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Dutch Harbor kitesurf and wingfoil spot

United States · Alaska

Spot currently openExpert level 53.87 | -166.55

Overview

Dutch Harbor is a spot on Unalaska Island in Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain — one of the most remote and extreme kitesurfing locations in the world. Made famous by the TV show "Deadliest Catch," Dutch Harbor is the most productive fishing port in the United States. Weather conditions are among the most violent on the planet: storm-force winds, massive seas, perpetual fog, and horizontal rain. Kitesurfing here is an EXTREME adventure reserved for the most experienced and fearless riders.

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Spot forecast for Dutch Harbor

Sunrise 19:44 · Sunset 05:57

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 7.7 km from the spot.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24 Now01:101.5 m06:271.2 m10:191.3 m17:420.6 m01:281.5 m06:561.2 m11:241.2 m18:160.7 m01:381.4 m07:301.1 m12:361.2 m18:490.8 m01:421.4 m08:070.9 m13:561.2 m19:211 m01:421.4 m08:470.8 m15:341.2 m19:551.1 m
  • Tuesday 20 October High tide · 1.5 m Low tide · 1.2 m High tide · 1.3 m Low tide · 0.6 m
  • Wednesday 21 October High tide · 1.5 m Low tide · 1.2 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.7 m
  • Thursday 22 October High tide · 1.4 m Low tide · 1.1 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.8 m
  • Friday 23 October High tide · 1.4 m Low tide · 0.9 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 1 m
  • Saturday 24 October High tide · 1.4 m Low tide · 0.8 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 1.1 m

Dutch Harbor: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

107h

in March · 17.5 rideable days

The season runs from February to June, peaking in March: 17 rideable days a month and 107 hours of usable wind, at 5 °C. The low point is January, at 7 days.

Rideable days per month

0 5 10 15 20 January: 7 rideable days7 d J February: 14.5 rideable days F March: 17.5 rideable days17.5 d M April: 17.5 rideable days A May: 16.5 rideable days M June: 17.5 rideable days J July: 13 rideable days J August: 13 rideable days A September: 13 rideable days S October: 10 rideable days O November: 10 rideable days N December: 11.5 rideable days D 0 5 10 15 20 January: 7 rideable days7 d J February: 14.5 rideable days F March: 17.5 rideable days17.5 d M April: 17.5 rideable days A May: 16.5 rideable days M June: 17.5 rideable days J July: 13 rideable days J August: 13 rideable days A September: 13 rideable days S October: 10 rideable days O November: 10 rideable days N December: 11.5 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 43%13-20 knots · 43%21-30 knots · 13%31+ knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 13 and 20 knots — 43% of rideable hours. That is the most versatile range, where most kites work. The coldest month is March, at 1 °C. The wettest month is January, with 216 mm.

Monthly averages: Dutch Harbor
Monthly averages — Dutch Harbor — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 7.0 35 h 2 °C 216 mm
February 14.5 70 h 3 °C 102 mm
March 17.5 107 h 1 °C 141 mm
April 17.5 121 h 4 °C 137 mm
May 16.5 117 h 6 °C 100 mm
June 17.5 126 h 9 °C 120 mm
July 13.0 78 h 13 °C 56 mm
August 13.0 89 h 14 °C 150 mm
September 13.0 82 h 11 °C 145 mm
October 10.0 69 h 8 °C 177 mm
November 10.0 50 h 5 °C 178 mm
December 11.5 62 h 3 °C 148 mm

Photo gallery of Dutch Harbor

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Technical details of Dutch Harbor spot

N: Not rideable NNE: Not rideable NE: Not rideable ENE: Not rideable E: Not rideable ESE: Not rideable SE: Rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Rideable SW: Not rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Not rideable WNW: Not rideable NW: Rideable NNW: Rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from SE, SSW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Expert
On the water

GLACIAL water year-round (3-10°C/37-50°F in summer, 1-4°C/34-39°F in winter) — high-quality dry suit ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY with thermal undergarments, hood, thick gloves, and booties. The bottom is a mix of volcanic rocks, sand, and kelp. Moderate tidal range (2-3 meters/7-10 feet). Strong tidal currents in the harbor. North Atlantic and Pacific swells converge here — sea often very rough. Winds can exceed 100 knots in storms.

Hazards

AMONG THE MOST EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE WORLD — the Aleutians are known as "the birthplace of storms." Frequent storm-force winds exceeding 60-100 knots. Williwaws (violent, sudden katabatic winds) descending from volcanoes. Glacial water — fatal hypothermia in minutes. Sea often raging with multi-meter waves. Near-permanent fog reducing visibility to meters. Intense commercial fishing traffic — trawlers and crab boats. Strong currents. Volcanic rocks. Kelp forests. EXTREME remoteness — nearest hospital is in Anchorage (1,300 km/800 miles).

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