Advice: Kiting Mexico, El Sal, Guat, Hond, Costa and Panama

[kassak]

Hello,

I posted this previously in the main forum and received not a single reply...

I am interested in any advice/ideas anyone has on kiting the pacific coast of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama.

I am going to be heading on an extended sailing trip with likely ample opportunity to stop for kitesurfing along the way. I am sailing a 90 year old wooden ship back to Norway with my friend's family and while the trip is not specifically for kiting two of the other crew members are big surfers so areas with kiting and surfing within a close distance would be ideal. The boat will be leaving from San Francisco sometime in January of 2009 and heading south to Panama and then through the canal. Then from the canal we will head through to Caribe up the E. Coast of the U.S. We will be on a sailing vessel so facilities and land access issues are not important. In fact the more isolated and remote the better. We are a relatively deep drafted vessel, drawing 10 feet of water but we have a zodiac skiff on board so getting to shallow water sites will be pretty easy. The trip will likely begin sometime in November or December. As well,

Also, right now I am riding in Rhode Island, USA and using a LF Sessions 12m. I was figuring I would get another kite, probably a 8m, which would seem more suited to steady trade winds both in central america and the Caribe. I am ~130 lbs. I had a my eye on a Cabrinha 2008 switchblade. But any other ideas would be welcome.

Any thoughts, ideas or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve

[TheKiteLife]

Dont know too much about the area, but I think the wind is supposed to be good in Costa Rica and Panana from Jan-May.

Check out these 2 sites:
www.kitesurfingpanama.com
www.bluedreamhotel.com

If you wouldnt mind, ,maybe you can shoot me a PM sometime or post the info you find out about that region. I'd love to know

[robertovillate]

Based on personal experience I would highly suggest Bahia Salinas in the NW corner of Costa Rica...(the links provided are good ones - especially for Blue Dream/Nicola Bertoldi) definitely a good place to kite. Be careful if you are sailing the boat into the bay. It can be very VERY windy, and I am not sure about the anchorage, but I've seen sailboats in there every time I go.. You might be able to anchor in the lee (west side) of Isla Bolanos in the middle of the bay in an effort to find shelter from the wind. It is not uncommon to have sustained 30+ kts for days and weeks at a time. The wind is almost always Easterly during the winter months. Make sure you have good ground tackle. Also, beware of the "papagallos" (gusty winds) all along the West Coast of Costa Rica. Many boats get knocked down there.

Other places in Costa Rica are sketchy for kiting due to prevailing off shore winds. If you search this forum for Costa Rica you can find many reviews. A few people seem to have had a hard time with the gusty conditions and gave negative remarks...but if you are experienced and have good kites you will love it....I know I did, and the first time I kited there was 8 years ago with prehistoric kites...I went back 5 more times and will go again this winter, so that might say something for it.

You should find some good spots in Mexico, especially if you can spend time in Baja, both on the Pacific side and the Sea of Cortez.

Not sure about Guatemala, or Honduras for kiting.

Panama, some decent conditions at Punta Chame, otherwise mostly offshore wind.

Good surfing in many places in all of these countries.

Have a great voyage....sounds pretty cool. Post some photos of the vessel if you have a chance.

PS...You will need ssmall kites in COsta Rica during the winter...for your weight: you might need a 5m kite many days. I weigh 155# and would take 5, 7, 9, 12 kites to cover it all.

[playacopal]

bahai salinas, costa rica is a good spot to go, once you are heading north in the pacific,
also, just north, san juan del sur in Nicaragua, you can kite the freshwater lake there.

[kassak]

Thanks for the advice...

Here is a picture of the boat, R/S Frithjof Wiese. She is an 80+ year old gaff rigged Norwegian Ketch. She's a Colin Archer design, part of the original Norwegian Rescue service.

Frijof Wiese.jpg (103.54 KiB) Viewed 1844 times

[playacopal]

wow, that is a beauty!!! we will look for you in Playa Copal(bahia Salinas) Costa Rica.
Also, I have a couple of friends who live in El Salvador, and come to kite Costa Rica, I'll ask them for info as well.
see ya!
bob selfridge
cometa copal kitesurfing school
Playa Copal, Costa Rica

[robertovillate]

yah, cool ship! Heavy duty...they don't build them like that anymore!! Canoe stern looks good for following seas.

will you go thru the Panama Canal or Cape Horn?

keep the forum posted on your progress and experiences.

[TheKiteLife]

where is the trailer pulling all the kite gear?!

[WINDAY]

www.freestyleplaya.com

[perroloco]

Wow ,wow, wow! That trip is a dream come true! Theese are a few spots on the way:

San Quintin (Baja, Mexico)
La ventana (Baja south, Mexico)
Los Barriles (Baja south, Mexico)
Playa Del Carmen (Caribean, Mexico)
Cozumel ( Caribean, Mexico)
Cape Hateras (East Coast U.S.A.)

Good luck bro!