I'm takin the rugrats to Plantation Island in August so I can gets me some kiting too! Any advice on what gear to take? I really only want to take 2 kites max so it either 16 and 12 or 12 and 9. I had a few days on the coral coast last year and it blew sub 10 a few days and 25-30 a couple of days. is this typical of Plantation too? I've heard some say it tends to be light winds usually at Plantation. Anyone been there in August who can advise?
TIA
Slyde

I don't know what the wind is like in August, but I've just spent the last two weeks of June next door to Plantation Island at the Funky Fish ( www.funkyfishresort.com ), and it was awesome. I lost count of the days I kited, but my wife tells me it was 9 days out of 12. At least 5 days were ~20-25 knots, the rest ~10-15, and on the windless days I managed some surfing and snorkelling. The resort owners told me they were concerned I mightn't get enough wind so early in the season, so this bodes well for you in August. I think the norm with the trade winds is lighter rather than extreme, and they rise and fall in 6 to 8 day cycles, so I'd advise take your 12 and 16. My kite buddies are up there now, so they might add more advice on their return.

I'm ~80kg's, and took my Slingshot 2004 13 and 17 meter Fuels, and two boards: Decay 132 Katana twintip and larger Scimitar directional. On the windiest days I was maxed out on my 13m Fuel and 132 Katana, while on lighter days I used my Scimitar, and sometimes the 17m Fuel too. Only once did I think I should have brought a smaller kite too, but I soon got over it.

The water was warm and clear, with sun burn and wind chill the only inconvenience after repeated ~4 hours sessions. There is a sandbar that appears around half tide that helps smooth the chop and wind swell - otherwise there are inner reefs with lots of sand in the middle, but rocky around the outside, all surrounded by deeper water that means kiting is on whenever the wind is up. Launching at Planatation seemed to be from a beach on the S/E side, from which you can kite to the sandbar (watch out for snorkellers). At the Funky Fish I was launching practically right outside my beach front bure, although there wasn't much beach at high tide. Otherwise I did a few boat trips to the sandbar and kited home when I was done. I was kiting alone, but felt pretty safe with lot's of land downwind and boats around.

Good luck is all I can say - getting good wind is a bonus.

Hi Slyde,

I went to Plantation at the end of August 2 years ago, and the info I would give you backs up John's info.
The 16 and 12 are the right kites. If you are maxed then it's so constant and with those sand bar's you will hold it down.
The one thing I would stress is the 6-8 day cycle of trades. This averages out at seven days- a week. We got there to see perfect 20 knots on arrival that we were too late to kite - then seven days of nothing apart from one day on 20 meter kites - then perfect 20 knots on the day we left. Our timing could not have been worse.
What I am saying is do two weeks or pray. You will be able to tell if it is setting up by the weather maps before you go- otherwise take a surfboard cause it pumps.

The last two reply's are right on the money.
I been to Platation 3 times in the last couple of years and have always scored good, 12m and 16m wind.
We arrived one time to hear from a bunch of Aussie's that thay had no wind for 7 days straight. As soon as our boat hit the beach so did the wind. Started pumping the 16M up and shot out to the sand bar from the wharf, they sat on the beach for a hour waiting for the wind to die out.
Blew all day and most of the week.
A local couple just got back from Plantation last week, 20 knots all week!
Another local has been to Funky Fish and loved it, he's going back this winter too.
Talk to Tim at Kite Sports CHCH too, he's been there too. Check Tims log entry for 30/7/05
www.kitesports.co.nz/logbook_July_Aug05.htm

It's all about timing, but there is plenty of other things to do on the island.
Go in a good state of mind and you'll have no regrets.
No point getting shitty if it doesn't blow

I reccommend a down winder from Namotu, ask for Little John or Big Bill ?? I forget, he's the guy that takes the surfers out to the breaks in the morning and has permission to use the beach for kite launching. It's worth the boat trip out to the island just for a look - $700US a night with monster waves off the beach, 2 year waiting list. The Pro's go there quite often.
Cheers and jealous

Thanks guys, I'm there for a week so here's hoping.... I'll take the 12 and 16 and a 128. Its a holiday so if I kite thats a bonus anyway.
Glad to get some answers..I thought this site had degenerated into a flamers paradise but glad to see some good old kiting info is still to be had.
Hope yall get some good wind while I'm away.
Slyde