+ THE WINDY SEASON +

THE WINDY SEASON

Looking out the window at clouds rolling in pushing bands of rain it’s obvious Autumn has arrived.
Whilst the meteorlogical summer officially ended on August 31st, in recent years we’ve gotten used to a late 'Indian summer’ blasting a flurry of heat over the UK through September, holding off Autumn a few extra weeks.

But 2021 hasn’t exactly been one to follow the norm. Officially the calmest summer on record, Magic seaweed recorded just 1 significant day of swell and wind guru recorded low in days over 20 knots. So as many people who have spent time with us at the beach, on the phone or by email know - it’s been a shocker for kiting.

Here we’re excited for the change of season and the hope we’re served up a ‘traditional British Autumn’ - wet, windy and changeable, our favourite.

For us it’s the time of year we wait for, when the water is warm from summer and the storms start rolling in from the west bringing a stream of energy we can harness and ride.

It happens because the weather behaves differently after summer; for the last 6 months the increasing heat of the sun has driven the formation of large stable high pressure systems which take charge. Their wide stable footprint of light falling air brings clear skies and light easterly wind flow which lazily sits down as it makes landfall on the UK and mainland Europe following it’s journey from the Atlantic to the west.
Dumping its heat on land we enjoy the ‘heat waves’ they bring, but as kiters, suffer from their summer strength as low pressure systems - full of energy struggle to find a path through.

With the sun’s strength now easing through autumn and winter the tables are about to turn.
The Atlantic soaked up this energy through summer and now milder than the air above it starts giving it back. Enhancing the formation of strong energised low pressure systems which circulate clockwise and drive moist air inwards and upwards. These smaller, tighter, excited systems bounce off each other as they are pushed westward by the jetstream and Coriolis effect.

Charged with energy they bring westerly wind and we’re excited to see the signs they are about to get more consistent.

Known in the States and Caribbean as hurricane season as their systems circulate tighter and harder, they brace for impact and take the brunt of this change through ‘Fall’. For us we see it as a sign that the windy season is coming, the formation of significant low pressure systems has started and as they track back to the west we ready ourselves with small kit and plenty of Weetabix.

With Hurricane Olaf making landfall yesterday and a handful of low pressures spinning notabley across the Ocean we’re ready and excited for it to be on.

Read more about making a wind forecast here

We have no plans to close for winter, the water is mild until November so we’ll be open from early until late, have a fully stocked web shop and will soon be launching our Weekend Warriors campaign - a chance to get on the water with local riders, head out for downwinders and enjoy the best of the season alongside Chris who’ll be running things.