Tides and currents

[michael]

When I decide where to go kiteboarding, for some places it is not enough to look at the wind speed and direction. I discovered that for Berkeley tides are super important and no one goes there during high tide.

For Crissy I am confused. I understand it's a good idea to avoid high currents, but then again - people kiteboard there even at peak currents. Is there any advantage of ebbing or flooding ?

Same thing about Sherman Island - is there any advantage of ebbing or flooding ?

I don't want to drive to a place just to discover no one is kiteboarding there because of the tide. So at what tide/current should I not go?

[narly1]

ya...
if you can go upwind when its flood n hard, and go up wind haRd.

then it dont maTTer.

[fearlu]

Both Crissy and Sherman have "sweet spots" when flooding and ebbing (and everything in between.) Don't avoid either location based on tides unless you think you'll be underpowered. That's when the flood can really suck. Big ebbs at Crissy could also be a concern if you're not confident in your ability to get around pretty well. Meanwhile, 3rd Avenue can benefit from the ebb tide since it jacks up nicely in the channel.

I guess generally we'd always prefer the "elevator effect" of the ebb tides as opposed to fighting a flood to get to windward!

[Greg]

floods are only good for drinking beer, checking skirts and taking naps..
take the convayor,
L.M.G.

[jowall]

heads up to any newbies reading this stuff that strong tides combined with dropped kite can quickly turn a fun day into trouble.

john

[narly1]

use the ebb..
to help drag you soMwhat up wind..
now heres something to think about....
try to figure out how to uSe the tide to heLpe you,
i.e. bring you back to land if you biF.
if its flood n ,yoU better be pOwErD UP.

[Bob]

If you are new to any launch or just don't really understand
**Never be the first one out or the last one in**
The locals may know more than you do...
So ask em at the beach.

[jrg]

Tide height is important at 3rd too - check out Ken's 3rd Avenue Tide Sequence

[michael]

To summarize what I found out: the only problem could be when the current is in the same direction as the wind, effectively reducing the wind speed and making it more difficult to go upwind. I understood this is relevant for Crissy and Sherman only.

For Berkeley even at the high tide people go kiteboarding as long as there is someone who would help them launch. Self-launching is very difficult.

I don't think for 3rd. Ave tides and currents matter. At low tide you can always go to the upper launch area.

[Bulldog]

When you are learning to kite, being "powered up" won't necessarily help you fight the tide. You will find that the kite pulls you downwind. This will happen until you master the subtleties of edge control and kite control.

Kiting in a hard flood is like driving on mud -- the engine's revving and the wheels are spinning, but you're going upwind much slower than you feel you should be.