The first big Kona Lanes conditions of 2009 hit Maui today bringing port-tack wave sailing in gusty offshore winds. Here’s the first video. This really quickly edited video features Francisco Goya, Kevin Pritchard, Jason Polakow and Robby Swift.
http://www.aikimaui.com/videos/20090115KonaLanes-1.flv
I got on the scene at Hookipa around 11:30 to find the roadside and bluff above Hookipa crowded with parked cars and spectators and about 5 – 10 sailors and three kiters already out on the water. It was pretty evident from the start that this wasn’t the biggest or most epic Kona Lanes day. To be sure, some of the sets were mast and a half high, but these big sets weren’t as frequent as some days we’ve seen here in the past. Some good action nonetheless and there’s lots more action that I’ll post in subsequent videos here.
Down the coast at Kanaha, I hear that Lowers was sailable, though it was super light inside and required swimming out to the wind line according to Jazz. But some good big sets there too. Over on the south side, Kihei was pretty windy with onshore winds.
As for the forecast, looks like continued Kona winds tomorrow, but they should get stronger ahead of the cold front that’s moving down the Hawaiian island chain. The swell should also get a bit of a reinforcing boost from what I can tell, so tomorrow has the potential to be a bigger, gnarlier day than today.
Saturday looks like a transition day as winds swing around from the northwest, then north, then more normal northeast winds by Sunday. After that it looks like winds will drop off for a day or two before notching up a bit midweek, just in time for another large north swell.
Lots of action going on here on Maui. It’s going to be a busy week trying to get in some sailing of my own in addition to getting more photos and video at Hookipa.
