kitesurfing on Ras Sudr, Moonbeach Lagoon

 

General Info:
The location and the Village

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Ras Sudar is an Egyptian city located on the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea coast. It is a part of the South Sinai Governorate, and consists of three areas: Wadi Sidr, Abu Sidr and Soerp. The region has been known since ancient biblical times.


Approach to Ras Sudar is by way of the main Suez to Sharm el Sheikh Road through almost total desert terrain. The road is dotted with farms where olives, tamarinds, and fruits are grown.

Ras Sudar is 200km from Cairo and approx 60 km from the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel crossing in Suez, on the western side of the Sinai Peninsula, and almost opposite the resort of El Ayn An Sokhna on the opposite Red Sea coastline.

Ras Sudar has a 95km beach coastline which offers waters for swimming and sea sports. The area also attracts bird watchers as tourists can see different species of migrating birds.


The majority of the city and outlying districts are inhabitated by Sinai Bedouins who live in the areas of Wadi Abu Sidr and Soerp. As for Ras Sudar itself, the town is made up of two residential areas, bisected by the main north/south road. One side contains local housing for workers, who mainly come from the north of Egypt and the Nile Valley. The other contains private villa residences for professionals and second holiday homes whose owners are mainly from Cairo. There is also a large souk area with many shops and services including telephone, post office, internet services, council offices and police station. Tradesmen of every kind can be found in the artisan's souk area.



The seasons and Hotel info

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The best and most riliable months to go to Ras Sudr are March til October.

An avarge hotel will cost you EGP330 (1 euro = 7,7 EGP). The Paradis hotel (4 stars) is 200meters from the spot. The Greens hotel (3 stars) is about 5 minutes from the spot.



Possibilities besides kiting

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Besides kiting you can:

-Visit Cairo or Sharm El Sheikh
-Visit the pyramids, Giza and more
-Go diving in Sharm El Sheikh

-Go to the Egyptian Museum
-There is not really a nightlife in Ras Sudr



Climate

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Temperatures average between 27°C and 32°C in summer, and up to 43°C on the Red Sea coast. Temperatures average between 13°C and 21°C in winter. A steady wind from the northwest helps hold down the temperature near the Mediterranean coast. The Khamaseen is a wind that blows from the south in Egypt in spring, bringing sand and dust, and sometimes raises the temperature in the desert to more than 100 °F (38 °C).



Spot conditions:
The beach

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Ras Sudr has a big wide beach. The whole area is massive, safe, sandy and uncrowded.

Beachrules: Windsurfers surf to the left of the tower in the water and kiters to the right. Kiters should watch out for the tower at any time. Upwind big lagoons. Watch out: the two smaller, but very nice lagoons are private and you can get into trouble. They can only be used if you stay at Green hotel or Moonbeach Resort.



The water conditions

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In the summer hte water is around 23C. In the winter the water is a littlebit cooler. You might need a shortie or summer suit.

At the spot are two man made lagoons and one natural lagoon. The natural lagoon is super flat, shallow and has sand dunes and inlets. The lagoon is tide-dependent and is kitable for up to 3 hours either side of high tide. There is masses of space and great kiting conditions. Additionally, there are two man-made lagoons, super flat and great for practising tricks or learning in safe conditions with one being for the exclusive use of the Airspace centre. There are no reefs or stones, only just for about 10m in front of the beach, which are quiet sharp.



The wind conditions

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The wind is cross-on from the right and gets stronger during the day. In the middle of the day the wind is the strongest and will be less at the early evening. Most of the times (80%) the wind hits a steady force four to six. In the winter (november-april) the wind start to blow a bit later, around 11am until 4pm, mostly (60%) force 3-5.

The Wind in Ras Sudr is epic and very different to other Kitesurfing holiday destinations in Egypt. Ras sudr is in the Sinai so the winds hold moisture from the natural springs hidden under the desert, the winds get accelerated as are funnelled through the mountain ranges that flank the Suez Canal and are all day from 8 am till 8 pm and later a lot of the time. From March to the end of October the winds are consistently 18 to 25 knots and smooth as, so a joy to kite surf.



Facilities

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There is a kitecentre with school. At the spot are showers and if you are hungry you can enjoy food at the spot.



Downwinder and trip possibilites

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When the lagoon is fully filled you can explore the whole area. You can also kite outside the lagoon in the sea. Because the lagoon is big enough you probably will not need a downwinder (ask the kitecentre for options).



Links

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Youtube Ras Sudr:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4su3iMYRgQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5buGGx1njA

More info: http://www.planetkitesurf.com/destinations/rassudr/rassudr.asp
Photo's: http://kitegen.net/index.php/2007/11/13/viajes-ras-sudr-egipto/

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