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Candlestick Point - Ride Guide
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jayturcot



Joined: 08 Mar 2004
Posts: 84

PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:06 pm    Post subject: Candlestick Point - Ride Guide Reply with quote

I'm new to the bay area and the closest spot to where I live is Candlestick Point.
Since I'm aspiring to freestyle (vulcan/loop) and my wife-to-be has just gybed for the first time ever last summer (therefore wants to work on it), this seems like a happy coincidence that we live so close to the Stick!

Just had a couple of questions about sailing there and figured I could roll it into a ride guide for the spot... to supplement the "Local Info" page already found on iWindsurf, as well as some other searching I did on the forum.

What can one look for in the forecast to call when it'll be sailable there (maybe this is a stupid question)?
What generalizations can be made about the wind/water there? (flat, gusty?)
Is the wind shadow caused by the pier noticeable?
Can I trust the sensor?
Is it actually sketchy?


Jay

(Info below will be updated as people reply... )
Last edited: 28 Feb 2013

Links:
Map of Candlestick launch
iWindsurf - Candlestick Point : Main page, Local Info
Videos: Tons of high quality videos, Youtube - 02 June, 2006, Youtube - 13 Jun 2012
EPA Water advisory online (Note: click search to bring up Candlestick, site id: CA792491 )
Good thread on North CA in general
California Parks & Rec : 2012 Candlestick Point general plan (in progress)
I thought sfba.org had a page but it seems they're doing a website update?

Info:
- A favourite spot of freestylers due to the flat water resulting from shallow water and offshore wind.
- Wyatt Miller has hosted a couple of clinics at Candlestick and calls it the "wonder spot" 08 Aug 2012, 21 Jul 2012
- Candlestick is a great place to get better and is a favorite of the trick guys. They seem to hang out together and encourage each other and have a good time. [beallmd 09 Jul 2012]
- The stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers through 2013, after which it will be demolished. [Source]
- Park along Jamestown Ave where it bends north. There is a pathway clear of large rocks for safely getting to/from the water just west of the parking circle inside the park. See this MAP (link) for details.

Wind/Water/Forecast:
- Sensor tends to read low [carl: 14 Feb 2013]
- Look for averages over 15, but pay attention to the gust as that is more representative. If lull->gust is huge, it won't be fun though. [Sofi]
- Best on a WNW->NW. SW gets wind shadowed by San Bruno mountain [thread]
- There is a bit of a wind-shadow near-shore (on NW), however this diminishes as the wind clocks more W [carl: 14 Feb 2013]
- Typical sail sizes are 3.3 to 5.2 with many 30mph+ days in the early season [zirateb: 14 Feb 2013]
- Has a longer season than other bay area launches; runs late February -> late October [dvCali: 15 Feb 2013]
- No weeds [dvCali: 15 Feb 2013]

- To forecast, look for NW outer waters + flood tides [LeeD, 05 May 2006]
- In the main season, deep fog penetration (e.g. Golden Gate to Berkley) or overhead clouds will kill the wind [ctuna: 15 Feb 2013]
+-- You can check the satellite cloud coverage here

Hazards:
- Offshore winds:
+--- If you're new to the spot, it might be windier than it looks
+--- If you break down, you will be blown into the bay
- Staying after dark [iWindsurf ] as this is a 'sketchy' neighbourhood
+-- however, many haven't run into problems (e.g. theft) [Boardsports employee, kevinkan: 14 Feb 2013]
- Submerged rocks near-shore
- Broken glass is present near-shore
- No parking during 2013 49ers games
- Bateria / pollution can be an issue [carl: 07 Dec 2012]
+-- 16 water quality advisories over 31 days in 2011 (compared to Crissy @ 7 over 8, Ocean Beach @ 2 over 6)[EPA 2011 summary]


Last edited by jayturcot on Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:58 pm; edited 11 times in total
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jayturcot



Joined: 08 Mar 2004
Posts: 84

PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[Placeholder]
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kevinkan



Joined: 07 Jun 2001
Posts: 1660
Location: San Francisco

PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Stick is an awesome spot for freestyle and general flat water sailing... I probably get 50-60 days there a year (or more). We have a big group of guys and girls trying freestyle, and The Stick is one of our main spots. Send me an email or give me a call, and I can give you the 411. The Stick has a bad rep for being in a sketchy area, but we don't have any problems, and most of the locals are pretty cool.

Welcome to the Bay Area!

a couple vids from Candlestick

http://videojibe.com/videos/candlestick/

https://vimeo.com/6673995

There's also a place called Haskins a few miles south that's also an awesome freestyle spot, although the launch isn't very friendly.

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Sunset Sailboards, San Francisco CA
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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh, THAT's where you live close to....,
Stick is the home of the freestyler's, for sure. Flat water, gusty winds, can be REALLY strong, water temps now around 55, so a light sealed full suit is more than adaquate.
It's sideshore wind launch, but overall blows from land to sea (Bay) with a 11 mile fetch across if you don't get back upwind.
Neighboring spots of HaskinsSt., OysterPt., and for a very few, SierraPt. are the other close by spots.
Sails needed are usually 5.2 for the lightest days down to 3.5's for the strongest, and it get's over 30 mph easily 50 days in the early season.
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carl



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

PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A few things to add.
I find the sensor reads a little low, it's often stronger on the water than it shows. But it is directional too, it seems to work best in West to NW wind, but can blow on southerly wind too.
There can be a wind shadow near shore but i doubt it's caused by he pier.
It's much more caused by the mountain and buildings and also depends on the wind direction. IE, more westerly, there's less or no shadow at the launch.
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jayturcot



Joined: 08 Mar 2004
Posts: 84

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sweet, thanks for the info guys!

Another question I usually have a new spot:
Do weeds ever become and issue? Do people use weed fins?
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dvCali



Joined: 23 Aug 2007
Posts: 1314

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jayturcot wrote:
Sweet, thanks for the info guys!

Another question I usually have a new spot:
Do weeds ever become and issue? Do people use weed fins?

Zero weed.

Another advantage of the spot is that is one of the first to turn on in the season and one of the last to turn off. Season is end of Feb to end of October, mostly because it is "safe" to go out in light winds contrary to other spots such as Crissy or even Coyote.
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windyjones



Joined: 12 Jun 2010
Posts: 19

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yay candlestick!! its a super fun spot!
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buzzwordbrad



Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

relevant:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Candlestick-to-get-a-smashing-farewell-4247560.php
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ctuna



Joined: 27 Jun 1995
Posts: 1125
Location: Santa Cruz Ca

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 2:30 pm    Post subject: This one is pretty good with Andy of ABK and the locals Reply with quote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByeWCnRP-Fo&feature=youtu.be

Watch the satellite maps to, fog through the gate to Berkley or overhead
clouds is generally a wind killer for the stick.
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