Snapper Point is a world class spot in the Gulf St Vincent being a very large partially closed off Gulf because of Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is salt water and tidal and one of the few gulfs in the world which experience a 'dodge tide' where about once per month there are days where the tide hardly changes. The set up is over a most amazing flat reef which is almost perfectly level, the reef is rock with a sand, grit, small muscle covering. When the tide fills in it is extremely flat water and lines of small swell. Outside of this it is chop city and swell wash pool. The unique aspect is the extremely large area of this reef being about 200m x 400m. This spot is totally reliant on the tide and therefore the best tides are in winter and early spring, you can get lucky with late spring and even early summer but this is not as reliable as winter. The tide needs to be about 1.3m and will get up to 2.6m below 1.3 and it is dangerous as there are rocks at the medium tide point.
The beach is sandy but it can be small. When the tide is in it is a very small beach and makes launching very dodgy indeed, launcher and landers are preferred. In medium tides you can self launch, very high tides makes even rigging difficult as you may have no beach at all.
Winter is the most awesome scene for kiting in the South Central area of SA. Yes it is cold but not too cold, you will need a steamer 4x3 and a good one, some wear booties and gloves some don't. You simply must have a good wetsuit however, it is usually about 10-18°C in winter and the water gets down to 12°C, so it is quite okay if you are used to colder water. If you are lucky and score spring time the temperatures are better.
As it is frontal you really have to be here for a while if you wanted to ride snapper. Winter is fairly reliable but you you came down for a week you may get 4 days in a row or none. This coast gets a westerly pattern in winter which is fabulous, however you have to sit through rain and shifting conditions, but this is one of the best! The ride is frontal, and you have to pick the times and not risk being ahead of too much front. You need to read the weather pattern and check the local wind in the area and access the tide heights.
Go to Aldinga which is on any Adelaide Directory and follow the Aldinga Beach esplanade until you see Jimmy's takeaway and the Deli shop complex, there is a car park and a shade roof with a painted snapper on it, you are there.
SNAPPER LOCAL RULES: Experience kiters: keep aware of other beach users as people like to walk their dogs and cats. Be aware of the tide, come in when it gets too low. Don't fly the kite on the beach for no good reason; you are in front of a cliff face! When it is onshore it is best to get out to sea and away from the beach in case of getting overpowered. Look out for the rocks which are about mid-tide so avoid jumping close to shore. On light wind days snapper is best avoided, better to wait until the wind really kicks in as the mid-tide rocks are a problem. Snapper is NOT a good place to learn as you must be able to stay upwind; you will not be popular if you are not ready for it. Snapper Point is part of an Aquatic Reserve which means there is strictly no fishing or removing of any marine life. Do not remove shells, seaweed or any other beach item. Although walking on the reef is permitted generally recommended keeping feet off the reef, leaving all rocks as they are, and caring for the reef in any way possible, including picking up other people's rubbish. Remember this reef is the reason we can kite here, look after it.
Takeaway shop after the session, or if you are into that type of thing there are various clubs and hotels. The major attraction is the McLaren Vale and Wilunga wineries which you are smack bang in the middle of, so behave! Check out the Mount Compass Tavern for a true country meal which is very reasonably priced.
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