Heavy light winds

[SupaEZ]

Contradiction in itself

Who else gets those with their LW kites (16m and up) ?

Has happened few times this December in Florida

Wind from the SSE....side side-on....ocean water 70 F...air temp 80 F

You launch kite and realize (happily) that the power in the kite is far greater than what the wind is

Palm trees and sea oats barely moving in what looks like 6 knots

However on beach and on the water the kite has the heavy pull of a 12 knots wind

This happened just yesterday to us

My wife and i rode our medium size surfboards with 17 & 19 kites trimmed almost half-way

We were both ripping upwind at full speed and riding 3-4 ft waves in seemingly very little wind

Heavy light winds are quite a treat

Cheers to all during the Holiday Season

[plummet]

The wind isn't heavy. There just more wind where your kite is. But yes very cool sessions.

You can get some interesting wind particularly with seabrease and cloud formation. I was riding the other day. Powered on my 10m. I tacked out to sea to go upwind to the point. Noticed all the kites downed on the beach. The seabrease close to shore had turned off due to a cloud going past. But 200-300m out was still rocking 20+knots. I tacked up the point and enjoyed 30 mins of kiting while the others had to watch. bizaar and interesting.

Had another session last night when the flag at the beach was offshore but 200m away at the waters edge it was a solid 20 knots.

[Okinawa Kiter]

Happens all the time at one of our beaches. Onshore wind but has a big cliff about 1/2 a kilometre behind the beach. Beach has no wind but get out 200m and blowing 15 knots. We have to walk out in low tide or go to another part to get out. also once out there are patches 15+ knots then 8 knots, so we concentrate on the area that has the wind. WInd gauges are pretty useless here, you have to know your area.
I'm getting so to the point now where I know exactly what kite I will need by looking at how the sugarcane is moving in the field behind me.

[chemosavi]

My experience with heavy light winds usually occurs after too many coors lights and a meatless meal.

I generally prefer a brown, massive wind and steak and potatoes and a good stout if I have a choice.

[SupaEZ]

The wind isn't heavy. There just more wind where your kite is. But yes very cool sessions.

Heavy wind refers to heavy pull on the front lines from the light wind the body feels

Factor of 2 for wind speed...and 4 for power in kite

As the rider on the beach or water you feel only 6 kn but the kite pulls heavy at 12kn

Today again we had same conditions as yesterday

This time it looked and felt only 8-9 kn all around us... but the power in the kite was 16-18 kn

My wife used a 12 and i used a 17 and we both had to trim and depower our kites half way

The wind was packing a punch...very dense and powerful wind...in kite at beach and on the water

Unusual warm winter Southerly SSE side side-on wind....
...... gets cooled down by the ocean creating this effect

[downunder]

Is that thermaling effect by some dark ocean floor combined with a white sandy one?

How awesome jumps would that be:)

[Toby]

Had this once...water flat, trees moving.
Unforetable session, since the wind was about 20 knots or more above and I had a 20 sqm kite...flying! And landed my first board pass
After 20 min the storm arrived...be it was forecasted and we saw the front coming, so we all landed safely.

[Kamikuza]

Autumn and spring on the lake here are like that... get a few more knots out of the wind than actually being reported... not a lot though.

[14ToeSide]

Ahhhhh. Hence the Explanation for the OLD 2-4 without swimming to Chest deep water!!

[L0KI]

Awwwwk.....Polly wants a cracker....Polly wants a cracker...2 to 4...2 to 4....aaawwwwk

chest deep...chest deep...aaawwwk...Polly wants a cracker...2 to 4...2 to 4...chest deep...chest deep

helloooooo...helloooo...Polly wants a cracker...Polly wants a cracker... awwwwk...

who's a nice bird... who's a nice bird...pretty bird... Polly wants a cracker...pretty bird...

2 to 4... 2 to 4... 2 to 4...2 to 4...chest deep water... chest deep... 2 to 4......aawwk

aawwwk...aawwwwk.....Polly wants a cracker!