Maui Windsurfing Photo of the Day

Today's Maui Windsurfing photo is again from last Thursday's competition at the Aloha Classic at Hookipa. Rider unknown.

Winds today started out pretty light as several squalls marched in along Maui's northern coastline. Around 2:oo the winds came up a notch to maybe 6.0 for guys. Stubborn me decided to rig what I wanted to sail not what the conditions warranted so I went out on 5.0/90L. Ended up at Lowers and caught a few waves but was mostly underpowered until about 3:00 when the wind picked up to nice 5.0. Course that's when half the windsurfers on Maui decided to come out and join me. Got pretty crowded on the shoulder high waves. I boogied on out of there up to Uppers once I had power where there were probably 4 or 5 other sailors total. Waves were bigger up there but not as long and consistent. Still, it was nice not competing with 12 other guys for a wave.

Reading the weather tea leaves it looks like today might have been the last day of wind for a bit. The high pressure ridge that generates our trade winds is getting shoved down on top of us by some cold fronts further north. This usually sets up a sea breeze pattern with light onshore winds in the low teens at best most of the time. Still, Maui can surprise the unwary windsurfer and add enough of a boost in these patterns to sail on big gear occasionally. Even if the wind doesn't blow this week, a new north swell is expected Tuesday-ish, so surfing is a good alternative.