Need some advice about the Estuary. I am thinking of coming up to Borth side on Thursday to kite in the Estuary in the easterlies that are forecast. Just need some advice on the tides and the dangers of the estuary for someone with not too much kitesurf experience.

I know some of you lot use the estuary alot, hope you guys can help!

High tide thursday is about 8.50am.... The safest time to be in the estuary is a couple of hours before high tide really, but for kiting you can usually kite in the channels at all states of the tide (except at extreme low tide on springs)... The only real 'danger' is around the point on an ebbing spring tide where the currents get really strong. If you loose your board there then you will probably never see it again!

On the whole it is pretty safe as there isn't really anywhere you can go in an Easterly other than back to the beach unless you get out beyond the point.

Al.

thanks for that Al. Not looking like I'll be up on Thurs now anyway (can't get day off, doh!) but it is looking like the wind is forecast the same for the weekend, so hopefully be up then, tides might be better also

Looks to me as though the winds in the estuary just might go a little mad on Friday and Saturday... When it does its thing you have to see it to believe it.

Al.

Not sure whether to be scared or excited. I know the wind is usually alot stronger than forecast in the estuary. Is there a common scale on how much stronger it is likely to be?

It's always difficult to predict... Sometimes in the spring (around about now!) it can be virtually still everywhere else but blowing a hoolie (30 knots) in the estuary just because of the katabatic wind that funnels down from the hills.

Normally, if it is 15 knots NE or E elsewhere then you can expect 20-25 knots in the estuary, if it is 20 knots elsewhere then it could be 30-40 knots in there!.. Sometime a SE elsewhere will even swing around and become a decent wind in the estuary as well, but it us usually REALLY gusty when that happens.

The forecast on WindGuru for Saturday morning at the moment is around 15 knots, with my modified wind speeds on WindGuru that shows up as 20 knots, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was more than that, especially if the sun breaks through in the morning which always seems to help the wind along.

Al.

It sounds like it could be worth the drive. Probably be up the weekend, give it a go.

well I've got this little 7m airush trio that I've never flown in anger..... maybe this is the weekend....?

Dont start that again !

Every week we make plans on a forecast that changes by the weekend

And I've got the solution - a wakeboard!

er... anyone got a speedboat??

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fat Shady
Dont start that again !

Every week we make plans on a forecast that changes by the weekend

---

Still looking good for Fri and Sat morning though, and usually when there's an Easterly forecast it does materialise here... There was plenty last weekend even though the forecast was SE... Looks OK at the mo for this weekend... Gonna be a cold one though with temps around 1-4¬?C by the looks of it... If that's coupled with a 25-30 knot wind its gonna be fun!

Al.

Bring on Friday. Ive got a film crew coming over, so if you wanna be on thelly get there for Friday afternoon!! Land and water kiters welcome.

Shem... Will you be passing my house?? If so I may need a lift to the beach with some kit if I can make it as my van is broken at the moment... Shame really as it is 20 knots in the estuary at the moment and I could do with a little warm up session seeing as I haven't been out for a while.

Al.

fancy a sesh in the estuary al?

Sorry Rob, don't have the time now as I have to gte Morgan from nursery in 90 mins... Not a lot of water left in there now either.

Al.

no problemo... was quite looking forward to getting in the water for a change. not sure if i can make friday, especially getting over to the otherside

What do you mean 'the other side'... I think all the action will be on this side of the estuary.

Al.

really... might have to come down then!!

Anything to get on the telly hey Rob!!!



Al.

thats a point actually, what tv program is it gonna be?? could be top dogging spots in west wales for all i know!!

and looking at the forecast for friday it will be going ballistic, 17kts the BBC say... so thats about 30kts in estuary terms? perfect 16m weather!

mmm. It all sounds far too good to be true! Might just pull a sicky!

What was that about dogging? On tv??

Must get sky....

quote:

---

Originally posted by rob
and looking at the forecast for friday it will be going ballistic, 17kts the BBC say... so thats about 30kts in estuary terms? perfect 16m weather!

---

Still looking good for tomorrow... I should finish work at around midday, so could get to the beach around 1pm after I've pfaffed around getting all my kit into Anna's car!

I checked the estuary today at around 3.50pm and there was virtually no water at all so I'm hoping that there will be enough wind for a session on the seafront. Failing that I might sail in amongst the sandbanks of the Dovey Bar (launching from the seafront) but if there isn't enough wind for that I guess I'll have to find the biggest channel I can in the estuary and use that... It's gotta be good for my gybing anyway having to turn around every 100 metres or so!

Al.

might have to give it a miss after all, gotta get home early... going out to see a band!

Oh well... I did 'forget' to mention that it was also snowing pretty heavily when I was there this arvo, and has been on and off all day long. It's gonna be cold out there!!

Talking of snow I was talking to someone who was up at Lake Vyrnwy yesterday and he reckons there was plenty of snow up there for snow-boarding on, and there is even a light covering on the local hills here again now, so we may end up making another trip to the hills this weekend!

Al.

ooohhh, haven't seen any here... i will be back in aber to go to the union saturday night so could be up for a ski sunday if the weather looks good (and the hangover isn't that bad!)

Film crew still coming, its a branch of the pop factory.

Not that windy yet... But it was blowing a hoolie last night.. I've just had to wander around the garden picking up the debris, finding the dustbins and garden furniture etc and extracting them from various hedges!!

Al.

Im gonnan head over now in a bit, looks super gusty though hey!!

Just got back from there and it is a bit gusty... around 18 knots at the mo, but has been gusting to 25ish in the last hour.

I'm gonna wait to see if it fills in a little more then head off to the seafront if there is enough... Too many people trying to get on the TV in the estuary!

Al.

Can anyone give me an estimate of the times the estuary is likely to be kitesurfable with the tide times for Saturday and Sunday?

Typical... The wind is beginning to pick up a bit now that it's getting a little too late for me to go out.

There should be enough water between about 6.30am until 12.30pm tomorrow.

Al.

Top sesh thius morning, but even as the tide had dropped around mid day, Pluto was having a wicked powered session, still plenty of water around as well.

Bloody windy as well!!

Thanks Al and shem, not sure I'm going to make it don't normally get near the water til midday unless we get a REALLY early start, 2.5hr drive and all that.

how many people turned up then?? when is it gonna be on tv?? all excited can't wait to see it lol!

You wanna get a really early start darren, i reguarly set out at 6 in the morning to get to dyfi by 8. Thinking about heading upto ligwy though judging by al,s forecasts in the estuary im gonna need a smaller kite.

on tv in 2 weeks time, Ill post details nearer

The estuary certainly lived up to expectations today... had a nice blast in 30-40 knot winds and sunshine. It is still blowing a hoolie out there now as well. mark came out for a windsurf too and now he and Daz have headed over to the seafront for a speed session in the silky smooth waters there.

Shem was the only kiter to give it a go. He launched his kite for a few seconds, but soon decided it was ll too much.

I was out with my 4.5m sail which was OK, but a 4m would have been a little more comfortable.. There wasn't enough wind for my 3.4m.

Don't you just love this place!!

Al.

Al, will the tide be any good in the estuary tomorow ?

I was going to go to N.Wales but if it is NE then the estuary might be a better bet if the tide is right.

It looks like the wind should back off a bit for tomorow. so hopefully ok for kite surfing

Yep, should be fine in there tomorrow... High tide is around 10.20am, so it will be sailable between 7am and 1.30pm at least.

I'm hoping it will be just as windy as today but that doesn't look quite so likely.. Mind you a nice 25 knots will be enough.

Al.

A light wind 25 knot session would be lovely!!!

See you there

Shem you pussey!!!!

Got baby sitter arranged so back for more punishment tomorrow!

Got my 5m trainer kite at the ready!! It is supposed to be for my 2 year old boy but hey, he's not getting it yet...

Nice one, see ya in a bit then!!

any good today guys?

ye, it was 25 knots again in the morning.

I've just been down to the estuary again today (Monday) and once again it was nice and sunny with a decent 20-25 knot wind.

Still too ill to lay though

Al.

Where were you all then? You all scared of a bit of wind.....?

I was actually joking about the 5m, but it works very nicely!! Tim & I had the estuary to ourselves yesterday. Quite well powered on the 5. Enough to not bother with the 7 anyway. Isn't this place great???

a hm, excuse me pluto scared of a bit of wind, 5m i would say you are dude!!!!!!

Pluto if you had got up earlier, you would have seen 4 of us out on kites ranging from 8 to 10m