It’s on!!!!!!
Sam & Dixie are leaving today for the Antarctic Plateau. For a roundabout of 6000-8000 km.
Weather4expeditions will guide them with the weather forecast the following 90 to 100 days of this expeditions!
Follow them on : http://www.antarcticice.be/
Troy Henkels en Geza Scholtz will be the first to cross the Bering Strait on a kite.
www.weather4expeditions will advice them with the optimum day/time to start this challenging trip.
The Bering Strait is a 56 mile stretch of water separating North America from Russia. The International Dateline runs down the center of the Bering Strait. This little part of the planet is characterized by high winds and crazy ocean currents which makes this mission extremely dangerous.
This challenge is taking place in the summer 2010. In the meantime www.weather4expeditions will inform you with interesting facts about climate and ocean currents in the Bering Strait.
Troy is an experienced adventurer who lives in Alaska. His passion for exploration has taken him to some of the harshest and most remote environments on Earth including the South Pole, Mount Everest, and the North Pole(April 2010). In 2005, he attempted to walk from Alaska to Russia across the Bering Strait. In 2007 he made history by becoming the first person to kiteboard in Antarctic waters. And in 2008 he was the first to kiteboard on Alaska’s infamous and perilous Bore Tide on Turnagain Arm. www.TroyHenkels.com
Geza is an avid traveler, having visited more than 30 countries, many of them on kiteboarding expeditions, including; Namibia, India, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Egypt, and Venezuela, to name a few. He has been kiteboarding since 9 years, thus experiencing the changes and progression of the sport His enthusiasm for extreme sports usually finds him snowboarding, wakeboarding, or downhill biking when he isn’t in the water kiteboarding. When not traveling the world he lives in Zürich, Switzerland and works as a dentist. Geza’s passion for extreme adventure is the driving force behind this expedition.
photographs by Björn Detre
Last summer weather4expeditions.com supported a unique attempt to kite across the Bering Strait. Troy Henkels and Geza Scholtz were the first men to go for this challenge. Here is a short report and some photographs of their experience.
In August of 2010, Geza Scholtz and Troy Henkels attempted to be the first to kiteboard across the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia. This stretch of water, although short on distance (100km), offers up some of the most challenging weather and ocean conditions on the planet. If this weren’t challenge enough, the logistics involved with an expedition to the far reaches of the north American continent and across the International date line into Russia are frustratingly complex. None the less, Geza and Troy were able to get the required permits from the Russians and made several attempts to get across the Strait. Initially, due to support boat engine failures their attempts were unsuccessful. And, ultimately their final attempt proved unsuccessful as well, when they were turned back due to lack of wind after making it part way across the Strait.
So the challenge is still open. Anyone tempted?
Pictures from Derek Crowe
As our unofficial 4th team member, Marc De Keyser quickly became one of our most valuable assets on this expedition.
Kiting from Narsaq to JP Kochs Fjord, and then back down to Thule was a big undertaking to say the least. Our team of three, Derek Crowe (Canadian), Adrian Hayes (British) and my self , Devon McDiarmid (Canadian) wanted to do the journey using kites. Unlike what we are used to (man hauling sleds), weather became one of the most important elements of the trip. Knowing when, how strong, and even direction of the winds determined how the expedition would go.
The first part of the trip, the leg form the south tip to J P Kochs fjord for the most part was pretty smooth sailing. We were able, with help from Marc, to set up a pretty regular schedule for travelling. After reaching the north tip, everything changed. This is when Marcs expertise came into play. A huge high pressure system came and sat over the top of Greenland, bending the winds , into exactly the wrong direction. This leg of the journey quickly became our most challenging. With Marcs help, we were able to make , what at times seemed like the impossible leg, to do able. We arrived with in two days of our projected time.
Often the team would be making a plan, and we would recognize with out the help of Marc and weather4expeditions.com we probably would not have been able to be successful. Marc was always referred to as our hidden fourth man. He was the guy who was looking out for us, and coached us through some very challenging times. I will not go on another expedition with out the services of weather4expeditions. com
Thanks Marc !!!!
From Devon and the team Derek Crowe and Adrian Hayes.
This is the latest sat shot from the Bering Strait area. Chaotic cloud patterns, no big wind or weather system in the vicinity. Click on the image to see the full display.
Bering Strait Crossing with Kites 27 Aug - day 22
Forecast is valid for the daylight hours: between 12utc and 04utc
Start=Wales Middle=Diomedes End=Russia
Day 1: 27 Aug
Wind:
Start: 110-130°8-12kt after 15utc becoming 170-190°8-12kt
Middle: 100-10°8-13kt after 15utc becoming 160-180°8-12kt
End: 090-110°5-10kt after 18utc becoming 160-180°5-10kt
Weather: very cloudy, with sunny spells, later very coudy to overcast with some rain or showery outbreaks
Day 2: 28 Aug
Wind:
Start: 200-220°5-10kt no significant change
Middle: 190-210°4-8kt no significant change
End: less than 5kt no significant change
Weather: sunny with scattered clouds, no precipitation.
Day 3: 29 Aug
Wind:
Start: less than 5kt after 18 utc becoming 340-360°8-12kt
Middle: less than 5kt after 15utc becoming 350-010°5-10kt
End: 340-360°5-10kt, no significant change
Weather: very cloudy to overcast with showery outbreaks
Latest weather report from Wales Airport
0800utc - 27 august
wind: calm
vsibility: 10 miles
sky: overcast
weather: nil
Temperature: XXXXX
Relative Humidity: XXX
Conclusion
Unfortunately, also during this period no window is eminent. The wind remains to weak during the whole period. The second day the wind drops away and turns to the Northerly sector the next day. But still the speed is not quite enough.
Hope for some better news tomorrow.
Noaa 18 satellite image of the Bering Sea/Chukchi Sea area. This satellite shot shows us the active frontal system that extends over the Bering Sea via the Bering Strait towards the Chukchi Sea. This system embeds several wavetops. Those wavetops are area of moderate to heavy precipitation. Click on the image to see the image fully displayed.
Bering Strait Crossing with Kites 25 Aug - day 20
Forecast is valid for the daylight hours: between 12utc and 04utc
Start=Wales Middle=Diomedes End=Russia
Day 1: 25 Aug
Wind:
Start: 170-190°18-23kt after 21utc becoming 150-170°13-18kt
Middle: 180-200°20-25kt after 21utc becoming 150-170°13-18kt
End: 170-190°20-25kt after 21utc becoming 150-170°12-17kt
Weather: very cloudy to overcast with periods of light rain
Day 2: 26 Aug
Wind:
Start: 130-150°12-17kt after 21utc becoming 140-160°8-12kt
Middle: 130-150°14-19kt after 21utc becoming 140-160°12-16kt
End: 130-150°12-17kt after 21utc becoming 150-170°8-13kt
Weather: very cloudy to overcast with periods of rain/showery outbreaks and in between some shorlived sunny spells.
Day 3: 27 Aug
Wind:
Start: 120-140°8-13kt after 12utc becoming 130-150°13-18kt
Middle: 100-120°8-13kt after 12utc becoming 140-160°13-18kt
End: 080-100°8-12kt, no signicant change
Weather: very cloudy to overcast with periods of moderate rainfall
Latest weather report from Wales Airport
1100utc - 25 august
wind: 180°25g31kt
vsibility: 8 miles
sky: overcast
weather: light rain
Temperature: XXXXX
Relative Humidity: XXX
Conclusion
The next three days the weather looks very unsettled: squall or other perturbation lines come across and will introduce some very wet weather. At the same time every day shows a moderate wind, probably strong enough to kite. It is a balance between the conditions associated to the perturbations, poor visibility-rain, and the moderate wind conditions. Today pretty strong, slightly decreasing after 21utc. But certainly enough to do an attempt, if the weather is not too bad.
Tomorrow slightly less wind but still possible. If you try, go as soon as possible because after 21utc teh wind tends to drop at the Russian side.
The day after tomorrow the wind increases during the day, coming into kiting limits soon after 12/15utc. Altough moderate rain could trigger poor visibility conditions.
God speed!
This map shows the situation valid for Tuesday at 1800utc. There is a Southerly current over the Bering Sea, resulting in a moderate to strong Southerly wind across the Bering Strait. Click on the image to see the full display.
Bering Strait Crossing with Kites 21 Aug - day 16
Forecast is valid for the daylight hours: between 12utc and 04utc
Start=Wales Middle=Diomedes End=Russia
Day 1: 23 Aug
Wind:
Start: 180-200°5-10kt after 18utc becoming 180-200°10-15kt
Middle: 180-200°8-12kt after 18utc becoming 180-200°10-15kt
End: 190-210°6-10kt after 18utc becoming 170-190°8-13kt
Weather: very cloudy, later sunny spells, no precipitation.
Day 2: 24 Aug
Wind:
Start: 190-210°12-17kt after 18/21utc becoming 170-190°12-16kt
Middle: 190-210°11-16kt after 21utc becoming 180-200°13-18kt
End: 200-220°6-10kt after 18/21utc becoming 180-200°13-18kt
Weather: sunny, scattered clouds, after 18/21utc gradually increasing and thickening cloud. First precipitation expected after 03/06utc on 25th.
Day 3: 25 Aug
Wind:
Start: 150-170°12-17kt after 18/21utc becoming 150-170°10-15kt
Middle: 160-180°13-18kt after 21utc 150-170°10-15kt
End: 160-180°11-16kt after 21utc becoming 140-160°8-13kt
Weather: overcast with periods of rain (warmfront), (slightly) improving after 21/24utc.
Latest weather report from Wales Airport
0900utc - 23 august
wind: 290°05kt
vsibility: 10 miles
sky: overcast
weather: nil
Temperature: 26°C/78°F!!!
Relative Humidity: 88%
Conclusion
Today the wind is expected to blow from the Southerly corner. It will increase but I am afraid it will remain just below the needed windspeed. Especially at the end point in Russia the wind seems to hesitate to increase. That will probably be the main problem today.
From my opinion tomorrow Tuesday looks the best day of the week. The plan i suggest goes as follows: You start between 15-18utc at Wales, the wind there at that time will be around 14-15kt average. So you’ll be at Diomedes between 18 and 21utc: by than the wind at that location should have become around 15kt as well. You arrive in Russia between 24 and 03utc, by than the wind has increased to 15kt average as well.
Wednesday again looks possible if the rain is not too heavy/visibility. But than you need to start as early as possible as the wind tends to decrease after 18/21utc.
God speed!
Bering Strait Crossing with Kites 21 Aug - day 16
Forecast is valid for the daylight hours: between 12utc and 04utc
Start=Wales Middle=Diomedes End=Russia
Day 1: 22 Aug
Wind:
Start: 310-330°4-8kt after 21utc becoming 250-270°4-8kt
Middle: 310-330°4-8kt after 21utc becoming 230-250°4-8kt
End: 300-320°3-7kt after 18utc becoming less than 4kt
Weather: sunny spells, scattered clouds.
Day 2: 23 Aug
Wind:
Start: 190-210°8-12kt after 18utc becoming 190-210°12-16kt
Middle: 190-210°8-12kt after 18utc becoming 200-220°12-16kt
End: 190-210°6-10kt after 18utc becoming 190-210°10-15kt
Weather: sunny, scattered clouds
Day 3: 24 Aug
Wind:
Start: 190-210°12-16kt no significant change
Middle: 200-220°13-18ktno significant change
End: 200-220°8-12kt after 18utc becoming 180-200°12-16kt
Weather: sunny spells but gradually increasing and thickening cloudiness, no precip.
Latest weather report from Wales Airport
0600utc - 22 august
wind: 020°04kt
vsibility: 10 miles
sky: overcast
weather: nil
Temperature: 22°C/72°F
Relative Humidity: 90%
Conclusion
As expected yesterday today the wind will be far too weak to get the kites out. Overnight it will drop completely and turn to the Southerly sector. Than it becomes interesting. I would say that we keep both Monday and Tuesday as an option to start the crossing. On Monday it starts rather weak but is should increase. Probably it will become into limits after 15/18utc, so depending if enough time is left you could start on Monday.
But also Tuesday is an option. At this stage the wind on Tuesday is pretty steady during all day and over the whole stretch. The speed could be better but i think this offers some possibilities.
God speed!
This is a Infra Red satellite image of the Bering Sea and the Chuckchi Sea area. This is a thermal picture which means that the dark parts are warm and the brighter parts cold. So if you look at the Bering Strait than you see it is covered by darkish cloud. This means those clouds are rather warmer, thus low to the ground/sea. SO most likely the strait is covered by low clouds or maybe even fog. Image from NSW
Bering Strait Crossing with Kites 21 Aug - day 16
Forecast is valid for the daylight hours: between 12utc and 04utc
Start=Wales Middle=Diomedes End=Russia
Day 1: 21 Aug
Wind:
Start: 010-030°5-10kt after 18/21utc becoming 350-010°10-15kt
Middle: 360-020°8-12kt after 18/21utc becoming 350-010°10-15kt
End: 340-360°5-10kt after 18/21utc becoming 350-010°10-15kt
Weather: low cloud cover, no precipitation. Maybe a few sunny spells later.
Day 2: 22 Aug
Wind:
Start: 340-360°10-15kt after 18utc becoming less than 5kt
Middle: 340-360°10-15kt after 18utc gradually becoming less than 5kt
End: 330-similar as previous day: low clouds/sunny spells
Day 3: 23 Aug
Wind:
Start: 200-220°5-10kt after 18utc becoming 190-210°10-15kt
Middle: 200-220°7-12kt after 18utc becoming 190-210°10-15kt
End: 190-210°6-10kt after 18utc becoming 190-210°10-15kt
Weather: gradually increasing and thickening cloudiness, no precip.
Latest weather report from Wales Airport
0800utc - 21 august
wind: 020°07kt
vsibility: 10 miles
sky: overcast
weather: nil
Temperature: 22°C/72°F
Relative Humidity: 90%
Conclusion
Today and tomorrow still Northerly winds dropping away tomorrow afternoon/evening, during the night from Sunday on Monday turning to the South and steadily increasing on Monday. So today the wind will increase to an average speed of about 10-15kt, i would say just below the limit to do an attempt. Tomorrow will start with similar conditions, 10-15kt, but gradually decreasing to drop away as earlier said. This means that tomorrow there is as good as no chance.
From Monday onwards situation starts changing: the wind blows from the Southerly corner and will slowly increase during the day of Monday. At this stage i would say that Monday it will still be very on the limit to start but it looks like Tuesday will be good. The wind further increases on Mondaynight and so Tuesday the wind should blow with a speed of about 15-20kt. Later, towards Wednesday the poor weather will come in as well but it looks like there is a window when wind should be good and no poor weather yet. But this has still to be confirmed by tomorrows forecast.
The Bering Strait is the separation between the Chukchi Sea in the North and the Bering Sea in the South; At the same time it seperates Alaska and Russia with only 50 miles. This passage is subject to the most variable and extreme weather and on top of this the underwater currents there are almost impredicatable. The little island just in the middle is Russian and is called Diomedes. The larger Island to the South is St Lawrence and is American territory. Troy and Geza need the right winds (about 20kt average) for about 6 hours to cross this strait. At this stage the depression are coming across too far South so the wind remains too weak to do an attempt. Click on the image to see the full display.
Bering Strait Crossing with Kites 20 Aug - day 15
Forecast is valid for the daylight hours: between 12utc and 04utc
Start=Wales Middle=Diomedes End=Russia
Day 1: 20 Aug
Wind:
Start: 010-030°6-10kt no significant change
Middle: 010-030°8-12kt no significant change
End: 360-020°5-10kt no significant change
Weather: very cloudy to overcast, no precipitation. After 18utc, enlarging sunny spells
Day 2: 21 Aug
Wind:
Start: 360-020°5-10kt after 18utc becoming 340-360°8-13kt
Middle: 360-020°8-12kt no significant change
End: 350-010°5-10kt no significant change
Weather: sunny spells, dry.
Day 3: 22 Aug
Wind:
Start: 340-360°8-12kt after 18utc becoming less than 5kt
Middle: 330-350°5-10kt after 18utc becoming less than 5kt
End: 330-350°4-8kt after 15/18utc becoming less than 5kt
Weather: sunny with scattered clouds
Latest weather report from Wales Airport
0830utc - 20 august
wind: 070°10kt
vsibility: 10 miles
sky: overcast
weather: nil
Temperature: 21°C/67°F
Relative Humidity: 88%
Conclusion
During this period no workable window is expected. Wind is general too weak, and if increasing it is only for a shorter while. Hope i will bring better news tomorrow.
