Tides and Barra Grande, Brazil

[docjibe]

I am planning on going to Barra Grande in NE Brazil and would like opinions on how the kiting compares there in high and low tides. Is it best to plan a trip around high tides or can you still have fun kiting there at low tides. How about the lagoon 2.5k downwind? Thanks

[mede]

Hi,

I guess you are talking about B.G a couple of 100 km north of Jeri?

If you want to kite in front of the village, it is best to kite just before and after low tide.

@ low tide, you have maybe 20cm of water left, sometime it's even dry, and you get some decent chop @ high tide.

the lagoon, and also the river mouth downwind are absolutely worth to go. you will find flat water in any tide condition. Here, the timing is rather due to the time of the day. In the morning, wind is side off, so it's extremely gusty on the lagoon. Better go in the afternoon, when the wind turns side, and there are less gusts.

bring a 7m2 if you go in August/September, wind can be quite strong.

hope this helps

[docjibe]

Yes, that's the place. We are planning on staying at Barra Grande Kite Camp, Is that part of the village you are referring to? Why is it better at low tide in front of the village, because the water is flatter? Any problems kiting downwind to the lagoon at low tides? Thanks for the advice .

[mede]

low tide is better because it's less choppy.

kiting downwind is easy (but count with ~ 20 - 30min of upwind riding back from the river mouth). But no worries here, just makes you more hungry for a decent meal afterwards (and a cool caipi ))

btw, talking about food, if you haven't booked full board, try the restaurant in the B&B right of the kitecamp (upwind). the woman cooks amazingly, I liked the food much better than in the kitecamp (no worries, this is not bad at all, too)

[mede]

ah, and before I forget, kitecamp does offer buggy trips to the lagoon, too.
so if you feeling lazy, that's another (rather expensive) option

[HackyBrazil]

kiting in front of the village center is best during medium to low tide. at neap tide you will have to walk a couple of 100 meters to get to the water and some rocks are luring very close under the surface. Upwind the reef/rocks will be visible as well.
The only decent place for good conditions will be directly in the rivermouth - the current is not very strong. Inside the bay the water is to shallow except you want to get stuck in the mud up to the knees in case of a wipe out.
Medium Tide and high tide are the best moments for the bay.
the easiest way to arrive there is just on the water - downwind to the bay and an aprox. 10 to 15min upwind back. You won´t reach the bay with a normal car - buggy or 4x4 required although the beach is officially closed for any kind of motorized vehicels.

[Mathieu Cregut]

Barra Grande , a very good spot , sorry but my english is not very good ; )

A very good place to stay in Barra Grande , is a Pousada Ventos Nativos ; in front the beach .

You can see more infos www.ventosnativos.com

Thanks ,

[mede]

here we go, Mathieu,
the place you mentioned is where we had such great food when we stayed in Barra 2 years ago.

[student]

it is his place