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Strongest wind ever

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Created by Macroscien > 9 months ago, 9 Mar 2012
Macroscien
QLD, 6806 posts
9 Mar 2012 1:53PM
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There is none at all at this moment so could be nice to contemplate for a while the strongest wind you have been sailing ever.
Ideal will be attach Seabreeze wind speed graph for that day to proof it, or photo.

My recollection:
1.WIND 45-55 knotts about 3 years ago, Life Saver spot, Melbourne, when waves were up to mast top,
and next time at Sandy Point, water flat as usual
2.EQUIPMENT Board Fanatic 130 L, sail 5m KA - mast 400
3.EXPERIENCE complete disaster on Life Saver, I managed to flip sail on top of the only boy around , but same wind and full enjoyment on Sandy Point

jermaldan
VIC, 1572 posts
9 Mar 2012 3:27PM
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Macroscien said...

There is none at all at this moment so could be nice to contemplate for a while the strongest wind you have been sailing ever.
Ideal will be attach Seabreeze wind speed graph for that day to proof it, or photo.

My recollection:
1.WIND 45-55 knotts about 3 years ago, Life Saver spot, Melbourne, when waves were up to mast top,
and next time at Sandy Point, water flat as usual
2.EQUIPMENT Board Fanatic 130 L, sail 5m KA - mast 400
3.EXPERIENCE complete disaster on Life Saver, I managed to flip sail on top of the only boy around , but same wind and full enjoyment on Sandy Point




Where is life saver spot?

Squid Lips
WA, 708 posts
9 Mar 2012 1:53PM
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How far under water was your board when the waves were up to the mast top?

Macroscien
QLD, 6806 posts
9 Mar 2012 3:57PM
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jermaldan said...
Where is life saver spot?


to the left of Rickets Point

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8019 posts
9 Mar 2012 6:47PM
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Winter Gale gusts to 60kts Warners Bay Lake Macquarie Caveman waveboard c 85ltres 3.2m 90's sail....rose coloured glass memories as it was 20 years ago.. only remember big ramps & jumps ( obviuosly not in the gusts...) . hanging on for grim death!I probably got flattened but I can't remember that..I do remember the board getting picked up and thrown downwind and not being able to waterstart as the sail was pushed flat onto the water sailing in similar conditions.
( news weather report that night..re strength)

CJW
NSW, 1718 posts
9 Mar 2012 6:52PM
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Went sailing in a Westerly here once, it was ridiculously windy! The was so much windage on the board that as soon as you left the water everything was going skyward if you angled the windward rail up, jump or no jump; angle it down and you died. Had a look at the wind meter readings when I got home, saw peak was 65kts. Needles to say I basically sailed out, then back...you can't sail in that much wind...well enjoy it anyway (speed sailing maybe excepted).

Imo up to about 45kts is ok, anything over 40 is getting pretty un-sail-able in terms of doing tricks without massive repercussions as the board windage starts getting insane and weird things start to happen

Mobydisc
NSW, 9029 posts
9 Mar 2012 7:42PM
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The strongest winds I've sailed in were probably around 50 knots plus at Illawarra Lake. It was a massive winter westerly at Primbee. Used a 3.7m wave sail and a Bombora 260. Any time wind got under the board it flew up and ended in a huge crash.

WINDY MILLER
WA, 3183 posts
9 Mar 2012 4:57PM
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tried to sail at sandypoint on that windy day a couple of years ago.

, 85lt board and a 4.2 was way tooooo much...

i think the wind was 40+,, so dont know how u had fun on a 5m and 130l board!!!

twas no fun 4 me

Waiting4wind
NSW, 1871 posts
9 Mar 2012 7:58PM
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There is strong wind and there is solid wind.

I sailed a big botany southerly way back with 25-50 knots, very wild. I was on my 4.2m and seemed to cope.

I sailed in cervantes WA and the wind was a solid 30 knots, I mean solid no gusts no repreive. The wind meter wnt straight to 30 knots and didnt budge. I was struggling on my 3.5m.

I've had a couple of sessions in Maui on a 3.3 (I'm 90kg).

So a lot dependes on the consistency of the wind you are sailing, I reckon.

Troyrotor
QLD, 318 posts
9 Mar 2012 7:04PM
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55knots gusting to 65. Happened about 5-6years ago at shearwater.
I'm knot exaggerating I'm sure haircut was there. This was back when I was fully into windsurfing.
One of my best windsurfing memories and scariest, I remember having no chance keeping the board on the water but once the board left the water the wind under the board thru me into a front flip crash everytime. And there was nothing I could do about it.

There was someone down there looking to sponsor me, I came flying into the beach and had to bail out from the board which then flew onto and across the beach and flipped over for 50m before ending up in the grass.
This was at low tide too.... Get the picture????

No sponsorship for Troy

Troyrotor
QLD, 318 posts
9 Mar 2012 7:09PM
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Found a recording from 2009
www.bom.gov.au/inside/services_policy/public/sigwxsum/pdf/sigw0509.pdf
63knots

Ian K
WA, 4048 posts
9 Mar 2012 7:24PM
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Also Lake Illawarra. Wouldn't call it sailing though. When you see the wall of spray approaching and you're in knee deep water, you get off, sink and sit on the sail and wait it out.

jsnfok
WA, 899 posts
9 Mar 2012 7:25PM
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mine woud have to be about 40 knots but a super cold wind, was on a winter front, top of the water was blown off, i actually turned flat thats how dense the air was, was on a 4.2, too windy got bored went home

jsnfok
WA, 899 posts
9 Mar 2012 7:27PM
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Waiting4wind said...

There is strong wind and there is solid wind.

I sailed a big botany southerly way back with 25-50 knots, very wild. I was on my 4.2m and seemed to cope.

I sailed in cervantes WA and the wind was a solid 30 knots, I mean solid no gusts no repreive. The wind meter wnt straight to 30 knots and didnt budge. I was struggling on my 3.5m.

I've had a couple of sessions in Maui on a 3.3 (I'm 90kg).

So a lot dependes on the consistency of the wind you are sailing, I reckon.


yea gusts you can deal with, but when its solid and only a 2 knots difference between gusts and average, its hard work

Donk
NSW, 390 posts
9 Mar 2012 10:38PM
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55 knot westerly at Marmong Pt on Lake Macquarie.74 lt board & 4.2 sail. Managed to sail for about 30 mins. Not much fun. I remember this day well as peto was out the same day a bit further downwind and lost his rig. Blown away. Remember that Peto?

Macroscien
QLD, 6806 posts
9 Mar 2012 10:41PM
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Donk said...

as peto was out the same day a bit further downwind and lost his rig. Blown away.

yes remember one day I was sitting in my car with video camera and recording a few guys brave enough to sail in 40-45 knt on Lake Pupuke. Alan (from Mad Loop) was quite comfortable with gibing at such wind, but if took only one mistake - he did try to jump - then gust everything took like kite out of control.
Alan released his gear beeing possibly 7-10 m above water and whole gear just flew away. There is no chance that you could swim to catch it ....Alan was rescued by boat but board finished in the bushes...
I have all this on the tape ...

Macroscien
QLD, 6806 posts
10 Mar 2012 12:05AM
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WINDY MILLER said...

tried to sail at sandypoint on that windy day a couple of years ago.

, 85lt board and a 4.2 was way tooooo much...

i think the wind was 40+,, so dont know how u had fun on a 5m and 130l board!!!

twas no fun 4 me


Right, Sandy Point is quite interesting place...absolutely flat water.. perfect stable wind ...starting point a bit in the wind shadow ... then when beach start from knee deep water everything is just about staying on the board speeding and speeding up ( you think without any limit ) just a few meters along of that sandy bank
Since back then gybing at such speed ( 65km/h) even on flat water wasn't my favorite option the main concern was how to stop the board running at the end
Turning up wind is not the option either when you are just a couple meters of the bank...Even sail released completely and board keep planing and planing...

This is quite interesting experiment ...it is not like sudden wind gust but small incremental change...
you do beach start,, take perfect position,,, wind pickup slowly... you improve position...wind getting stronger ..., defend your position ... to that tipping point that wind could blow you off your board ... but in such perfect condition 45-50 wind is not enough...
I think Mythbusters or Jack Ass should do such experiment under jet engine - how much wind you could withstand in perfect position

jh2703
NSW, 1222 posts
10 Mar 2012 1:25AM
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Lake Illawarra has produced some of the strongest winds I've ever sailed in and I've been from east to west coast in search of good wind. The following video is from such a day, myself at 100kgs had to lay my 4.7 in the water and wait out the 40+ knot gusts on more then one occasion....Lake Illawarra rocks!



Macroscien
QLD, 6806 posts
10 Mar 2012 12:54AM
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Doesn't look much like that but there was 35-45 knotss on that day ... too much for me back then .. so I took only my camera not the board...


what is interesting here - there is not video editing at all , just one continuous piece.
Usually you watch video and guy makes big jump. ok milisecond later sailing again ...in fact could spend five minutes to find his gear and water start ...here is everything in real time...

stehsegler
WA, 3469 posts
10 Mar 2012 6:34AM
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The Gorge - Dougs Beach: 3.5 - gusting to 65 knts

South of France - Etange de Leucate: 3.2 - 70knts+, saw a 20 foot container roll over on the way home.

Lake Garda: 3.5 - gusting to 65 knts, who would have thought you could have 3 meter wind swell on a lake.

All of these were a case of survival sailing rather than anything enjoyable.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8019 posts
10 Mar 2012 7:15PM
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sboardcrazy said...

Winter Gale gusts to 60kts Warners Bay Lake Macquarie Caveman waveboard c 85ltres 3.2m 90's sail....rose coloured glass memories as it was 20 years ago.. only remember big ramps & jumps ( obviuosly not in the gusts...) . hanging on for grim death!I probably got flattened but I can't remember that..I do remember the board getting picked up and thrown downwind and not being able to waterstart as the sail was pushed flat onto the water sailing in similar conditions.
( news weather report that night..re strength)


I would have weighed about 56kgs wringing wet in those days too..

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8019 posts
10 Mar 2012 7:18PM
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Waiting4wind said...

There is strong wind and there is solid wind.

I sailed a big botany southerly way back with 25-50 knots, very wild. I was on my 4.2m and seemed to cope.

I sailed in cervantes WA and the wind was a solid 30 knots, I mean solid no gusts no repreive. The wind meter wnt straight to 30 knots and didnt budge. I was struggling on my 3.5m.

I've had a couple of sessions in Maui on a 3.3 (I'm 90kg).

So a lot dependes on the consistency of the wind you are sailing, I reckon.

Yep no way i could have sailed in a consistent 60kt wind!The lulls were where you managed to sail..
I was just thinking recently how much consistency affects sailing. I'd been sailing in gusty 8 - 15kts.. an occasional 100m 15kts puff and then mainly 8kts..no fun not planing much.. Then another day I go out in a consistent 15kts and planing nicely!

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8019 posts
10 Mar 2012 7:21PM
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Donk said...

55 knot westerly at Marmong Pt on Lake Macquarie.74 lt board & 4.2 sail. Managed to sail for about 30 mins. Not much fun. I remember this day well as peto was out the same day a bit further downwind and lost his rig. Blown away. Remember that Peto?


Might have been the day i remember..sailing at warners Bay..

kato
VIC, 3400 posts
10 Mar 2012 11:26PM
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Yep thats my biggest day. Got smashed . I,d love another day like that as i,ve learn,t a lot since then and bought a 4.4 . I wonder what wind Spotty needs to run his 4.4 as he still felt in control with his 5.0

Mr. No-one
WA, 921 posts
10 Mar 2012 10:20PM
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Mine was in about 95 at Wello when there was a cyclone to the north. Didn't have a wind metre but at one point I was planing while just holding the mast with one hand. Another run while planing was picked up and thrown 30ft sideways, felt so small after that. It became impossible to waterstart, as I held the mast tip the wind got under it and done a full pole-vault over over the board and the gear then tumbled across the water, had to derigg under water.
Driving home there were trees and power lines down and the news showed roofs blowing off houses, said it was 50kts with 65kt gusts, it was an experience won't soon forget.

ginger pom
VIC, 1746 posts
11 Mar 2012 10:22AM
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Macroscien said...



what is interesting here




If that is 35-45 knots then I had a threesome with Pippa Middleton and Beyonce last night.

He's using a 5m or more. He has to bear away to get planing at several points. FFS I even saw him pump to get going at one point.

What are you smoking if you think this is strong?

If you can sail with a 5m then it isn't strong.

Strong is when

you can't walk upwind,
you need three people to help you carry a 3.3m and your board to the water,
every jump ends up being at least six foot higher than you anticipated,
other sailors simply disappear from view as they get bitch-slapped/ swatted by the wind
you can sail for around fifteen minutes at a time
the best sailors only make half their gybes
on the beach there is a gathering of the sort of people who cause tailbacks in the other direction after a freeway accident because they slow down to look

And I'm sorry but you didn't sail in 45 knots at sandy on a 130litre board and a 5m. Please don't encourage others to do similar things by saying that you did.

EDIT: I've watched it again. He made a backwind gybe and attempted an upwind 360 (which he didn't make). Anyone who does front to sail manouvres in 35 knots.. let alone 45-55 knots is world class.

Haircut
QLD, 6481 posts
11 Mar 2012 10:54AM
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Troyrotor said...

55knots gusting to 65. Happened about 5-6years ago at shearwater.
I'm knot exaggerating I'm sure haircut was there. This was back when I was fully into windsurfing.



i do remember the 3 mega honking days a few years back that were responsible for gobbling up narrowneck beaches and ruining that beautiful gutter at kirra, where it got to nearly 70knots on the GC observations (so subtract 10%).

shearwater was a white-out and froth everywhere. i seriously doubt anyone would have even attempted to sail there

for 20mins German Simon and I "tried" to sail it at the train hoping it to be a little more tame, but it was like an ocean with waist high waves behind the sandbar (nromally the flattest part of the train) scary and impossible with 4m sails. i think a 2m would have even been difficult






Macroscien
QLD, 6806 posts
11 Mar 2012 11:35AM
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[b]

If that is 35-45 knots then I had a threesome with Pippa Middleton and Beyonce last night.
Strong is when

you can't walk upwind,
you need three people to help you carry a 3.3m and your board to the water,
every jump ends up being at least six foot higher than you anticipated,
other sailors simply disappear from view as they get bitch-slapped/ swatted by the wind
you can sail for around fifteen minutes at a time
the best sailors only make half their gybes
on the beach there is a gathering of the sort of people who cause tailbacks in the other direction after a freeway accident because they slow down to look

And I'm sorry but you didn't sail in 45 knots at sandy on a 130litre board and a 5m. Please don't encourage others to do similar things by saying that you did.

EDIT: I've watched it again. He made a backwind gybe and attempted an upwind 360 (which he didn't make). Anyone who does front to sail manouvres in 35 knots.. let alone 45-55 knots is world class.





Yes and no.
NO, This bay area is protected from NE wind and waves.Anyway if we could have access to historical charts we could check records for Auckand , Takapuna just a day or two after RSX world championship finished few years ago.
So guy, Nico, sailing there was one of those RSX racers represent France on championship , not just me or you.
Usually sailing in Takapuna take place in the open water not in the bay, which only safe lunching point.

YES, others couldn't even watersart- there is short moment when Nico did return borrowed rig to the right owner and that guy bump straight into water after waterstart. Another guy has his gear smashed to pieces completely at the distance, at bank brakes waves about same time as video was taken.

YES,Ginger, You are welcome to GC and I am happy to go with you on bumpy Shearwater with my 5m KA Concept (excellent exceptional sail anyway) anytime you want at 35-40 knt, but will be using my 84L wave board as this is not flat Sandy Point. The problem is that you could possibly control 5m sail in strong wind but not that huge board on bumpy chop.
To be fair I use my 4.2 only when is 35 and above.


ginger pom
VIC, 1746 posts
11 Mar 2012 8:35PM
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IT ISN'T VERY WINDY IN YOUR VIDEO.

I have better things to do than convince you.


EDIT: Grrrrrr..... 3:30 - 3:50 He gybes. He stops clew first. He flips the rig. It takes him 15 seconds to get up to speed by pointing on a broad reach.

Carantoc
WA, 6650 posts
11 Mar 2012 5:57PM
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IT ISN'T VERY WINDY IN YOUR VIDEO

I'm with the ginger one here. No way is that anything other than mildly average. The way the water is moving, the way the spray (and lack of it) comes off the board, the way the dude is sailing, all of it shows - that is not very windy.

In my two years in northern NSW we have had some pretty windy days. Why one day it even blew a gnats nuts around. One day I saw a sombero blow off an old ladies head. One day is was so windy it was mildly unpleasant to stroll along the seafront with a baby in a pram.

Windy is when your VW camper blows onto its side in the night whilst parked at Tarifa. Windy is when there is solid spray you can't see through 3 foot above the water. Windy is when you can't stand on the beach because the sand is blasting the skin off your face, and then it starts hailing and actually draws blood on your cheeks.

I rode my bike south out of Cadiz once and had my knee down going along a straight road. The black on my bike leathers was sand blasted off to a rough suede look. One half of my bike looked about 10 years older then the other half. The road was actually closed, but I didn't speak spanish (officier).

Windy is when your 3.2m sail powers you sideways less than your board sends you upwards. Windy is when you open your car door and the wind bends the hinges so much that you have to open both front windows a smidge and tie a roof rack strap all the way through your car to keep the door shut for the next year.

Windy is when you see more than one truck on its side on the way home. Windy is when you get home and your shed isn't there anymore.

Windy is when 'Wow, its Windy' is top story in the nightly news.

Drive your car at 95 kmph and then put your head out the window, look forward and see how long before your eyes hurt so much you can't see and you can't actually breathe. That is a 50 knot wind.

Your video isn't very windy.



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"Strongest wind ever" started by Macroscien