Kite Area guide
Kremasti, Rhodes
Kremasti is the island's practical choice: side-shore Meltemi most afternoons, schools on the beach, and no ninety-kilometre drive.
When to kite
Best months: May, June, July, August, September.
About this Kite Area
Kremasti lies on the north-west coast about twelve kilometres from Rhodes town, and it is where most people on the island actually ride. The Meltemi arrives side-shore, slightly from the left; squeezed between Rhodes and the Turkish coast it turns westerly and accelerates through the strait, reaching 5 to 7 Beaufort through the afternoons with thermal reinforcement. Mornings are gentler at 3 to 5.
The bay starts flat and grows choppier as the wind builds, which suits freestyle and wake-style riding, and further out there is wind swell worth playing in. Summer water reaches a very comfortable 28 to 29°C.
The one thing to know before booking lessons here: the standing area is very narrow and the water deepens quickly from shore. Learners need to be comfortable out of their depth, though the local station runs jet-ski rescue. Spring and autumn can bring a northerly Tramontana, which produces a shore break unsuitable for beginners. The season runs June to September.