I have to agree with mk7 on one thing:

The most valuable thing I find with the wind meter is the average windspeed rather than the peaks

As to all the arguments on Wind Speed vs height etc - if you look at the BOM site - the height of the station is listed.

As a point of reference at Wello on the last big westerly I was reading consistent gusts coming through at 28-29 knots (backing off to 15 knots in the lulls). I measured a couple of gusts at 35-36 knots. Oh and it got stronger after I went out.

For reference.

I'm 86 kg

13-22 knots 7.0 103 litre board.
15-25 knots 6.0 103 or 90 litre board
20 knots plus 6.0 or 5.6 with 90 litre or 68 litre board.
25 - 34 knots 80 or 68 litre board with 5.6.
30+ Consider the 4.7
43+ go home - just no fun in choppy water.

I have considerable overlap with my kit. Fins also make a huge difference, area, depth, material all contribute to how early you can plane.

I usually check out what others are on if possible. Otherwise checking the water state is best for me. HOWEVER - whitecaps are not to be trusted for this - obvioulsy shallower water, tide opposing the wind etc will make it look windier if you rely on whitecaps to judge the wind. I think look at the little ripples between the waves/chop - they are unaffected by most factors except the wind so after a while you get used to using them as a gauge.

I usually take 5knots off the BOM/seabreeze readings just to be on the safe side and not get myself too excited about how its blowing 30knots. Best bet - wait for green arrows!!! :)

For ref - I fluctuate between around 100-105kg:

12-18knots - 6.1m/108ltr Freestyle board
18-22knots - 5.8/5.4m + FS board /91ltr wave
22-30 5.0m on either board depending on sailing spot and what type of sailing i am preferring at the time (i.e freestyling is much easier/fun on small sail/FS board so will often take that combo if its not in the waves)
30+: 4.7/ 90ltr wave board.

I personally dont like using big sails due to my sailing style, and find that in anything over 13knots i can pump up the 6.1m and it will stay up on the plane quite well.

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mkseven said...

Same deal- the reflection on the water is eliminated therefore you can see surface detail better and whitecaps stand out more. Close up yer you can see through the water and further away reef's/sandbanks stand out more also.

Cant say I really remember what it was like without polarised sunnies but I did catch on pretty quick that it always looks windier than what it is when I went to polarised, and it is still an issue on those marginal days with a choppy high tide.

agree, with polarizing glasses the whitecaps stand out more and make it appear windier than if you don't have them.

i got caught big time first time i wore them. turned up at the beach. cool looks like 20 knots. so i rigged a 5.8m

headed back to the car took off the sunnies and turned around and thought the wind had died. thought it was sus cause it seemed just as windy on my face.

put the sunnies back on and all of a sudden all of the white caps were back.

reality was it was a 6.4m day.

if i wore my polarising sunnies everytime i went to the beach i would get used to reading the conditions with them on.

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bubs said...

I have one of those wind meter things but never use it.... surplus to requirements really!

You just learn what to rig and how to judge the conditions... very much learn your local spots also, how much white cap there should be for good wind, how much trees usually move etc.

Never needed it, think i used it once just for curiosity.

Bubs

have to agree with bubs on this. i usually go down to the beach and know what gear to rig up. But down here on an eastly it is normally blowing less than you think it is just because its so steady, thats when the wind meter comes in handy