As wind users, the development of our ongoing relationship with wind (our eternal free energy source) is important. Some of us are happy to check windguru every now and then to see whats happening with the wind, but there are others that turn the weather into an obsession.

“Weathercam” as he is known around these ways is somewhat a local Celebrity. With a weather service taking in way over a hundred thousand hits a month it seems he might be the person to help us with our understanding of wind especially the south coast of England.

WM: Why do you have a weather station?

WC: I originally set up a weather station when I was commuting up to the smoke every day from Worthing so whilst at work in London I could check on how windy it actually was rather than ringing up every half hour or so to check – this was in the very early days of the internet in the days of 14.4 modems – there were no other weather sites as such as this was very much a first in the UK, I later introduced the webcam image which was obviously then a static image, in fact I still say I coined the phrase “WeatherCam”….

Below: A typical Day for Weathercam, At least a 20 mile round trip, try that on a kite!

WM: Realistically how far can we look ahead to plan a day’s kitesurfing?

WC: Really does depend on how vigorous the Atlantic depressions are tracking across and how frequent they are. If we only have the occasional one, then as we all know sometimes they can track further North than was forecast / expected and be gone within 24hrs and in that case here on the South Coast we can loose out.

However we can get periods when the Lows are lining up in the Atlantic one after the other and they are further South with the centre of the low maybe over Cornwall with the bottom half tracking up through the Bay of Biscay, then we can be sure maybe 5 days in advance of what will happen. Anything beyond 5 days as well all know it not cast in stone!

WM: When is the windiest month on the south coast?

WC: I know most will think it must be the months of the Spring / Autumn Equinox but one reason I never go away in July is that its always seems to be windy every day, and the stats very much support this. Ok it might not be outrageously windy but it is constant

WM: Without looking at a forecast or outside, can you wake up and sense a seabreeze?

WC: I can’t sit up in bed and say “Hello I think we’re on for a sea breeze” but in the morning after walking the dogs up to the Café and back by the time I get back I can have a reasonable feeling without seeing a forecast.

Below: Weathercam out in a ‘big one’ F8+ Worthing.

WM: How far out does a seabreeze work?

WC: Mmmm not too sure about that, I’ve been a fair way out the back, say a couple of miles and there’s been no significant difference in wind strength, even as far as the buoy off Rustington which is around 4 miles.

WM: What time does a seabreeze hit its peak?

WC: I think it very much depends on what month we’re in. Middle of June sees the longest days & sea is colder, so it might be warmer at say 11:00 am than maybe in August/September. The wind does seem to peak between 15:30 – 16:30 and again in June it seems to last longer in the day whereas in Aug / Sept that’s when we see the 19:00 drop.

WM: Did you know Seebreeze is an anogram of See Zebra but is this meteoritic phenomenon so black and white?

WC: Well I’ll be……………..

WM: Whats your favorite wind direction and why?

WC: Not the best of directions for kiters here at Worthing, as it tends to be very gusty, but a strong W’ly or even WNW’ly which is best for providing good Down the Line riding (DTL), that’s if we get the waves!!

I’d also add that it’s only in the past year or so that we’ve really had access to data on the JetStream and I’ve been looking at the position of the JetStream on days when we get a strong sea breeze and there does seem to be a direct relationship. That said I still love it when we get a totally unexpected breeze kick in, and you yourself, say “Where did that come from?”

WM: Thanks for your time WC.

Running, Windsurfing, Snowboarding Hiking and Biking are all part of the typical Weathercam day but the fun doesn’t just stop there, even “Poochie” the Jack Russel gets out on the water!

For More on Weathercam visit the following sites…

http://www.seaspritesports.com/weather-cams.php

http://www.anotherharddayattheoffice.co.uk/

http://www.youtube.com/user/WeatherCam