VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Hey,

Last weekend to ski at Baker is April 27 - 29. I havta file some tax returns by April 30th, but then am thinking of actually getting back into this windsurfing sport (haven't sailed since August 2011).

Just wondering.....

I assume the campsite at Nitinat survived the winter? No major damage from winter storms?

Anyone else interested in a quick trip to Nitinat, weather dependent between May 1 and say May 7 or May 14 - 21? Likely will need the 7.0 and big board. Always nicer to have at least one other person sailing (even a kiter is OK). If so, post here if you are going.

Anyone heading to Nitinat for the May long weekend?

Keith

KC7777 wrote: Always nicer to have at least one other person sailing (even a kiter is OK).

good thing you're not discriminating

Don't think there is much doubt someone will be up there and the damage just makes for interesting changes. Hoping for HR myself August, eh, that's kinda like "quitting" the sport for a year, isn't it?

You may want to checkout Port Renfrew as well in the early season.
The road is paved all the way from Cowichan to Renfrew now if you are coming from Nanaimo.

There will be a few kiters up there every weekend until Nitnaht really starts to pick up.

you'd be better off lining up a partner from the mainland, the islanders are a fickle bunch and will bail on you at the hint of rain. I'd love to come join you for a sail ..as long as the forecast is not sketchy

ps what r u selling this year!

Have to agree with OtLaunch about Port Renfrew... Since the last 3-4 years we have been doing Renfrew quite frequently (Patchedath First Nation Campground, nice sandy beach) and compared the conditions to Nitinaht Lake.

What we found out so far:

April: Renfrew will be windy more often, stronger and longer than the Nat (not hard to beat obviously, not windy often to)

May: First half : Better than the Nat
Second half : Equal, sometimes lighter, sometimes higher than the Nat, but you still get longer wind hours (starting time usually 1200-1300 but wind dies quite later for some reasons 19h00-20h00-21h00).

June: Nitinaht is usually stronger (60%-90% of the time), but there are still some good days to have at Renfrew and longer hours.

Ned do you remember last year at Tall Tree Music Fest, how many hours of kiteboarding you got in 3 days? (This was third week of June) 10m? 8m?

July - August - September: Nitinaht all the way (although there might be some better days once in a while but prefer Nitinaht chances of wind by far).


The comparaison is done by reading people log session and/or talking to friends we know that went to nitinaht while we went to Renfrew or vice versa.

I'm interested to know how many of those days at Renfrew were accompanied by some swell?

Are we talking Nat like windspeeds of say 20 knots or is it lighter than that?

Nice sounding - please let us know what you look for to predict Renfrew happening? Thks from a pole-skipper dude and wanne-be kiter dudess fiance!

There's often some swell at the river mouth at the North end but there's a wind shadow where the wave is.

On the South end sometimes the tide, swell, and wind line up to get some nice waves on the sand bar. This rarely happens though.

There was one day in June, 2010, where a few of us were there and it was 30knots+ and had beautiful waves.

In the bay you can expect bigger chop \ rollers than Nitnaht.

regarding how we predict Renfrew?

As the weather gets warmer I find that looking at the Weather Network's forecast for Lake Cowichan & Port Renfrew and looking at the temperature differential works.
I also look at the wind model for Gordon's, Jordan River, and Long Beach.

I usually want to go to Renfrew anyway and use the above to convince myself that it is a good idea to go.

OtLunch wrote:regarding how we predict Renfrew?

I usually want to go to Renfrew anyway and use the above to convince myself that it is a good idea to go.

This could be the mantra for almost any of us wind-addicted folk - thanks!!

Teabag wrote: Ned do you remember last year at Tall Tree Music Fest, how many hours of kiteboarding you got in 3 days? (This was third week of June) 10m? 8m?

Looked it up, 6 hours over 3 days. Friday was 8m, Saturday 10/12m, Sunday was 12m quite light.

Also looked up that day from 2010 OtLunch mentioned... that was a good Sunday.

OtLunch wrote:There's often some swell at the river mouth at the North end but there's a wind shadow where the wave is.

Is it SUPable?....for a beginner wave SUPer?

we bring the SUPs every weekend...most mornings there's no wind and you can catch some small-ish swell. If there's no swell then we go for a paddle up the river or up the coast.

My apologies in advance for the lenght of this msg (some more details on Renfrew).

To answer Nanmoo question about wind strenght and clarify some point about April and May

Wind strenght:

Wind strenght I posted below are same as IV wind history/ handheld windometer. Not the wind you take after a Cook st session reading Ogden Point wind history. (basically add 3 kts if you are use to Ogden Point history for the wind strenght you windsurf/kiteboard on)

I noticed that Cook St readings is somehow 3 kts lighter. I.E I can start kiting with the 15m at IV on 13kts and the Door, in order to do the same at Cook st the reading has to be 16kts. At 12kts (IV) and 15 kts (Cook st) respectively I will have to work the kite in order to hardly get upwind.

Same on the high end, I can push the 15m at Ogden point up to 28-29 kts gust 31 kts, but will never do that at IV.... 25-26 kts would be my max on a 15m at IV based on the handheld windometer reading and/or the old station which used to be bang on or very similar to the handheld windometer)

So please, add 3 kts to the followiung numbers if you are use to Ogden point reading history after your sessions:

Renfrew Patcheedaht First Nation Campground (April-May-June):

30%: 14-18 kts (15m for me with door)
40%: 16-21 kts (15m with door/smaller board or 12m with Door)
20%: 19-24 kts (12m with door and/or smaller board)
7%: We get skunk (but if we do get skunk in April and/or Begining of May Nitinaht as well got skunk)
3%: 25+ kts (this is the day that made us want to go back there again and again, we all wanted to re live that day...) *** Also, this number would be higher if during these weekends we/I didnt stay local as oppose to do the treck to renfrew, but we/I love sticking to rule #1)

(for kite size you are going to use please substact a couple of meters since I love to ride over power, been riding on 15m when others are on 8m/10m)

In June if you go to Renfrew there might be times where after the weekend you told yourself " I wish I had been to Nitinaht instead". And in July / August it will be very rare that Renfrew is better than the Nat... When it's better than Nitinaht it is because Cook st, Gordo, Jordan river and/or Long beach are going on, so why going to Renfrew when closer or better places are going on as well?

Never tested Renfrew after September long, maybe we should/will do this year (we looked at Neah Bay/Tattosh reading after random stormy weekends and all wonder with envy " How good, or maybe bad, Renfrew was during these westerly...").

Also, the more people try out this place and share information, the better understanding we will have on the place...
For a while I thought that Neah Bay and Tattosh Island were directly relate to Patcheedaht wind... You just add 6-13 kts to Neah Bay and Tattosh Island to know what wind was in Patcheedaht... But then hit a weekend where Tattosh/Neah reading history where 4-5 kts stronger than the previous one but the previous weekend was stronger in Renfrew. And yes, it was a sunny weekend to... (Renfrew has thermal as well, less than Nat though)

Its worth to try if you have never been, it is very beautiful. I would love to canoe/SUP the river, everytime I drive by I want to canoe it/SUP it. Nice place if you have kids to, you can spend a couple of hours and swim at Lizard Lake. There is free wood to be taken near by near on old logging site, legal no need permit, follow the signs north end. (chainsaw and pick up truck would help)

As for May long... South end is more party oriented people... North end still party but more "moderate", older crowd, kids, family etc...

We like the south end ourselves (May long) since we met nice people every times (the occasional "redneck" douchebag once in a while but generaly it is not that bad)

As for Ned with only 6 hours of kiteboarding in 3 days???!!! Are you sure?

This is what I have from my log on that date:

"Kited only about 40 minutes. Need to heal the tendonitis and biofeedback from acupuncturist. Ned kiteboarded for a total of 12 hours at Renfrew Patcheedaht... Would have been a little more if it wasnt for the music festival. Had to de power the 15 from 20% to 80% at time. Very smooth and slow change of wind strenght which is good. Should have been with the 12m.
18-24 kts." (IV Windometer)

I remember I was somehow mad because I couldnt kiteboard due to the tendonitis... And the wind was super late and I was itching for you guys to come back ashore so we can go to the music festival...

Anyhow, the more Kiteboarders/Windsurfers/SUPers try this place out and share data, the better it will become to predict it. There is wifi access in town and showers on the north end of Patcheedaht. Great place to camp.

Ian I am once again blown away by your amazing contribution to the forum.

Can you elaborate though on what exactly is a Red Neck Douche Bag (RNDB)?

Thank-you.

Kevin