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carl
Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:38 pm Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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Crown is good on southerly storm winds, good swells too. Be a little cautious for shallow spots at low tide on the inside.
Another great place is Oyster Point, just north of SFO, also can have excellent swell. Grass rigging and nice W.S. launch ramp with a wind sock. Works on SE to SSW too, wind is side-onshore. No wind shadow because the fetch is straight from San Mateo bridge on south wind. Many times the harbormaster even watches out for you too, probably because theres little other boat or fishing activity during a storm. |
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jse
Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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I sail Alameda on storms. It can be terrific in the right conditions. However when they are right, you probably can sail many other places, including Berkeley, Half Moon Bay, Pt. Isabel and Larkspur. However on this side of the bay, I think the Crown Beach launch is the easiest. When it hasnt been raining for awhile, and there is a gulley-washer, you should keep your eyes peeled for logs and junk in the water.
To sail Alameda, ignore the wind direction, its always wrong. But look for an overall trend. It should read strong S or SW at most sites. When it starts, get there in a hurry, cause it may not last, and when the storm passes, the wind shifts and then dies. I have sailed there from 9 AM til 3 PM.
Wind is directly side-shore from the left, so you sail straight out into the bay and back to the beach. Use the shack as a reference, and try to stay upwind.
Bring warm dry clothes and towels to dry off after sailing. You can change in the permanent restrooms. |
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carl
Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area
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Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:56 am Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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Also I noticed that storm winds are most often best in the morning, at any of the locations. The unobstructed ocean winds preceeding the front start out SE, then they clock over to SW with the passage of the front. When HMB starts blowing SSW, the front has past and HMB starts shutting down. The local mountains around the bay can direct the wind in different directions at various sites. Look at wind flow models on this website and the USGS site.
I agree with Steve that the Alameda direction sensor is way off on south winds.
For Oyster Pt, the SFO sensor seems to be best. Also look at 3rd channel and Sierra Pt sensors. That place blows good in SE to SSW and continues to blow even after HMB has turned SSW and shut down. |
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hildebra
Joined: 14 Sep 2000 Posts: 107 Location: Bay Area
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:02 am Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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Where exactly is this launch? Thanks. |
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carl
Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:58 am Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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From HWY 101 (north of SFO), take Oyster Pt Blvd and drive towards the marina. There is a tatered orange windsock over a lawn area and a nice ramp into the water. |
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polarbear
Joined: 10 Aug 2003 Posts: 48
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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Another great spot: Race track (a.k.a Golden Gate Fields or Albany Bulb). On a south wind, I find the water quality better there than in Berkeley. Launch is easier too, straight from the beach. Then you sail directly towards Olympic Circle...
Dont spread the word too much. Its still a secret spot;-) Only a few kiters surf during summertime, and us crazy windsurfers from the East Bay on stormy days... |
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carl
Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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At Oyster its the pre-frontal SE to S that works best. They are side/on shore and the wind is coming straight from the San Mateo bridge. You are reaching toward Hayward/San Leandro not the birdcage.
SW to W you get the Genentech wind shadow so its better to launch at Haskins, Gen or east bay. SW is actually post-frontal, and can get fluky on the penninsula. So, get there earlier, before the front when the SEerlys are a blowing. |
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madspaniard
Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 380
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:34 pm Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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yeah, Its the back of Golden Gate Fields |
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polarbear
Joined: 10 Aug 2003 Posts: 48
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:40 am Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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Take the Gilman exit, drive as if you were going to the race tracks parking lot. Its free when there are no races going on, but you can alway tell the parking attendent that youre going down to the beach. You will have to drive past the actual parking lot and go down to the larger lot near the beach.
I often see kiters with small kites on skateboards having fun in this huge parking lot... |
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mildred
Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Posts: 2
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: RE: SF Bay area |
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I heard there was some debris, like rebar or other junk in the water around the bulb and that its a little sketchy to sail there. Anyone know if thats true?
— J |
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