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Kanaha Winter Windsurfable Days 1973-2020

 
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fxop



Joined: 13 Jun 1998
Posts: 202

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2022 12:32 pm    Post subject: Kanaha Winter Windsurfable Days 1973-2020 Reply with quote

Since this question comes up occasionally, here is an estimate based on NOAA data back to 1973, where a "windsurfable day" is a day with 3 consecutive hours of 20+ wind at Kahului Airport during 11am to 5pm. This plot is a byproduct of an effort to understand if Hawaiian trade winds are declining over time, as some have suggested. FYI do not see a major decline in trade winds.

fxop



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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2022 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks pretty accurate.
I spent more time on Oahu, and would say peak winds are lighter, but more "sailable" days per month over the winter.
Of course, driving and local knowledge comes into play.
Sailed plenty of days with 5.7 and 90 liter board when Kailua, Kahala, Diamond Head, and the whole S shore peaked at less than 10 mph.
Coaching Lion, when the whole Island was socked in rain, was one of our best 3 hour sessions...in late Jan.
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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2022 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Crouching Lion, on the NNE shore.
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flaherty



Joined: 01 May 1997
Posts: 437

PostPosted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fxop, could you also make a graph of the summer trade winds. From May to Oct. I've been going to Maui for the last 20 years, missing the last 3. I usually go in July for 2 weeks. From my limited observations, the Trades have decreased in strength, not necessarily in the number of days. With other people concurring with me. It just may be the " good old days" symptom !
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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 3:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I probably spent 7 years of at least 1 month each on Oahu, which is generally about 5-15 moh lighter than Maui. Ok, maybe 10 years.
For windsurfing, which needs 17+ mph breezes for me at 148 lbs then, I'm get about 3 days a week on Oahu
Nowadays, with a foil, maybe closer to 4-5 days a week in the winter months. Wind minimums have dropped to around 13 mph gusts with a foil.
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colossus



Joined: 27 Apr 2000
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

direction is important.
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carl



Joined: 25 Feb 1997
Posts: 2674
Location: SF bay area

PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kihei actually can have more sailing days in winter than Kanaha.
The above graph is accurate for trades at Kanaha but is very mis-leading.
There are a lot of Kona days in winter, which are great at Kihei. Also even on Northerly days it can be better at Kihei, when it can be rainy at Kanaha.
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