CEPIDIX wrote:mvandijk wrote:Indeed it's São Vicente!
Just opposite of São Vicente is the green island with high steep mountains: Santo Antao. The trade wind blows in between the islands which means a slight accelaration of wind we get at Salamansa (the main kitesurf spot on São Vicente).
You consider S Vicente Better for Kite than Sal, if yes why?
I'm planning to go to Cape Verde so i would like to have some information how is S Vicente for waves do have an videos that you can show?
Cheers!!
I think Sal and São Vicente are very different from each other.
In general
In my opinion Sal is convenience. It's infrastructure is very well set up for tourism.
São Vicente is rough but more adventurous and authentic. It is so non−touristy at Sao Vicente that I am struggling to find any videos (of course we will produce some in the next months).
For kiting
1) Wind
From all of the statistics we have so far (spanning >12 months) it seems that on average São Vicente (in fact Salamansa) has 1-2 knots more wind compared to Sal (kite beach).
Because of the orientation of the beaches in Sao Vicente (sandy beaches on North and East sides), it is easier to find a spot with a good wind direction when the wind differs from the NE (e.g. NNE / ENE) which is an advantage that is more relevant earlier and later in the season.
2) Waves
For the advanced riders
With the winter swell coming from the North, Sal has Punta Preta in terms of wave size is just awesome. For the same swell direction, at São Vicente, we get big waves at the second point of Salamansa as well but they are smaller than those seen at Punta Preta. Both are right handers. The wind at Ponta Preta is slighly more offshore whereas at the 2nd point of Salamansa is slightly more sideshore.
I may be unaware, but I´ve been told that if the swell comes from the South (more common early and late in the season), Sal does not have fantastic waves. At Sao Vicente we have Sandy beach and Tupim. These are hardcore with cross−offshore wind and more rocks than sand (do not let the name fool you) but the waves have a fantastic shape (the spots are part of the national surfing championship circuit) and are easy to reach (channel at the beach and break left and right of the channel).
For the average rider
I would say that Sao Vicente has more wave spots that are better suited for the average rider.
Sal has kite beach which is wonderful but the shape of the waves is not spectacular.
Sao Vicente has wave spots, (1st and 2nd points at Salamansa, Praia Norte) that have a beautiful shape are easy to ride and are safe with sand beach and break/wind taking you into a safe. Salamansa is a right hander, and Praia Norte is a left hander. Both work with swell from the North but for Praia Norte the wind is about 2 knots less than Salamansa.
3) Conditions on the water.
Sal has many kiters on the water. Great to be part of the scene and show off.
On Sao Vicente, the only beach (at least for now) with kiters is Salamansa. Even at Salamansa, 4 kiters on the water is busy!
For Sal:
Kite beach: smaller waves that quickly close out
Ponta Preta: bigger waves with nice shape and longer ride
Secret spot: bigger waves with nice shape and longer ride
Santa Maria: shore break
For Sao Vicente:
Salamansa: big bay with smaller waves that quickly close out in main part, 2 point breaks with bigger waves with nice shape and longer ride on NE point and small flat water are in upwind area
Praia Norte: bigger waves with nice shape and longer ride
Sandy Beach: bigger waves with nice shape and longer ride
Tupim: bigger waves with nice shape and longer ride
Sao Pedro: shore break
I've attached some pictures of our center at Salamansa beach on the busiest day so far (12 kiters on the water)