Some Of The Strongest Wind In Years?

ricki · #1 10-31-2007, 05:43 AM

TS Noel delivered some very strong sustained winds and substantial gusts yesterday. Some areas had this wind without much in the way of squalls which is an unusual event. It is possible that wind speeds might even go higher today at points but the level of storm activity is predicted to go higher. In parts of the Bahamas it will likely be out of control in squalls at points today.

It looks like the highest winds from this event are predicted to occur over the Bahamas and SE Florida at this time. The following is forecast for Miami and Ft. Lauderdale for today:

NORTHEAST WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 KNOTS.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/

High waves have been moving off mainland areas since yesterday. Waves are forecast to be close to 14 ft. off Miami to just over 16 ft. off Jupiter with slightly smaller surf to the north of that for now.

ttp://magicseaweed.com/

Realtime winds across the State and Grand Bahama: http://www.windonthewater.com/

Some squall activity shows up in the radar:

http://accuweather.com

These small squalls have boosted already strong winds 15 to 20 kts. when they pass over. Not a good prospect when you are already overpowered.

Kiting in these conditions, even with a small enough flat kite (5 to 7 m flat kite?), that might be working properly is still hazardous even for well experienced kiters with high wind time. Remember the very experienced kiter who was likely knocked unconscious and drowned off Seattle in a powerful cold front in very high winds on a 7 m kite. If things go right, with the right preflighted gear that's functioning properly, well enough. Accidentally induce a kiteloop, get rolled in a 12 ft. breaker looping your kite into a tangle, getting sushi rolled in lines and having your kite load up in a massive wave, having your leading edge pressure ease and the kite invert/tangle, figured out another way, carelessly catch a wing tip on the water in a lull followed by a gust hammering that inverts and disables your kite in the surf, etc. etc.. Lots of things can go wrong and the margin for error almost goes to nil.

Guys that have never been out in anything close to this and handled it well shouldn't even think about going out. Fair advice and ignore it at your peril as some are fond of saying.

Anyway, wind should be on through Friday with more realistic winds coming through around then by forecasts. The waves should come down too. We had some beach erosion problems before, after this they may be quite severe in places. Launching or landing at higher tides (wind OR lunar induced) with no beach or downwind buffer in major gusty winds is not a good idea.

Stuff to think about.

ricki · #2 11-01-2007, 09:24 AM

Looks like Noel will be influencing winds at least through Friday in Florida. Here are some shots from Delray early October 31, 2007.

Click the photo for a larger image

The photo is deceptive. The surf is running over 10 ft. on the outside.

Here is a short video clip. The winds had eased off by this point averaging around 28 kts. gusting to around 35 kts..

ricki · #3 11-01-2007, 08:43 PM

Wow, this bad boy is a hurricane now. Can't make out an eye. Also, it seems to keep wanting to shear into two hemispheres as in the last couple of days. Hopefully, it will continue to be vacuumed off into the North Atlantic and into the past.

I bet there were some memorable sessions that came out of this one. Lets hear about them. Photos and video clips would be even better!

I had three sessions over the last three days, each with widely varying conditions and results using 7 to 11 m kites. The last was tonight, with side offshore GUSTY wind with nice big swells. The wind kept ripping foam in a spray off the breaking waves backlit by the sunset. Surreal. There was lots of wind shadow at times particularly nearshore. I think I spent most of the time over 1/2 mile from shore just to try to stay in more sustained wind. Every once in a while strong gusts would rotor in, ideally a nice head high or better smooth swell lined up at the same time to ramp off of at attack speed. Someone say "takeoff" and up you go!

I was hoping to get out earlier from work but two linear squall lines barreled over Delray spiking wind from near 0 to 35 kts. in a yoyo like fashion. What size do you rig for that?

So, what did you experience as the TS moved by?

btw here's a video from Monday, October 29, off Jupiter. Nicely put together and just before the storm, literally! Boosting some nice jumps. Wonder how things were there the next three days?

tonykite · #4 11-02-2007, 08:03 AM

Got 3 sessions out of this TS in North Miami on 11M and 7M.

Tuesday was very strong! I saw the lifeguards rescuing a kiteboard about half mile down (hopefully no injury). I prefered call it off on wednesday as the wind was too gusty (40+ knts). Yesterday was nice sideshore wind and shoulder-high waves. The wind was too offshore this morning to make it.

BTW, I talked to a lifeguard on Sunday morning who told me about a kiteboarder in 85th ST who hit a swimmer the same morning (minor head injury) and run away!!! The lifeguards are very pissed off. Please keep it safe, stay away from swim area as we want to keep a good relationship with lifeguards and avoid being banned from Nobe.

Play safe!
Tanguy

ricki · #5 11-06-2007, 08:19 AM

Noel went north and along the way, dropped some wind and waves at OBX. Dimitri headed out on a 4 m and
someone grabbed some shots including:

More at:
http://www.slide.com/r/EksF5wWZ3j_gQ...45564447636037

ricki · #6 11-06-2007, 08:25 AM

This may have already gone up on the site. Wouldn't it be a big surprise if the kite wing tip got tangled in that erratic high gusty wind, disabled the depower and sent things firing off downwind at 50 kts. (about 85 Feet Per SECOND!) in a death spiral? No, it wouldn't be too surprising at all. If your kite does this during launch in high winds, don't.

Their sets sure are cleaner up that way. Take away the Bahamas and that is what happens. Still it's better with (actually in) the Bahamas!