Wopnin? It is the standard friendly greeting on the Rock, as locals call Bermuda, and it means "what's happening?" At Shelly Bay, from November to April, the answer is usually wind.
This is a family park first and a wind spot second, and that is its charm. A curve of sand on the North Shore of Hamilton Parish, a park at one end with a playground and picnic tables, a boardwalk through a small nature reserve on the west side, and water so shallow and clear you watch the sand race by under your board.
The sea sits around 18 to 19°C from January to March and nearer 23°C in November.
70% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In November the wind most often sits at 12 to 15 kt (27% of daylight hours) and is over 12 kt from 8am to 6pm on at least half the days. See both charts in the full report
November on the record
The month's own figures, not the year's average.
Rideable days21 of 30Nine Novembers in the record
Strongest measured gust60 ktNovember 1998, L.F. Wade airport station, 6.7 km away. Thirty-two Novembers measured, 1990 to 2025. Station, not the beach.
Wind, rideable hours17 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air22.5°CMaximum
Take it with you
The full Shelly Bay report
Seven sections over six pages, built from the same record as this page. A PDF you can read on the plane.
01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind02The month's own records03Full stays, schools & kit04Per-launch tide windows05Shallows, swimmers & winter fronts06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits
WindChaser spot reportShelly BayHamilton Parish, Bermuda · November70% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
When it gets busy
Crowds
Feb · Medium
Summer belongs to the swimmers and families, May to September. Winter brings the riders and fewer visitors, and December is the quietest month. The inside is small, so more than three kites up feels crowded.
On the water
What November usually does
Wind directionSW to WStraight onshore into the bay. Anything else brings wind shadows and gusts.
Wind strength17 to 19 ktThe mean over rideable daylight hours, November to March, calibrated against a 2.5 km model and checked against the L.F. Wade station. Fronts blow harder.
When it blowsWith the frontsWinter fronts cross the island and bring the big days. Time your session to the front.
Your playground
Launches & safety
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
Launch
Hazard
Parking
School
Stay
Webcam
Approximate
Local intel
Getting there & on the ground
Nearest airportL.F. Wade (BDA)About 9 km by road, across the Causeway.
On the groundNovember to AprilThe winter season, when fronts bring the wind.
Getting aroundBus, taxi or scooterNo conventional car hire, though visitors can rent electric cars. Buses 10 and 11 pass the bay on the North Shore.
Stay, schools & kit
Who works this beach
SchoolGraykite BermudaSchoolKiteIKOKite school. Names Shelly Bay for North Shore sessions with advanced riders.Website
SchoolIsland WindsSchoolKite · WindsurfPrivate and semi-private kite lessons, and windsurf lessons.Website