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Oregon Coast Sailing Suggestions ??
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trudyl



Joined: 30 Jul 2008
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:13 pm    Post subject: Re-post of Oregon Coast windsurfing sites Reply with quote

Here's a re-post of the Oregon Coast windsurfing sites, there
are a few others I probably don't know about or haven't sail at.




Oregon Coast Windsurfing Guide – Updated 7-8-2013

Welcome to the Oregon Coast Windsurfing Guide. This guide is written for windsurfers who are ready to give wave sailing their first try and those that have been around a while. This guide includes advice from good friends and personal mistakes we hope you find it beneficial.

Skill sets needed to sail the Oregon coast

1. Ability to swim without your gear
2. Ability to not panic when you lose your gear in the ocean
3. Ability to walk up wind for miles on the beach with your gear, after you get washed down wind.
4. A solid water start (I sailed years at the Oregon coast before I could jibe)
5. If you do know how to jibe, a chick jibe could save you a lot of heartache.

Sailing Sites

The sailing sites listed below list the most current information we know as valid for the date this guide was posted. Be aware that the ocean is ever changing and always evaluate a sailing site yourself for your own safety.

While it is true you can pretty much sail any where along the coast that you think is safe. Many of us tend to go to the following beaches. Your best bet for finding wind and someone to sail with is to watch and post your intentions on the Yahoo PDX windsurfer site at

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/PDXwindsurfer/

Coastal webcams:
Manzanita: http://theoregoncoast.info/Webcam/Manzanita.html
Oceanside: http://www.oceansideoregon.com/surf_cam.asp
Lincoln City: http://www.lcsurfshop.com/webcam.htm
Newport: http://www.tripcheck.com/roadcams/cams/YaquinaBayJetty_pid645.jpg
Florence: http://www.co.lane.or.us/webcams/harborvista/HarborVista.aspx

Forecasts
1. MM5: Updated around 10AM everyday
a. Go to: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/mm5rt/rt/gfsinit.d3.html
b. Make sure to scroll to the top and hit the top left “LOOP”
c. After it loads click the “Single Step” and cycle through.
2. Marine Forecast
a. North Coast: http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=pqr&pil=CWF&sid=PQR
b. South Coast: http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=pqr&pil=CWF&sid=MFR
3. Satellite
a. http://sat.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/showsat.php?wfo=pqr&area=west&type=vis&size=1
4. Swell
a. North Coast: http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/seaside-oregon.html
b. Mid Coast: http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/florence-oregon.html
c. South Coast: http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/gold-beach-oregon.html
5. Buoys
a. North Coast: http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=GARO3
b. Mid Coast: http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=pqr&sid=duno3&num=60&raw=0&banner=off
c. South Coast: http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=K4S1


Gear
North Coast: Big floatly board and big sail.
Central Coast: Big and small gear.
South Coast: Small gear, but bring everything.

Tricks to get pass the breaking waves
1. Become an expert slogger
2. Don’t just speed out there, sometimes big waves will break and you can sail over the foam.
3. Learn to chick jibe really fast.

Rinse cycle fun
1. If you do get caught in the rinse cycle try to stay with your gear, but don’t get involved with it.
2. Hold on tight to the tip of your mast and let the board rinse down wave of your body.
3. Be really careful in shallow water, stay away from your gear at all costs.


Sandbars
The sandbars change every year due to the extreme winter storms on the Oregon coast. Some years the sandbars setup for epic conditions at Florence (2010) other years the sandbar causes major shore pound, like 2012 at the Rock and Florence.


These sites are listed from north to south.

Astoria Jetty
A local windsurfer sails here, you almost need a gale force forecast to make this place work. There have been reports of great waves here.

Manzanita
Drive thru the center of town until you hit the beach, you can launch anywhere, however some locals think the south part of the beach by the houses is a better place to launch. The wind is often very “on shore” here good for jumping when the inside actually has wind in it. Look for Portland to be hot. This sailing site will go off when all other north locations are shut down due to the heat in Portland; down the line wave sailing here is near non-existent. Many Gorge sailors make this their first ocean experience, which is hard because the on-shore wind makes it harder to get pass the breaking waves. Manzanita is far from what many of the coast sailors find desirable for sailing conditions. The on shore wind and the dynamics of the beach usually make it less then desirable for wave riding.

Oceanside
You can park anywhere along the beach, but not in front of the power station. This spot can often have some very nice waves. Often gusty but the waves are worth it. Be ready to move up or down the beach a bit to get the best set up for waves and/or wind. The wind here is often very up and down with lulls so it is a site for the sailor who really is focused on the wave. Check the Garibaldi buoy and Oceanside webcam before you go. Also it should show wind on the Lincoln City cam.

Live Cam is at http://www.virtual-oceanside.com/surf_cam.asp

Lincoln City Roads End Park
The launch is at the Roads End Park just a short drive north of the casino. Turn off 101 like you were going to the casino on NW Logan Road and keep driving until you see a public beach park.

This place is often the best when the wind first comes up and there is less cross chop. If you see waves breaking on the outer sand bars the waves are probably a lot bigger then they look like from the beach. At High tide closer to the park there can be a nasty reformed beach break that takes a bit of timing to get through safely. The wind gets weaker the farther south you are from the park. Try not to get caught south of the launching area. A good choice for sailor unfamiliar with the break is to walk upwind from the park about 200 yards and launch there. Many times when South Beach is shut down Roads End will be blowing.

Live Cam is at http://www.lcsurfshop.com/webcam.htm.

Nelscott Reef south end of Lincoln City
This has NEVER been windsurfed, however we think it can be in the right conditions. We are looking for a gale force wind (rumors that regular north small craft advisory wind does not get to Nelscott) and waves that are manageable. A few coast sailors have studied the tow-in competition (after more than a few beers) and they think this reef can be sailed. A few nuts from this site are keeping an eye on the conditions and hope to sail that wave before the decade is over (Crap, the decade is over and this still has not been sailed.)

Newport, Agate Beach,
Grass rigging and running water are here but a long walk to beach. This site can be fun and there is surfing just north of this location at the north end of this beach if the wind doesn’t blow. This site has not been sailed much lately; it is a great site if Road End is too big and South Beach is not blowing.

Newport, South Beach
This is a state park a short drive south past the Newport bridge. Follow the state park signs. Nice grass rigging area and outside running water. When the conditions are right, this is one of the best places on the Oregon coast to sail. Great down-the-line sailing with clean waves makes this place epic in the right conditions. When the waves are north/northwest and big you can hide behind the jetty and sneak out and catch the big ones in spring, fall and occasionally winter.

Neptune
One of the most beautiful sailing sites in Oregon, You should park in the north parking lot and launch from there. This is an advance sailing place due to the rocks north and south of the launch. It also tends to blow early and blows when there is fog. You can catch a session here in the morning and hit Florence in the afternoon. At high tide there are rocks to the south so be careful and don’t get caught down wind. At low tide there is sand to the south be sure to keep an eye on what your options are if you end up floating south of this launch. One of the few places left on the Oregon coast without cell phone reception.

Stone Field
North of Ocean Beach, really short walk to launch, might be windy and sunny when Florence is foggy. I hope you like sailing alone because you will unless you bring someone. There is lots of tourist here so you won’t be entirely alone if something happens.

Ocean Beach aka Bone Crushers
North of the Sea Lion Caves, really short walk to launch. Ocean Beach might be windy and sunny when Florence is foggy. One benefit to this site is there is a very short walk to the launch. You will have all the waves to your self, since you will be the only one sailing here unless you bring your own company. You can see highway 101 from the beach, lots of tourist will stop to watch you sail and ask you if you ever sailed the gorge. The locals call this place bone crushers, it can get really big when Florence is still spitting out 2 foot waves. There is not jetty here to break up the waves. A fun sailing site if the conditions are right.

Muriel Ponslers Memorial Beach
This is often a windy spot with an easy launch and should be looked at if Newport is not sailable on your way to Florence. I’ve sailed here a few times (solo) and had a great time.

Florence South Jetty
The entrance is about a thousand yards south of the Florence Bridge off of 101 there is a pay station here but the parking on the south jetty belongs to the Army Corps of Engineers, so you do not need to pay the fee that the ATV riders pay to ride in the park. If the rangers are at the pay booth simply tell them you are going surfing on the south Jetty they will let you pass for free. The road out to the Jetty seems to go on for a good 10 minutes so just keep driving. Don’t speed a few windsurfers have ended up with speeding tickets on the road out to the jetty. The jetty can be a NASTY place for non sailors when it is blowing! Conditions on the beach can be miserable, but non-sailors can hide behind the rocks near the shore of the jetty and be almost entirely out of the wind.

Florence is also one of the most reliable places for wind on the Oregon coast. However it can often be a late start. It is not uncommon to wait till 3 or 5 pm for the wind to start at Florence. Depending how far out on the Jetty you park it can be a bit of a walk to the water.

Live webcam http://apps.lanecounty.org//webcams/harborvista/HarborVista.aspx


Bandon, North Jetty
Roger and Dana sail south winds, you need to know what you are doing to sail south winds in the winter, do not attempt if you have any doubts.

Bandon, Face Rock
When Pistol is shut down with a thermal low this place can often be outstanding with great waves with very side shore winds sometimes even a bit side off. This is also the place to go if there are Gale force winds along the south coast. It can be 3.2 every where around the South coast with white water out a mile and it will be 4.7 with beautiful mast high sets at Face Rock. There are two places to park. The Face Rock park which is on the “scenic beach loop drive” or there is a vacant lot just a short distance south of the park (better choice). Across the street is a shared driveway that you can walk your gear down to the beach. There is a danger here. About mid way down the beach there are two smaller rocks. The first one is pretty easy to see from the beach. From the rock you can easily see from the beach there is an additional submerged rock that is about 40 yards out from that rock. This outer rock will suck dry in front of bigger waves. Make sure you know where you are in relation to these rocks! If the wind is too fluky north of these rocks it can be better a bit further down the beach. I like to use the rocks to get lined up for the sets. When you are further out you will see what looks like 3 attached condos on the beach. The northern most condo lines up with the mid-beach rocks to help you with your position. Face Rock is also a good place to go when NOAA is calling for a gale as Face Rock and the overlook point can block some of the stronger winds.

Devil's Kitchen Bandon
If you come from the south turn west on Beach Loop Rd. It is the road a mile or so south of town (not the one that comes out next to the Face Rock N. parking area). Beach Loop goes west until it gets close to the ocean then curves and heads north. It's the third
picnic area on the left. Nice little park with rest rooms. It has a big area protected from wind for non-windsurf people to hang out by the creek. As you face the ocean there is a big island near shore to the right. This is a very good surf spot (a right that wraps on the
island in a W through N swells direction) and protected from the wind. You can launch a hundred yards south of here but the wind is very gusty and crosses off. It's hard to sail the surfers break due to the gusty winds (worse than Cape S.) The best sailing is further south past the last rocks. It is true side shore and slightly off shore. The rocks form a triangle like point kind of like Rhetts for an Oregon style point break. It is all sand bottom and the few rocks there are big and stick out of the water so you can see them easy. We used to sail here a lot but then a few years ago Face rock got good again after some time of being marginal and I kind of forgot about it. In small stuff it is a real easy forgiving wave that just feathers DTL. With size it kicks back like Face Rock in that way. You never know what you'll get so it's worth checking out.

Floras Lake (Kiters and beginning windsurfing)
This is a fresh water lake with only a sand dune separating it from the ocean.
About 15 miles south of BANDON, you'll go through little town of Langlois.
*Go 1/4 mile past Langlois and turn RIGHT at small brown metal sign that reads Floras Lake - Boice Cope Park (this road is Floras Lake Loop)
*Go about 1 mile and take RIGHT on Floras Lake Road,
*Go about 1-1/2 miles ~after road bends sharply to the left~ take first RIGHT at Boice Cope Road.
Head into Boice Cope Park (entrance on left just past the Bed and Breakfest) and park at the south end of the campground in the "Day Use" area. Follow trail down to the lake's edge and follow it around to the left through the fence to Floras Lake Windsurfing (you'll see the buildings and all of Will's windsurfing equipment).

Cape Blanco
Five miles to camp ground, then take one lane road to the beach, looks fun, haven't sailed here before, however Brian Peters sailed here before and said the wind was “kind of strange and always changing directions”. This is really a beautiful place on the Oregon coast.

Paradise Point
Massive shore pound, nasty spot to sail, gritty sand makes this spot one of the least desirable sailing sites on the Oregon coast. If you have done the 6-7 hour drive from the Gorge or Portland and are really, really desperate to sail this place is for you (if NO other place within 500 miles is blowing, i.e. go to Cape Mendocino before resorting to this sorry place). It blows here when no place else on the south coast is blowing. However get ready for all your gear to get stuck together, enjoy going through the rinse cycle 1 foot from shore, and get ready for major grit in all the pieces of your windsurfer gear. You have been warned in advance. Some hints, run out with your gear past the shore pound, usually 5-6 feet from shore, immediately launch or you will be eaten by the shore pound, Stay outside until you want to come in. When you do decide to come in, sail right up and into the sand. Lift your gear and run as fast as you can to shore before the wave behind you eats you. Then go to town and have a beer and give up a prayer in thanks that you have survived.


Rhett's
Sail at high tide or say goodbye to your fin, many rocks in shallow water. However Rhett is really great waves on high tide in the right conditions.

Cole Point
“Jeff reported this spot on PDXwindsurfer”
This is a spot for advanced sailors only. It is the point half way between
Humbug and Retz. Best approached from the South at Humbug in case wind dies or
something breaks then it's all downwind home. Technically it is not really Cole Point but that is what everyone calls it. Cole is the point immediately to the right as you look west from Humbug. It too can have a long right hander but it needs to be bigger as it's deeper
there. Humbug is a huge cliff faced point and floating south for any reason will see you in the water for a long time until you see a sand beach to land on again.


Humbug
Don't break down and get down wind here. As you can see it is all cliffs and rocks south of here for 6 miles. Roger, Kenny and Jeff are two of the few sailors that have actually sailed here. Sometimes if you are desperate for entertainment you can do an “adventure” sail from Rhett downwind to Humbug.

Gold Beach South Jetty
As a thermal low first starts to creep in to the south coast this spot can sometimes be sailable. It is also a place to get a morning session on the south Coast. The Gold Beach South Jetty often has a nasty beach break so timing is critical to get out. The waves here often set up very nicely. It is always less windy than it looks, rig big.

Cape Sebastian
The sailing site is located on the South side of the cape and is the first turn off at the bottom of the hill.

This is a south west and west swells sailing location. If the swell is northwest some times some refracted waves get in here but it will usually be much smaller then Pistol River. Also at a very high tide a tiny bit of northwest swell can get in here. When the swell is Southwest it can be some of the best wave sailing you will get on the Oregon coast or anywhere for that matter! It is often extremely gusty here in the afternoon, so catch the early morning or late evening session. The outside turn can be 2 meters stronger wind then what you need in the line up.
A large rock blocks most of the northwest wind waves and can set up some side off conditions. There are rocks south of your launch which I have seen gear and people get washed up on and rescued from.

Pistol River a.k.a. “The Rock”
Just south of Cape Sebastian is Pistol River State Park. This is also a turn off right on 101. Just south of Cape Sebastian you will cross Meyers creek up on your right about 1000 yards there is a large rock on the beach that looks like a big loaf of bread. This is the launch. There will be sailors here if it is sailable. The waves here can get poundy and the wind is usually on shore. If it is a bigger day do not let this place be your first experience on the coast.
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mchaco1



Joined: 08 Sep 2010
Posts: 645

PostPosted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

bwill808 wrote:
Thanks for the info !!
I am kinda of kook so i don't know if anyone wants to sail with me. Tried Florence on Sunday didn't know about NOT sailing the north jetty(s), had a blast until I got to far out and the rip pulled me into the front face of the north jetty. Got exploded onto the rocks with my gear. Some how walked away.

Finally made it to the South side killer spot Lott safer and funner.

Seems like I aways need more sail out there on the coast>?


Ill make it out there with you sometime, Im a terrible coast sailor though and usually just spend half of the time waiting for the waves to die down Laughing
Heading to the gorge tomorrow? Its supposed to be epic
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