I have been looking through some windspeed data for the Ocean Reef weather station going back to 2000. Some observations.
First the average windspeed by month for each hour of the day.
Shows that December just pips January as the windiest month, then November followed by February. October is better than March. Best time of the day is 5pm just ahead of 4pm and 6pm, with the wind window being 3pm to 7pm. I suspect you already knew that.
If we flip the data around and plot the % of days where the average wind speed exceeds 18 knots we see a simialar picture.
In January and December almost every second day is a plus 18 knot day. The average of the season more than a third so ~ 2-3 18 knot days per week. Once again March being the worst month of the season.
So how does the 20/21 season stack up?
Well it would appear as if the 2019 (19/20) and 2020 (20/21) seasons were not that great, ranking 16th and 17 th over the last twenty years. Dec and January weren't that bad, but the rug got pulled in February. March isn't finished yet so perhaps a bit early to judge.
Jan 2005 looks like it was a cracker of a month! Does anybody remember it?
Hopefully, we will see a spike next year! I like the fact that there appear to be a general trend upwards!
Happy sailing.
I keep a record of what gear I use what days I sail every year. This was the worst season ever! I sailed 50% less than 2018/2019 season and 25% less than 2019/2020 season. My sails still look almost brand new.
Its not as windy as when i started back in 2010, but i still had a fun season.
now foil season begins, and the fun keeps coming...
I spoke to Ray a week ago and he said as he has hardly been able to sail due to the lack of wind this year and he only weighs just over 70 kilos.
Lots of days sailing this year but you needed decent sized gear. Last month or so has been poor with so many easterlies.