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Harvey

Joined: 02/07/2007
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 104

Forum Administrator



Posted: 17/07/2010 10:49:25

 We get asked a lot out when conditions will be best in Brighton and Hove to windsurf on the sea so here is a quick guide

Wind Direction

 

North Wind - Nice and flat but very gusty perfect for intermediates and beginners on the sea if its under F4. We offer safety cover up to force 4. When it is windy, above force 4 from the North it is not good for sailing on the sea. Try the Lagoon or you will need to travel.


East Wind - Intermediates eat your heart out! - super flat and clean wind, great for advanced freestyle but unfortunately rare but really fun conditions in the summer. Other times of year it can be cold.

 

North East Wind - Add North and East wind descriptions together and there you have it - the more east in the wind the better. the more North the worse for sea sailing. Can be good sailing for intermediate and advanced on the sea

 

South and South East Wind - Onshore can be okay but gets increasingly harder as it gets windier watch out for the Groynes and the extra shorebreak! Always take a bigger sail than you think it always seems a lot windier than it is. AVOID HIGH TIDE.

 

Southwest Wind - The prevailing wind direction most of the year and also the best for advanced windsurfing, if its been windy for a while there is great jumping waves and its usually good for some back side wave riding. Intermediates should always head out at low tide as the waves get bigger and bigger as it comes in!

 

West Wind - Excellent conditions for all abilities. Can be big waves after a storm. Good jumping and wave riding. Best for advanced at mid tide on way in, Intermediates at low tide.

 

North West - Usually the wind takes to much North and is too off shore to be very good for sea sailing , but can be epic wave sailing if you catch it at the right time after a storm. Be careful as wind is likely to drop or go further of shore.


Harvey

Joined: 02/07/2007
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 104

Forum Administrator



Posted: 17/07/2010 11:05:36

 What about the tides ?

In Light winds the tide does not have a massive effect on launching. You can lunch in most tide states up to about a force 4. You do have to watch in very light winds as a strong current can take you along the beach. 

As it gets winder or closer to the passing of a storm it gets much harder to launch at high tide. For intermediates we recommend 2 hours either side of low tide for the best conditions.

For advanced sailors the waves are best up to 2 hours before high tide and the waves are better with the tide coming in.

However everyday is different and check the conditions yourself , speak to us and we can advise. DON'T let the shore break beat you. It can wear you down but you have to keep on trying...it is worth it. Photo below - I did not get out first go , I took a right pasting, had pebbles in all sorts of places.

Harvey - High tide Hove West wind, force 6, July 2008

Mark - 5 mins later - all worth it


Harvey

Joined: 02/07/2007
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 104

Forum Administrator



Posted: 17/07/2010 11:12:28

 Weather forecasts

All this info is also on our members area with the current weather reports and our facebook updates.

Shorehambeachweather.co.uk

This is a really useful live weather station over at Shoreham, anything averaging over 15 knots on this means it will be planing weather on the sea.

 

Chimet.co.uk

Another Live weather station it is up on the bar at Hayling Island and because its further West it can often be a sign of potential wind sweeping across the country. 

 

Boards.co.uk

Check out the forum looking ahead thread, loads of super keen windsurfers write weather forecast updates on their all the time - they usually get it right and most of them windsurf in Hove

 

Free texts via Twitter - Get updates via SMS by texting follow hovelagoon to 86444

Get free text messages from us by signing up to follow us on titter by text. We won't bombard you with rubbish and you can cancel at any time. Very simple to do.

Get updates via SMS by texting follow hovelagoon to 86444

 

www.lagoon.co.uk/members-area.aspx

Our members page which is also linked to our face book page check it out for live updates from us!

 

www.tiger24.com/index.php/cameras/hove

A birds eye view of the sea from the top of the building - super useful!

 

www.xcweather.co.uk

Super simple to use and my personal favourite usually pretty accurate

 

www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=47915

Specialised windsurf/kitesuf site with thousands of spots all over the world! scroll down for more accurate hour by hour info!

 

www.magicseaweed.com

More surfy but usually super accurate for the swell so good for spotting the big stunt days! 


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