For the record, when the wind blows offshore 40-50mph+, Swellinfo will show BLUE conditions... Hopefully you realize that offshore winds that strong will make for dangerous conditions.
I surf blindfolded. That's how much I rip. lol Ovisously dropping in while stand up surfing would be problematic. I'm just wondering if it creates currents where you have trouble getting back in if you lose your board. Ie like a beach long rip current because wind creates current.. Never been out in 50mph winds so was just wondering.
Other than the blinding spray you will tend to find it difficult to make it down the face without being blown back up and over the falls. Also really easy to get blown way outside between sets.
It's nothing that you couldn't paddle back through, is it? I mean have there ever been any instances of strong off-shore winds blowing a surfer out to sea, requiring a rescue operation because they couldn't paddle back against the wind? I say that because should you get blown too far outside, a set coming through won't push you back in ... you'll have to paddle for it.
Yeah but if you get caught outside without the board! That's the real question! You go way faster paddling a surfboard than you swim obviously. Your average person only swims about 2mph. If there's a constant current stronger than than you're up the creek without a paddle!(Even an olympic sprinter can only go about 3.7mph and that is for a VERY short period of time, not applicable to a longer distance like getting back to the beach or swimming against current/waves/whitewater ect.)
Personally I have never been blown out so far that I couldn't get back, obviously, lol. But the issue could be that the only waves that are breaking through the wind would be the biggest set waves and if they are close outs you might get freaked out and not want to take them. Then as you try to paddle back in against the wind you get caught in the worst possible place, right inside the bar with a double overhead wave breaking on your back. Let me tell you that sucks especially in shallow water.
I know you might not believe me, but I saw two boogie boarders, a short boarder, and a logger try to catch waves in a gale at Cape May a few years back. Nobody could catch a wave, the boogiers came in on the whitewater, the other two luckily made it in before they cleared the lighthouse down the beach. They had about five firetrucks and other safety vehicles on the beach. A gale is less than 45mph. Not worth it.
If anyone has ever tried to canoe into 35-40 mph winds, you know that it is possible, but only for short periods of time. Very quickly you give up and just get blown with the wind. Ultimately there is no fighting the wind. Kayaking in 45 mile an hour wind is comparable. Surfers don't have paddles. Just hands. You stand a strong chance of getting blown out to sea if winds exceed 45 mph. There will be no getting back to shore. Onshore winds are better at over 45 mph for this reason. I'm going out tomorrow morning, in Montauk, but I'm gonna be friggin ready to take the first wave, any wave I can, if I start drifting too far out.
