NORTH DEVON KITESURFING GUIDE
WESTWARD HO! Start off with the premier spot in the area. Westward Ho! During the summer months kitesurfing is only allowed at the North side of the beach from the walkway over the pebbleridge right to Bideford Bar, all year you must leave 100 m from the sea to the ridge for walkers and dogs, kiting at high water is a no go. Best times are:- Neap tides, 2 hrs after high water to 2 hrs before high giving a large useable window. Springs tides, 3 hrs after high to 3 hrs before high, still a large useable window. The beach faces W so a wide range of wind works. S is great for the surf but can be gusty and lumpy. SW to NW is usually smoother and cleaner. N winds are clean but the surf is usually powerless.Keep away from winds with any E in them as next stop if your lucky is Lundy, then America!! The currents are minimal on the beach, a small rip is usually present by the pebble pools in higher surf. Watch Bideford bar if you go that far, it has very strong swirling currents and unpredictable waves that are very peaky and throw over. The surf here can be very good for kiting with long rolling waves, you don't get too much power from them but it can reach 6-7 foot at times (double overhead). Respect the dog walkers and other beach users, set up is on the beach only but keep clear of people. If we show respect and manners we will all be able to use the beach without getting banned. The locals are very friendly and will always give advise but also get peeved if anyone disrespects others and creates problems....
INSTOW A good little spot that is used at high tide when Westward Ho! is no longer doeable due to no beach. Works best on NW winds but works from S to N. Watch S winds here as they are very lumpy and gusty, kite will fall from sky without warning some days! Best time is 2hrs each side of HW Bideford. Park on road or car park near sand dunes and go to the North end of the beach out of the way. This is a very busy beach with dog walkers and elderly people, give them respect and keep out of there way. The beach access is owned by Christie estates so too many complaints and they will ban us!! Can be strong currents off beach so board leach is advisable and if spring tides don't go too far out until HW. Sand bottom apart from the reef to the N of the beach that extends from the cricket club straight out, this reef is very flat and can be sailed over. With good conditions the whole estury is your play ground with a trip to Crow Point, Bideford bar and Westward Ho! possible. Its a good flat water spot with small waves (2-3 foot in winter) on rough days breaking cleanly over the reef to the North. In the middle of the estury you get some great rolling swell in the winter created by Bideford bar and the strong tidal flow. 5-6 kiters will see Instow crowded unless you head away from the beach. A good spot to practise those jumps you are trying to nail, flat water with small well formed waves to jump off. I will repeat...Respect other beach users as this spot is 2 minutes from my house and a ban would be disasterous.....
CROW POINT Or aptly named the kite killer! One of the only places in North Devon that works on a E wind. I love this spot although have created some trade for myself with canopy rips, it can be fantastic or really frustrating!! Head into Braunton, passed the Tiki and Saltrock factorys then to Crow Point toll road (£1.50 to get in). At the end of the toll road is a small car park on the left, the beach is underneath the car park down a small bank. Can only be sailed 2hrs each side of HW Bideford and on spring tides you will have very little beach left to launch from at high (2-5 metres!!). The main hazards here are the moorings dotted around, the sharp rocks, metal stakes and needle grass on the beach, the small size of the beach, the odd rock and crab traps in the water and the thick stinking mud in areas! Put you off yet! Once in and going you have a very large bowl of water to play in and if you do get into difficultys although miles from shore the mouth of the estury is miles away and you should be able to swim to a bank before heading out to America! Works on wind from NNE to SSE. 3-4 kiters here would be over crowded but the obstructions keep many away! Watch the wind and your distance out, at HW the wind when from the E dies off for 10 - 20 minutes, this happens regular and I have had several swims because of it! It does normally come back, but by then you have already done a long swim in!! Just bear this in mind...Very few dog walkers and others around, people here tend to sit on the bank and watch you rather that get in the way then complain! Best to go with a friend due to its remoteness and for ease of launching when nearly no beach. A good flat water spot that is fairly scenic, you can sail over to Yelland (my home!), Instow, up the river or stay at Crow. Some nice swell action in the middle due to severe current to play on.
