Gusty and gale force winds can make kitesurfing dangerous

It seems obvious doesn't it?  A forecast of gusty and gale force winds indicates you should very carefully consider whether to kitesurfing or not.

Check out this wind graph for Wednesday 25th November.  The forecast was for gale force winds. Some kitesurfers were at Brighton when one of the massive gusts came in, one with a large kite up close to shore.  They were very lucky to avoid a serious injury.  The maximum gust was 54 knots!

On Monday 30 November you might have been tempted to go out with a small kite around 4 p.m. but look at the 40 knot gust the ripped through after 7 p.m!

Today it was gusty again but manageable with a small kite (e.g. 7 metres)

Be careful, check forecasts carefully, and if in doubt don't go out!

This article has more advice on this topic: Kitesurfing storm fronts (Kitesurfing Handbook)

In search of wind today but it came too late

Not really a session! Stu, Tarren, Amelia and I headed down to Rosebud early after checking out the forecast which indicated a reasonable northerly.

A large group of swans departed as we arrived. There was a little wind so I setup the Ocean Rodeo Flite 14.5 with some assistance from Stu and Tarren.

The kite was flying well and I just got going on the Nugget, but about 100m out the wind dropped.  I kept the kite flying as I  headed into shore but eventually dropped it and walked back.  A bit disappointed but it was nice to get wet.

We then setup the Lithium Zero and while I could fly it, less than 5 knots was not enough to go anywhere.

We waited for a while and watched some storms roll across Melbourne and the Baywinds observations before deciding to have lunch at the really good Tasting Station.

We headed back to Melbourne, stopping at Gnotuk Avenue (no wind) then on to Brighton, where there was also no wind, but quite a few keel boats getting along further out, some with spinnakers up.

Its not often that we miss out entirely on a session in Melbourne, but this time we did.

Then during the evening the forecast gale force winds did arrive - gusting above 55n knots!

We will hopefully do better tomorrow.

Storms over Melbourne in late December - a rest day

December weather in Melbourne can be fickle.  We had a nice sunny day at Sandringham Beach yesterday (Sunday 28/10) with less than 10 knots of wind.  Today, storms came from the West, lashing Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay with wind gusting up to 45 knots.

I was happy to have a rest day as my left elbow/arm is sore from all the recent kiting.  Its tennis elbow again (overuse). Cesar recommended a couple of hand stretches - wrist up and wrist down - to assist recovery, along with icing and some anti inflammatories.  This has reduced the symptoms.

With variable wind like today its best to avoid kitesurfing.  We stopped at Williamstown beach and watched first the gusting wind then a thunderstorm come through.

Storm at Williamstown Beach

We stopped at The Zu Boardsports on the way home and had a nice coffee at the West Beach Bathers Pavilion.  There were about a dozen kiters out in the 20-25 knots, the wind having abated somewhat.

The wind chart at Fawkner Beacon showed the story - huge variability in the wind.  So be extremely careful if you are considering kitesurfing in a Westerly or North Westerly.  Its best to wait for more stable conditions.

Winter winds and epic storms have arrived, be careful kitesurfing

We have had some epic storms in Melbourne during the last 2 weeks of June, including winds of over 50 knots.  Such winds whip up huge waves in Port Phillip Bay, as you can see from the photo at Mornington Pier below.

Mornington pier in 50 knot winds

Brighton car park in 50 knot winds.

Check out the wind graphs for Tuesday 24 June, the same day the above photos were taken:

If you are experienced, it is possible to get some kitesurfing in before or after big storm fronts, but over 40 knots (even with a small kite) can be very dangerous.

For information and tips on staying safe see:  Kitesurfing storm fronts (Kitesurfing Handbook)

Afternoon cool change rips through gusting up to 45 knots

The wind forecast on Predictwind looked ominous for Saturday, and they were right.  Hot northerlies in the morning were blown away by a massive cold front that ripped in during the afternoon.

The wind speed changed from around 15 knots to 40 knots, with gusts reaching 45 knots.

This was a good day to not be kitesurfing!

Wild weather and strong winds but no kitesurfing

I took my kitesurfing gear into work on Thursday 28 September hoping to get a session in after work.

However, several storm fronts whipped through, including some hail and massive gusts.  There were huge and sudden wind variations.  In the end I decided that on this occasion "discretion was the better part of valour" so I did not go out.

Kitesurfer dies in accident in W.A.

Some very sad news via Seabreeze.  Marc Sprod ("Coldshot"), a well known and experienced kitesurfer died after an accident at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia.

Condolences to his family, friends and fellow kitesurfers.

Details of the accident have not been confirmed, but it appears that after a lull strong frontal winds lofted the kiter onto land.  First aid was provided.  The death has been referred to the Coroner for investigation.

Great care must be taken when kitesurfing during storms and/or in frontal winds.

You can donate to Marc's family using the information provided [here]

Marc Sprod. Source: ABC News

Links

• Very serious accident phone box cott - Kitesurfing - Seabreeze Forums
• Coldshot Donations - Kitesurfing - Seabreeze Forums
• Kite-surfer dies in freak accident at WA's Cottesloe Beach - ABC News 
• Kitesurfer killed in freak accident - The West Australian 
• Kitesurfer killed in freak WA accident - Ninemsn news
• Kitesurfer killed in windy weather (video) 
• Kitesurfing storm fronts - Kitesurfing Handbook

Kitesurfing Hurricane Sandy

The world now knows all about the fury of Hurricane Sandy and the damage it caused.  However, some bold kitesurfers took advantage of the (very strong) wind!

Note that the location for this video was Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts so the wind would not have been at full strength.

Also note that kitesurfing in any storm front can be very dangerous!

Storm fronts and huge gusts so no kiting, and an accident at Rosebud

A strong and gusty northerly blew most of the day in Melbourne.  The wind speed at Fawkner Beacon was often around 30 knots, gusting up toe 45 knots.

When the forecast westerly came in at 3:00pm there was a massive gust over 50 knots.  A kitesurfer (at Rosebud beach in Port Phillip Bay) got caught in this and was lofted onto land, breaking both ankles and possibly suffering some spinal damage too [link].

This accident highlights the dangers of kitesurfing during storms with fronts coming.  I have provided more information about this here: Kitesurfing storm fronts (Kitesurfing Handbook).

We were watching the wind, but the BOM weather radar showed major fronts with heavy rain coming through so we decided not to go kiting.

You can see the huge gust that came in with the westerly wind change on the South Channel beacon wind plot.  It peaked at 55 knots, which would have been very difficult to handle with even a 7m (or smaller) kite.

Altona in a dramatic storm with some lightning!

Session 127, 18 February 2011

Kite: Noise 12
Wind: 19 knots, SE
Location:  Altona
Time: 5:00 to 6:00 (1h)

Board: Naish Haize twintip

I got a familiar rush of blood as I drove along the Altona foreshore and saw about 30 kites out.  Some good wind, hooray!  

I rigged up quick and was on the water at about 5pm, no sign of Stuart or Tarren.

I headed south west through the small surf, then cut back into the flat-water lagoon section.  It was nice carving the flat water, but a bit nerve wracking watching out for shallow sections.  The board was snagging sea grass, and I was never quite sure where I would bottom out.  With flat light in the late afternoon it was hard to see where the really shallow parts were.

About ten other kiters were cruising in this section.  I followed some up to the creek inlet, then hit a sandbar and took a tumble, but no damage was done.

I decided to head back out into the surf section, which took a bit of doing, then did a 4km tour up to the Cheetham Salt Works.  There is nothing along this section of shoreline, it feels like wilderness.

Plot of kitesurfing session at Altona Beach

Along the way I did a few jumps and attempted some jump transitions without success.  They are harder to do than they appear.

When I eventually turned, I saw an ominous dark storm cloud just north of the CBD, so I headed straight back.  Along the way the bar was well sheeted so I unhooked (for the first time intentionally).  I was able to keep going, but there was a lot of pull on my arms and it was hard to keep the board edged.  I crashed the kite while attempted to re-hook but got it flying again.

I was doing some tacks closer to the shore working my way upwind back to the car when the storm loomed large. I saw some lighting bolts and heavy rain just north of the shoreline, so I headed for shore and landed the kite.  As I did, a very heavy downpour dumped. I could hardly see the kite from 25m away.  Several kiters were still out there somewhere.  I hoped that no lightning would strike them. Luckily, it didn't.

The storm cleared and I walked back along the beach to the car, meeting Stuart and Tarren along the way.  They had arrived just after me. 

The storm was dramatic, but the risk of lighting strike was high.

The water seemed quite clean too, which was a relief after the pollution warnings of the previous week. We were all glad to get out after a two week spell with very little wind.