go look at the graphs, there is a section that shows previous days' wind speeds

Correct answer is 23 knots with guts to 25/26

That's the top end for your 11m. (less if it's an aids bucket cabrinha) When your fully depowered and staning on the shoreline on your tippy toes then maybe it's time to drop a kite size or sit the rest out.

Was punchy breeze yesterday around Swanny-Scarbs. Certainly enough to get going on my 7m and stronger by far than the swanny graph shows.

Ocean reef graphs looked about right for what I felt further south.

check out a search for "beaufort scale" it tells you what to look for on the ocean and around you to guesstimate the wind speed.

I generally use the sand. If you spend enough time at the beach and ask people around you what they think you can hone your skills. Proud to say I've predicted a wind speed while a guy held up his wind meter and I guessed the same as him. (But I've only tried it once)

Why would you want to kite at the max range for your kite?????
Unless if you have only one kite, smaller kite = more fun.
Always go for the small one and if the wind drop,it fine tune your flying skills and practices your kite loops

Hey mate
I weigh in at 110 kg and go from my 10 to my 8 anything over 22 knots and have plenty of power on my 6 around 30... Could even go smaller... Never flown your kite but you'll have slot more fun on smaller kites

sebol said...

Why would you want to kite at the max range for your kite?????
Unless if you have only one kite, smaller kite = more fun.
Always go for the small one and if the wind drop,it fine tune your flying skills and practices your kite loops

Didn't say I wanted to, but I've only got the one kite & the limited times I've been out I haven't been close to being overpowered.

You know how it is, when the wind's a blowin', I'm a goin', as long as I feel safe to do so.
I don't over estimate my abilities, if I feel it's too much, I'll happily sit on the beach and cry until I've saved up enough for my next smaller kite to ad to my quiver.

Geez man, no-one is having a go at you, chill out and listen to the advice. Just because they say the kite will handle up to 27 knots doesnt exactly mean its safe to do so!! We just had a guy die in my hometown on xmas eve from being too powered up and when a decent gust came he was carried away into some trees!!

I am around 90 myself and my 11m is good for up to 26-27 kts but its just not fun in that sort of wind. Basically I try to not use the trim strap at all and edge out the gusts. Once I feel I am at the point where I need to start trimming it's time for the 8m.

AKSonline said...

Hi Oceanfire,

The wind wasn't that strong. I reckon it was about 22 knots maybe gusting to ~25 max. It was nowhere near 28 or 30 knots.

+1... I was on my medium sized sail and wasn't fully powered. 20 knots gusting to 25 maybe when i went out (3-5pm).

No way I'd put up an 11m though!

Thanks everyone for the great advice, much appreciated.

Yes, I flew an 11m yesterday, I didn't feel uncomfortable on it or out of control, but I did realise I was very powered up and hence I did not fly it for very long, I packed up before it became uncomfortable for me as I knew that if I wasn't careful things can always get out of hand in those conditions with the size kite I have; safety is always my first priority.

I won't say who I had my lessons through as they may not like it that I was compared to rsc (man, that was below the belt iti )
However, I had my lessons with a very reputable school, safety was always stressed, always, and I have taken that away with me.

As I have said, I am trying to develop my knowledge & hence skills so I can participate in this awesome sport in a safe & controlled manner, which is why I asked the question about the wind speed yesterday, so I could compare and evaluate my experience from that session with the knowledge of other more experienced kiters.

Part of my question about the wind speed related to the fact that I was out on Monday arvo & there seemed to be more sand flying about than yesterday, and I was flying fully powered up on Monday quite comfortably.

It was mentioned that asking questions could open you up to sledging; I don't believe anyone was having a go at me, my comment about sledgers was purely based on the fact that if someone is asking questions, they are showing that they want to learn.
I hope it hasn't come across that I haven't been listening to the advice, because I have, very seriously.
If you don't ask questions, you don't learn.

I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to respond to this thread, I've taken everything onboard that's been said.

And it's great that I've recieved advice that I didn't expect, but is valuable stuff to know.

Thanks guys & good winds to you all!

Agree with Darren about overestimating the actual wind speed. I'm sure i still do it

IMO when you are learning everything over 20kts feels like 25kts and everything over 24kts feels like 30kts. No pizz taking.

I know there has been all sorts of discussions on wind strength and density in the past, (summarising winter thicker wind has more power for same speed than summer due to air density)but some days - like yesterday - the wind just feels thicker and punchier for the actual speed shown on the graphs.

Like totals whatevs - yesterday rocked.

Hey OF, save up for an 7/8m - you may not need it a hell of a lot, so go 2nd hand and you won't have to spend heaps of $$$ but it sure is nicer (and safer) to be out on the right sized kite when it's cranking.

[quotewhat do you do when your on red alert

tie some string to a shopping bag and head of to the beach for a kite

oceanfire said...

Thanks for that, I think I have to get my wind sense more developed; it seemed a lot stronger than that.
And yeah, I did sit the rest out earlier than I wanted to, commonsense always prevails.

I've got an 11m 2010 Waroo, it's meant to be good for up to 28knots, but that's for a 75kg rider; I'm 90kg- I figure I should be good for 30knots at least on this kite.

Wasn't on tippy-toes standing on the beach, but the gusts were feeling pretty strong.
I was checking the graphs after I went out & I'm pretty sure Ocean Reef was showing 28knots between 5:30 & 6pm.

I've only got the one kite, would love to have had a 9m yesterday.

i cant be bothered reading the entire thread so i duno if someone already answered.

but WA wind has a lot more punch to it per knot that other places. e.g i can still ride a 13 in 18 -20 in Brisbane but like hell i would be doing as well over here in the same strength. colder wind = denser air = more power. oh and our wind is rediculously consistant and doesn't gust and lull as much as other places.

you'd be doing well holding an 11 in a consistent 25 +

I also have the advantage of a 1 kite quiver, that I don't agonize over which kite to take :-)
I fly an 11, and at 86kg find it suitable for most days. I did not think that yesterday was too strong, although I was at Quinns and out by 3.30

I would suggest a demo on a much smaller kite, 7 or 8, both in moderate and heavier conditions to appreciate the value of a second kite and the difference in handling.

Well done for asking the question, and thinking about the safety of the conditions.