Wind Strength Meter For Windsurfing
Playing in the wind is what windsurfing is all about. When you first learn basic wind direction skills to windsurf it is important to keep practicing in relatively the same low wind conditions. You will need to understand the wind speed parameters in which you can safely sail. Unless you are a seasoned sailor it is very difficult to understand wind velocity simply by feel or visual markers.
As your skills progress further in windsurfing it is also vital to know the specific wind conditions before you rig your sail. Knowing the exact velocity will greatly assist your decision on what sail to use and what adjustment you should make in your rigging to assure that you have a great day out on the water. This is why a wind indicator device is so helpful to windsurf for a beginner, as well as, more advanced windsurfers.
Basic Wind Indicators
You should cancel your windsurf outing if the wind direction is steadily blowing from offshore (from the beach straight out to sea). It is disappointing to call it a day before you even get your board wet but even expert windsurfers must think twice before going out in those conditions. On calmer days it is simply a matter of locating the exact wind direction to windsurf.
Look around to find a flag moving, a tree's branches fluttering, or any shrubs rustling nearby. Any of these focal points will give you a wind indicator to windsurf. Of course, you can simply wet your finger and then point it into the air at different angles if that work for you. A much better option to get accurate wind speed and direction is to purchase a hand held and waterproof wind speed meter.
Wind Speed Meter Overview
Having an accurate wind indicator will take all the guesswork out of your decision-making regarding ability level for the conditions or best sail rigging options. There are a variety of hand-held wind speed meters on the market but only a few models are suitable for windsurfing. Of these few models, you can get as low tech or high tech as you choose. Having a wind speed meter that is waterproof and can be carried with you is an important option to consider.
A good wind indicator can also tell you exact wind direction and maximum wind gust speed. The LCD read-out can be calibrated in miles, kilometers, or knots with the directional information showing in a compass 'true north' format.
You can wear the wind speed indicator around your neck and it will float if the easy grip unit gets away from you. As your sail inventory grows, you will need a good wind indicator to easily make the best windsurf sail decisions.
Some wind speed meters can also give current temps, wind chill factors, and predict the weather. This information can be helpful when conditions are somewhat uncertain. All of these meters can be calibrated for the international Beaufort scale. Having a good wind indicator is a good accessory to help you keep windsurfing safe and fun.
Great photo/slide show, wind indicator:
Resources:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=954129http://www.inspeed.com/anemometers/default.asp
http://cgi.ebay.comhttp://www.solentsailboards.co.uk/ProductView.aspx?ProductID=19915http://www.kitewindsurf.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=405http://www.intowind.com/http://www.whitecapwindsurfing.com/windsurflinks/windsurflinks.htmlhttp://www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?ID_A=119&article_type=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale
http://www.windguru.cz/int/
http://www.speedtech.com