Has anyone kited in Puerto Vallarta? I'm heading down to a wedding in March and wondering if its worth bringing the kite gear. I'll be staying at the Dreams resort in Nuevo Vallarta. Thanks!
Jackal
Since 17 Dec 2005
147 Posts
WS
Stoked
Thu Feb 16, 12 6:13 pm
Bucerias is just north of PV- that's the best kiting option in the area for consistency. It wasn't blowing while I was there in January, I was told it doesn't start blowing till March anyway. Its a thermal wind.
wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
Fri Feb 17, 12 4:43 am
We're down here retired right now. Actually about 300 miles south of PV in Barra De Navidad. So far this year has really really sucked. I've only had marginal 16M kiting on 2 days in 2012! Hopefully this trend changes by March. There's just zero sea breeze, always overcast, and muggy with no air movement at all. And our place is right on a great launch. Grrrrr
It still is heaven compared to freezing cold wet Tacoma.
Start looking for trends at the Puerto Vallarta Airport in the weeks before you leave, or PM me. You'll want to see some wind spikes after about 2PM. If this stuff doesn't change, I'd probably not bring gear. _________________ CGKA Member
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Kip Wylie
Pete
Since 29 Oct 2007
843 Posts
Opinionated
Fri Feb 17, 12 10:22 am
Wylie, where can you see the wind at the airport? Headed there in April, and of course, want to kite!
lubomm
Since 15 Aug 2007
248 Posts
Hood
Stoked
Fri Feb 17, 12 11:05 amPV kite
I went to PV to kite in end of feb and end of march '09. My friend owned a condo there and was a beginner kiter. It was perfect to teach him. no waves, side on shore. We met a local kiter who said feb to may there is wind every day... We were there for a week, wind almost every day, maybe mid teens. I am 185lb, kited 11m Rev, most kiters had 12-14m. A rare "strong" day was 9m.
We launched from as far upwind (north) part of the bay in Bucerias as possible, and did downwinders. I liked the northern part of the bay more, no kiters and side on. The kite spot was further downwind, but I did not like it, dead onshore and lots of sunbathers.
wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
Fri Feb 17, 12 3:52 pm
Pete wrote:
Wylie, where can you see the wind at the airport? Headed there in April, and of course, want to kite!
I also check this Marine Forecast oriented site for a more accurate forecast (as you can see, it's lame, lame, and more lame). But everyone I kite with here says April is better with the added heat. Bucerias has a very large hot valley behind it which pushes a PM sea-breeze:
http://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/PuertoVallarta-Jalisco-Mexico/forecasts/latest/six_day _________________ CGKA Member
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Kip Wylie
Bishop1122
Since 17 Feb 2012
8 Posts
Kho Phangan
Kook
Fri Feb 17, 12 9:12 pmBarra
wylieflyote wrote:
We're down here retired right now. Actually about 300 miles south of PV in Barra De Navidad. So far this year has really really sucked. I've only had marginal 16M kiting on 2 days in 2012! Hopefully this trend changes by March. There's just zero sea breeze, always overcast, and muggy with no air movement at all. And our place is right on a great launch. Grrrrr
It still is heaven compared to freezing cold wet Tacoma.
Start looking for trends at the Puerto Vallarta Airport in the weeks before you leave, or PM me. You'll want to see some wind spikes after about 2PM. If this stuff doesn't change, I'd probably not bring gear.
Wylie. Have you tried kiting in the laguna? 3 out of the last 4 years i have been anchored there this time of year and the winds were consistently good. But then again you would have to deal with boats, mangroves and some nasty water. But hey it would be better than nothing.
Stagecoach
Since 07 May 2009
88 Posts
Fri Feb 17, 12 9:20 pm
Thanks for the input. Sounds like it might be worth packing the 13m though without getting the expectations up much.
wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
Sat Feb 18, 12 4:03 amRe: Barra
Bishop1122 wrote:
Wylie. Have you tried kiting in the laguna? 3 out of the last 4 years i have been anchored there this time of year and the winds were consistently good. But then again you would have to deal with boats, mangroves and some nasty water. But hey it would be better than nothing.
No. I have not tried in the laguna behind Barra de Navidad. We usually all meet up at the last hotel at the east end of Melaque (Villa Obregon). The is the windiest portion there with far less beach people. Then it's a short run to the clean wave break on the ocean side at Barra. Do you have a celll number? I can call or text you next time I see whitecaps. (PM this) Our place has the best view of the conditions. Rarely stronger than 12M.
You could also anchor out hear West Melaque in front of our place for free, and an easy row to an excellent town with the best tacos. There's about 5 sailboats there now.
I drove here so all you gear fits in my car. I'd love to do a run up the coast to La Perula. _________________ CGKA Member
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Kip Wylie
Windian
Since 28 Apr 2008
901 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG
Sat Feb 18, 12 8:37 am
wylieflyote wrote:
We're down here retired right now. Actually about 300 miles south of PV in Barra De Navidad. So far this year has really really sucked. I've only had marginal 16M kiting on 2 days in 2012! Hopefully this trend changes by March. There's just zero sea breeze, always overcast, and muggy with no air movement at all. And our place is right on a great launch. Grrrrr
It still is heaven compared to freezing cold wet Tacoma.
Start looking for trends at the Puerto Vallarta Airport in the weeks before you leave, or PM me. You'll want to see some wind spikes after about 2PM. If this stuff doesn't change, I'd probably not bring gear.
Sounds like good surfing conditions to me, you ought to scrap the kiting and simplify with just a surfboard. Lots of really good beachbreaks and pointbreaks in Mainland Mex.
wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
Sat Feb 18, 12 9:09 am
Windian wrote:
Sounds like good surfing conditions to me, you ought to scrap the kiting and simplify with just a surfboard. Lots of really good beachbreaks and pointbreaks in Mainland Mex.
I hear ya. And also this is going on all day every day no matter what the wind:
Link _________________ CGKA Member
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Kip Wylie
Pete
Since 29 Oct 2007
843 Posts
Opinionated
Sat Feb 18, 12 9:35 am
Good to know, I'll for sure throw my skim in my board bag as well. Would way rather skim than surf!
wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
Sat Feb 18, 12 12:24 pm
Pete wrote:
Good to know, I'll for sure throw my skim in my board bag as well. Would way rather skim than surf!
Are you coming to Barra de Navidad or Melaque? If so, PM me and I will watch for whitecaps every day. I'm on the water and heading out right now, after a very long skunk drought. I'm here til May. Probably 14M maybe 12M.
Kip _________________ CGKA Member
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Kip Wylie
Pete
Since 29 Oct 2007
843 Posts
Opinionated
Sat Feb 18, 12 3:02 pm
wylieflyote wrote:
Pete wrote:
Good to know, I'll for sure throw my skim in my board bag as well. Would way rather skim than surf!
Are you coming to Barra de Navidad or Melaque? If so, PM me and I will watch for whitecaps every day. I'm on the water and heading out right now, after a very long skunk drought. I'm here til May. Probably 14M maybe 12M.
Kip
I am going to somewhere around Banderas Bay.
wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
Sat Feb 18, 12 7:01 pm
Pete wrote:
I am going to somewhere around Banderas Bay.
Oh, You're 4 hours north of here. I'm closer to Manzanillo. You can also go over the hill north of where you'll be and get some great surfing in a Sayulita, Nayarit. google that.
I think you'll get more wind there in Bucerias than we get down here. There is also a Bucerias kite club or something on the www and also on FB.
Today the warm sun and wind returned. Whales, 12 meter, & swim trunks. Hard to beat. _________________ CGKA Member
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Kip Wylie
skikiteski
Since 26 Jun 2006
18 Posts
Jackson WY
Sat Feb 18, 12 8:40 pm
Hey there Wylie, I am going to a wedding in San Pancho Mexico near the end of May. It is about one hour north of Puerta Vallarta. I have not been able to find any info on kiting there. Is it worth bringing my gear or not? Thanks! Chaz
wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
I just drove the route from San Pancho to Bucerias on my way south. I'll say that portion took about 1/2 hour. Of course, it would help if you had a car.
If it were me I'd bring my 14M.
San Francisco (san pancho) is a beautiful place.
Kip _________________ CGKA Member
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Kip Wylie
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