The Kite Report

🪁 The Spot — Station 28.5 in 60 seconds

Station 28.5 is Sullivan's Island's kiteboarding zone, at the northeast end of the island. The beach faces roughly southeast, with the shoreline running SW–NE, so:

• SW–S winds — the classic summer sea breeze: side-onshore from the left. This is the money direction; thermals typically build after noon and peak mid-afternoon.
• NE–E winds — side-onshore from the right; the fall staple, often steadier than summer thermals.
• SE — straight onshore; rideable but expect shorebreak and work upwind.
• N through W — offshore. Don't launch, no matter how clean it looks.

What to look for: 14+ kt sustained for a big kite, 18+ for the fun sizes. Watch the gust spread — thunderstorm-driven spikes are the summer trap. Mid to low tide gives you sand to rig and launch; a big high tide pushes everyone up into the dunes.

Respect Breach Inlet. The current at the NE end is genuinely dangerous — rig and stay well southwest of it, mind swimmers in season, and know the town's beach rules before you go.