Apologies in advance- these might be obvious questions/observations
1) Does the wind-front travel at the same speed towards you as the wind speed itself?
2) Thus if a southerly wind is south of you can you predict roughly when it will arrive where you are based on wind-speed and how far away the wind is. (1 knot = 1.85km/hr)
3) Has anyone noticed the long thin streaks of glassy smooth water which run perpendicular to the wind when you're looking upwind at the ripples on the surface? It feels just as windy when you cross the streaks.
4) The wind strength doesn't always correlate with what the surface of the water ahead of you is telling you- it sometimes looks like you're coming into a strong gust and then ..nothing!
Hi Kirgo - good questions. Ill do my best to help out.
1) wind is caused by the differential (pressure gradient) in air pressure between pressure systems, it is the result of air moving from a high pressure system to a low pressure system. The greater the pressure gradient the stronger the wind. Does this help?
3) yep
4) many things can affect the water surface, wind, currents, water depth, seafloor contours etc. The combinations of the above can create interesting surface effects which take a long time to master and will vary from location to location.
i'm not sure answers 1,2 are correct.
fronts/cyclones/storms etc get their steering patterns from upper level systems. the cells themselves may have strong winds but these winds are formed from up and down drafts.
for eg. a cyclone might have a wind speed of 100kn but it will only be travelling at 20 knots.
for your southerlies, what i do is watch the stations in northern nsw and gauge how fast the system is moving. then extrapolate that.
1) No. Never.
If a high pressure patch (however big or small) is X, and a low pressure is Y then:
X > Y
The wind is the arrow. X and Y don't have to move. Whatever is creating the difference in pressure, sunlight, water, land mass, hills etc. will probably keep on creating it for ...some amount of time.
Thus the front/gust of wind doesn't actually have to move at all.
2) Nup. You can watch the gauges to the south for an approaching SE say and get a good idea of when it will hit. Also I find looking out the window can help.
3) Sail with your eyes closed. Use the force.
4) Keep 'em closed.
Appreciate the replies boardboy, Gestalt and evlPanda. There's so may facets to this sport, I remember when I thought it was just a sail and board.
I might be able to help with 3 and maybe 4.
Don't forget the wind strength is different and usually stronger higher off the surface.
For example 1 mm above the ground the wind strength may be 0 knots and increases as you go up - 2 meters up - 15 knots 4 meters up 20 knots. This was really apparent in mexico where the wind was cross - off over very low cliffs. The water was completely glassy yet you could plane with a 5.5. The wind was strong enough up a couple of meters to power the sail but nil immediately above the water Probably the same effect along the glassy streaks on the water and I often notice those when the wind is changing - ie building or falling.
Its one of the advantages of kites - the power is up higher where the wind is usually stronger and more consistent. The disadvantages (having to wear trousers over your wetsuit) are also obvious
