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Weather & wind report

PLEASE NOTE: Until the spring of 2011, global weather is affected by La Nina. We hope to complete research shortly to make a better estimation to forecast the wind for the coming months but untill then can only share our mid-October - mid-November 2010 experience with you. For this period we normall expect the wind to blow 75%-85% of the days at Salamansa beach but have experienced 70% only.

Cape Verde weather is typified by warmth (both air and sea) throughout the year and a steady trade wind October - June. Below are the wind reports comparing Sao Vicente with other popular kitesurfing holiday destinations.

Average air and sea temperatures in Celsius per month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Air

24

24

25

25

25

26

27

28

29

29

27

25

Sea

23

22

22

22

23

24

25

25

27

26

26

24

Average rainfall (mm) and hours of sunshine per month. To put the precipitation in perspective, the average rainfall for a north western European city such as Amsterdam in the summer is 40 - 80mm.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Rain

1

1

1

1

0

1

11

57

91

28

12

2

Sun

7

8

9

10

10

9

7

6

7

8

8

7

Percentage of time with wind for beginners or intermediates (11-25 knots) during daytime (10am - 4pm) with the correct wind direction (for safety).

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Sao Vicente, Cape Verde

92%*

99%*

96%*

87%*

96%*

85%*

97%*

99%*

Sal, Cape Verde

71%

81%

81%

85%

74%

37%

47%

41%

Combuco, Brazil

99%

92%

81%

53%

39%

23%

4%

5%

Tarifa, Spain

20%

26%

51%

37%

39%

19%

46%

25%

El Gouna, Egypt

69%

37%

47%

34%

29%

60%

52%

61%

Cabarete, Dominican Rep.

13%

18%

32%

30%

38%

40%

33%

41%

Fuerteventura, Spain

80%

63%

64%

66%

49%

57%

79%

55%

Dakhla, Morocco

68%

59%

57%

70%

60%

59%

91%

87%

Details of kitesurf spots on Sao Vicente. Percentage of time with wind for beginners or intermediates (11-25 knots) during daytime (10am - 4pm)

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Salamansa (cross-shore)

75%

85%

 

 


 

 

 

Baia das Gates (cross)

65%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sao Pedro (off-shore)

92%

99%

96%

87%

96%

85%

97%

99%

Sandy Beach (cross-off)

70%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baia Norte (cross -on)

65%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* = PLEASE NOTE: since we opened our school October 15, 2010 we are closely monitoring these statistics. Thus far, the percentages depicted seem to be accurate for the location of the wind meter at Sao Pedro (a spot with offshore wind between two mountain ranges giving a venturi effect of an extra 5-10 knots) but not for the other kitesurf spots.

For the current wind, wind forecast and more details on wind statistics (such as average wind speed), please consult WindGuru or Windfinder. PLEASE NOTE: windreadings for Sao Vicente are accurate but the forecasts seem large underestimations.

Sources: WindGuru archives 2008/2009 for Santa Maria, Sal and Windfinder for adjustment to Mindelo, Sao Vicente + own readings.