Los Angeles - who sailed today?

[capetonian]

I sailed down at County Line. There were 3 kiters out when I got there, but no windsurfers. My wife took some photos, Ill post a link to them later.

Almost too strong for my 5.2, and then the wind suddenly dropped. Looking at the wind charts it looks like I should have gone to Cabrillo Beach, the wind looked much more consistent there.
Phil

[pixit]

It was gnarly at Cabrillo, broke a mast at the shore break. Way overpowered on a 4.4 during gust and standing still during lulls. Challenging to say the least. Wind speed was from the low teens and gusting to the mid 40s. We were blown all over the water. I am still glad I went sailing.

Pix

[jpbassking]

A bad day of windsurfing is better than a day at work.

[coolmtnbiker048]

Another windsurfer and I sailed inside the harbor @ Belmont, I was completely overpowered on a 4.7, and then not powered at all during the lulls. There was another windsurfer out there for a little while and it looked like there was a kiter, or someone flying a kite down at Seal Beach. It looked pretty gnarly everywhere down the coast, I drove down PCH towards Newport.

[stevenbard]

I sailed Leo at the peak wind around 1 pm. 31 avg with gusts to 46 and on the outside Im sure it hit 50+. Needless to say it was survival only. I didnt see any kiters or windsurfers but some guys I know sailed down in Malibu and up at C street. Both places were difficult at best.

Leo would have been all time if I had had a smaller sail and the wind was a little more consistent. There was good surf.

[RPM7]

Yeah, sorry about your mast, Pix. We gotta get you on skinny masts!

I started with a 5.0 at the bay side of Cabrillo, but was WAY overpowered. The smallest I brought was my KA Kult 4.7, so I rigged it with as much downhaul as it would take and went down from a 30cm fin to a GSport 26cm bump & jump (nice fin!), and it was still a challenge, but somewhat manageable. The gusts were so violent it was a trick to just hang on. Didnt dare let the board take off like it wanted to -- would have been some gnarly crashes. Overall it was fun and challenging.

I was wishing I had my 4.2. Looking at the graphs, it looks like Cabrillo was mild compared to Belmont, Seal, and Sunset. Yikes!

[capetonian]

Too true

[capetonian]

Santa Barbara too. I found this link of sailing in SB from 12/27/06 on the hot sails maui website - it looks freaking strong:

http://****.com/december_cst/index.html

[rlshirey]

My friends and I sailed (survived) at Seal Beach. I was on a 4.0 initially but a gust ripped me out of the straps and thru the sail. I finished the day on a 4.7, generally overpowered. But it was the wave frequency that caused me most of the problems. They were so close together I couldnt get settled in. There were several sailors out with 3.5 to 5.0 being used. But it seemed to be a very difficult day for everyone. No kiters.

[capetonian]

Link to photos from 12/27/06:
http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=247774&cdate=20061227