Delray Beach and Area Riding

[ricki]

The following was prepared in responsse to a question about beaches and weather in the area of Boca Raton:

"In general avoid ALL areas protected by lifeguards. The only exception to this that comes to mind is the designated launch in Ft. Lauderdale. Rules for this small, technical launch for intermediate or stronger kiteboarders appear at: http://kitesurfusa.com/ and at: http://www.fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=456

For typical winds during that time of the year, I would check the wind archive records for Pompano and Lake Worth as best representing the area of Boca Raton. Lake Worth is out currently but the wind archives from past years are still available at:

http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=113

If I were you I would bring a fairly complete quiver of kites. You will have winds below riding threshold (10 kts.) up to as high as 35 kts.+, perhaps in Feb. through May. Our wind begins to taper off many years in later May when the summe weather patterns start to kick in. When good winds are on, they typically range between 12 and 18 kts. and less commonly 18 and 22 kts. Most of the useable winds come with cold fronts this time of year with fronts moving through typically once to twice per week.

The best launch area in the area of Boca Raton is acutally immediately north in Delray Beach. There are laws governing kiteboarding off Delray and are summarized at:

http://www.fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=...asc&highlight=

On a good day you will find a good crowd of kiteboarders off this launch.

The City of Boca Raton has an area that works best for more southerly winds, to the north of Spanish River Blvd. The guidelines for that area follow:

http://www.fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=...asc&highlight=