I'm fruitgumphill on twitter, I'll post conditions when I hit a beach. I'd like to follow some like minded windsurfers.
Good idea.
I don't use twitter so a technical question> Can you set up a twitter account for many users, ie. just use the same password for anyone to access and update?
The idea is that if we can set up a twitter account called 'wind' or an account for a particular location then anyone can log in and provide an update. With enough users there is bound to be someone out sailing who's willing to report from a mobile device.
I'm usually not a twit either. I think if its a goer we need to become twits and then become a follower of fruitgumhill so he can twitter to the twits who are following him.
Where do you usually windsurf Fruitgum?
Yes, good idea fruitgum. There's no particular benefit to having a communal login though - it probably works better to use it the normal way, and include a tag like '#wsnsw' and maybe one for the location eg '#kyeemagh' and then anyone can search using those two tags and see the latest posts. Although we have the airport windmeter at Kyeemagh...
I don't use twitter myself but I think the tagging system is ideal for this - you save a search eg #wsnsw #kyeemagh then just refresh the search whenever you want to check the conditions. Easier than logging in with the communal details and going to find your own tweets under 'My profile', with the benefit of only seeing the conditions at the location you're interested in. There's not really a concept of a thread in twitter - it's just a stream of posts, organized with the use of tags
I reckon it could be woth a try. I don't know how many times I've been suckered in by the wind stations....you see a 15-20 knot reading, get to the spot and find calm windelss pond.
A realtime report could save a drive, eg. it's gusting 20 knots , planing on a 7m about 70% 0f the time etc...
Yep - like the other day when the meter was saying 20kt average and 30kt gusts, which I'm sure was true but the average was from it being 10 half the time and 30 the other half... Ok I'll post a tweet with the tag #wsnsw next time I arrive somewhere
OK, I think I've got the hang of twitter. I have an account set up and I'm following fruitgumphill and will do the same for anyone else that will tweet wind reports.
So I have my mobile set up to follow the selected tweets so i can have a look at the tweet at any time before I head off for a sail.
I have set up an account 'W4wind', so I'll endeavour to tweet a report when I get to the beach.
I guess the more people doing this the better the results.. I like it, finally found a good use for twitter!
Sounds good but couldn't it all be done here on seabreeze? Look over the distant shoulder of any kiter/windsurfer on an iphone down the beach and you can usually just make out the seabreeze green arrows.
New member so hi.. been lurking for a while...
Just starting to learn, mainly around Botany Bay :)
This twitter idea sounds great...
Cheers,
Phil
WORD!
I'm not big on twiiter but I think you follow me, I follow you. I hit a beach before you and tweet and you have the knowledge. Works for me if you hit a beach first. All follow each other and we have real time reports, better than a wind station.
you can include the hashtag anywhere in the message. The important thing is that you start the tag with the hash symbol "#".
On iPhone you can use Tweetdeck to setup a notification service for a specific hashtag. Not sure about Windows Phone 7 or Android but I am sure there are similar applications for those platforms. In addition you can simply search on Twitter for the hashtag.
ok cool, can go with #nswwind, not too sure this idea is flying yet, I only have a few followers. Really like the idea of real time beach report, come on people..
Fair enough I am impatient!
Think it's a great idea, be really useful to know what it is like before I get there (and share that knowledge when I get there first)
Agreed ... i did that for Gerroa last summer and we had some great feedback from quite a number of people. The biggest question I got from people was "anyway I can get that on my mobile"
If I get some time I'll throw together a short primer explaining all this as well as pulling the hashtag onto a web page that is easily accessible via mobile phone.
Plus I'll start contributing with reports. That is when I get more time... snowed under with work at the moment.
I would have tweeted a report if there was any wind and I got to the beach, unfortunately not 
Hi think we need to update our profiles, say #nsw windsurf; this way we can search for people to follow. just updated my bio, hope that works.
Why don't we just stick with '#nswwind'. Less characters to type and no space bar. I'll give this a go. I'm 'dodgy1' on twitter. I'll start stalking a few of you but no need if you search for #nswwind.
Great idea.. Haven't looked but have you put this up in general and kite forums? The more people on to it the better. Once the spring arrives I can really see this flying.
I'll be happy to contribute
