Spot Name: Sengekontackett Pond
Location:
Street:
City: Edgartown
Area: Martha’s Vineyard
Region: Northeast US
State: MA
Country: USA
Weather:
Description:
Sengenkontacket Pond is really only kiteable in a north, northeast, or northwest wind. When it does blow from the correct direction this is one of the flattest bodies of water on earth on which to kite. The pond is perhaps a quarter mile across and 2 miles long. The pond is bordered on the northeast by a narrow causeway of land that connects the towns of Oak Bluffs and Edgartown on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The bigger of the two bridges that go over the ocean inlets that connect the pond to the ocean is called “Jaws Bridge” and was made famous by the movie. The land rises to perhaps a maximum of 10 feet. So your non-kiting mates can sit on the beach a few feet back from the water’s edge feeling barely a puff while your kite is up in the unobstructed blow and you are boosting big airs in 20 plus knot wind.
Sengekontacket Pond is really “home field” water for the Douglas brothers and Rob Douglas in particular. Rob Douglas is the world speed record holder on a kiteboard. See video, of Rob going over 64 MPH on a kiteboard. When the wind is up in the fall you can expect to see some really fast kiteboaders, some really big air, and a fair bit of experimentation, whether on foil kites or boards, big surf boards, high tech all carbon, or tiny line diameter, these guys are pushing the edge of the envelope.
In the spring the water is quite cold. In summer the wind is predominantly southwest. The best time to ride in Sengekontacket Pond is in September and October. You will need a wetsuit but likely only a 3/2. The water is protected, shallow, and very flat. At the right time of year with the right wind direction this place rates a 5 star.
Services: There are a plethora of restaurants, shops, and services in the town of Oak Bluffs to the north, and Edgartown to the south just a short 2 mile drive in either direction. There are no bathrooms right at the beach. In summer there is a food truck or two that will pull up in a parking lot where you can get the likes of hot dogs, ice cream, and cold drinks, but the wind does not blow from the north much in New England summers.
Be aware that Martha’s Vineyard is not cheap. It take time to get there by Ferry boat, a bargain hotel room is several hundred dollars per night, there is no fast food, and a really good meal costs more than $100/person.