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CROSurf >>> Windsurfing - Peljesac Channel (page2) - Winds in Peljesac Channel

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Maestral & funnel effect

Air masses moving from heated land toward open sea from the North West quadrant entering Peljesac Channel through its western entrance. Peljesac Channel is surrounded with mountains (heights on Korcula coast are from 300-500 meters, while Peljesac Mountains reach maximum height of 961m- Saint Ilija). Mentioned mountains have two tasks; they are redirecting wind toward the channel (eastward) and collecting wind from wider area (about 2 n.m.) and compressing it into narrow channel entrance (less than 1 n.m.). This effect is called funnel effect. Funnel effect increasing wind force for at least two times in this case. Force of the maestral and height of its waves is different in the different part of the Channel, but generally, we can say that the best area for windsurfing extends from Viganj on west (“Montun“- small horn located in western part of the Viganj) to Perna on east. Length of this area is about 3 nautical miles.

Korcula Channel (channel between Island of Korcula and Island of Hvar) is much wider than Peljesac Channel; therefore maestral waves have enough space for its development. Before breaking on coast west of Sv. Ivan horn, waves reach reasonable height. From Sv. Ivan wave development starts again, and from west toward east waves are higher and higher. That is main difference between two main windsurfing landing spots in Channel; in Viganj waves are not so high and it’s perfect for speed windsurfing, while Zamosce is better freestyle spot – waves are higher than in Viganj, while wind speed is the same. Current against wind additionally increase wave height. Confused sea could be found below church of Sv. Nikola in the town of Korcula. Real maestral is quite constant wind in force and, especially, in direction, gusts are frequent and not so expressed (difference between maximum gust force and force in gap between gusts is small), waves are similar in its shape and height. Summer maestral reach maximum force of 6-7 Beaufort. If westerly wind in the channel has different characteristics (except direction) than mentioned above it is a question of some other wind, not maestral.

Forecasting of maestral in the channel is much more difficult than other winds, especially time and force; other winds are forecasted according corresponding positions of cyclones (anticyclones) and fronts, while maestral blows in time of Azores anticyclone (far from Adriatic sea) and there’s no  pressure depressions above Europe. These conditions are frequent during the end of the spring and in early summer, occasionally in rest of the year, and they are ideal for maestral. In these ideal conditions maestral starts around noon, fades around sunset, and during the night it’s replaced by burin. Every, even shallow, depression or movement of anticyclone can derange this time, what is not so easy to predict. In these cases, maestral starts few hours before or after noon, and fades earlier or later, sometimes blows during the whole night, and next day, maestral is not guaranteed.

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Sirocco & Ostro

Jugo is local name for both winds; sirocco and ostro. Wind from South-East is Jugo-Sirocco (other local names are siloko or silok) and from South is Jugo-Ostro. Eastern channel entrance is wide and east part of Korcula Island is not as steep as coast around western entrance. Therefore, eastern entrance not producing funnel effect, but Jugo sometimes reach force of more than 8. Numerous islets on eastern entrance creating wave breakers: they are breaking incoming waves from the open sea. With strong wind and not so high waves, channel becoming perfect jugo windsurfing area. Except on islets waves are breaking on eastern Peljesac coast of Channel (Orebic coast and Trstenica beach). Higher waves could be found there, but as jugo blows on this part as on-shore wind landing difficulties can be expected. Also, waves are high around “Puntin” –wavebreaker on western part of old korcula town. There is small beach and could be used as windsurfing landing spot. For two main landing spots on Peljesac coast Jugo blows as side-shore wind and gradually wave height rising toward the west, therefore, in this case, Sv. Liberan horn is better for freestyle, while Zamosce horn is a better speed spot. Until Montun (small horn on west coast of Viganj) waves have plenty space for its development, and there, waves reach maximum height in the channel (except Orebic coast where coming open sea waves).

Jugo gusts are just little bit more expressed than maestral gusts, and force increasing gradually during the first two – three days. Jugo is best wind for windsurfing during autumn, winter and early spring and occasionally blows during the summer. Jugo is not popular among local habitants; it brings clouds, humid and frequently rain, but higher temperatures as well, what is for windsurfers most important, especially during the cold winter months. Jugo often brings rain. Usually, when starts rain wind force rapidly decreasing, therefore my advice is to stop windsurfing on first drops of rain.

Opposite to maestral, Jugo can be easily forecasted according to position of cyclones (anticyclones and fronts). Jugo reach its maximal force when centre of cyclone is located in Genoa bay and these cyclones are called Genoa lows. Jugo – Ostro in the Channel has same characteristics as Jugo, except direction due to different position of cyclone.

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Other westerly winds

Except maestral, from west channel entrance blows following three winds: Ponente (this is Italian name, local names are pulenat, pulent or ponent), Maestralun and Tramontana. For all three mentioned wind origin is same; position of cyclone and fronts. Ponent, Maestralun and Lebic are often accompanied by thunderstorms and violent squalls. Local name for this storm is Neverin. Neverin occurs one or two times per season, mostly during the summer or late spring. Luckily, it lasts only several hours.

Ponente and Maestralun are similar winds in channel. They sometimes reach force of more than 5-6 Bf. with gusts of more than 7 Bf., and raises high sea along the whole length of the channel (higher sea is in eastern part of the channel). Both winds are good for windsurfing with appropriate equipment, but they are not so frequent and lasts about one day. Maestral and Maestralun have same direction, but other characteristics and origin are different. Tramontana blows from north and brings cold air from mountains during the winter. Blows on gusts, and has same characteristics as previous two winds. Tramontana create line which running through middle of the channel. In area south of mentioned line tramontana reach maximum force and raises high sea, therefore is good for windsurfing. North of this line is lee area, with gusts of 3-4 Bf., with small wavelets.

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Levant

Normally, levant blows as constant wind, but before it comes in Peljesac Channel blows around, and over island of Mljet and islets of Korcula archipelago. That’s a main reason why levant blows in channel as gusty wind. Incoming gusts are sudden and clearly visible on sea surface; approximately one gust lasts about one minute, and time between gusts is usually more than 1.5 minutes. Gust reaches force of 4-6 Bf., sometimes even more, while in time between gusts is almost calm. Levant gusts always coming from same direction. In eastern part of the channel raises only small wavelets, while higher waves can be expected in western part of the channel around Korcula coast. Levant is good wind for windsurfing in channel, especially for speed.

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Lebic & Bura

Lebic (tal. Libecchio) and Bura (engl. Bora) are two crossing channel winds; lebic from South-West to North-East and bura from North-East to South-West. Both winds are not convenient for windsurfing in the Channel. Main characteristics of bura are its gusts; they are sudden, sometimes violent and often altering direction. Bura sometimes reach force of more than 100 knots and then create foam layer above sea surface. Bura blows through the gaps between the high mountains on Peljesac peninsula, therefore gusts of bura in north half of the channel (sea around Peljesac coast) are unpredictable in strength and direction. North half of channel is located in the lee, and bora does not raise sea in this area (only in extreme conditions when bura raise foam and sea in distance of less than 100 meters from shore). Short distance between Peljesac and Korcula is enough that bura raise considerable sea and waves are breaking on Korcula rocky coast. On its way from Peljesac to Korcula, bura gradually increase its strength. Therefore, bura gusts in south part of channel are not expressed and sudden as on north part, but they are stronger and more constant in its direction and strength.

Lebic is rare wind in Adriatic Sea (blows several times per year) and lasts usually less than one day. Lebic is gusty wind as well, but gusts are different than bura gusts. Main reason for that are lower mountains on Korcula Island than mountains on Peljesac peninsula. Lebic blows from wide, Lastovo Channel over Korcula Island into Peljesac Channel. South part of the channel; from Korcula coast up to 200-300 meters from shore, gusts are coming from different directions with different strength, but from this lines until Peljesac coast, lebic gusts becoming more constant in both, direction and strength. This area (from Korcula coast till 200-300 meters off-shore) is shorter than in case of bura (from Peljesac coast till middle of the channel) due to lower mountains of Korcula Island.

Lebic raises considerable sea on north part of the channel. Lebic gusts are similar as Levant gusts in channel. Windsurfing in bura and lebic is possible in the middle of the channel and route running along the channel. In bura, approaching Korcula coast where bura is on-shore wind, could be dangerous due to high waves in south part of channel and rocks. North part also should be avoided due to gusts which coming from different directions.

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