Isla Natividad

Baja California Sur, Pacific Coast

Auszug aus dem KITE AND WINDSURFING GUIDE:

San Diego’s kiting hardcore head 30 miles south to escape the light wind summertime blues at Raul’s, a former restaurant in Santa Monica Sur. All swell directions break both ways for quality down-the-line riding, and with 50% more breeze than San Diego the break can get crowded on a hazy summer’s day so it’s best to arrive early. The wind gets progressively gustier as it pushes more northerly until it’s barely rideable by about 3pm. Bahia Magdalena – or Mag Bay to the gringos – just beyond Ensenada is more reliable as the prevailing wind funnels across a plain to the valleys inland. The calm waters inshore are ideal for improvers while wavesailors can find swell and stronger wind at the mouth ('bocas’). Mexico Highway 1 parts company with the ocean here, leaving many potential launches untapped all the way down to San Quintin. Old Mill on the huge, flat, shallow Bahia San Quintin is a perfect freeride/beginners’ spot with thermally reinforced wind and no danger of getting swept out to sea. The launch sites disappear at high tide and low means trudging through some muck, but it’s usually worthwhile. Camp by the southern launch or stay at La Pinta – now 'Desert Inn’ – 15 minutes’ drive south. This cross-offshore beach-break lights up on S-W swell, and long downwinders are easy to arrange as cars are allowed onto over 10km of beach. Deeper south, Punta San Carlos is Baja’s figurehead spot, especially prominent since the mid-90s when SoloSports established their centre. The wind blows cross-off for top-class down-the-line riding at four breaks: The Bombora, an outer reef by the island just upwind of the centre, is a powerful pitching wave, great for jumping and quick rides on a single section. The Beachbreak opposite camp offers forgiving gentle rolling waves protected by the island. Further downwind, The Point tends to be windier with a steep peak that can break way offshore and a channel to get out through on big days. This same wave connects to Punta San Carlos’ flagship, the gnarly Chilli Bowl. Dipping into Baja Sur, two more venues are worth considering. Isla Natividad, a 12km boat trip from the mainland or accessible by air, offers several beach-breaks to suit various swell directions, the best and most famous being Open Doors. At its barrelling best in southerly swells, it’s renowned as a very windy surf-spot with an unbridled cross-offshore airflow. Expect to be roughing it though as there’s absolutely no infrastructure. The long right-hand point-break of Punta Abreojos, ’Point of Open Eyes’, was named after its tubing wave and 'eyelash’ of wind-blown spray. True to form, strong cross-offshore winds and big waves are common. Abreojos is a friendly little fishing village, so show the locals some respect – on and off the water – and keep your eyes open for rocks and stingrays. The east coast of this vast peninsula is on the Sea of Cortez, a flat water winter paradise that comes alive with winter’s 'El Norte’ winds. You’ll need a 4x4 to reach the enormous sandspit at Punta La Gringa. Ride outside for cross-onshore wind and choppy water, or inside for cross-off butter. It blows towards the mainland, so keep upwind or risk landing amongst the power cables. About 45 minutes south of San Felipe, Bahia Santa Maria has a nice hook to ride behind at high tide, while low tide virtually empties the bay revealing dead-flat channels between the sandbars. There’s also a launch onto choppy open waters from a wide sandy beach at the nearby Nuevo Mazatlan campsite.
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Kite and Windsurfing Guide
Isla Natividad, 12 km vor der Küste mit diversen Beachbreaks für alle Swell-Richtungen.
Isla Natividad, a 12km boat trip from the mainland or accessible by air, offers several beach-breaks to suit various swell directions, the best and most…
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