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- Point Isabel/Marina Bay
Located in Richmond, Point Isabel/Marina Bay can be a great place to kite when conditions are good. Generally speaking, Summer to Fall provide the best conditions with winds ranging from 10-30 knots mostly onshore. It is not a suitable location for beginners as a confined launch surrounded by rocks and turbulent winds create hazardous situations during launching and landing. Depending on the tides, waterstarts can be a bit tricky as your ability to get out in the water to start may be limited and starting requires sending the kite down over the rocks. As with many sites, if you for any reason doubt your confidence in safely launching and landing in a confined rocky area, handling your kite precisely, getting out on the water fast and staying upwind, don't kite here! In addition, fisherman do frequent the small beach, so give them the right-of-way and all due courtesy. Above and along the small beach is a section the Bay Trail which is frequented by joggers, walkers, families and children. Ensure that your activity does not inadvertently involve them in any way.
Once out on the water, you'll need to decide if you're heading upwind toward the ships and the channel or out and around Brooks Island to the left, as the area in front of the launch is the wind shadow of Brooks Island, resulting in weaker and often turbulent winds. Left and south of the island offers strong, steady wind and some nice ramps and chop all the way toward the Albany Bulb and Berkeley. Upwind into the channel requires some effort to get to, but can reward you with smooth water as the low, end of the island can smooth things out. If you do kite upwind to the channel, do not encroach on the protected bird nesting grounds at the east end of the cove.
If the fog comes rolling in, conditions can quickly become very gusty and turbulent so be aware. Also if you become overpowered, you may want to consider two other and safer landing options depending on where you are, rather than attempting to come in at the main beach launch. If you have been kiting upwind, you may want to consider coming in at the upper beach on the other side of the breakwater jetty as the beach is much larger, or if you are downwind there's an even larger beach at the east end after the rocks end. As with many locations, consider all the hazards and conditions and what your plan will be if you become overpowered or experience equipment failure.
