Haakgat Friday 24th October 2014 - did wind go 30 knots plus ?

Wind and waves came together to create a playground on Friday 24th October. Was taking photos of kiters surfing the break at Haakgat. A few parties of kiters passed through going on "downwinders" from some of the more southerly spots and most likely heading for Melkbos a few kilometres north.

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One guy on a downwinder came into view and as he worked his way closer to Haakgat he really got my attention. He was super relaxed and owning the waves on the way in to the shore and going out. Here are some pics.

Boosting over a wave

Super relaxed - dragging his hand through the ocean

Chilling on a wave

Moving fast down a face and keeping the kite low to keep it powered

Flying a delta shaped kite - a Wainman Bunny. With a skilled rider the kite seemed super suited to the conditions.

The wind was strong and was 30 knots ( approx 35 mph ) plus ?  The gusts were way over 30 knots but the average ....

Depends which site you believe. See reports from Blowfeed and Sharkwind at similar times. The reports are for Kitebeach which is a few kilometres south. Do they work the average on different periods perhaps ?

26.8 knots gusting to 34.5 knots

33.4 knots ( 38 mph ) Gusts 48 knots ( 55 mph )

The high winds were creating quite dense spray

Occasionally a rider was in the wrong place for a few moments.

 

Big Bay - 19.10.2014

The wind came up during the night and was solid from early in the morning. The charts showed a wind reaching 20 knots by late afternoon. The only difference in reality was the telltale cloud did not shroud table mountain and soon enough the pattern of the prediction changed. By 11:30 the wind reached 20 knots and then slowed to about 15 - 16 during the afternoon. The absence of cloud foretold that the wind would not accelarate in the afternoon as is normally the pattern.  However it was a really respectable and fun day that was bestowed on the kiters of Cape Town. I spent some time at Big Bay and here are some pics.

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Kitesurfer vs windsurfer  .........???

Cruising with a North Vegas 2015 kite with the rocks between Big Bay and Kamers in the background.

This guy riding a Core kite was in his late forties, early fifties and was ripping nicely

Boosting

Young grom, about 10 years old, unhooked and doing a forward roll. The standards in the sport are getting higher and it is easy to understand why when you see kids with kites already practicing the moves.

He lands it lightly and smoothly.

Not a good way to end a session. The North van in the background next for a ticket. The parking spaces on the beach at Big Bay are few. I almost parked here and then thought what if ........  

Cape Town West Coast Spots comfortably hit 25 knots - 16.10.2014

The wind was just over 25 knots, which on a good day has become easily achievable, and it was good to have it confirmed. Blowfeed is back up and running thanks to Best Kite Shop now hosting it. A colourful graph and a webcam has also been added to it- nice guys. Blowfeed. The blowfeed live feed, which is based at Blouberg, has been off for approximately 12 months and many kiters have been using Milnerton Aquatics Club's web site for free live wind speeds. However many have thought their speeds were conservative and today when blowfeed was showing 25 knots average, Milnerton Aquatics club was showing about 5 knots less. To be fair though it is about a kilometer or more from the beach. Milnerton.
The free live feed coming from Sharkwind, though it really looks impressive and offers a myriad of different locations, sometimes poses a question or two, about direction or strength, though often gives a respectable reading. Sharkwind.

It is good to know that the south easter is starting to pick up energy - bodes well for the kiting ahead.

 
I passed Haakgat at around 18:00 hours and the sun was heading low and the chop and reflectance on the water made it look like liquid graphite.

  

The waves were not impressive but from time to time a reasonable set would appear and be ripped by a kiter.