Where We Sailed Today

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

Rube
The wind is detaching from the surface of the water. I've also
seen it at Stick and Coyote most often in October. Be careful cause
The wind could also detach too much and shutdown.
It is a very unique feeling, especially if there is not much chop.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

One time at Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara, I experienced a large area of glassiness where the wind was there, but it didn't seem to affect the water. However, further out and further inside, the water was choppy as one would expect for the wind strength. At the time, there was a large Navy ship moored outside of the Santa Barbara Harbor, and I figured that maybe some kind of subtle slick was coming from the ship, but there was no apparent odor in the glassy area. It was a very unusual condition that I've never before or after that day.

Another time I experienced a very flat and glassy conditions was sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. I think that it was tide related because on either end of the large glassy zone was a short rough choppy area right up next to it. Since I'm not a regular Crissy Field sailor, I'm not very familiar with what the tide does going in and out between the headlands. From what I recollect though, it was flood tide when I was out.

windward1 · Joined: 18 Jun 2000 Posts: 1400

I believe the phenomenon is from natural oils. It can be found to be happening to varying degrees around kelp beds. When the anchovies and whales are in close to shore large expanses of ocean surface can display this glassiness while wind of good strength passes just above it.

gerritt · Joined: 06 May 1998 Posts: 632 Location: Redwood City, CA

This is a regularly occurring phenomenon on the Peninsula in the fall at this time of year. The grossest explanation I've ever heard for its cause is "fish sperm." Similar to what Windward describes happening on the ocean side. Its a series of glassy slicks, that I hope are really NOT fish sperm. Like riding on a mirror is a dead on description.

As far a Crissy, that's more likely tidal. I've seen the same just outside the north tower with and without large groundswell. With swell, it can be butter smooth, overhead and not too steep, never cresting, and making for some really fun turns. Freestylers would love, love, love it because you've got wind AND gravity to carry you through your moves.

bert · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 665

Wind was very light at PA at 2:30 and I was just going to cruise around with the longboard with an 8.0 Retro for a while. Just before 3pm the wind increased to 10 and the board wanted to plane so I returned to the dock to get my waist harness and a neoprene vest. Went back out and was fully powered in 12-14 mph winds. Was going too far downwind in the flood and I had to partially lower the dagger on occasion to get back upwind. I've had the CarbOne for 3 weeks and finally have it dialed in.

koogzah · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 530 Location: right here

I think someone forgot to tell TI that it's October. Felt a lot more like July out there today. Cool

windward1 · Joined: 18 Jun 2000 Posts: 1400

So Bert, with it now dialed in, what is your verdict on the Carbone?

bert · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 665

windward,
The CarbOne is like the Tesla of longboards..pricey, good looking and performs well. It will give me more sailing days this coming year for sure especially since I often sail early and don't wait for the wind. It easily fits in my Previa after I removed the front passenger seat and joins my 75L RealWind, 90L Fanatic freewave, 110L RRD Firemove boards. Windwise, I feel I have all the bases covered.

dvCali · Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 1314

Oct 2nd another good day at the Stick, powered up with 4.3 and RRD 85! Out at 2:30 the wind gets lighter at around 4:30 when I have to leave. Fewer people than usual, maybe some went to TI ... I have to get over my traffic slog block: stopped going to Coyote and TI because of it!!!!

Oct 3rd Stick goes from 5.0 to overpowered 3.7 in about 10' and stays there for about an hour. Then it drops fast, to nothing inside by 4:30. I lost at least 30' of perfect overpowered 3. 7 rigging down from 4.3 Sad

but the 20' I got on my RRD 75 + 3.7 were nice! Few people out in the ultimately up and down conditions ... Crissy is still blowing hard at 5:45 and that would have been a much better call!

bert · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 665

Hellish sailing conditions at Coyote. First out at 3 on 5.5/90L setup. Tough getting out because the wind was almost southerly at the launch. 200 meters out I got hammered big time with the SFO winds from hell. At one point the graph showed the wind at 40 with gusts to 50 and because the wind was SW, the flood chop was coming straight at you. Rigged down to 4.2/75 L after an hour and made it out okay. This setup was better suited to the gusts and the voodoo chop, but the wind was becoming more sketchy. Fearing a shutdown I came in after 20 minutes, but with great difficulty. Man I'm tired.