Curious - ikitesurf says 13-15 most of the day Thursday. Is that fairly accurate? I'm thinking my 14 Nemesis should be the kite to bring.

I can't hold my ground just yet. Actually, I just managed to get my first down-winder that lasted longer than "HOLY CRAP - I'm up!". So, shallow water would be my friend still.

edit: No need for a wetsuit right now, correct? Not even a shorty?

No need for wetsuits or shorties at this point, the air is warm and so is the water. Kite selection would also be based on your weight so we probably need more info to give you a good feel. If I were using a 14M kite today, I'd spend most of the day on the beach...(6'6" tall and 250 lbs)...

Trying the deeper water is inevitable, you're gonna have to do it sooner or later. I found the transition relatively easy, you just have to be a bit more cautious with the kite 'cause once it's crashed, relaunching is a BITCH!!!

I've got plenty of experience relaunching in deep water. In Lake Erie, there are only about 100 yards before you're in deep water.

I'm 6'3 and weigh 190. I've used the 14 in similar winds and it has given me plenty of pull.

id bring the 14 and the next size up, chances are it wont be blowing more then 15, but i could be wrong, im bringing my 16 and 21 and im 200lbs

Our 14 knots is pretty wimpy, Pete. Hot air... seriously.
It would feel like your guys 12 is my guess. Hopefully it will blow more, if not, bring a bigger kite, is my opinion.

I'll be at the gulf beaches today... don't know which ones exactly... but I'll be there.

I am bringing 3 fuels. One '04 15M, an '02 16M and an '03 17M. I am also going to keep my ears open because I have a 20.5M Machine with bladder issues at the shop, hopefully Slingshot will have sent the replacement by today! I am also getting a 25.5M Machine which was shipped by the previous owner DHL Ground on Monday. So I may have one of those as well...

/me packs his 20 Yarga

I have a 02 Fuel 16 as well, but it doesn't pack very tightly with the carbon spars on the ends. I think I'll leave that one at home. The Neme has the same wind range (in theory) as that kite.

I'm just glad it won't be nukin' - I just returned my 9 Waroo. The great thing about sheetable kites is that you can sheet them in and out. The horrible thing about sheetable kites is that you have to sheet them in and out. I don't want to have to work that hard.

is that why you returned it, you just didnt like all the sheeting...

That, and the fact that I wanted it as a lighter-wind snow kite.

Unfortunately, it doesn't fly well in light winds. Anything under 15mph and it would stall and fall out of the sky. I asked Simon about it and his reply was, "You need 15 mph for the 9 Waroo."

I already have a foil for winter winds over 15.

Perhaps a larger size Waroo would have been better, but then it wouldn't serve me well as a high-wind water kite.