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flying tigers?

 
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jaakko



Joined: 02 May 2007
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:35 am    Post subject: flying tigers? Reply with quote

hi, coming for 8 months to Bay area starting in Dec. have checked some of the web-pages about launch sites but havenŽt managed to find any info about flying tigers (do not know if I remember the name correctly, but should be between Coyote and Candestick). heard about this from a Finn who spent 6 yrs in the area. is this site still accessible, and if yes, where exactly it is located? what I heard about it (flat water jibe heaven) sounds perfect for my skills (still very much challenge in two dimensions), solid winds to all
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jse



Joined: 17 Apr 1995
Posts: 1460
Location: Maui

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

Tigers isn't that popular anymore. I think more people sail from a place called Haskins. Same conditions, but you launch from the other end of the sailing area.

You didn't say where you are staying, and what period of time you will be here. Wind's generally die off in September. Most sails are in the 4.0 to 6.0 range around here. After September, it jumps up a notch in sail size.

Steve
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carl



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

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There used to be a air freight company called Flying Tigers and they had
a building somewhere near the Haskins Street sailing area, so i think they are one and the same. I haven't been sailing long enough to know exactly where the Flying Tigers building was. To get to Haskins get on Grand Ave and turn right on Haskins St and park at the end of the street. Then you have to walk east on the trail until you see a path through the weeds into the water. It is only good at higher tide. Very few sail there any more, you maybe be lonely.
Oyster Pt (at the Oyster Pt marina on Oyster Pt Blvd, look for the windsock) has a nice launch and is great for South wind storm sailing in December thru March. Dec thru Feb those are about the only winds you'll see here unless you have huge sails. The real winds start about April and go thru Sept. Then Coyote, Candlestick, 3rd ave are better.
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jaakko



Joined: 02 May 2007
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hi jse and carl, and thanks for your prompt reply and detailed info about location, and the typical local equipment. I will check out the local sites in detail when IŽll be there, ample time to do that before your windy spring-summer season starts, solid winds
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victor



Joined: 03 Aug 1998
Posts: 581

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 1:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you are not sure of your abilities I would avoid Oyster Pt. There is often a huge wind shadow so getting out and back from the actual sailing area can get difficult on the sail size you will want to have once you get into the wind. Also if anything goes wrong your next stop is Hayward and the trip wll be very lonely. Haskins is much safer and easier. Definitely a high tide spot, flat water, screaming jibes and lots of monkey business.

A little history:
Flying Tigers was founded by a group of American military pilots at the end of WWII. They were actually a covert group that defended the Burma supply line into China against the Japanese before the war started. They used to have a huge hanger at the south side of the little bay which became known by the same name. Federal Expres bought them about 20 years ago and there is a new building on the same site housing a few cargo airlines. There used to be a launch from that side but it has since been fenced off.
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carl



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

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Victor knows his stuff.
The wind shadow can be real bad on westerlys caused by the buildings upwind.
On SOUTH wind (usually in winter) it is a different place with no shadow and nice swell (or "waves" for you dictionary scholars :>), but not breaking waves).
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SPQR



Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 274

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the early 80's when short glass boards (aka - sinkers) became popular one of the best places to learn to jibe and water start was at Tigers. There is always a ton of wind there and the water is shallow so one could always get back in even by walking if they had to. To get to the original Tigers location you would drive behind the United Airlines Maintenance building, Tigers had a building next door. Folks used to lay out old carpet to rig on and and parking was pretty sketchy, but the sailing was always good. A lot of other folks would launch from Oyster Point, point downwind and offshore a bit and then sail over to Tigers. Sails around or under 5.0 were generally the rule. As their skills improved most of these folks moved over to the old launch site at 3rd Ave. and headed for the channel which still has some of the best sailing and kiting on the Bay when the tide ebbs and the winds are over 20 knots. In those days the parking lot at Coyote was filled with sailboarders. The original parking location at 3rd was right behind the berm at the small beach (almost at the end of the berm by the bridge) where newbie kiters land their kites today when they are unable to stay up wind. The CHP kicked us out of their and everyone started parking right by the sewage treatment plant and sailing more up wind. Then a few years ago the golf range and adjacent parking lot for kiters and sailboarders opened up. Now the ramp at the old 3rd ave. spot is used by a few windsurfers, the rigging is good,parking is close, and easy access to the water. Things have changed, but the sailing or kiting is still good.
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jaakko



Joined: 02 May 2007
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

again, many thanks to everyone for detailed info, case closed.
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bdolin



Joined: 05 Jul 2000
Posts: 18

PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool, this gets me psyched to try this place out. So is "SFO" the best sensor to check for Haskins/Flying Tigers? And which wind direction works best?
Thanks!
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carl



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

PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Haskins/FT works best on westerlies just like Candlestick.
If Stick is blowing, Haskins will be probably blowing too. SFO sensor is
closer, but only updates every hour.
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