Kalmus meter VS West Dennis meter

force5 · Joined: 17 Apr 2008 Posts: 28

At 6:28 PM Tues 8/18/09 - there was a WIDE divergence in the readings from these 2 sites which seem to be very close to each other.
Kalmus at 6:26 Pm was ave 26 while West Dennis was only 15.

Is this real?
Is there really THAT much difference between the actual conditions at those geographically close sites?

Looking for some local knowledge here!

Thanks for your help!

Tom Question

scooper · Joined: 28 May 1987 Posts: 537 Location: Massachusettes

I'm not a local but I've sailed both spots plenty of times over the last 20 plus years. I'd say it's true.

Kalmus has some special land conditions that sometimes boost it's wind. I even left West Dennis and drove to Kalmus once based on IWindsurf readings. A friend was at Kalmus sailing and he confirmed that it had been windy when W Dennis had not.

Any others want to chime in?

sailingjoe · Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Posts: 1087

Nie on six bells, matie. Generally in a SW Kalmus does see more wind than the rest of the south coast. However, this isn't due to a >>Venturi Effect<< as it's commonly explained. Dramatic differences like the one that was at the root of this thread are rare, though. They can occur in comparisons of many beaches on the sound side, too. The wind can vary dramatically this time of the year at any location. It's not commonly in synch over the full extent of the Cape. It's the same way with Tornado formation in Worcester county, highly unpredictable and the bursts are short in duration.

WaterKook · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:32 am Post subject:

It's the Cape Cod potato chip factory.
When they are in full swing and all the fry-ilators are fired up it causes a huge thermal up-draft drawing the cooler water off the sound. Bottom line the more chips we eat the windier it wll be at Kalmus!!
Down side: the more chips we eat the more wind we will need to get on a plane! Laughing

pueno · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 2807

liquidsurf-miami · Joined: 20 Jun 1999 Posts: 12

I would argue that either spot can be windier than the other on any given day....I have been at Kalmus all afternoon where the wind is strong to the left and weak to the right with no logical explanation, but there it was....the wind is hard to rationalize sometimes!

iceratz@comcast.net · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 346

I have lived and sailed this area for more than 20 yrs.. both windsurfing, Hobie Cat sailing and big sailboats.
I have sailed every corner of the Cape region, from Buzzards Bay to P-Town.
Not that any of this matters, but its my observation that despite what the wind meters of the Hot Line state, there are indeed stronger wind directions than other beaches as a direct result of land features and tides (humm, anyone forget that factor?)

Rolling Eyes

Anyways, Kalmus, and in particular, Lewis Bay gets stronger winds in SW & WSW, than most other locations. Out going tide is best, against the wind.

In a strong S wind, West Dennis will hold its own as close 2nd, maybe even out-do Kalmus by a bit.
Most of that reason is due to land shape.
YES, Kalmus does indeed have a type of venturi effect , despite what other folks are posting here.
Great Island land mass to the east of Kalmus helps to deflect the SW winds right down the main channel. Unless of course its strong incoming tide, where it gets a bit screwed up.

Buzzards Bay is one HUGE venturi effect for SW winds, and gets the waves as well. Tides will make an incredible difference here, best is again outgoing, against the wind.

Any sailor worth their salt will attest to the value of using the "headlands" for use in picking up stronger winds, and also knowing just beyond these headlands that wind can fall off sharply.

Take a few trips on your windsurfer from Craigville Beach to Kalmus, then around Great island to West Dennis and back again to get the real feel of the region!

Shocked

but then again, maybe Jerry's theory is right! LOL!
I like the new flavs best!

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

iceratz@comcast.net · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 346

wavedawg · Joined: 30 Apr 2001 Posts: 130

Although both are lumpy and bumpy, Kalmus & WD are probably the 2 most reliable sites on the Cape for SSW - WSW sailing. However, on any given day there can be significant differences in wind strength between the 2 locations, based on the tides, sun, moon, stars and VARIOUS UNKNOWN FACTORS. Kalmus tends to get the big late blast more often than WD, but sometimes its the other way round. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON. I live close to WD, almost as close to Kalmus, and sail both locations, as well as others. If I'm waiting for summer thermals to kick, I will often wait til I see which beach is getting better conditions, and go there. Also, parking is free after 4pm