Kite spot on water · United States
Richmond Beach
Riders have kited it in S–SW. Best in S, SW.
- Works in
- S–SW
- Best
- S, SW
- Watch out
- N
- Nearest airport
- PAESeattle Paine Field International Airport, 18 km
Forecast and webcams
Before you go
Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.
Webcams nearby
Live images from cameras within 25 km of the spot. Click to open the camera on Windy.com.
Webcams: Windy.com
Tips for this spot
- Offshore wind carries you away from land. Do not ride it without a rescue boat.
- When a storm is coming, get out of the water and land the kite at once. Gusts before a storm are violent and a kite overhead is the highest point around.
- New spot: ask locals about shallows, currents and where people launch.
On site
Wind and riding area
bestworksdoes not work / gustyno reports
Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.
Pparking
From riders
What you need to know
Watch out for
- Busy railway line just north and south of the main launch (a line's length from shore at high tide).community map
- Two sections of old pilings and debris west of the toilets, submerged at high tide.community map
- Rapid wind increase, shift to gusty onshore, and frequent squalls.community map
- Beachgoers and off-leash dogs (off-leash from November to April).community map
- Strong ebb current (flowing north) makes riding upwind difficult.community map
- Driftwood and large logs on the beach, rocks and barnacles.community map
- Steep beach with immediate depth and shore break.community map
Where to launch
- The best rigging spot is the small sandy mound south of the path; safest to launch the kite at the water's edge with a hold-down assistant on the sand.community map
Parking
- Plenty of parking spaces, parking is never an issue.capacity: surplus of parking stalls · community map
- Car park about 350 m from the spot, free.capacity: 16 · OpenStreetMap
Rules and respect
- Avoid up-and-over launches; keep the kite low and head straight into the water (stay low and go).community map
- Be considerate of beachgoers and dogs; off-leash dog beach from November to April.community map
Conditions
- Side to side-onshore wind, often blows even on a 10-20 knot (5–10 m/s) forecast, ideal is 15-25 knots (8–13 m/s); tends to be gusty ahead of storms.community map
- Steep beach with deep water, shore break, chop, and waves on a flood current; safest on a tide below 9 ft.community map
Riders' tips
- Body drag at least one line length offshore before riding; monitor the Edmonds - Kingston ferry wind readings and land early before squalls hit.community map
Facilities
- Large restrooms with flush toilets in the parking lot and on the beach.community map
In riders' own words
- „Richmond is rideable on a S to SW wind“
- „Best wind direction: SW, S“
- „North winds are not ideal here as the beach isshadowed from this direction.“
- „Skill level: Advanced... Be confident in your deep water self-rescueskills.“
- „The best rigging area is the small sandy hill mentionedabove allowing enough room for a hand-full of kites.“
- „The best rigging area is the small sandy hill mentionedabove... launch the kite at the water’s edge with the kiter up on the sand with a holddown“
- „There is a surplus of parking stalls soparking is never an issue.“
- „OpenStreetMap way/55414807“
- „OpenStreetMap way/35899268“
- „please be aware and considerate of beach goers and dogs. The beach isan off-leash beach from November through April.“
- „This is also a beach with afair amount of drift wood and large logs... The beach is coveredwith rocks and barnacles.“
- „winds here as they can increasequickly and turn more onshore creating difficult and gusty conditions. Squallsoften roll in to RB.“
- „Notethat this beach is steep making it too deep to stand once in the water. Thereis usually a shore break that you must body drag through.“
- „There are two sections of old pilings and otherdebris west of the Restrooms. These pilings become submerged as the tide comesin“
Photos from the area
Rob Bixby, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wind by month
When it blows
Average wind speed 10 m above ground from NASA POWER (MERRA-2, 2001–2025). The model works on a grid of roughly 50 km; on hills and by the water the wind is often stronger and gustier.
windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s
Values by month
| January | 4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s |
|---|---|
| February | 3.9 knots · 2.0 m/s |
| March | 4.1 knots · 2.1 m/s |
| April | 3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s |
| May | 2.8 knots · 1.4 m/s |
| June | 2.5 knots · 1.3 m/s |
| July | 2.4 knots · 1.2 m/s |
| August | 2.4 knots · 1.2 m/s |
| September | 2.8 knots · 1.4 m/s |
| October | 3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s |
| November | 4.4 knots · 2.3 m/s |
| December | 4.5 knots · 2.3 m/s |
Nearby
More spots within 60 km
Been there?
Add what you know
Parking changed, a new ban, a new obstacle in the water? Tell us, we will check it and update the page.
Sources: Community map “USA NW Kite Spots” (Google My Maps). Wind NASA POWER, airports OurAirports, photos Wikimedia Commons (author and licence with each photo). As of 17 October 2026. These are riders' reports; local rules change, so look around before you ride and follow local signs.
A week on the water
Kite safari in the Red Sea
8 days on a yacht from Hurghada to the islands of the northern Red Sea. Next departure 7-14 November 2026, the 2027 dates are coming soon.
See the safariThe safari is organised by Mohamed of Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea. I've known him for years and we work together.