South Padre Island (SPI)

jiberdaddy · Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 15

Looking for a somewhat tropical spot to get away.

A few questions about SPI,

1. Is SPI considered "tropical" by the same token as say Bonaire or Aruba, or more on the Corpus/BIB scale?

2. We would be flying into Brownsville without gear, hotelling and renting a car. Is Windsurf Inc a nice spot to sail from for 2 weeks of flatwater, or where would vacationers schlep rental gear (tied to a mainstream rental car, or other suggested rentals)?

3. Is it worth non-wave sailors trying to learn waves on the gulf side?

markpaine · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 90 Location: San Francisco, CA

jibemeister · Joined: 27 Sep 1994 Posts: 18

Windsurf Inc. has a shadowed launch.

The flats are way better and you can rent gear on site.

http://www.windsurftheboatyard.com/

Contact Jibber he's one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Jibber@WindsurfTheBoatyard.com

956 761 5061

rlshirey · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: SPI is good flat water sailing

The only two WS rental places I know of is Windsurf Inc and Boatyard run by Jibber. At Windsurf Inc you rent gear from their shop on the water and sail out from their beach. It is within the developed part of the island and as a result there are wind shadows near shore. If you rent from Jibber, he loads the gear you want on a trailer and takes it out to the "flats", where most of the local windsurfs sail. There are no wind shadows or any other protection from the sun and wind. The normal thermal wind is from the SW and is generally warm. The northeastern storms, 5% of the time, are cool to cold and I wear a full wet suit. 30 mph is common for a northeasterner.

The sea bottom is sand and shells with some weeds. It is also in the high 70s except in a NE'r when it will be in the low 60s and waist to chest depth.

I haven't sailed waves at SPI but it can be done, rarely.

pirireis · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 177

I rented from Jibber. Great guy, the trailer system works well. When I was there I did not see people wavesailing the Gulf side, I would consult locals about that.

SPI is very cost effective, you should be able to get lots of good accommodation for cheap on the strip. Needless to say, a car is a must to get around. Food is great.

The only worry should be the wind. If you get skunked it could be couple of days in a row. No wetsuit necessary, also the Lagoon is very shallow. Great for learning new tricks. When I was there I had so-so wind, but enjoyed the stay nevertheless.

tsokat · Joined: 15 May 1997 Posts: 326

noshuzbluz · Joined: 18 May 2000 Posts: 791

And there's Bird Island. That's where my buddy sails most I think. Worldwinds is right there on the beach. They have plenty of rental gear.

tsokat · Joined: 15 May 1997 Posts: 326

Bird Island is near Corpus Christi-about 150 miles north of South Padre Island.

pshaw · Joined: 24 Apr 1996 Posts: 75 Location: Mill Valley

Having sailed at Bird Island Basin, SPI and Baja (La Ventana and Los Barilles), I would never go back to either BIB or SPI. It is great if you are within driving distance, but if you live in, e.g., San Francisco and are planning on flying to a place that has warm water sailing, I'd go for Baja. BIB and SPI both have relatively flat, shallow water with no swells. When I was there it was very hot and humid - uncomfortably so. There is generally an abundance of sea grass. I still have the weed fin I bought there and have never used it since.

Baja, on the otherhand, is scenically beautiful if you like desert to ocean landscapes, is warm without being humid, and has some of the best swell you will ever see.

jiberdaddy · Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 15

We have sailed BIB quite a bit in the past, both spring and fall. Other than being very windsurf friendly, it is also very boring there and nothing visual except dunes and grass.

Having never sailed SPI or Baja, I was thinking maybe saving the adventure to Baja for next spring and doing SPI this November.

Even airfare out to Bonaire/Curacao isn't all that bad right now, though the dutch "buck" is sitting at 1.77US which makes it more expensive once you land. I also dive, so Bonaire is attractive for that.

Thanks for the tips!