Wind
Wind is a variable that can make conditions change from an easy trip on flat water to a challenging experience in rough seas. This variability helps to make kayaking a dynamic sport -- things are always a little different, never boring. As padlers, there isn't much we can do about the wind, but there are many things we can do to make paddling with it easier.
It is very important to know how strong and from what direction the winds will be coming. The longer the fetch (the distance the wind travels over the water), the larger the waves will be. For example, if a strong west wind were to blow across Haverstraw Bay, the waves on the west shore would be fairly small, but they would be quite large near the eastern shore. Listen to a weather radio for the wind forecast. If the winds are very strong, it might be wise to change the planned route to make the trip easier and safer.
Beaufort Wind Scale
The Beaufort Wind Scale is used by many paddlers world wide. It is recognized and used by the British Canoe Union. It describes a range of wind speeds instead of a single number, and it correlates these ranges with water conditions (which is what makes it so useful for sailors and paddlers). It's important to remember that the Beaufort Scale refers to open water. Conditions would be different for places with limited fetch.
|
Force |
Knots |
Wind State |
Sea Conditions |
|
0 |
1 or Less |
Calm |
Like a mirror |
|
1 |
1-3 |
Light Air |
Ripples like scales |
|
2 |
4-6 |
Light Breeze |
Small wavelets, glassy crests, not breaking |
|
3 |
7-10 |
Gentle Breeze |
Large wavelets, crests beginning to break, glassy foam |
|
4 |
11-16 |
Moderate Breeze |
Small waves, becoming longer, fairly frequent white horses |
|
5 |
17-21 |
Fresh Breeze |
Moderate waves, more pronounced long form, many white horses, possibly some spray |
|
6 |
22-27 |
Strong Breeze |
Large waves begin to form, white crests more extensive everywhere. Possibly some spray |
|
7 |
28-33 |
Near Gale |
Sea heaps up with white foam from breaking waves |
|
8 |
34-40 |
Gale |
Moderately high waves of greater length, much foam |
|
9 |
41-47 |
Strong Gale |
High waves, crests of waves start to topple and roll over, dense streaks of foam along the direction of wind |
|
10 |
48-55 |
Storm |
Very high waves, overhanging crests, resulting foam is blown in dense white patches with the wind, sea surface takes on a whiter look. |
|
11 |
56-65 |
Severe Storm |
Exceptionally high waves; sea covered with long white patches of foam blown in direction of wind. All wave crests are blown into froth. |
|
12 |
66+ |
Hurricane |
Air is filled with spray and foam, sea is completely white with driving spray. Visibility is seriously affected. |