If you're going to kite Half Moon Bay: the best location is Dunes Beach or Venice Beach.
These are the least populated sections with the largest beaches and better waves.
On NW windy days you'll see kites in the north end of the bay by Miramar. These are usually a small group of very knowledgeable and experienced locals who know the area well, expertly handle their equipment, and are careful around other beach-goers. If you're visiting, less experienced, or both: skip that spot. There are better areas to kite.
HMB has miles of beach. The north end of the bay has the smallest beaches and the most people. When you see a local kiting there, it's likely they chose it merely because that launch happens to be closest to their home. If you're visiting you may as well launch somewhere better for you and safer for everyone else. When NW winds blow here they're equally good across the bay. In fact, the wider beaches to the south don't have the sketchy wind eddies you find near the cliffs. The surf is better too, because of the way Pillar Point shadows swell the waves get gradually better the more south you go. HMB waves take shape from shifting sand bars and they have a tendency to form up more often and with better quality at the river mouths by Dunes and Venice.
Through most of the year, Venice beach access is blocked by a shallow creek that impedes anyone who isn't planning to get wet. You'll have ample room on the beach, no one in your way, and sandbars from the creek.
Wherever you choose to kite, please, please, please: stay clear of beach-goers. HMB is not like the bay. The wave element of the ocean increases the danger of kiting to bystanders dramatically. it makes it harder to control your kite and yourself. it also makes a downed kite very dangerous. dropping 100 meters of loose line in a turbulent ocean near a group of kids is reckless and irresponsible.
this should be common sense but lately i've seen a number of people who don't seem to understand how to kite with respect:
- don't kite immediately up-wind of people playing in waves. it's such a big beach. wtf are you doing?
- don't self-launch or self-land up-wind of anyone. this is not an easy place to SL in the first place. take the time to walk to a safe place.
If you're going to kite Half Moon Bay...
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