75 return trip. Local pay only $52.. Grrrrrrr..
I have included a diagram of my experiences. Make sure you say hi to the life gaurds. They have a rescue boat and if you mess up and get blown down wind, you will miss the island and start heading to Port Douglas. Haha. One of the Cairns boys told me that a Euro kiter had to be rescued 3 times in one day and did not even say thankyou. Giving kiters a bad name...I offered them a carton if it turned pear shape for me. I really did not want to ditch my kite and swim. :p
Also, if you go towards low tide wear booties. I launched as the tide was going out. Because I was out for so long, the 5-10 sandy beach became a 200-300 meter mine field of exposed coral reef. Ouch. It is a long walk when holding a kite and board and trying to step around sharp coral and potentially sting ray harbouring sandy stops of ankle deep water.
I will be going again deeper into winter, I reckon.
MD
Here is an a man who is organized and understands sharing his experience for the betterment of all kiters experience. Good work for saving others from having same drama!
Ps you have way too much time on your hands:-))
Hey Dana.. Thanks for the advice, man.. I should have listened to the bit about the tide tho.. The wind down here is so ****.. Strom front today, but have to go to work.. grrrr...Def have to come back up to your lovely SE trade winds.. cheers
