ricki
02-14-2012, 10:06 PM
Winds were supposed to be gusting to around 35 kts. but the front backed off quite a bit when it moved through. The wind was forecast to be north, which if this was true would make it side off for much of SE Florida and not rideable. Sometimes the wind bends parallel to shore but not always as happened this time. This images were shot with a GoPro HD2.
The gusts and lulls caused by land wind shadow or mechanical turbulence can be inconvenient to deadly. A number of kiteboarders have been killed during such conditions in various parts of the world. More about this common wind conditions with some discussion of things to look out for at http://fksa.org/showthread.php?p=38932#post38932
https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432154_10150536022038199_633803198_9018606_1921146 312_n.jpg
Some nice swells were running, not double head high as predicted but around head high or so. They were fairly easy to make through fortunately as well. You can't always say that.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/166949_10150536022143199_633803198_9018608_4670021 7_n.jpg
I rigged a 9 m Drifter expecting the wind to boost substantially away from shore and land wind shadow effects. It ended up varying a fair amount.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420250_10150536022223199_633803198_9018609_3744834 79_n.jpg
There was a nice turnout of kiters.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429703_10150536022343199_633803198_9018610_9482823 54_n.jpg
The launching area
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426099_10150536022448199_633803198_9018611_4479065 4_n.jpg
Brian and Craig came up for a downwinder from Hobe Sound
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/418316_10150536022503199_633803198_9018612_1765885 99_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/395672_10150536022543199_633803198_9018614_4581999 5_n.jpg
Kiter up
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420959_10150536022678199_633803198_9018615_3249774 02_n.jpg
It was a nice quick session. So, if it looks like it is going to be close to side offshore, it would be good to make a Plan B to travel to an area where it is side to side onshore.
The gusts and lulls caused by land wind shadow or mechanical turbulence can be inconvenient to deadly. A number of kiteboarders have been killed during such conditions in various parts of the world. More about this common wind conditions with some discussion of things to look out for at http://fksa.org/showthread.php?p=38932#post38932
https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432154_10150536022038199_633803198_9018606_1921146 312_n.jpg
Some nice swells were running, not double head high as predicted but around head high or so. They were fairly easy to make through fortunately as well. You can't always say that.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/166949_10150536022143199_633803198_9018608_4670021 7_n.jpg
I rigged a 9 m Drifter expecting the wind to boost substantially away from shore and land wind shadow effects. It ended up varying a fair amount.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420250_10150536022223199_633803198_9018609_3744834 79_n.jpg
There was a nice turnout of kiters.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429703_10150536022343199_633803198_9018610_9482823 54_n.jpg
The launching area
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426099_10150536022448199_633803198_9018611_4479065 4_n.jpg
Brian and Craig came up for a downwinder from Hobe Sound
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/418316_10150536022503199_633803198_9018612_1765885 99_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/395672_10150536022543199_633803198_9018614_4581999 5_n.jpg
Kiter up
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420959_10150536022678199_633803198_9018615_3249774 02_n.jpg
It was a nice quick session. So, if it looks like it is going to be close to side offshore, it would be good to make a Plan B to travel to an area where it is side to side onshore.