Windsurfing in the estuary at Ynyslas
I’ve just got back from a nice little windsurf session in the estuary here at Ynyslas. Ivor, our local katabatic wind was up to his usual tricks with a decent NE wind funbelling down through the valley at up to 25 knots. And this was despite the fact that the forecast was for winds of 5-6 knots. Lovely.
The wind wasn’t quite up to its usual strength, but it is still pretty early in the year so I think Ovir was just warming up. Hopefully we’ll get some really good winds in the spring.
With the sun shining it was pretty warm out there as well. I had my 5/3mm wetsuit on and boots and a hood but if anything I was a little too hot whilst on the water.
There was something going on at the visitor centre car park though. Four police cras were in attendance and the car park was closed off with ‘Crime Scene’ tape all around it and a police officer at either end preventing anyone from entering it. Anyone know what’s happened?
Ynyslas Estuary
Just got back from a lovely windsurf session in the estuary at Ynyslas. Its that time of year when Ivor, our local katabatic wind is on top form and with a gentle NE wind forecast and sunny skies he was up to his usual tricks. Funneling down the valley at 30-35 knots making for perect windsurfing conditions in the estuary.
Ivor usually peaks at around 8.30 and today was no exception. The Weather Station recorded a maximum gust of 30.6 knots at exactly 8.30am. The weather station isn’t directly in Ivor’s path though as the wind is very localised so it would have been an extra 10 knots or so on top of that in the estuary.
I was on the water before 8am and had a 5 star session. Well powered up the whole time and making some super fast speed runs on the flat water to the lee of the sand banks. I forgot my GPS though so don’t know wuite how fast I was going, but on kit that isn’t built for speed it certainly felt fast.
Back to work now, but this is exactly why I live ‘A Simple Life of Luxury’ as a Freelance Website Designer in Wales as it allows me to indulge in spontaneous windsurf sessions whenever the conditions allows.
Once I got off the water I took a few photos of Nick with my new camera. He went out kitesurfing for 5 minutes but then decided it was too windy to be out there on his own.
Despite the forecast of lightish winds, the katabatic effect that creates the wind affectionately known as Ivor was in full force this morning, so after a night in the tent and then watching the Grand Prix Qualifying I headed off to the estuary for a lovely windsurf session in the gorgeous sunshine.
Without a cloud in the sky the wind was doing its thing and blowing a nice steady 25 knots in the estuary so I went out with my 5m sail and wave board and had a good session blasting up and down in the speed channels. i was joined by Impi on a wave board and 4.7m sail and after a while a third windsurfer who had launched from Aberdovey joined us. We then all sailed across to Aberdovey and played in the chop of the main channel before Impi and I headed back.
There were quite a few kitesurfers out too enjoying the wind. Ivor is getting something of a reputation now.
Speed channel
Kitesurfing Ynyslas
Ivor in effect at Ynyslas
Impi at Ynyslas
Impi Carve Gybing
