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Old 06-20-2009, 08:50 AM
Whitey Whitey is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 263
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In fact a good sea breeze will almost always produce white caps, factors such as depth of water and current considered. White caps will start on the water in breezes that you can not even ride in, 7- 10 kts. But don't take my word for it, check out the oldest system for determining wind speeds with out any tools or meters (over 200 years in use).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

At beaufort 3 white caps are seen on the water and we usually need beaufort 4 before we can enjoy our sport.

Keep in mind the location of the Clearwater sensor is out on the pier. It is located about 3/4 of the way out, in between two roofed structures. One to the east of it and one to the west of it. These both have hip roofs on them. The proxcimity to these roofs can result in a disturbed flow to the sensor on east and west winds and a venturi effect on north and south winds. Hense the numbers you get on east and west are usually less than actual and the numbers you see on north and south winds are usually greater than acutal. Keeping this in mind the Clearwater sensor is very helpful in our area, right now it is our best sensor untill they get Howard Park up and running again. The Howard park sensor was the best indicator of a sea breeze that I have found.

Clifford C. Clavin, Jr.
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