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Go/No-Go - based no Wind Report

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SaltySinus

VIC

960 posts

SaltySinus

VIC, 960 posts

30 Aug 2012 5:53pm

Hello, I appreciate this is a bit of a newbie question, but I'm, errr, new.

I'm in Melbourne and often look at the below weather report to workout whether there's going to be enough wind to make it worth loading the car up and driving to the beach.

www.seabreeze.com.au/maps/vic.asp

What would you say is the minimum windspeed (in the appropriate direction) to be kiteboarding friendly? For example, it's predicted 20knotts. If it's 18-20 on the day, will that be enough to kiteboard on?

FYI I've a 12metre kite

Thanks for your help!

WeirdEd

VIC

268 posts

WeirdEd

VIC, 268 posts

31 Aug 2012 10:34am

Hi.
Well, the min. wind speed to have fun depends on your kite size, board size, weight, skill and the consistency of the wind. In winter the wind is generally gustier and you might find yourself underpowered in lulls and overpowered in gusts.
To come back to your question:
18-20 kts on a 12m should be perfect unless you have a tiny board, your weight is 150kg and you lack experience. :-)
In winter check the forecast extra carefully and watch out for storm fronts, the wind speed can change dramatically within seconds when the gust hits and the wind direction changes when the front passes. Your 20kts onshore can change to 35 kts offshore in no time!
Summer seabreezes are a lot friendlier and consistent.
Have fun and be safe!

SaltySinus

VIC

960 posts

SaltySinus

VIC, 960 posts

31 Aug 2012 12:17pm

WeirdEd,

I'm in indebted to your advice. It's thanks to the generosity of people like yourself that make an otherwise intimidating sport like Kite-surfing accessible to new members.

Oh and for the record, I have neither a small board or do I weight in excess of 150KG!

Be good.

suniboy21

VIC

1090 posts

suniboy21

VIC, 1090 posts

31 Aug 2012 3:14pm

Never surf alone.
Dont put up a kite that is more or less then 2-3m in size different then what people other people are flying(within reason)
Say you head down to St kilda and you see guys out on 10's and there bar is all the way out and they are struggling to hold an edge. Your not going to think hey my 12 looks about the same size, why dont I just put that up.
Flying a 12m kite in strong winds is not fun, but saying that if your not a skinny little string bean you should be able to hold an edge up to about 25kn
But be carefull as winter winds have a bad habit of gusting out of know where!
I spent many hours just sitting at the beach observing the wind, gathering information on weather patterns.
Observe
Be safe
Enjoy!

laurie

NSW

3902 posts

laurie

NSW, 3902 posts

31 Aug 2012 3:31pm

Definitely echo what they say ^^

If you have time, checkout some of the articles here:

www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/

There's an article about kitesurfing in winter weather (cold front) as well...

www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/Winter-Weather-Warning-for-new-Kitesurfers_2879690.aspx

Play safe in winter. Summer seabreezes are best time to learn, as winter winds are fickle! (Spring tomorrow - woo hoo!)

acitta

VIC

152 posts

acitta

VIC, 152 posts

31 Aug 2012 3:40pm

I also find that BOM marine helps give a better picture of what the wind is doing especially on the day. Seabreeze is good for a general 7 week snapshot, but if the day's meant to be good I always check BOM before loading the car and heading off.

www.bom.gov.au/marine/wind.shtml

suniboy21

VIC

1090 posts

suniboy21

VIC, 1090 posts

31 Aug 2012 4:46pm

Blah, my cars been loaded since the day i took up the sport!

acitta

VIC

152 posts

acitta

VIC, 152 posts

31 Aug 2012 4:52pm

suniboy21 said...

Blah, my cars been loaded since the day i took up the sport!

haha yeah i did that for a while, but you only leave a wet salty wetsuit in your car once

suniboy21

VIC

1090 posts

suniboy21

VIC, 1090 posts

31 Aug 2012 5:02pm

Got a ute, i left a wettie in the back for 2 months and it was still wet!

WeirdEd

VIC

268 posts

WeirdEd

VIC, 268 posts

31 Aug 2012 5:16pm

And? Did you discover new species in your wetsuit after the two months?

suniboy21

VIC

1090 posts

suniboy21

VIC, 1090 posts

31 Aug 2012 5:29pm

Nah just cold for that first 10 mins!

Peterc150

VIC

710 posts

Peterc150

VIC, 710 posts

31 Aug 2012 7:17pm

There is some more information about kiting locations in Victoria here: kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/kitesurfing-locations/australia/victoria

And another article about kiting storm fronts here: kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/weather/kitesurfing-storms

And a warning of what can go wrong here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-19420764
(Experienced UK kitesurfer impacted seawall after caught in gust).

deanrobi

VIC

641 posts

deanrobi

VIC, 641 posts

31 Aug 2012 9:54pm

SaltySinus said...

Hello, I appreciate this is a bit of a newbie question, but I'm, errr, new.

I'm in Melbourne and often look at the below weather report to workout whether there's going to be enough wind to make it worth loading the car up and driving to the beach.

www.seabreeze.com.au/maps/vic.asp

IMO both both seabreeze and the BOM predict wind by listing the expected maximum for that period, i.e if the forecast is 15-20 by the afternoon then you could expect that at some time it will reach that level but it may just be the a gust rather than a consistent steady wind. If you have a 12 mtr then I would suggest that you wait for the forecast of 15 - 20 before venturing down the coast.

North & SW winds in winter can be stronger at the bottom of the bay, as with summer the sea breeze can be 5 knts stronger up the top end of the bay. Northl'y in, summer sometimes fail to arrive at the bottom of the bay. At the end of the day the forecast is one thing but its still the luck of the draw

adrenal

VIC

134 posts

adrenal

VIC, 134 posts

3 Sep 2012 2:47pm

deanrobi said...

IMO both both seabreeze and the BOM predict wind by listing the expected maximum for that period, i.e if the forecast is 15-20 by the afternoon then you could expect that at some time it will reach that level but it may just be the a gust rather than a consistent steady wind. If you have a 12 mtr then I would suggest that you wait for the forecast of 15 - 20 before venturing down the coast.

Dean, sorry but this is missleading, the BOM wind predictions are 'average' wind speed over time (think it's over 10 mins but could stand corrected), ie roughly half the time the wind speed will be below the average therefore can result in the perception that you described.

Conversely, roughly half the time the wind speed is above that predicted which is why the BOM clearly states that wind speeds can be 40% higher than the predicted average. They included this message after the 1998 Sydney to Hobart loss of life since people were not clear about the definition.

deanrobi

VIC

641 posts

deanrobi

VIC, 641 posts

3 Sep 2012 8:27pm

Agree Adrenal, my comments were more directed to the general forecast i:e tomorrow I could expect 15 -25 knots thru out the day with increasing winds in the period leading up to and including evening.

The real time readings you are referring too are the ones taken at 10 minute intervals.

I guess what i was trying to say is, if the forecast is 10 - 15 don't travel all the way down there expecting it to be 15 knots.

I will be happy if I get 20 knots tomorrow

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laurie

acitta

suniboy21

acitta

suniboy21

WeirdEd

suniboy21

Peterc150

deanrobi

adrenal

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