“Kbay” is the goto spot for everyday riding. Works best during SW summer days. Anything out of the West or East is ridable. Perfect bay for shallow flat water sessions with consistent and clean wind.Cautions: As of 2007, There is an opening in the barrier beach which creates a strong tidal current. Be careful, know your limits!Watch out for the shallows when boosting!What’s Up: The launch zone is on the barrier beach down-wind from the boat ramp area. To get there: Boat, 4x4 & Beach Permit, Walk, or Wade... The access road is at “Left Fork”. There is a marked off parking area that fits about 4 rigs, or park where you can. Alternatively, Park at Left Fork Beach & walk. Lastly, Park at the Boat ramp & wade across the channel. Do Not Rig!, Launch!, or Ride! at the Public Boat Ramp!!! We (Kiters) have been asked by Local Officials to avoid riding in the area by the boat ramp, boat channel, shellfish areas & signs, and away from people using those areas. This has been hard to enforce over the years since discovering Kbay. Use good rider etiquette and please help keep Kbay open to all kiters...
"Left Fork" is good wave riding spot. West winds are best for sideshore conditions. SW is side-on. South is dead on-shore and messy. Sandy beach and shifting sand bars. Beach is very steep and shorebreak can be detrimental to your kite. Watch out for offshore winds! Next stop is Bermuda!Cautions: Strong Currents and Rip-Tides!!!What’s Up: Launch downwind of beach-goers. South Beach is packed in the summer! Avoid swimmers and riding near Life Guard Towers. This is a good spot to ride with others as if something happens out there it is going to be an epic swim!
State Beach is a 3 mile stretch of Public beach which works well with most wind directions. The beach gets very crowded during summer with beachgoers. Depending on the wind direction, the launch areas change. During SW winds the action is on the northern end of the beach near the jetty. Flat water and gusty winds are the norm. This is a popular windsurf spot, kiters should use caution as there is an offshore component to the wind. Riders must know how to ride upwind or you may be headed to the Cape. During NE winds, side-on conditions blow you towards the road. Pre-requisite is to kite upwind. The preferred launch area is at“Jaws Bridge”. Good bump & jump conditions and uninterrupted wind off the ocean make this a popular riding spot. Kiters use caution as there is an onshore component to the wind. During NW winds, “Jaws Bridge” & “Bend in the Road” beach at the far south end of the beach are spots to ride a northwest “down-island”.
”Sengy” is a long and narrow salt water lagoon which is opposite the road along State Beach. Alluring and deceptively safe, the best launch areas depend on wind direction. During NE winds, launch near “Jaws Bridge” at the small beach. Do not park on the beach since rigging real estate is limited. The wind is straight offshore producing glassy conditions and epic boosting as the wind travels over the road generating a significant up-draft. Riders should be able to ride upwind or you will be blown across the bay and will need to be rescued. The launch area is very confined and is full of local color. During SW winds, the only recommended launch zone is at the “first bridge” at the north end of the beach. Park in the lot and walk up to the point to the left (300 yards up wind) to launch your kite. Stay up by the point and do not ride near the parking lot as the wind is onshore and some newbies have ended up on the road! Gusty and dirty winds are the norm. Popular windsurf area.
Cape Pogue Bay, Chappaquidick Island is a premier riding spot. 360 degrees of perfect flat water riding. Wind is very consistent and clean. Works in every wind direction. SW winds tend to be 5-10 knots stronger then on the rest of the Vineyard. The popular launch and riding area is near “the gut” which can become very crowded with boaters. ***Update 2009: Rules set forth with the Trustees of Reservations: Launching and Landing permitted at the Gut area. Do not leave your kite on the beach, it is very narrow and must remain accessible to the vehicles with permits. Do not leave your gear or set up your kite in the 4x4 track! The "Elbow" (NorthWest corner) is restricted from Kiting until the end of the bird nesting season (8/31/09)! Riders must stay 200 yards off the beach beginning 200 yards south of the Windmill House along the beach to the "Elbow". The bay is very large and riders can find there own piece of paradise, but the kiter community has agreed to follow new guidelines to keep access open.
“Squiby” is a popular surfing beach with epic down the line wave riding when conditions are right at the point. E to NE & SSW winds are best. NW winds are offshore. Numerous rocks and submerged boulders riddle the break and beach. Town Beach Sticker required 9am-5pm. Walk out to the point to launch and know your limits!
Aquinnah is a one of the most beautiful beaches on the island and can be very crowded with beach-goers in the summer. Town Beach Sticker required 9am -5pm at Philben, but there is a Public parking lot & access closer to the cliffs. South winds are best, SW winds are onshore, so you must be able to ride upwind to get off the beach. Numerous submerged boulders and rocks litter the beach! Strong rip tides and currents! This beach is mostly ridden by the “Up-Island” crew as a backyard location alternative.
Only a few of the locals have ever ridden our most impressive wave riding locale. Situated under the Gay Head Lighthouse, "Devil’s Bridge" is a shoal well known to desperate seamen shipwrecked here. There is a very strong tidal current, which during the last few hours of the ebbing tide can produce monster size swells when the wind is SW 25-45 knots. The combination of the racing current and gigantic submerged boulders jack up the sea to produce standing waves hundreds of yards long. Add a ground swell into the mix and the set-up is for only the best of the experienced crew. Unless you have carte blanche, the launch is from either Lobsterville Beach which requires a 3 mile upwinder. Or from Philben Beach in which you must round “the head”. This is an epic locale with stunning scenery where only those whom have rode and survived it can tell the tales...
The best riding location "Up-island" for a user-friendly environment. Lobsterville is a sandy beach that bends around a bay. West and NW winds are best. SW winds are ridable for those that can stay upwind as there is a an offshore component that can tempt a kitemare. Menemsha Pond is a very safe bay that is shallow in some areas but winds tend to be gusty and dirty. Launch from "Red Sand Beach".
The Public Beach at Tashmoo is very small. It has become popular with families with young children and space is very limited to rig. SW winds are best and timing is essential as there is a strong tidal current. The ebbing tide produces awesome rolling swells especially out at “Middle Grounds” (1 mile offshore). Avoid riding alone here! Popular advanced Windsurf spot.