The craziness is underway in Cape Town

[Hugh2]

Well today was truly crazy! I spent the morning at Kirstenbosch with family and the early afternoon at City Rock climbing gym with my daughter. So I was ready to roll around 4:30. The meter at Kite Beach showed only 25-30, although I will admit is seemed windier at my flat in Milnerton. Anyway, to avoid traffic I launched at Milnerton lighthouse on Woodbridge Island on 7m, and immediately realized I should have been on my 5.5m, but it is always a sketchy gusty launch there so I kept going hoping it would ease off. Instead it started nukin! By the time I got to Sunset I realized things were not going to get better, and considered bailing, but was shamed by the only two guys out, a disabled guy strapped onto a short "surfboard" on a 5m Fone ripping up the waves, and his buddy on a strapped surfboard with 4m Cabrinha, both orange and red kites. They at least chose the right size kites. So I persevered, but the gusts were literally lofting me and I could not hold an edge, so simply survived down to Dolphin beach. Along the way a crazy on a 9m was doing massive megaloops and being filmed, presumably a KOTA dude, and a few more at Dolphin. Finally I bailed at Kite Beach, along with most normal folk, who were being sand-blasted on the beach. All the way up Bloubergstrand were KOTA and wannabes doing massive jumps and megaloops on 7 and 8m kites, credit to all of them. Just in case you find it hard to believe it was gusting above 40, here is also the meter from the Milnerton Aquatic Club on Rietvlei.

[SolarSet]

This wind sounds about right for a 7/8m kite of a ~80kg rider. How much do you weight? Maybe your board in too big?

[FLandOBX]

When the quality of the wind is that variable (18-40, 19-44, 20-43), it's just too gusty to be fun. It sounds like a wild ride.

[Lanc]

I went out today between 5PM and 6PM on a 4m and strapless surfboard. Downwinder from Dolphin to Kreefte. I was a bit underpowered from Dolphin to Doodle then I got to Big Bay and the wind came through nicely and did the 4m justice. Waves were surprisingly clean for that much wind. Today was the last day of any decent swell, it is going to be flat in Table Bay for the new 5 days Heading around Robben Island tomorrow at 15:30 and a downwinder from Silwerstroom to Saldanha on Saturday.

[Hugh2]

SolarSet, there is something extra intense about the wind here. I weight 85 kg, but yes I have a somewhat larger board, a 139X41 Airrush Master, but most everyone was driven off the water by the conditions from 5:30 onwards. You literally could not bear standing on the beach, and at least for me it was downright scary at times. Those who not only coped but were making huge jumps had to be beyond expert level.

FlandOBX, agreed, but as noted, a few handled it well, including Lanral Ruddick of the BKA shop. But he is an expert, including having won a local big air competition a couple years ago.

Lanc, you have an adventurous side indeed, far beyond what I do here. Silverstroom to Saldanha would be epic! Do you do that solo? But the forecasts I’m seeing ae not only calling for even windier conditions through the weekend, but also 3-4m swell???

[jj83]

Wind and swell from 6-8pm today down at Mystic were awesome for big air on 7/8m kite. Best since I've been here for last 2 months Let's hope for more of the same tomorrow Guys were boosting 30m+ again today.

[Hugh2]

Well jj83, if Windguru is anywhere near accurate you are in for some fun. I doubt I will join you!

[Matt_TYRCZ]

wow amazing !
two more weeks and we will be there , ill buy you beer for those great updates !

Looks like pretty deep SE , still good for Bloubergstrand or Witsand better ?

Well jj83, if Windguru is anywhere near accurate you are in for some fun. I doubt I will join you!

[Hugh2]

Matt, I don't think there will be any problems with direction at Bloubergstrand. It howled all night at my flat, the windows bowing in and out, and is still going this morning, but appears to have backed off as usual at Bloubergstrand. But it will howl this afternoon at Bloubergstrand! I'll not wait as long today to get out there again, but don't have the go to join my buddies who are attempting a pre-work session this morning.

[jj83]

I have been tracking at a few forecasting models the last couple of months and so far Windfinder Superforecast (5km resolution) has been the most accurate for those interested. It seems to take into account the local effects better than WRF 9km.