| South Padre Island, Texas is one of the most | | | | everyone involved, if they want to be, in the |
| beautiful wind sport destinations in the world. | | | | sailing process. The more boat you have the |
| Anything from sailing, windsurfing, and kite | | | | more space for walking around and lounging. The |
| boarding. South Padre Island is a barrier reef island | | | | Gulf of Mexico on the coast of South Padre Island |
| connected to Port Isabel by a 2 mile bridge. The | | | | has some of the most beautiful wildlife. For a few, |
| island is surrounded by a shallow bay on the west | | | | it is home to the north Atlantic bottle nose dolphin |
| side and the Gulf Of Mexico on it's east. | | | | and some of the most beautiful sea turtles in the |
| The bay is perfect for day sailing. The wind is | | | | world. |
| more controlled so there is very little wake. This | | | | Kite boarding and windsurfing are personal wind |
| insures a peaceful cruise with very few bumps. | | | | crafts. Both are very exciting but should only be |
| One of the best types of sailing in the bay is on a | | | | tried after professional instruction. Both of these |
| smaller sloop. These have comfortable seating for | | | | sports your craft is your board. With windsurfing |
| passengers but also the excitement of the boat | | | | your propeller is a sail attached to your board |
| keeling over (leaning to one side) a bit. On this | | | | which you control with a bar in the middle.It is |
| type of boat you will usually find a small cuddy | | | | extremely exciting with the potencial of learning |
| cabin and on some a head (bathroom). The cuddy | | | | alot about saing which can help you move on to |
| cabin gives you a small break from the sun and is | | | | other wind vessels. With Kiteboarding you are |
| also good storage for cold drinks and a picnic | | | | propelled by a kite connected to by a harness and |
| lunch. | | | | a handlebar. The size kite you use depends on the |
| Another fun type of sailing on the bay is | | | | wind speed of that day. As you change direction |
| Hoby-Cat sailing. A Hoby-Cat is a much smaller | | | | of the kite it leads you in that direction. This also |
| sailboat but definetly a fun ride. This boat consists | | | | can be done in both the bay and the gulf. The |
| of two hulls with a tightly wound mesh in | | | | Gulf is full of waves to jump with more wind so if |
| between for seating. Hoby-Cats are traditionally | | | | adventure is what your after once again this is |
| faster boats, so be prepared to get a little wet. | | | | the place for you. |
| With enough wind you can throw on a harness | | | | I love the windsports South Padre Island has to |
| and hang off the side, this keeps the boat | | | | offer, along with it's many other wonders. If you |
| balanced but also proves to be a very exciting | | | | liked this article and would like to learn more about |
| ride. | | | | more fun activities on South Padre Island Please |
| My favorite sailing is on a larger sailboat sailing out | | | | see my resource box. |
| in the Gulf Of Mexico. The larger boat gets | | | | |