Insane Kona Conditions Continue

January 31, 2007

The strong south Kona winds we've seen here all week continued again today. Though work kept me tied to the computer all day today, unable to get out and sail or watch any action, I've gotten a few reports over the coconut wireless.

Sounds like yesterday was an epic day at Hookipa Lanes. From what I heard form local sailor Jazz, who heard it from Kevin Pritchard, waves were over mast and half high, and buttery smooth and the wind was a lot mellower than Monday. In addition to KP, Robby Naish, Jason Polakow and a few others scored. Giampaolo has some photos posted on his Maui Surf Report blog. Check it out.

For most mere mortal windsurfers, Kihei has been the venue for sailing the last few days with strong winds and wind swell providing plentiful port tack jumping opportunities. Winds in Kihei the past few days have been averaging in the mid-30s and gusting near 50 at times.

Today the winds backed off slightly in Kihei but went ballistic again on the north shore. Another firsthand report from Jazz reported that it was mast and half again today at Lanes, but way windier than yesterday. Jason Polakow, Baptiste Gossein and Kevin Pritchard and not sure who else again providing the entertainment for the crowds on the bluff at Hookipa.

Looks like one more day tomorrow of Kona winds. A cold front is swinging down the island chain tonight and tomorrow, so winds should amp up in front of it and we can expect more rain tomorrow than we've seen the last few days. After that, things are forecast to calm down and switch back to a more normal, light northeast trade wind pattern.

Comments:

Ken writes:

Hey keep it up I just found this site the other day now that I have badwidth this stuff is great. All of us frozen wind starved folks up in the northwest need this to put a little stoke in for the up comeing season. After spending 10 + years on maui you forget how good the north shore looks on kona winds! Great surf here this past week cold and clean. Anyway off to surf again today.

Extreme Kona Lanes - Full Meal Deal

January 30, 2007

Extreme Kona Lanes

January 29, 2007

Archived Kona Lanes Video

January 28, 2007

Change in the weather

January 27, 2007

There's a significant change in the weather in store for Maui. Starting today our normal north east trade winds have been replaced by southwest winds, aka Kona winds. Our trade wind-producing high pressure that usually sits to our north is being shoved to our south by some strong low pressure systems in the north Pacific. If you look at a synoptic feature map of the north Pacific right now it's a mess of low pressure systems and advancing cold fronts.

So, what's all this mean for windsurfing? Well, we won't be seeing any trade winds for at least a week. Instead we'll be getting Kona winds, which, if you're a windsurfer means one of two things, depending how good you are. If you're one of a handful of really good sailors, with serious cajones and/or deep sponsor pockets, Kona winds, combined with the monster north swell we're expecting this week, means Kona Lanes. We're expecting some ginormous swell this coming week, in the range of 25 - 30 foot wave faces probably. That combined with potentially strong Kona winds means a few really good sailors may be out at Hookipa Lanes this week, if it's not pouring rain. Or, with this big of a swell, Jaws should go off. Will someone try to sail Jaws on a Kona winds? Absolutely nuts in my opinion, but I think there's a half dozen guys who are good enough and crazy enough to actually try that.

If you're a mere mortal windsurfer like the majority of us, Kona winds usually means heading over to Kihei for onshore or side onshore winds. I usually don't like Kihei much, but Kona winds there can actually be kind of fun. The big question mark in my mind is how rainy it's going to be. Sounds pretty likely we'll see sailable winds. But it may be soggy sailing. Or it may be raining in normally dry Kihei and sunny at Hookipa. One way or another, this next week should be interesting.

Comments

Tom wrote:

Thanks for keeping up your blog. It keeps me in touch with windsurfing in the winter. I would love to see some pics or video if lanes goes off if you have a chance to do any. Take Care Tom Bend, OR

Makani wrote:

Thanks for the comments Tom. I'm going to try to get some footage of it if it happens. Meanwhile, check back here a little later today. I'm digging up some Kona Lanes footage from December 2005 - mast high waves and howling winds - Robby Naish, Kevin Pritchard and a couple other guys.

Surprise Trades

January 26, 2007

With the light wind pattern we've been in for the past week, it was a pleasant surprise to all Maui windsurfers today to find moderate trades blowing on the north shore. Wind was in the 5.0 range for most guys on wave gear. Waves at both Hookipa and Kanaha were pretty small and mushy, but after a week of no sailing, every sailor I talked to on the beach was just stoked to get out on the water in the gorgeous sunshine.

Looks like wind will go light again tomorrow and then we're scheduled to get some southwest Kona winds that will correspond with some ginormous north swells due in next week. Could be some epic Kona Lanes early next week if it's not too rainy. If so, I'll be planning to perch on the bluff above Hookipa Lanes to get some video of the action. Stay tuned.

Light Winds Prevailing

January 23, 2007

Light winds are still prevailing here on Maui. I would call the last few days unsailable, with winds in the low teens or lower. Today the wind picked up slightly, though still not enough for me on the north shore. Kihei might have been sailable on 6.0 meter or bigger.

The overall weather pattern here is that we've got a series of cold fronts set to march down the Hawaiian island chain over the next few days. Tomorrow looks like the best shot at trade winds for awhile, but I think even that is questionable. Early next week there appears to be a possibility of Kona winds, but the weather guys and forecast models are pretty sketchy that far out.

January Trades Falter

January 20, 2007

It was a good run while it lasted, 15 out of the first 18 days of January we saw moderate to strong trades accompanied by surf about every one of those days. But, this is January, not the height of Maui's windsurfing season, and more typical weather started taking hold yesterday and is now firmly entrenched, bringing us light sea breezes less than 10 knots.

The forecast for the next week or so looks more like a typical January weather pattern than we've seen so far this month, with a cold front/shear line due to arrive some time Monday or Tuesday. Our winds should remain light until then, but then with the passage of the shear line, winds should turn fairly strong and northerly for a day or so. When that happens, the best conditions are usually in Kihei as it will be stronger and sunnier and warmer. After the northerlies, we should see a day or so of trades, followed by another shear line and all that that entails.

Hookipa Carnage

January 17, 2007

Hookipa Video - January 12

January 16, 2007

January Trades Continue

January 14, 2007

An incredible start to 2007 continues as we got our fourth day in a row of trades this month. Those of you who haven't spent a winter here may be a little confused why I'm so amped about the wind so far this year. Maui has a reputation for being a windy destination, but December through February (and sometimes March) the wind can disappear for weeks. The last few years here I've typically gotten something like 4 or 7 days of sailing in January. Well, I've already got 6 days of sailing in, I skipped 3 others that were plenty windy to sail and it looks like we've got another week of wind reserved.

Today it took it's time to build - it was hanging out in the mid-teens until early afternoon when the averages built to the low 20s. The wind was pretty gusty today. I rigged my 5.0, but by the time I was ready to go, the wind had jumped up to about 30 so I took my wife's 4.2 out for a spin for about 15 minutes. Then the wind decided to back off into the low 20s again. Ok, time for that 5.0. That was pretty good for the late afternoon sesh. Waves were a bit inconsistent and bumpy - not the greatest down the line sailing we've seen in the last few days but there were some fun sets and a few bomber logo-high sets occasionally even.

As I said, the forecast is calling for continued trades through the week - no rest for the weary.

The other day I stopped by Hookipa after my session at Kanaha to get some video action. Got some decent footage of mast-high + sailing at Hookipa featuring Levi Siver, Kevin Pritchard, Phil McGain, Robby Swift and others. So, look for a some new video action here within the next couple of days.

Smooth, Glassy Wave Goodness

January 12, 2007

Moderate trades returned to Kanaha yesterday with sweet, smooth glassy logo- to mast-high waves at Uppers and hardly anyone out to share them with. I caught a long lunch session from noon to 2:00, wound on my 5.3 (5. would have been perfect). Waves were clean and long, allowing for so many bottom turns my arms were screaming for mercy.

It seems odd to get such an awesome day in January. Winds are usually pretty flukey this time of year, but yesterday we were treated to summer-like wind and weather with winter swell. An epic combination.

Today is looking like it's got good potential for more of the same and in fact the next week is looking promising in both the wind and wave departments. Whether it's global warming or El Nino, or just a fluke, this winter is turning out to be awesome for Maui windsurfing.

Wind Streak Ends

January 9, 2007

Our long winter wind streak (10 or 11 consecutive days of wind!) ended here on Maui on Monday as a weak Kona low set up shop west of Kuaui, ushering in very light south winds < 10 mph yesterday. Along with the light winds, we had dreary gray skies and rain. All in all, yesterday was not what any windsurfer would consider a day in paradise.

Today was a slight improvement with sunnier conditions. Winds were supposed to remain light and south east today, but looking at the Kanaha graph it looks like there was a brief period this afternoon where the wind came up to the upper teens from the north east. I'm not sure if it was sailable or not, I didn't even bother to look at conditions until late afternoon.

Looks like a couple more days of unsettled conditions. I think there is an outside chance for sailable wind, but I think it's a slight one. Early next week is looking more promising for a return of trade winds.

Comments:

Norm Wrote:

Hey Jeff. Hookipa was firing today! Mast high waves super windy on the outside. Wind was way east but made the waves hold up and barrell. One of those wouldn't believe it unless you sailed it days. Lucky few included Bernd and myself, Kevin Pritchard, Levi Siver, Nori Hubbs, Tifanny Ward, Ann Marie R., Baptiste G. Kai Lenny. that's about it but I know I left a few out. Just goes to show that it may be flat one place and epic the next mile up! Aloha Norm

Wind Buffet

January 6, 2007

The wind on the north shore of Maui today offered up a smorgasboard, with winds ranging from a light salad (hold the dressing), no croutons, on the inside (and at times in the break as well) to full-on pasta carbonarra with extra cream and a side order of big fat meatballs outside the break. Sometimes you needed that extra poundage to keep from getting blown off the waer. It didn't really matter what you rigged today, it was going to be too light at times and definitely too big at times. In addition to the gustiness it was hella-offshore - about as offshore as you can get at Kanaha and still get out. It was standard procedure today to see people plopping into the water 100 meters or more from the beach due to no wind.

The waves were a different story. The direction was a bit strange at times, but there were some absolute beautiful, clean, smooth gems. Mind you they were a little difficult to ride at times thanks to the gusts from hell, but they were sweet, in and of themselves.

I didn't hear very many rave reviews of todays windsurfing buffet. Not very many people were going back for seconds. Keeping with the buffet analogy, it was kind of like a greasy spoon all-night truck stop buffet that you might find out in the middle of nowhere on the U.S. interstates. Stopping and eating at those places is usually a dicey proposition and today's windsurfing was no different. Nobody lingers for long at those truck stop buffets and it was amazing to watch today as so many people I know would belly up to the buffet line to partake, but most were back very quickly and by 3:00 the parking lot was starting to clear out.

Now, don't mistake all of the above for a negative whining session. Though all but one person I talked to today (Matthew from Boston who has a good time all the time) thought the conditions pretty much sucked, all were still pretty positive about the fact that "Hey. We're here on Maui. It's January. It's sunny. It's relatively warm (upper 70s) and we're windsurfing without wetsuits." So, the criticism is all relative. For Maui it was less than ideal. But, that's kind of to be expected in January, and everyone was grateful to be here on Maui enjoying a sunny, warm day of windsurfing.

There are some definite changes in our weather coming up. Winds look like they'll probably turn light and out of the south, probably making for a few days of non-sailing. But, the forecasters are being incredibly wishy-washy about the forecast, so who knows.

4 for 4!

January 4, 2007

Four sailable days in a row to mark the beginning of the new year. That said, timing has been the key to getting in a decent session the last few days. Each of the last three days has been characterized by pretty consistent wind at some point in the day. If you're at the beach from the starting bell, chances are you were able to sail. But, if you're like me, sitting in my upcountry perch, working, but keeping an eye on the wind graphs, the web cams, and the radar, it's been a bit frustrating.

I went down yesterday when it looked like it had settled into the 5.3 range only to arrive to winds in the low teens. Today started out pretty windy, and the trend was supposed to be for building winds. But, the unstable atmosphere just made the wind go all upsy-downsy. So, I skipped it again. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little more consistent.

2 for 2!

January 2, 2007

2007 is running 100% sailable so far and looks like it will keep that percentage running through the first week of the new year. Yesterday was supposed to be on the light side, but 5.0 was the call again, though I opted for the big board since the wind was so offshore and the holes were huge, so it was really nice to have the extra float. Waves were on the small to medium sized but pretty jumbled and disorganized.

Today was a bit grayer and the north shore saw some showers pass through, making the wind a bit more up and down. My body was asking for a day off and with a few days or work backlog I decided to pass on the sailing today.

Forecast is calling for some nuking winds the next couple of days. That combined with a high surf warning for waves in the 25 - 30 foot range could make sailing a bit extreme the next few days. Although the swell has a lot of west in it so it may not be quite that big at Kanaha, which is a bit shadowed from that direction. But the wrap around should still make it big.

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2007

What a fantastic end to 2006! As I mentioned in a previous post, December 2006 turned out to be an incredible month of windsurfing, with at least 18 days of sailable conditions. That kind of wind consistency rivals Maui's more consistent summer conditions except this time of year we have waves to play in. I know it will pain some of the locals who are off island pursuing winter sports, but this has got to be one of the best Decembers of Maui windsurfing ever.

Yesterday we finished out the year with strong winds - in the 4.5 - 5.0 range for most guys and the ladies were rigging down to 4.0s by the end of the day. Winds were bit offshore so it was a bit of slog to get to the wind, but when you did you were rewarded with strong wind and some leftover north swell still rolling in - mostly in the head-high range.

Rating the 2006 sailing year, with the exception of a sub-par October I'd have to rank this as a pretty good year for sailing. I actually sailed significantly less this year than the last few, due to missing almost all of June from injury and getting so few days in October. My tally for 2006 is 131 days of windsurfing. My wife logged 161. Norm mentioned to me at the beach yesterday that he had easily logged over 200 days this year!

Just reading the forecast this morning, it looks like we'll have a good start to 2007. The discussion is calling for light winds today, but I think we'll see sailable conditions. And, winds are supposed to build Wednesday and Thursday into the "breezy" category.