Water temperature & speed

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> 10 years ago

General Gps & Speed Waves Foiling Gear Reviews Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

Sputnik11

VIC

972 posts

Sputnik11

VIC, 972 posts

9 Jul 2014 11:01pm

I was out last weekend. It was cold. Really cold. But great nonetheless.

Had my GPS on for the session and came back in with some pretty good speeds recorded.

I was a bit surprised actually. Left me wondering, does water temperature have any impact on speed?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Mark _australia

23647 posts

Mark _australia

WA, 23647 posts

9 Jul 2014 9:16pm

Yeah the water is a lot more dense when it is cold, I often struggle to crack 45kn between June and Sept.

Subsonic

3413 posts

Subsonic

WA, 3413 posts

9 Jul 2014 10:53pm

Mark _australia said...
Yeah the water is a lot more dense when it is cold, I often struggle to crack 45kn between June and Sept.

I also find my body freezes into position, this seems to increase my endurance, and ability to hold that perfect "speed" stance.

sboardcrazy

NSW

8333 posts

sboardcrazy

NSW, 8333 posts

10 Jul 2014 9:36am

said..

Mark _australia said...
Yeah the water is a lot more dense when it is cold, I often struggle to crack 45kn between June and Sept.

I also find my body freezes into position, this seems to increase my endurance, and ability to hold that perfect "speed" stance.

Pity that hasn't helped me yet..

Windxtasy

4019 posts

Windxtasy

WA, 4019 posts

10 Jul 2014 10:07am

I don't know about the water but cold wind has a lot more oomph than warm air. Pity about that!

benyip

NSW

76 posts

benyip

NSW, 76 posts

10 Jul 2014 12:20pm

I am no way expert, but read an article about this before

boardsurfr.blogspot.com/2011/01/dense-air-and-pumping.html

MikeyS

VIC

1509 posts

MikeyS

VIC, 1509 posts

10 Jul 2014 12:48pm

Mark _australia said..
Yeah the water is a lot more dense when it is cold, I often struggle to crack 45kn between June and Sept.

Yes, water temp has a huge impact on speed, if water temp is below freezing. In which case water will be less dense. Wouldn't use your normal board though.

See www.gps-icesailing.com/default.aspx

yoyo

1646 posts

yoyo

WA, 1646 posts

10 Jul 2014 3:03pm

The kinematic viscosity is more relevant and varies more on the salinity as well.

Sputnik11

VIC

972 posts

Sputnik11

VIC, 972 posts

10 Jul 2014 5:55pm

yoyo said..
The kinematic viscosity is more relevant and varies more on the salinity as well.

what does that mean to the layman?

powersloshin

NSW

1855 posts

powersloshin

NSW, 1855 posts

10 Jul 2014 6:58pm

Sputnik11 said..

yoyo said..
The kinematic viscosity is more relevant and varies more on the salinity as well.

what does that mean to the layman?

It means that the waterstart francticality is inversely proportional to the immersion fluid temperature

Mark _australia

23647 posts

Mark _australia

WA, 23647 posts

10 Jul 2014 6:03pm

^^^ and proportional to presence of Carcharodon carcharias

Roar

NSW

471 posts

Roar

NSW, 471 posts

11 Jul 2014 1:02am

im not sure how it affects my speed but my gybes improve proportionally to how cold the water is

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