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Blog: The Curve, where eddy and Olympic Circle meet

 
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windfind



Joined: 18 Mar 1997
Posts: 1899

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 11:22 am    Post subject: Blog: The Curve, where eddy and Olympic Circle meet Reply with quote

Hi Gang,

Here is an animated blog about one of the most interesting chapters in the Bay Area wind saga. Where else can you sail or kite winds that actually curve during a single reach!

http://blog.weatherflow.com/the-curve-where-eddy-winds-and-the-olympic-circle-intersect/

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com/ikitesurf.com
Weatheflow.com



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windoggi



Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Posts: 2743

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 12:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's why we East Bay sailors never sail straight.
_________________
/w\
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MULLDE102f



Joined: 15 Jun 1997
Posts: 131

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Forward, but never straight
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cachaocachao



Joined: 27 Mar 2002
Posts: 73

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mike, SPOT ON!

I've been sailing the Circle the past 1.5 months very frequently on either 4.0/4.4/ big board, trying to catch most of the wind from TI/Blunt, nice segments of swells. The wind does tend to take a nap for a short time mid afternoon before the wind returns with the late afternoon push again. Sometimes, the wind stops there and fading quickly towards MB/PI. Oftentimes, I do feel the wind angle becomes more SW after mid distance from the Berkeley pier towards Brooks Island, as I catch much of the Blunt wind. I have not sailed out of PI/MB because of the Circle. Awesome stretch of wind access.
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veterduet



Joined: 29 Jun 2000
Posts: 268

PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 12:26 am    Post subject: the curve Reply with quote

Noticed today that not only does the wind curve, but the water changes color. It went from dark blue to blue/green near Pt. Isabel. Wind was right for a 5.7, not as strong as Friday but fun to sail with flat water toward Brooks Island
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windfind



Joined: 18 Mar 1997
Posts: 1899

PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:56 am    Post subject: Re: the curve Reply with quote

veterduet wrote:
Noticed today that not only does the wind curve, but the water changes color. It went from dark blue to blue/green near Pt. Isabel. Wind was right for a 5.7, not as strong as Friday but fun to sail with flat water toward Brooks Island


Hi veterduet,

Good observation. You can see those water changes very clearly from the air. The more blue water has more ocean water compared to bay water. This is normally in the parts of the bay with faster currents.

While the more green water is in shallower areas with more sluggish currents. The lines between them move with the ebb and flood.

On the great yacht racing tricks is to use the different colors and knowledge of the tidal current state to make it faster to get to a distant mark.

When windsurfing Crissy I used this trick on borderline days to either get to the north tower or to get back to the launch when the wind was fading. The idea is to stay in the color zone that favors the direction you want to go.

So for example if the wind is very weak the first 2/3 of Crissy waters but is ripping at the north tower during an ebb. You would slog across the bay until you get to the "blue" water then make close reaches in this zone until you got to the stronger wind neat the north tower.

Real bay experts like Tom Blackballer, world-champion bay yachtsman, America's Cup helmsman & sailmaker was almost unbeatable in the bay due in part to his knowledge of currents.

Think about the value of Tom Blackballer's knowledge the next time you are trying to swim back in and see Blackballer buoy getting closer and closer as Crissy fades in the distance.

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com/ikitesurf.com
Weatheflow.com
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mac



Joined: 07 Mar 1999
Posts: 17736
Location: Berkeley, California

PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is Blackaller, no second b. The colors mark depth, wind velocity, and tide stage. When it is windy enough--and it doesn't take much--water in the shallow areas of the Bay picks up mud. The line between blue and brown is very sharp sometimes, and marks the presence of deeper water, whether natural or a dredged channel. A strong flood can bring oceanic water across the shallow flats and obscure the lines, carrying blue into the shallows. A strong ebb does the opposite.
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veterduet



Joined: 29 Jun 2000
Posts: 268

PostPosted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all the info. Next time I take that one more run and the wind starts to fade I'll know what to look for to make the slog home easier.
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