South Africa - Cape Town - Tommaso Cecchini - Monia De Angeli // Strapless Kitesurfing - Strapless Kitesurfing

South Africa

Hi Tommaso, can you introduce you and Monia?

Hi,this is the story of a couple of Italian riders, who found in South Africa a popular crazy destination, for surf, kite and lifestyle, you have to visit it!

My name is Tommaso Cecchini, i’m from Fano (PU), Marche region, Italy.

Together with Monia De Angeli, we decided to spend two weeks in South Africa in Cape Town.

I’m the owner of New Action Boardsport http://www.newaction.it/, a small shop where I cultivate a passion for all board sports, but for about a decade, kitesurfing has practically kidnapped!

I’m fortunate to have Monia always with me, with whom I share everything.

Given that she’s in love with kite, which conveys emotions and the lifestyle that brings you always the continuous research, we did not miss this opportunity .

Monia and Tommazo

Why South Africa?

For some time, we heard about our friends in Cape Town as one of the windiest place, especially during the ‘European winter”, where in South Africa is the middle of summer!

The best months for the wind, ranging from December to February, with a good margin of one month before and after …

Moreover, since Cape Town is a city with about 3.8 million inhabitants, it also offers many alternatives to watersports. Many tourists visit the city without even considering the fact that there are wind and waves all day … even if, it is not difficult to notice!

Can you make us a description of the spot – sailing conditions : direction of the wind, wave… and the gear you used.

Table Mountain

The Table Mountain, the city’s symbol of CT; False Bay with its long coastal road and luxury hotels; Waterfront shopping center largest ever seen before, safaris, a visit with sharks, the Penguins’s beach, the wine- route with its large vineyards, and more ..

We are particularly impressed with the nature of this country!

South of CT, to the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meets, there is a green and unspoilt nature with jagged rocky coasts, but also large sandy beaches, where you can found some of the best waves of the place! Here I found one of the most beautiful spots and I ever loved , Witsand! where everything is perfect! 🙂

North of CT the land becomes more arid, where you will find small fishing villages each with a different spot!

From the large lagoon of Langebaan through Yzerfrontain to Paternoster and Eland’s Bay … you will find left waves for SUP, surfing, kitesurfing.

We recommend to rent a car. It’s essential for getting around South Africa. To visit all the spots, you also need a couple of hours or more, driving in all directions.

Otherwise, for those who want to stay really comfortable and always ride in front of the house, you can do in the area between Sunset Beach, Dolphin Beach, Kite Beach, Doodles Beach, arriving in the famous bay of Big Bay, ending at Haagkat and Melkboss.

Reconciling these spots, which are one after the other driving north, you can do this by a downwind shuttle service for a fee.

The prevailing wind during the summer, is the SE, side – side / off (wind tack to the left), compared to nearly all spots.

Let’s talk about a wind,” Cape Doctor”, on average always blowing about 25/35 knots, with the minimum of 20 and maximum of 45/50 knots, during the really power day!

Haagkat

I’m 75 kg and 1,80m tall. During the two-weeks, I used 90% of this amazing set up: kite Slingshot Rally 6m + surfboard Slingshot Tyrant 5’8”.

The most used kite sizes are from 8m going down. In two morning sessions of wakestyle I used 9m, in two sessions of sunset, I used the 4.5 m!

We recommend using strong surfboard with edges for fast and steep waves, of course strapless!

Almost all of the seabed around the spot CT are sandy. Despite the various beach break in some spots are truly sinister (left) quality waves,long and clean that unroll hundreds of meters!

When the direction of swell and waves are from SW, the provision of sites is trusted and waves are formed from 1 to 3 meters, until you get too much of a”windsurfing tree”.

If the direction of the waves is provided by SE, like the wind, their size and texture will be less ..

The last case is where some spots activate with opposite wind from NW but we have not had the opportunity to view it ..

However, most of the storms that arise in Antarctica, create and develop the best conditions for waves arriving to South African coast.

Description of the accommodation, lifestyle… would you recommend it and why ?

During our kite trip, we stayed in CT at the Sunset Residence in Sunset Beach, the first residential neighborhood outside the city.

The residence is in a great location close to the sea but also to all the services necessary for everyday life, market, gas station, restaurants, shops etc…

also provided with all comforts for customers, including BRAAI, and space for sports equipment with fresh water to wash it.

Fabrizio, the owner, will be at your disposal!

What to do around the spot – Sup, surf, chilling, culture ?

Enjoy a good BBQ with delicious fillet of beef CT ;)!

Sunset Beach is also the first spot north of the city and from here it is very convenient to see the conditions in the morning in real time, and then decide where to ride.

One of the great things about this place are the multitude of spots available; talking about CT from the Cape of Good Hope looking north Atlantic Ocean, there are at least 15 spots reported … then considering those not reported and all over the spot to the Indian Ocean, the possibilities are truly endless!

The rest of the story I will tell you through the photos.