West winds in South Florida

[FTLKiter]

Where does everyone go when the wind has a westerly component?

Hobie beach off of Rickenbaker? Marco Island? Islamorada?

[FTLKiter]

Where does everyone go when the wind has a westerly component?

Hobie beach off of Rickenbaker? Marco Island? Islamorada?

[ricki]

Where does everyone go when the wind has a westerly component?


Hobie beach off of Rickenbaker? Marco Island? Islamorada?

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223630.jpg

Hobie Beach can be good for SW to W winds. It is also a fairly hazardous launch based upon the history of accidents there. When there are good winds out of the SW to W, generally they are related to the onset of cold fronts. As cold fronts move in, sometimes so do storms with excessively gusty winds. Also, the wind that comes into Hobie Beach comes off the land a couple of miles away so it too can be gusty due to land effects.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223595.jpg

So, regarding Hobie Beach it is best to do assisted launches and landings as far away from the "beach'" as possible into the shallows. Once you are out, STAY OUT, beyond the shallows. ALL the riders that were lofted and injured had kites up and were either standing or riding in the shallows. Learn from things or be doomed to repeat them.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223679.jpg

The beach is about 5 to 10 ft. wide and is backstopped by timber pilings and parked cars. A woman rider hit the posts a couple of years ago and was badly injured after being lofted in SW winds. Two other guys were lofted into cars at two other times at this launch. USE DISTANCE here and KNOW the weather, particularly here. It would be a shame to have more readily avoidable injuries at this launch.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223650.jpg



I will try to get back on soon and will add more info about other west wind spots along the east coast. I imagine that quite a few guys are going nuts right now in the sheltered flats inside Marco Island on the SW coast in these westerly winds. If you have time, the west coast is the best place to go for westerly winds.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76226191.jpg
Marco Island.

I have yet to make it over to Marco when the strong west winds are on. So, how about those that have filling in some info.

[ricki]

Where does everyone go when the wind has a westerly component?


Hobie beach off of Rickenbaker? Marco Island? Islamorada?

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223630.jpg

Hobie Beach can be good for SW to W winds. It is also a fairly hazardous launch based upon the history of accidents there. When there are good winds out of the SW to W, generally they are related to the onset of cold fronts. As cold fronts move in, sometimes so do storms with excessively gusty winds. Also, the wind that comes into Hobie Beach comes off the land a couple of miles away so it too can be gusty due to land effects.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223595.jpg

So, regarding Hobie Beach it is best to do assisted launches and landings as far away from the "beach'" as possible into the shallows. Once you are out, STAY OUT, beyond the shallows. ALL the riders that were lofted and injured had kites up and were either standing or riding in the shallows. Learn from things or be doomed to repeat them.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223679.jpg

The beach is about 5 to 10 ft. wide and is backstopped by timber pilings and parked cars. A woman rider hit the posts a couple of years ago and was badly injured after being lofted in SW winds. Two other guys were lofted into cars at two other times at this launch. USE DISTANCE here and KNOW the weather, particularly here. It would be a shame to have more readily avoidable injuries at this launch.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76223650.jpg



I will try to get back on soon and will add more info about other west wind spots along the east coast. I imagine that quite a few guys are going nuts right now in the sheltered flats inside Marco Island on the SW coast in these westerly winds. If you have time, the west coast is the best place to go for westerly winds.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL807/2939186/5938403/76226191.jpg
Marco Island.

I have yet to make it over to Marco when the strong west winds are on. So, how about those that have filling in some info.