Hi guys,

I am going to Vanuatu in July and couldn't really get information about where to kite on the island. So if anyone among you guys know where to go and what sizes of kites to bring, i am more than grateful if you let me know...
Thanks in advance
Christoph

Was on Efate for a while, saw some guys kiting at a beach close to where I lived called breakers, they were doing a photo shoot.I havnt tried it yet so wouldnt know the size.

Thanks orca, yes i think it is called Breaker's Beach resort, hope it is accessable for anyone...
cheers

What is the best time of year for Vanuatu?

I think April to October are constant trade winds, where as the rest of the year it is rather gusty...

I went to Vanuatu for a kiting holiday in late June early July 2004. We stayed at Hideaway Island in Mele Bay ~10km west of Vila. This was possibly the best location on the main island of Efate due to its sandy beach inside a large bay. The rest of the island is pretty rocky and exposed, with just a few sandy beaches protected from the open ocean by nearby reef. Breakers Beach, just east of Vila, is a bit like this, and is open to the public. Breakers is more exposed to the wind than Mele Bay, and works mid to high tide as it's a sand fringed reef. Flat water inside, waves outside. It is also the home of local kiter Sean (owner of the resort), and Gavin Broadbent was staying here.

Unfortunately, while I was there, the fabled southwest trade winds were elusive and light (~10knots) with stronger conditions (maybe up to ~15knots) coming in waves. I had a 12m Cabrinha CO2 and 17m Slingshot Fuel, and managed to get out just five or six times.

We hired a car (at great expense) to do the round the island trip (140km in ~6 hours). We broke the trip on the north eastern tip of Efate at a 'resort' called Beachcomber. This beautiful spot had potential similar to if not better than Breaker's, but the wind was cross-offshore, the tide was low, and we arrived to a riot between local villagers and the 'resort' owner over a pig he had killed, so we didn't feel too comfortable - but that's another story.

Now if I had unlimited money and a boat...

Good luck.

sounds like a mad max movie :twisted: . Pigs were allmost worshipped due to the fact that their shit was used for fuel. A pig is a majicial animial (Homer simpson thinks so) due to the fact that it provides two fat soaked delights known as bacon and pork. so killing a pig can start world war III or at least a good old humdinger of an inter village scrap.

What are the advantages of going to the islands in the winter compared with staying at home?

The main advantage for a southern man is that it's a tad on the warm side, plus there's the prospect of the SE trade winds. Unfortunately for me, according to a passing sailor these petered out about 40 miles south of Efate - apparently New Caledonia was the place to be!

This winter we're going to Cairns.

Both are good, ask Shaun who manages breakas resort where to go, he is the only kiter on the island and may even take you to the spots. In front of breakas is a reef break so waves are also good. Make sure you take some booties for the reef riding and some disinfectant for the coral scratches.