Jalama week

[theq]

"What also impressed me was the level of sailing"

I agree. The level of sailing is very much a matter of pure survival up there. This is not just from large waves, but also from the extreme temperatures, mostly cold. I wouldn't be surprised if Boeing sent guys up there to pick up the carbon scraps.
I surfed Jalama quite a few times, mostly in my younger, twenty-something, days, and it moves a lot of water. There can be rogue sneaker sets that will make you rub your eyes just before you start scratching for the disappearing horizon. Tarantula point can look 2 feet from in front of the campground but actually be throwing 10' faces between sets.
I've only sailed there once, about 10 years ago. It was beyond my abilities at the time and is probably more-so today. As you probably found out, the waves are pretty much all top-to-bottom, making getting caught inside a real treat.
It's definitely a great stretch of coastline up there.
Wouldn't it be nice to get the train (Coastliner?) to let us off in Jalama? One guy drives the big equipment truck up there. The rest get the quick trip and some great sailing/surfing.
Some might not like that idea though.

[Kevinmc]

Hey there Boardsports, yep, I remember ya!

Jalama is a tough animal to predict. First I check the NOAA forecast for the area: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/marine.php?marine=PZZ673 looking for the "NW 15 to 25 gusts to 30" at least. Then I check the Pt. Arguello and the West Channel buoys. If they're up in the 20's and building before noon and NW, that will usually get me heading up.

And then.... you might as well flip a coin and say, "Heads it will be windy, tails it won't." Like the other day when Capetonian came up, it can get too hot and shut off the wind at the beach. All this nice Summer weather is great, but it kills the wind at Jalama. All the indicators were saying wind, but it never really happened. Especially this time of year, though, you'll get it more often than not if Spring weather returns. Hope to see ya up there.

Great meeting ya Cape. Too bad the conditions weren't a little better. Although Jalama has claimed its fair share of my masts, it's not always giant waves as you saw. Friday was only about shoulder high. I don't encourage people to get into situations beyond their ability, but there are times at Jalama when you won't go through your quiver in one session. If there's hardly any swell in socal, there will usually still be waves at the J and one can have a mellow day of sailing. Actually, the wind might not be mellow, but at least the waves will be!

Anyone know if the south swell show up at Leo Saturday? Looked like it got windy on the graph. I'm contemplating a Leo or C-st run if it looks too hot for Jalama.

[sharkasm]

[coolmtnbiker048]