All about wind in Bodø in 2009/10. Complete statistical guide for windsurfers.

Everything you always wanted to know about (sex) wind but were afraid to ask.

Lyrical intoduction

It is a brochure for windsurfers about the most important thing in our (windsurfer’s) universe: the wind. Wind is all we want and all we need and all we think about, even when we are supposed to work or vacuum-clean the carpets. And we still know little about wind. This book will help us to answer, once and for all, the following essential questions:

• What board and sail should I buy next?
• Is Bodø really as windy as people think?
• How many days are windy enough for me in Bodø?
• Should I move to Hawaii or should Robby Naish move to Bodø?
• When should I take holydays?

Previously these questions were addressed to the local elders or other self-appointed gurus. What can they answer? Based on some anecdotal evidences and highly subjective experiences they may suggest that the winds are stronger at wintertime compared to summer.  I am deeply impressed by this profound insight, but I am still missing some details…

Ok, now we have this research based on rock-solid scientific data and the most up-to-date statistical techniques.  Rocket science is coming to you, windsurfer! Enjoy the reading and regret all the windy days you missed this year because of inappropriate equipment, crying kids and horny girlfriends.

Important methodological assumptions

This analysis is based on the publically available data from www.weatherunderground.com. The original dataset includes data on temperature and wind strength measured every 30-60 minutes at the Bodø airport weather station. The observations period is 12 month between July 2009 and June 2010.

For us, windsurfers, one hour of god wind is not enough, so the day is considered windy if it blows consistently for at least two hours, so that a person has time to consider the growing wind speed, to come to the beach and still has at least one hour to surf. 

Another important restriction considers light. Since only the craziest dare to surf in the darkness, the dark hours of the day are excluded from the analysis. It gives us about 3 hours of possible sailing in December and 24 hours in June-July.  

In an ideal world we can surf every day when it blows above 6 m/s (Formula) or above 8 m/s (Slalom, freestyle etc.). But in reality we meet a number of additional barriers. The following barriers are considered in this analysis:

• Temperature,
• Need to work Monday-Friday between 8.00 and 16.00.
• Early hours: not everyone is constantly ready to wake up and surf at 3AM.

The following barriers are Not considered here:

• family care,
• illnesses,
• holydays ,
• oil spills and other disasters,
• sharks,
• water temperature: Norwegian see never freezes and never above 6°C.

All together these factors reduce the number of sailing sessions considerably.

Further in the brochure the statistics are presented with respect to the aforementioned limitations starting with an ideal situation when no work or cold hinder sailing and proceeding with more restrictions added to the equation.

In an ideal world: How many windy days if I am unemployed and not afraid of cold weather?

Restrictions in this chapter:

• Wind consistency: blows with a given power for at least two consequent hours
• Light: dark hours excluded
• Temperature: all included
• Day time: all
• Week days: all

Good news for Formula sailors: there were 247 days last year when it was over 6 m/s. Remember that at some of these days it was -16°C. However, the superman could surf at 2 of 3 days in Bodø. Se the figure bellow.

Figure 1. Number of days with wind over 6 m/s. Dark time excluded.  No restrictions for temperature or daytime.

For those who need at least 8 m/s I am glad to report that it was 151 perfect days last year (figure 2).
Figure 2. Number of days with wind over 6 m/s. Dark time excluded.  No restrictions for temperature or daytime.

The windiest months in Bodø are September (20 days over 8 m/s), November (17 days) and February (17 days). Windsurfers should plan an escape from Northern Norway at August (7 days over 8 m/s), July (8) and March (8). 

It was 17 days with winds above 12 m/s (wind casts are not considered) and only 5 days with constant winds above 16 m/s. Conclusion: Bodø is a windy place, but a little bit calm for the real extreme storm-chasers. 

How many windy days if I prefer some comfort (temperature above 0, 5, 10 or 15 °C) but do not need to work at a daytime?

Restrictions in this chapter:

• Wind consistency: blows with a given power for at least two consequent hours
• Light: dark hours excluded
• Temperature: separate analysis for temperatures above 0, 5, 10 and 15C.
• Day time: 8.00 – 24.00
• Week days: all

Most surfers do not like ice on their sails. According to my observations ice begin to form when the air temperature falls below -3°C. I have not noticed that it reduced speed or maneuverability. However, ice is the smallest of your problems at such cold days. I fill OK surfing at temperatures above 0C and I fully relaxed at +5°C. Table 1 depicts the number of days you may surf depending on the air temperature you prefer.

Table 1. Number of days with winds above 6,8,12 and 16 m/s with a given air temperature. 

As the figure bellow demonstrates, you lose about 50% of possible surfing days if you increase you minimum acceptable temperature with approximately 5°C. Conclusion: Invest in good clothing.

Figure 3. Number of surfing days depending on the minimum acceptable air temperature and required wind speed.
Note: National and religious holydays are not taken into account.

Realistically: How many windy days if I prefer some comfort (above +5°C) and I work Monday-Friday from 8.00 to 16.00?

 Restrictions in this chapter:

• Wind consistency: blows with a given power for at least two consequent hours
• Light: dark hours excluded
• Temperature: above 5°C.
• Day time: 16.00 – 24.00 at Monday-Friday and 8.00 – 24.00 at Saturday-Sunday
• Week days: all

Unfortunately many of us have usual working hours. As a table below shows, a daytime job is not what a windsurfer should dream about. Such a job will take away 1/3 of possible windsurfing sessions.  Interestingly, more extreme surfers preferring strong winds loose nothing when getting daytime job. Those preferring light-wind freeride should consider becoming self-employed, freelancers or some sort of artists.

Table 2. Number of possible surfing days depending on job requirements and preferred wind speed
  

Filer: 

All_about_wind_in_Bodo_in_2009.pdf