A compass bearing needs a shoreline
A forecast direction tells you where wind comes from. Whether that is offshore depends on the part of the coast where you are launching. The same bearing can mean something different at a nearby beach with a different orientation. This page does not invent that coastline geometry.
The explorer deliberately shows that an otherwise favourable numeric weather set can remain GO. That exposes a limitation rather than hiding it. There is no direction field quietly adjusting the score, and changing a place label would not solve the missing geographic information.
Do not turn rescue arrangements into a universal exception
Local supervised operations can have specific rules, but this site does not verify their coverage or availability. A mention of a boat somewhere nearby is not evidence that your individual session has an appropriate plan. Obtain the actual instruction and arrangement for the spot.
Launch space, obstacles and a route back also need local assessment. A suitable speed does not measure any of them. If the only reason to proceed is a green score, the important information is still missing. The safe planning alternative is another suitable beach or another day.
Worked examples from the existing scorer
These complete hypothetical hours run through the same scoring functions used by the live tool. They are not observations or forecasts. The displayed effective score includes any cap.
| Example | Effective score | Verdict | Model reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favourable numbers; direction unassessed | 100/100 | GO | No model penalties |
| Same numbers; still no shoreline model | 100/100 | GO | No model penalties |
| A separate storm cap | 5/100 | NO-GO | thunderstorms — lightning on water · NOGO cap |
Exact example inputs and units
temp and feels: °C; wind and gust: km/h; precipitation: mm/h; visibility: m; rain probability, cloud and humidity: %. Weather code is WMO; UV is an index. Pressure, where shown, is context in hPa and does not affect this scorer.
[
{
"example": "Favourable numbers; direction unassessed",
"inputs": {
"temp": 15,
"feels": 15,
"precip": 0,
"pop": 0,
"wind": 15,
"gust": 20,
"vis": 20000,
"code": 0,
"cloud": 10,
"humidity": 60,
"uv": 0,
"pressure": 1010
}
},
{
"example": "Same numbers; still no shoreline model",
"inputs": {
"temp": 15,
"feels": 15,
"precip": 0,
"pop": 0,
"wind": 15,
"gust": 20,
"vis": 20000,
"code": 0,
"cloud": 10,
"humidity": 60,
"uv": 0,
"pressure": 1010
}
},
{
"example": "A separate storm cap",
"inputs": {
"temp": 15,
"feels": 15,
"precip": 0,
"pop": 0,
"wind": 15,
"gust": 20,
"vis": 20000,
"code": 95,
"cloud": 10,
"humidity": 60,
"uv": 0,
"pressure": 1010
}
}
]Planning bands and the limits of the number
The existing model starts at 100, subtracts its condition penalties and applies critical caps. GO is 70–100, MAYBE 45–69 and NO-GO 0–44. A MAYBE cap limits the effective score to 64, and a NO-GO cap to 40. These are application suitability bands, not certified safe operating limits.
Rain branches are alternatives: matching probability, intensity and weather-code triggers do not mean adding the same rain penalty repeatedly. Separate factors can combine. A cap prevents benign temperature or dry weather from cancelling a critical flagged condition. Use the reasons beside the result to understand what changed.
The model requires complete numeric weather inputs. Missing visibility, rain probability or another required value returns Insufficient data; it is never filled with an invented favourable value. Local warnings, closures, equipment instructions and actual observations can change your decision even when the model returns GO.
Read the full kitesurf methodology and thresholds. The model and these examples were cross-checked on 18 October 2026. No physical field-test or safety certification is claimed.
Equipment and an alternative plan
Identify wind direction relative to the exact launch and landing areas, use qualified local advice and follow the spot’s rules. Choose a different site or postpone when the flow is unsuitable. The app does not certify a rescue arrangement, coastline or launch decision.
Questions about Offshore wind and kitesurfing: a GO score cannot clear the beach
Can the app detect offshore wind here?
No. It lacks the shoreline-orientation assessment needed for that decision.
Why can the illustrated score remain GO?
The example exposes an unmodelled hazard; a favourable number is not clearance.
Is a smaller kite the answer to offshore wind?
A sizing estimate does not resolve direction or the ability to return.
Sources and limits
The numeric application bands come from the existing GoNoGo scorer and methodology. External guidance is linked for its stated context; it is not presented as endorsement of this model.
Live forecast data is supplied by Open-Meteo. An illustrative model output is different from a live forecast, and a forecast is different from a local observation.