Where We're Sailing Today / where we sailed today

[windward1]

Hi Lee D,

Well I have been impressed with all the places you have sailed and also impressed with your vivid recollection of each.

The recollection that you have of the local Santa Cruz coast that inspires me as to how they did it, is the guys sailing from Natural Bridges to Ano Nuevo, landing and sailing back to 'Bridges again.

I have gotten as far as Three Mile and turned around there, without landing.

I would to keep on trying to go further and further overtime and see if I ever get the conditions right to make it at least to Davenport and back.

Not sure I would ever make it to Ano Nuevo.

Windward1

[zirtaeb]

Couple odd decades ago, TrevorBayliss and JimJohnstone used to sail from NaturalBridges up to Waddell, and back, mostly on their course long boards, but by the early '90's, on their course slalom 9' boards. They always complained about the inside kelp beds, and often sailed outside, like 1-4 miles offshore.
When I got my Wad sail help, Trevor asked me to go a few times, but by then, I skipped coastal sailing for warm, girl friendly bay sailing.
I've also windsurfed MarinaStateBeach, Asilomar, and SpanishBay in planing conditions. Even had one day at CarmelValleyStateBeach in S.Carmel, sailing right over to MonasteryBeach and it's huge shorepound and back.

[windward1]

Hi Lee D,

I have wanted to sail Point Lobos and Carmel area, but never seem to have any boards with me when the wind is right. I have seen some days with a south wind where it looked like it would be fun to sail out to the point, around it to near China Beach and then go back again. There are some gnarly narrow coves with caves and such near China Beach that I might explore on my SUP.

Windward1

[LeeD]

I haven't sailed anywhere S of CarmelValleyStateBeach.
But, my brother and I did a mapping out of PacificGrove oceanside beaches, and on a S wind, you can surfsail the small closeout shorebreak beaches N of Asilomar pretty easily. Like around 1964.

[prevett]

> I have wanted to sail Point Lobos and Carmel area

I sailed the main Carmel Beach a few years back on an 89L / 5.2m2 in a winter pre-storm south wind. Made east/west reaches, going about as far as Ghost Tree / Pescadero Point and back.

The kelp bed off the Carmel main beach is brutal, and the wind shadow is pretty severe for the first 100ft off the beach. Other than that, it was fun.

[windward1]

Hi prevett,

If you had launched off of Carmel Beach towards the north end, would the wind shadow have been less and the kelp less thick?

Windward1

[prevett]

> If you had launched off of Carmel Beach towards the north end,
> would the wind shadow have been less and the kelp less thick?

Yep, that is where I launched from, just north of the clump of rocks in the water up at the north end of the beach. It's probably the only feasible slot to get in and out. Even there, it took some doing to keep out of the kelp traps. The wind shadow was more of an issue getting out. Coming back in, I picked a little swell crumbler to surf in through the light wind zone.

BTW, I have also launched from Asilomar on a south wind. It was pretty good, but the launch is tougher if the waves have any size.

[mch13]

Going further south, I remember a spectacular "Wind Tracks" cover shot at Andrew Molera. It was taken from the cliff with the vertical board and sailer getting huge air, parallel to the vertical rock face. It has stuck in my mind as one of the most dramatic windsurfing photos I've ever seen. It might have been one of the Central Coast crew, Matt S maybe? They hit it perfectly, probably late 80's, early 90's.

Guess this time of year, it is mostly reminiscing......for me anyway.

Good for Windward1 getting out to new spots in December. I'm impressed.

[windward1]

To Lee D & mch13,

Really, going to those spots is really not that impressive. Not like the surf journeys Lee has taken, anyway. I live in Aptos, so these breaks are four miles from my house. So, if feeling the urge (which is almost always) I can get out on that water and be SUPping or Sailing as long as I am willing to have and use gear for the conditions.

If I was a wind snob, I would miss many magical sessions.

Windward1

[zirtaeb]

Any new venture is worth equal to the wierdest 1st tries at new spots.
My first time windsurfing, at LakeMerced, was just as exhilarating as my first reach out Schooner's S of PtArena.
My first day at OceanBeach easily equaled the adrenaline of pioneering Hukilau, BrighamYoungBeach, or Sunset with 20 surfer's out.
Heading out at OysterPt. the first time in Sept.'83 was no less an adventure than sailing off Moks and landing at Kammies.
The adventure is perceived by the adventurer, and it's a self fullfilling experience.
I hope you write about your adventures in the ocean, it's cool to see the pioneering spirit still exists. Who knows, maybe MikeGodsey will include you in the credits in the near future.