Kiting Into Squalls

[ricki]

Squall Story # IV - Miami



Earlier in the day a squall also moved westward towards Matheson Hammock on Biscayne Bay opposite Key Biscayne. All the riders except one had landed in advance of the squalls arrival except for one kiter. This rider was out with a 16 m flat kite and waited until what appeared to be a solid wall of water was almost upon him. He booked into shore overpowered from the squall gust and was able to have his kite caught be another rider and secured. Guys land and take off of the northern central area of the parking lot. The wind this time boosted to about 35 kts. No one was hurt in this instance fortunately, but easily could have been and have been here in the past.


This is a wind record for the area, although not on August 8. It shows a fairly common squall wind graph with all the gusts, lulls and violent direction changes. Take this graph and expand some of the gusts up to 50 to 60 mph + and you will have some squalls that are not that uncommon here.

Expose yourself to an unquantifiable hazard because of ... (?) or land and secure before the squall hits and head back out after it passes. Choices.