When you are surfing on our website or reading about kitesurfing in general and you are looking for a description of wind speeds, you will often come across the abbreviation "Bft. (Beaufort).

This refers to the Beaufort scale, which was originally developed by the British Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort for seafaring to determine the behaviour of waves on the sea.

Today, this scale is used by most sailors, surfers and kitesurfers to measure wind speed.

The scale divides the wind into twelve strengths - starting with complete calm (0) up to a hurricane (12).

For kitesurfers, it only gets really interesting from 4 Beaufort. From this wind strength, the sea is slightly agitated, a moderate breeze blows and the first kiters can venture onto the water with a large kite and board. With a foil board, you can even go kiting from 3 Beaufort. However, this wind range is reserved for experts only, because with so little wind the biggest challenge is to get the kite into the air at all. Beginners should therefore stick to 4-5 Beaufort.

Wind speed can also be expressed in knots instead of Beaufort.
Knots is a measure of speed that also comes from seafaring and is based on one nautical mile. One knot is the equivalent of 1.852 km/h and is exactly one nautical mile.
For example, 7 to 10 knots means 3 Beaufort in wind force. From approx. 10 to 11 knots - that is the limit between 3 and 4 Beaufort - kitesurfing is basically possible.
For beginners, kitesurfing is really fun from about 14 knots (4 Bft.).
When the speed reaches 30 knots (6 Bft.), beginners will have a hard time at the latest. Pro kitesurfers, on the other hand, are happy when the scale shows over 35 knots, because then new altitude records can be achieved again. From about 40 knots (8 Bft.) onwards, the majority of kitesurfers will leave the water and from 50 knots (9 Bft.) onwards it definitely becomes unkiteable.

The terms onshore, sideshore and offshore refer to the wind direction in relation to the coastline ("shore") and thus characterise the surf conditions.
There are four different wind directions:
SIDE-SHORE/ SIDE-ON-SHORE
For beginners and intermediates, the best wind direction is a constant wind coming parallel to the shore (side-shore) or diagonally onshore (side-on-shore). This is because if something should go wrong when launching, you won't be pulled directly onto land. Since kitesurfers on average ride at right angles to the wind direction, in side- or side-on-shore wind the kiters always ride away from the shore and then back to the shore. This spreads everything out better on the water. And if something happens to you further out, you don't drift further out, but parallel to the shore, or even slowly towards the shore if the wind is diagonally onshore.
ONSHORE
Onshore conditions are often accompanied by shorebreak, which usually makes it much more difficult to get started kitesurfing. For kitesurfers, onshore conditions are particularly problematic because of the danger of being pulled over land in an uncontrolled manner. Windsurfers and kitesurfers must first gain a lot of height together in order to move from the shore to the open water. However, the wind can usually come in completely freely and is correspondingly constant.
OFFSHORE
It is generally not advisable to go out on the water when the wind is offshore. Offshore wind has the disadvantage that it comes directly over the land, has to overcome obstacles and is therefore often very gusty. In addition, with offshore winds there is the danger of drifting and this happens faster than you think. You don't even have to fall, it's often enough that the wind dies down and you can't get back to shore. In this case, you would have to swim against the wind direction, which is very difficult or even impossible, especially with kite equipment. In offshore wind, you should only ride if you are no longer a beginner and can safely ride upwind.
 

best wind strength for the beginning approx. 12-22 knots (4-5 bft)
best wind directions are side-shore and side-onshore
avoid offshore wind
take breaks in extreme weather conditions
By the way: at our destinations we always pay attention to the wind conditions and the spot. For a safe and relaxed kite holiday, please contact us for advice.