[ola454]

Great report! Thanks!

I just want to point out an island that most of us forget about but us actually an amazing kitesurf destination: Sao Vicente (a Cape Verde island).

Many tend to think that the island are quite similar to eachother, but that is not the case.

The wind statistics between the islands are very similar when the trade wind consistently blows from the NE (Feb-March). However, outside of that period (Nov-Jan & April – June) the wind conditions are different. There are two reasons for that: 1) Sao Vicente benefits from a wind acceleration (caused by the high mountains of Santo Antao) and 2) the sand beaches of Sao Vicente are on the North, North-East and East side of the island so with the prevailing trade winds NE and NNE you get “cleaner” wind. We have collected statistics from all types of sources (manual, windguru, windfinder) and found that on average over the whole windy season the wind in Sao Vicente is 1-2 knots stronger. We also suspect (but have not got enough data yet), that during times with exceptionally bad wind, conditions in Sao Vicente is often just acceptable (for instance, during the KSP Ponta Preta event in Sal a week ago competitors were telling us about 12 knots of wind whereas in Sao Vicente, we had 17 knots).

I would also argue that for the average kitesurfer (not the super advanced one who is at ease with rocky Punta Preta), Sao Vicente offers conditions that are safer, easier & more relaxing. The wind at the “most popular / least empty” beach of Sao Vicente – Salamansa - is truly side shore. It has waves in the main part of the bay (same as Kite Beach on Sal) but for those that do not want waves, there is a small launch area with flat water in the upwind area and….. safe, easy to ride, nicely shaped point breaks at the NE end of the Salamansa bay. Another difference: space on the water. The least empty beach is Salamansa. On a busy day we have 4 on the water. When we go to adventurous wave spots on Sao Vicente (Sandy Beach, Tupim- amazing waves & Praia Norte wit amazing scenery) of the flat water spot of Santa Lucia , there will be nobody else!