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.
Theres a point of windyness when it actually gets less choppy. The wind sort of flattens off the top of the chop. Of course theres still massive swell but the water seems somehow cleaner. Any and all board splash smashes straight down wind and never makes it to your face.
i wonder what wind speed that is? i put it around 35-40 knots.
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
I live just up the coast from Frankston, the wind meter there is crap for most directions. Most locals just don't use it opting to refer to south channel and Fawkner Beacon instead.
Not sure what the point is trying to kite in megga winds is anyway. You're in survival mode from the get go and can't do anything other than try and stay on the water. These type of winds in Melbourne are due to weather fronts and never consistent usually gust of +\- 10 knots.
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.
Blah Blah Blah... Sounds like a bunch of sooks from WA are jealous cause US Victorians are getting all the wind.... Look at your Forecast for next week and SUCK A BIG FAT ONE!!!!
im with you suniboy. check out big friday 9-8-2012 at tribecarew.com.. i am not posting wind speeds too many opinions.
Do you lads always get this defensive when someone disagrees with your opinion? I was simply stating the honest truth and you lot feel you got to shoot me down. No love lost!
www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/boats-jetties-blown-away-by-storm-20120611-20532.html
Some people in this thread really shouldn't be able to have kids let alone kitesurf. I hope most of these posts are trolls.
