8/8/2019 KayakersBeaufortScale

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BEAUFORT SCALE FOR SEA KAYAKERSWindspeedBeaufort

Scale Knots MPHDescription On Land On The Water Paddling

0 0 0 CalmCalm, smoke rises

vertically

Sea surface smooth and

mirror-likeVery easy, flat water paddling; beginners will be at ease.

1 1-3 1-3 Light Air

Smoke drift indicates

wind direction, still wind

vanes

Scaly ripples, no foam

crests

Very easy, still no significant problems for beginners. A good time to

practice self-rescue and bracing skills.

2 4-6 4-7Light

Breeze

Wind felt on face, leaves

rustle, vanes begin to

move

Small wavelets, crests

glassy, no whitecaps

Easy, comfortable kayaking for everyone. Headwind is cooling and

refreshing. Tail wind imperceptible. Pool practiced skills still reliable.

Beginners may capsize on beach landings.

3 7-10 8-12Gentle

Breeze

Leaves and small twigs

constantly moving, light

flags extended

Large wavelets, crests

begin to break,scattered

whitecaps

Fairly easy; good kayaking weather. Noticeable work paddling into a head

wind. Novices start having trouble in cross winds. Novice pool skills may

fail. A lost kayak will require vigorous swimming to catch. Practiced paddle

float self-rescue reliable. On-side roll should be sufficient. A very good time

to practice those assisted rescues and rolling skills. Novice paddlers may

capsize on exposed beach landings.

4 11-16 13-18Moderate

Breeze

Dust, leaves, and loose

paper lifted, small tree

branches move

Small waves becoming

longer, numerous

whitecaps

Moderate; invigorating for most; comfortable limit for novices. Sustained

effort into headwinds, Tail winds start to create following waves. Not the

time to need your first ever attempt at a paddle float self-rescue. A lost kayak

will drift faster than you can swim. Assisted T-Rescue reliable. Rolling skills

practiced only in a pool not reliable. Exposed points and beaches may have

significant surf making landing difficult.

5 17-21 19-24Fresh

Breeze

Small trees in leaf begin

to sway

Moderate waves takinglonger form, many

whitecaps, some spray

Moderately difficult; novices find boat control difficult and feel unstable.

No problem for experienced kayakers. Paddles may start to flutter.Crosswinds may become difficult. Paddle-float self-rescue difficult. Reliable

assisted T-Rescue skills recommended. Single-side rolling skilled practiced

in conditions recommended. Seek sheltered beaches for landing.

6 22-27 25-31Strong

Breeze

Larger tree branches

moving, whistling in

wires

Larger waves,some

breakers, whitecaps

common, more spray

Difficult; Hard paddling into the wind - upper limit of practical paddling into

the wind. Wind catches paddle blades. Communication difficult. Following

seas require concentration. For experienced paddlers only. Paddle-float

rescue almost impossible. Not the time to need your first roll outside of a

pool. Assisted rescues start to become difficult. Sheltered landing coves and

beaches required.

7 28-33 32-38 Near Gale

Whole trees moving,

resistance felt walking

against wind

Sea heaps up, breakers

common. white foam

streaks off breakers

Very difficult; Strenuous. Little or no progress into the wind. Cross winds

very difficult. Following seas exhilarating for experienced paddlers, but

includes significant likelihood of capsize. Rolling skills on both sides highly

recommended. Assisted rescues very difficult. Access to sheltered landings

may be difficult.

8 34-40 3 9-46 Gale

Whole trees in motion,

resistance felt walking

against wind

Moderately high waves of

greater length, edges of

crests begin to break into

spindrift, foam blown in

streaks

Extremely difficult; Very Strenuous. No progress into the wind; boat control

is a real problem; communication and rescues extremely difficult. Lots of

concentration required down wind. Progress across the wind not practical.

Youll be on your own! Bombproof rolling skills required. Fight to access

more sheltered landing zones .

9 41-47 47-54Strong

Gale

Slight structural damage

occurs, slate blows off

roofs

High waves, sea begins to

roll, dense streaks of foam,

spray may reduce visibility

Dangerous; Survival paddling. Constant fight to maintain control. Rescues

and communications almost impossible. Seek shelter on land. Roll or die.

Pray to get blown towards a sheltered landing spot.

10 48-55 55-63 Storm

Seldom experienced on

land, trees broken or

uprooted, "considerable

structural damage"

Very high waves with

overhanging crests, sea

white with densely blown

foam, heavy rolling,

lowered visibility

Very dangerous; Survival situation; only real option is to run with the wind

or possibly deploy a sea anchor. Roll anddie. Cry as you get blown past a

safe landing zone.