myiW Current Conditions and Forecasts Community Forums Buy and Sell Services
 
Hi guest · myAccount · Log in
 SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   RegisterRegister 
SF Bay area
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Southwest USA, Hawaii, Mexico
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
carl



Joined: 25 Feb 1997
Posts: 2674
Location: SF bay area

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:38 pm    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jse



Joined: 17 Apr 1995
Posts: 1460
Location: Maui

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:35 pm    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
carl



Joined: 25 Feb 1997
Posts: 2674
Location: SF bay area

PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:56 am    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
hildebra



Joined: 14 Sep 2000
Posts: 107
Location: Bay Area

PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:02 am    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

Where exactly is this launch? Thanks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
carl



Joined: 25 Feb 1997
Posts: 2674
Location: SF bay area

PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:58 am    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
polarbear



Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 48

PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:29 pm    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
carl



Joined: 25 Feb 1997
Posts: 2674
Location: SF bay area

PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:52 pm    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
madspaniard



Joined: 23 May 2005
Posts: 380

PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:34 pm    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

yeah, Its the back of Golden Gate Fields
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
polarbear



Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 48

PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:40 am    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mildred



Joined: 28 Apr 2006
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:39 pm    Post subject: RE: SF Bay area Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Southwest USA, Hawaii, Mexico All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

myiW | Weather | Community | Membership | Support | Log in
like us on facebook
© Copyright 1999-2007 WeatherFlow, Inc Contact Us Ad Marketplace

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group