mistral1

I went to Kefalos Kitesurfing a few years ago and it was a great spot. Not much to do on the beach but Kefalos town is only 5 or 10 minutes drive away and has loads of places to stay. Also lots of variety of places to eat but not too commercialised. The wind is pretty much on shore (Kefalos kitesurfing is on the North of the Island Kefalos town is on the south and more famous for windsurfing as it has offshore winds) and water shallow for quite a long way out. They were a bit reluctant to hire kit for free riding unless they were convinced you knew what you were doing, so you can either take your own kit, have a quick hours lesson or take you album of action photos to show them!!! It's always difficult to recommend a place to people as everyone looks for something different but I think Kos is a great place as long as you have a car as there is enough variety there to please everyone. The Kefalos Kitesurfing web site isn't all that so doesn't give a good impression I think that it is also called Kohilari Beach kitesurfing too so may be worth having a trawl of the web. Let me know if you want any more info Paul

It's not a problem I have flown my Ions on a variety of longer throw bars. Just set it up so all lines are the same length when fully sheeted in. You may want to add a stopper ball if your bar does not already have one as otherwise the kite may depower and fall from the sky if you are "hands off" for any reason (adjusting foot straps, etc) and have a lot of depower available

Works Fine - I have been using this configuration for a few years Safety system gives a full flag out ont a single front line which totally depowers the kite. the Flexi system can sometimes leave the kite slightly powered

looks like the centre I mentioned are still going www.koskiteboarding.com Could be usefull if you don't have a car and need to leave you kit up there

25 minutes from Lakatria by car - Out of the village turn left, left onto the main road then right at the petol station

When I was there in 2010 there was a place called Kefalos kitesurfing. If you head to Kefalos town from Lakitria and then turn right (by a petrol station I think) there is a beach with near perfect conditions (X-onshore wind with shallow water and a smooth sandy bottom). There was a small school there hiring Naish kit. Don't know whether the centre is still going but if you,ve got your own gear it is a brillant spot let us know how you get on, would like to go bak my self some time Paul

Defec I am based in just down the road from you in Gillingham and we have lots of choice without going down to poole you just have to be a bit selective about the conditions and state of the tide. Although Camber can be choppy if you go at low wated and sail on a rising tide there is usually an hour or so of flat water somewhere along theh beach In a N or NE Mister is brilliant its best 3 hours either side of low water but you get loads of flat waist deep water. As someone else mentioned Whitstable/Tankerton works in a NW once again Shallow and flat and on those rare SE days Greatstone is abslutely ideal as long as you don't mind a bit of a walk. Let me know if you want more info Paul

I believe she is HMS Caulonia a requesitioned trawler built in 1912. she ran aground in Rye bay on 31 March 1943 and floundered when she could not get off

I have the 14.5 and found I had to play around with the tuning a little to get the best from it. With regard to the front settings there is a contridiction in the manual, the Hi settings on the kite are for high wind and the Lor fo low wind - so in light conditions use the lo setting. The Knots in the rear pig tails were too close to the end (ie too far away from the kite) so you may need to make some extra knots. I set mine so when I am fully sheeted in (with the depowerstrap set to max power) it is just off the stall. You can check this by putting the kite to zenith, sheet the bar fully in and then pull simultaneously on both back lines by an inch or two the kite should start to fall back. Once it's trimmed like this you may need to adjust the flying technique a bit - in light conditions I tend to sheet in on the power stroke but then sheet out a bit to build the speed on the up stroke. And a big board helps -A lot!!! Hope this helps

Try this:- Kitebeaches.com - Spain - Area Formentera

All may not be lost!!!! There is an island about 30 minutes away by ferry called Formentera. No kitesurfing bans and lots of decent beaches. I've never kitesurfed there but there's plenty of info on the internet. If that's no good and you're really not into sitting on a beach all day the diving is fantastic out there and most of the operators do morning trips and afternoon trips. They cater for all standards from total beginners who just wants to give it a go through those who want to do a course and experenced divers Hope this helps Paul

Yep I just checked where the pig tails were on my Ion2s and the Hi setting is the furthest forward like KR said

I thought this topic came up a year or so ago and it was concluded that there was a typo in the flexi Ion 2 manual and that the pigtails marked Hi on the kite were for high wind use (ie max depower) Maybe someone from flexi can clarify

I am also considering the Maui magic dry suit Does anyone know if there is anyone who sells them in the South East As I'd like to try one on before I buy it As to what to wear under it I use a fourth Element under suit for scuba diving and it is fantastic. It wicks the moisture awy from you and still provides warmth when it gets damp. It's a two piece suit and you can buy the top + bottoms separately. Its not the cheapest but it is so much better that the quilted or fleece alternatives