Kite-surf Chapin Beach

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert Type: Ocean Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop, Small wave, Medium wave Water hazards: Currents Water quality: Clean Infos: At dead low tide you have to walk quite a ways to get to the water. Anything other than dead low tide has flat water inside the sandbar and can have waves outside depending on wind strength and direction. Beach type & size: Sand - Big Infos: Nice sandy beach with enough room to launch and land kites. One obstruction is the ramp that allows 4WD vehicles to drive down on to the west end of the beach. Identified hazards: Cars Beachgoer: July, August, None Weather specificities: Mid-late summer water temps reach about 70F. That is the max. Summer air temps range from 65-80F. Drysuits are needed from late October until mid April. Wind type: Frontal Wind specificities: Varies considerably. North winds are frontal driven and seem to be best early in the day. SW thermals develop as the day goes on and seem to reduce the strength of northerlies as the day progresses. Chapin is best in Northeast and Northwest winds. Best months: March, April, May, September, October, November Access description: by Car - For Chapin, take exit 8 of Route 6E and go north on Union Street. Turn right on 6A and head east for three miles. Turn left on New Boston Road. (Chapin Beach is just past the Aqua Cultural Research facility so watch for their signs.) Go 1/4 mile and trunk right on Beach Street. At the fork, take the middle road (Taunton Avenue). Taunton takes a sharp left at the water and becomes Dr. Bottero Road. The next fork is ACR's driveway, bear right and continue to the beach. Specific rules: Zones, Fees Extra: In the summer their is a parking fee ($8) for non-residents. The lot is not very big and can fill up. During the summer it is best to kite at the far end of the beach away from the beach crowd. Also, please be mindful of restrictions associated with piping plover habitat. If there are nesting pairs in the dunes, kites cannot be flown within 200 meters of the nests. Accommodations: Toilet, Parking