There is also a big difference between a storm wind and a normal wind, I have kited easy in 45 knots +++ on a clear stable day in South Africa on my 6M catalyst because: The wind comes from the same direction and does not have gusts of +/- 10 knots and the humidity is low and there is no rain. Also during a storm on the open sea the surface water becomes dramatic and your contact with water changes: you have to deal with messy chop which makes control harder.

I kited last monday in Pinaroo WA during the storm and it must have been solid 35 knots with +/- 10 knots and messy as hell with wind direction and very rough seas and was finding extremely hard and it felt worse than I had in higher wind in CT with the same kite, it felt like it was 50 Knots, at 95kgs and with my 6M depowered I managed 45 minutes or less as it was draining to hold it down.

It's a good point to warn off beginners about storm conditions, the handling of the gusts requires a good feel and any mistake made in those conditions turns worse because gusts can catapult you. Kite up to 30 Knots max and do not go out in stormy conditions, in WA there are plenty good days with a normal dry wind with clear weather and plenty pals around on the spots to give you little help.

From the BOM Frankston Wind Meter - 6 am to 6pm 5 Sept 2012 :




Gust hit 41 knots 9.24am and 43 knots 12.57 pm, but both times the gusts a few minutes either side were around the 35 knots, with the wind speed 25 to 30 knots.

No idea how representative the reading is to surface wind on the beach. Meter at 6m elevation, location ?? 12km inland ??

Source :

www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60701/IDV60701.94871.shtml

Saffer said...



The second thing we need to be aware of is the difference between beacons and wind speed on the beach. Some beacons are based further out in the bay and read higher wind speeds than that experienced on land. Quoting a beacon 1km out in the bay doesn't mean the wind speed on the beach is the same.

Great point, checked with the BOM the other day and the South Channel Marker Beacon is approx 10MTR above sea level

GriffinKites said...

Next time use a windmeter and get it on video or no one believes. Below was 30 to 45 knots. I needed to find the top end limit of my 8m. The video has a shot of the windmeter reading 39 knots on land. Strong wind riding is dangerous, if something goes wrong, there is no time to react.

what? no kite loop?

im with you suniboy. check out big friday 9-8-2012 at tribecarew.com.. i am not posting wind speeds too many opinions.

Some people in this thread really shouldn't be able to have kids let alone kitesurf. I hope most of these posts are trolls.