Windsurfing near Shark Bay
- Kio Bay (1 km)
- Worser Bay (2 km)
- Seatoun (3 km)
- Lyall Bay (4 km)
- Plimmerton (24 km)
Nearby Windguru Forecasts
This is the most frequently sailed spot in the greater Wellington area. Fondly referred to by locals as the Ditch. The wind accelerates through the gaps formed by Mt Victoria to the West and the Miramar Hills to the East creating probably the windiest location in Wellington (which is saying something). Rocky beach and protected rigging spot from the wind in a northerly. There is not a lot of space on the little beach on high tide. There are however other places people launch of at Rescue Bay near the NIWA building or Kio Bay on the east side of the Ditch, which is better to launch off in a southerly.
There are really only two wind directions in the Ditch - northerly and southerly and slight variations of. Big chop comes through on a strong northerly, conditions are smoother in southerlies. Works best in a true northerly or a southerly. Anything else can get a bit gusty.
What should I look out for
Watch out for yachts, as they frequently race through this area. Sailors will need to be competent enough to be able to stay upwind as there are limited downwind opportunities to land especially in a southerly. Despite being called Shark Bay, there have been no recent sightings although a pod of Orcas and dolphins regulary visit the bay.
Kitesurfing prohibited due to proximity to airport approaches.
Links
Wind.co.nz (http://www.wind.co.nz) Subscription service providing wind and weather data online and to mobile phones. Closest sensor is Wellington airport - TXT WEL to 9463 (WIND)