TractionKiting.co.uk

Swiss and I were kitesurfing today in the mouth of the estuary at west sands. It was absolutely awesome. South Westerly blowing a steady 18 mph. Low tide and the sandbar was visible almost all the way to tentsmuir forest. Sunset was amazing and we were still ripping when it was almost pitch black! Please be careful if you decide to try and kite in this location. You should not go into the actual estuary itself as it is a nature reserve and also dont sail here unless you are a proficient kiter as the currents can be dodgy - except when its low tide and you have a huge sandbar as back up!!! This is an excellent flat water location and ideal for learning if you catch it at low tide with good wind. Also a nice alternative to the choppy and smelly water that you sometimes get at shell!

nice! always noticed how flat it is up the top.

it is a shame the estury bit is out of bounds, was wondering if it might be worth contacting the people who own/run the reserve ( whoever they are?? ) to see if there is a time period they would allow us to use it in. i know there are other bird reserves around that allow kitesurfers outwith certain times ( nesting season and stuff :huh: )

im getting desperate for a session at the weekend, shame the forecast is lookign a bit pish...

Yeah, I think the council are the people we'd have to negotiate with about kiting in the estuary. I spoke to the ranger about this last year (when he came down and asked me not to kite there) and he said the reason we couldnt sail there was because of the vast array of migratory birds. I personally think that is complete b*ll*cks because if the the presence and noise of Leuchars aircraft dont scare the birds then I dont see how a kite can. Perhaps certain bird spotter type people have objected to the council about any activity there but the council has not heard our side of the story. We are not there to disturb the local wildlife and leave behind only our footprints. Maybe a local kitesurfer should try and liase with the council to try and reach some sort of agreement - even if it does mean seasonal use only.

totally!!! would make a mint spot

might be worth looking into...

I would be willing to help out if I could....

O.

i would speak to the access officer at the council or at scottish natural heritage about this. there is a law of responsible access and the ranger would have been aware of this. it is unreasonable to disalow kitesurfing there all year and like angus says, perhaps in the nesting season.
power to the people man

I did speak to a guy that was surfing the estuary last Sunday and was having a blast.
He was only going about halfway up the beach at the estuary, and from my experience of walking the dogs up the entire length, the birds are mainly up the top end, especially when the tide is out they are feeding on the mud / sand flats. Not sure haw many actually "nest" there but at higher tides there are loads actually on the water, but mainly further up.
I don't think that the Tornados from Leuchars are actually a problem, people are more worried about them being disturbed and stressed by things zipping about on the water and large strange objects that hit the water and fly close to it like kites.
It is true that the twitchers don't like anything disturbing them as in that case there is nothing for them to watch, but they should share the area with responsible kiters who are willing to abide by rules. It is definitely a seasonal thing and there should be times of the year when it would be acceptable to kite.

I suppose the objections may come as many of the bird species are rare and some endangered.
The other factor is also the seals. These may not be protected, but at times there are dozens of them about as they feed on the sea trout that run up the eden river, and at some times of the year there is a large colony that hang out on a sand bank at the Tenstmuir end.
It would be quite a nasty accident if someone plowed ito one of those guys accidentally, you would be needing more that just a new board!
There are or will be quite a number of seal pups about at this time of year, and it would be a real shame to wipe out one of those cute little guys.

As I am heading on to the water this year it would be good to use the estuary particularly on an incoming tide, as it is not that deep and would be resonable safe for a learner.

Would want to get too close to Leuchars however as the security guys might take a bit of umbridge and shoot and ask questions later! You never know a James bod type may surf close up and take out a couple of tornados on approach with a qcouple of stingers! (now I'm getting a bit carried away! I'll get me coat!)

PS. Does anybody know about Tentsmuir / Kinshaldy beach itself, as if it is offshore at West Sands, it should be side shore or onshore there?

I would be willing to help out if I could....

O.


having tk behind it would add a lot of weight!!! sounds like we have a plan forming. all we need now is a stupid name. Westsands Anti Naturereserve Kitesurfers???

I would be willing to help out if I could....

O.


having tk behind it would add a lot of weight!!! sounds like we have a plan forming. all we need now is a stupid name. Westsands Anti Naturereserve Kitesurfers???


That would be "W A N K" was that your intention :huh:

:shocked: mr buggy with your dirty mind :rolleyes:

anyway, i vote owain chairman :wink: