How to read the Kite Safari Wind Forecast like a pro
With over a hundred kite safaris under my belt, I feel like I can sense wind changes intuitively when I’m on board. But of course, I also have an ace up my sleeve – I always check the forecast and use my experience to interpret it. Here, I’ll explain how.
STEP 1
Check here to reach my official forecast wind page. This is where I go every day to check the wind conditions around the islands of the Red Sea. You’ll notice two different forecasts — one for Tawila and one for El Gouna — and you’ll see a significant difference between them. As promised, the wind out on the islands of the Red Sea is stronger than what you’ll find in El Gouna or Hurghada. This is my starting point. I don’t focus too much on the exact forecasted hours, but rather on the overall trend: is the wind dropping during the day, staying constant, or increasing?
STEP 2
Where are we? The farther north we go, the windier it usually gets — it’s that simple. The forecast above is based on Tawila, but most of the time we kite even farther north. I always need to keep in mind where I am with the yacht – that’s key.
STEP 3
What happened yesterday? I base my forecast for the current day on what happened the day before. If the forecast was similar yesterday, I tend to assume we’ll have the same wind today, regardless of what the current forecast says. I’m not sure if that’s clear.
If today’s forecast is different, but we had a good, windy day yesterday, I tend to interpret the new forecast with a bit more optimism — and vice versa.
STEP 4
What will happen tomorrow (according to the forecast)? If tomorrow’s wind looks strong, I tend to feel more optimistic about today – even if today’s forecast doesn’t look great.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
Early mornings (before 8am) are always a bit hard to predict. Morning sessions can be tricky. If there’s no wind at 6am, it could still pick up later, even if the forecast doesn’t show it.
Forget about thermal effects. Trust the forecast.
If in doubt, ask me if I’m on board 😉
