Has anyone Kited in Hopey or surrounding area's? if so where and what wind directions work ?etc etc
I have just started working FIFO outta Ravensthorpe and have got my hands on an old bomb, so now I can make after work trips to the coast for a sessions or two! once Day Light Saving kicks in that is. Anyone on the forum work or live down this way too? and is keen for a kite buddy?
Cheers
Hi Breedy,
We have a holiday house down there, so go there all the time. I've only kited on my last two visits.
As far as the townsite goes, the best place to kite is just west of the groyne in an easterly wind. Easterlies are probably the most common wind in summer. The groyne gives a nice good patch of flat water, but stay away from the beach between the groyne and the old boat ramp as it is a kids beach. There is also a boat ramp at the end of the groyne, but there are usually no boats out when it is windy. This is my favourite spot due to the butter flat water.
In a westerly wind, go further west to the point and it gives you the choice of kiting along either beach, although it's all pretty choppy like this. You can kite out along the eastern side of the reef/rocks if you want a bit of protection, but you'd be at least 500m out to sea.
I haven't kited there yet, but I reckon Masons bay (30km east of town) would be an awesome spot. I'm gonna check this one out on my next visit.
As far as waves go, there isnt really much around the town. Crazys (west side of the reef i spoke of above) and the two mile are okish to surf, but they pull pretty shallow onto reef so you have to be careful. I had a bit of a scary moment there once.
Mylies (west in the national park) is apparently a beach break and might be ok, but i reckon there might be a fair bit of wind shadowing going on as it is in a bit of a bay.
Theres a fair few locals who surf, but none that i know of who kite, but i dont know everyone down there anymore. I'll be down for a week in December and a week or so in Jan, so i'll have to find you. Probably in the pub.
hey Breedy and Mattyjee, will be there for Xmas, staying at the caravan park. had a quick look at it on google earth looks like a choice spot. i gather the wind comes in like the doctor from the SW am i correct and can i kite anywere aroud the van park? looking forward to strong WA winds again and 2 weeks of solid kiting.
Winds would be south easterly sea breezes. See what Perth is doing temp wise and that should indicate if the south east of w,a will get some strong seabreezes, im speaking for esperance but hopetowns about 2 hours drive from here.
Yep. Predominant sea-breeze is ESE and makes for perfect flat water on the west side of the groyne. Southerlies and South westers also occur occasionally. There is no hiding from the choppy crap in the southerly, but the SW'er isn't as bad.
The only thing i forgot to mention last time is to watch out about half way between the groyne and the point, as there is shallow (20cm) reef extending out about 100m from the beach. It hurts if you ever get dragged over the top of it.
Theres a lot of curious little kids from WA farms in the summer season, many have never seen kites before so keep an eye on your kite when it's on the beach. I had a couple kids starting to lift up my leading edge once to get a good look... could have gone badly.
Hey bazzman, will you still be there after NY? I'll be heading down on the 2nd or 3rd of Jan.
Fly In - Fly Out. Popular with the minesites in the desert and suchlike. 8 days at work, 6 days off was the roster I used to work.
I haven't seen a FIFO AWOL sticker before though.
hey Mattyjee,
will be there from the 20th of dec to 5th of jan before heading back to the sunny coast. look forward to 2 and half weeks of solid wind.
WA better turn the wind on for me, been a long year at work got frustrations to take out on the water.
Hey Breedy, I work FIFO outta Ravo, have been there for nearly 2 years and kiting for just over 1. Have been keen to get down to Hopetoun after work too and toyed with the idea of getting a bomb just for that! , just not keen on lugging my kites/board back and forth from perth every week! Whats your plans? What department are u in? Im in the DCS (or sometimes referred to as PCS), hopefully were not on opposite rosters!!!
Cheers
Derek
Thanks for all the feedback!
I went down to the Groyne one arvo on my last swing it was a cranking easterly, I could really see the potential! just need to figure out whether to bring my kite n board with me each swing or buy some more gear 
.
Hey Derek, I work in PTW Office in the OPs building ext 2517. I'm on RnR at the moment though, but back to work on Tuesday 11th till Tuesday the 18th. I have a sweet ride to get us to the Beach n back, I've named her the Sharon 2000, she comes complete with Pink seat covers, lots of girly floral sh@t stuck everywhere and a Carebear stuck to the dashboard she's a real peach!! Importantly though there is enough room for a coupla boards n Kites. Let me know what swing your on.
John
Hey John, Sharon sounds sweeeeeeet!!!
and it seems we are on the same swing, which is a bonus!!! Im on R&R now, back this wednesday 12th ,out 19th. Ill come see u in the PTW office as Im in the Ops building too, well Donga city!!!!, north end of Op's building! and yeah I have the same issue with gear!!! spend $$$$$$ (which I dont really want to u ) or have it trashed on a weekly basis!!!
chat soon.
