Corralejo!

[Paddy74]

Hi guys , flying away to sunny canaries next Thurs.Anyone have experience of flag beach ? Looks like low winds and waves are the winter rule , hoping for a couple of days though .Leave the 8.5 at home ?

[vibro100]

I was there in October for the week.

No wind im affraid.

 

If you do get any wind you will need big kit.

Take a body board, small waves that were good fun to surf with the kids.

[jimmy6]

Was at Flag Beach a couple of years ago in December - we had wind about 50% of the fortnight, ranging from 12m to 5m days. When it was on, it was very on!

Flag Beach itself is good, but I wasn't impressed with the school on the beach. We went out for a downwinder lesson on their RIB and they nearly lost one of the group. She had had one lesson and could bodydrag, so they dropped her at sea with kite and board and did the same for the rest of the group at about 500m intervals. All good until they came back for the girl and couldn't find her for ages. Imagine how we felt when we found her kite bobbing on the waves after an hour (it had been released). Fortunately we found her after nearly 90 mins - she was freezing cold and unimpressed. The crew tried to make light of it, but you could see the fear in their eyes as they were well aware of what nearly happened that day....

 

Of course, that may have been a one off event.

[Benro]

Jimmy6, regardless of that being a one off event it is clearly inexcusable. Good enough reason to stay well away if that's how they teach. I went to the shack in the middle of the beach one day to ask for a weather report and found them to be very unapproachable. I waited 10 minutes for the guy behind the desk to finish a conversation on the phone with his mate.

 

In regards to wind, pack a big kite and a surf board or a body board as the west coast is well worth a visit and usually provides good swell when there's no wind.

Make sure you get a hire car too.

Edited November 17, 2011 by Benro

[bazllfixit]

Was there for the summer and wasn't impressed with flag beach. If you can fly upwind its ok but on a outgoing tide the rocks/reef become exposed quickly saw a few people get caught out by this. Best to hire a car and drive over to Ell Cotillo the wind is stronger though a bit gusty but there are few hazards also you can check out the 2 kite shops en-route one of which is the RRD distributer, you can save about £100 on a new board there.

[shemKSW]

I wudnt say its the place to learn, way to many reefs heads pocking out. Great spot to sail tho, I went in june this year, got 6 days of 25 -30 knbots on the 11meter and one day of lighter wind but fine on the 14. I cud have used the 9 meter one day but didnt bother. Epic spot, great waves, and nice to be able to ride in cross off shore wind and waves in a safe environment. Have fun

 

Oh and if you ride motor bikes, go hire a harley davidson up the road form flag beach, pretty cheap and great guys, even better bikes

[jimmy6]

Sotavento is an hour-ish down the road if ever Flag Beach gets a bit too tricky. There are no rocks to speak of, and a huge lagoon to play in when the tides are playing ball. But you will need a hire car.

[simon1976]

Sotavento is an hour-ish down the road if ever Flag Beach gets a bit too tricky. There are no rocks to speak of, and a huge lagoon to play in when the tides are playing ball. But you will need a hire car.

 

and is super gusty and when the lagoon isnt full the wind is off shore lol so make sure you pay for rescue or they Will leave you out there.

 

ive been to fuert twice, once in september and once in december. decmeber we didnt get much wind at all but i believe as previously mentioned it can come through and strong when it does. be careful of the reef along the beach in the most popular kiting spot, there are only small gaps in it unless you are right in front of the school. when i went in September some of the waves were huge, but good fun.

Edited November 18, 2011 by simon1976
typo

[Paddy74]

Thanx for the advice , i was unaware of the extent of the reef ,guess it will be just like hunstanton mussel beds then lol , intend to take my 12 and 8.5 and hire a mountain bike or kayak if zero wind

[biniasg6]

Thanx for the advice , i was unaware of the extent of the reef ,guess it will be just like hunstanton mussel beds then lol , intend to take my 12 and 8.5 and hire a mountain bike or kayak if zero wind

 

The guys are exaggerating about the Reef. It's only a problem at Low tide. At high tide it's not a problem.

 

Check this video, and you will see the difference at High and low tides.

 

At high tide the Reef is about 1m under Water. The big reef on the right is only a problem if you can't relaunch your kite before you get there in North Winds.

 

See you when you get here.

 

--

Gunnar

Edited November 19, 2011 by biniasg6

[jason mcgowan]

There are rocks everywhere ok to launch with a helper but if you get introuble there are rocks within 100m or so,saying that I haven't heard of any accidents so maybe its me being a girl.Sotavento looked good though but offshore winds

[biniasg6]

There are rocks everywhere ok to launch with a helper but if you get introuble there are rocks within 100m or so,saying that I haven't heard of any accidents so maybe its me being a girl.Sotavento looked good though but offshore winds

 

And once again.

 

You obviously have only seen it at low tides. You do know that the water rises up again, right? ;-)

 

But don't worry. You are not the first and probably not the last.

 

At high tide the rocks are far under water. The reef on the right is not a problem unless:

 

1) You are too close to it, but then you are not in the Kite Zone anyways if your kite gets shredded then its your own fault.

2) You cannot relaunch your kite in deep water and are too dumb to leash out and swim back the 30m before you get to the reef

 

 

 

--

Gunnar

[coffeewhiteone]

I went there when I had just started out. They also took me out in a rib into the deep sea far of the coast and dropped us in. Before I went in, I asked about the release and how it worked. The said not to worry as I would not need it! As it happened the lines got caught around the wing tip and made the kite loop constantly dragging me like a doll behind I pulled the realise we got stuck and I almost drowned. In the end the kite pulled it's self free. The guys there were just dicks. I also paid for rescue and I went on a massive down winder and had to climb over the reef to get too the beach. I was went that far that my wife got worried and went to the for help they just said as my kite was in the air that I was fine. A great help. This was about three years ago so may have changed, but I would never use them again.

[jason mcgowan]

The rocks on the beach bud ,it's not the expanse of sand we have over here.I stayed in the hotels in the dunes lovely beach but just more rocks and naked people about.

[biniasg6]

The rocks on the beach bud ,it's not the expanse of sand we have over here.I stayed in the hotels in the dunes lovely beach but just more rocks and naked people about.

 

I don't know where you were mate, but it was not flag beach if there was rocks on the beach.

 

The beach is one huge sandbox. See the time lapse here:

 

--

Gunnar

[mondeoman]

I've spent a lot of time in Corralejo over the past 12 years - been their 3 times this year. Flag Beach as a sailing venue is excellent. I've windsurfed and kitesurfed there many times, but like all locations pick your conditions. It is normally cross shore but it can be straight on or off. I would also say it is not a place for beginners - you have to be able to kite upwind comfortably and relaunch on the water confidently. The reef / rocks are a hazard.

The kite beach school / rental: there have been numerous posts over the year criticising them, some have been deserved, some not. They could certainly do with a couple of lessons in communication skills! From my own observations over the years, a lot of the problems there are caused by people being allowed to rent equipment without any sort of check on their competence - admittedly this is hard to check if someone bulshits them. However the rescue service / boat was operating efficiently in October.

Corralejo itself - brilliant place for a holiday, windy or not! Have fun.

[Mattsan]

Low wind option - if you enjoy SUPing in waves head into town at the harbour beach where you can hire a wave SUP (that is, something small enough to turn on a wave).

[simon1976]

The guys are exaggerating about the Reef. It's only a problem at Low tide. At high tide it's not a problem.

 

not an exageration from me my friend, just a hazard that needs to be observed, which could be a problem about 50 % of the time so well worth noting thats all! fact

[biniasg6]

The guys are exaggerating about the Reef. It's only a problem at Low tide. At high tide it's not a problem.

 

not an exageration from me my friend, just a hazard that needs to be observed, which could be a problem about 50 % of the time so well worth noting thats all! fact

 

Lets meet somewhere in the middle call it about 20% of the time for beginners. ;-)

 

--

Gunnar

[Timmyk101]

Well Gunnar, I like you fierce loyalty for your home spot. "Its fucking brilliant here." "Look at these pictures" "see". "dick!".

 

So do you work in the school? Is my 10m speed going to be ok to learn on the water on? And is there anywhere I can land board there? I have a hire car and will be there 14th - 28th decmber

Thanks

[vinny]

unless your a competent surfer i wouldnt bother with flag. When the tides out you dont have alot of room in the entry/exit area into the sea infront of the school !! And if you get it wrong and you cant get up wind you gotta walk across an area thats the euivalent to the surface of the moon, takke booties with you. Trust me the mussel beds at hunny are nothing compared to whats at flag!!! how ever..... flag is cool when the tides in .

[Sheepy90]

Corralejo is a great place! I've been a few times and never had any problems! definately take out rescue service they are quick on hand and help when in trouble! you don't have to worry about the reef as it is under water at high tide and visible at low. the rocks downwind can be an issue if you can't relaunch. Don't be put off by the people criticising it its a great place and if theres no wind at flag you can go to cotillo or sotavento

[biniasg6]

Well Gunnar, I like you fierce loyalty for your home spot. "Its fucking brilliant here." "Look at these pictures" "see". "dick!".

 

So do you work in the school? Is my 10m speed going to be ok to learn on the water on? And is there anywhere I can land board there? I have a hire car and will be there 14th - 28th decmber

Thanks

 

Hi Timmy,

 

It's impossible to say wether it will be enough for your Speed 10m2. You get what you get here over the winter. It's good to bring a quiver of 3 Kites.

 

You can Landboard in the area which is between the Road and the Beach: See this video here:

 

Just be careful not to rip up the surface too much or else we could get problems with the local Environmental Agency.

 

I used to work for Flag Beach, but now I just kite there.

 

I get on the Water almost every day here, but use the 19m2 quite a lot. On Average I would say I use the Big kite 70% of the time, a 12 20% and an 8 10% of the time over the winter until the Trades start again.

 

--

Gunnar

Edited December 3, 2011 by biniasg6
forgot something.

[Jack1988]

flag beach is really overrated unless your a pro or very proficient..i went to Fuerte a couple a years ago when i was a beginner, decided against flag beach because of the rocks at low tide are trecherous and at high tide they are still there and if you slammed hard enough they are there waiting for you a few feet under the sea level, its also a visual detterent lol. I didnt find anywhere else on the island for a person like me. Sotavento had a great little lagoon but the wind was hooning and i was having fun but then the tide went out and its an offshore down drafting evil 25 to 40 knot wind.

 

On other days i went to flag beach and i sat there for hours waiting for wind and nothing, until i decided to go back to calleta de fuste the sea breeze kicks in lol fml, but it was cross offshore and the kitesurf designation is very small tbh.

 

i wouldnt recommend it to anyone really. Especially in September, it was breezy mostly nightime.

 

if you go north of corralejo there is much wind on the atlantic north coast but you will die lol. scenes i saw there of wind waves and rock and desertedness is quite spooky.

[bad_alltitude]

Get a hire car and a map, there are loads of decent spots - obviously wind direction has a big say inthe matter - some are a bit of a drive but get a tastey pack lunch from one of the really good sandwich shops and have a day of it. Take plenty of water.

 

I remember some of the shore break was incredibly powerful - winded the crap out of me when I was on a body board!

 

Id give Flag a miss for the above reasons - but also we found it very crowded and with more than its fair share of dickheads. Not a generalisation pleaae understand, most were sound but its the dicks that stand out. Cant comment on the school guys as never had dealings.

 

I love Fuertaventura, just wish I cuould guarantee wind when I go - more than 80% of our time there has been still as