la ventana waterstart practice

gowinout · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

Does La Ventana have much of an area for those learning waterstarts to touch bottom while practicing?

scottwerden · Joined: 11 Jul 1999 Posts: 302

You don't wanna ever touch bottom at LV - sting rays hang around in the shallow water and the venom in their tail barb is hugely painful.

gronquist · Joined: 12 May 2000 Posts: 70

How bad is the stingray issue in La Ventana?; I've just booked a dream holiday there, and it'll be the first time in Baja for the significant others: wife and two young girls. I don't want a sting ray incident to spoil my grand plans for the future (san carlos trip with family)

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Just do a slow shuffle and you'll be ok. Your family should have a good time! As for San Carlos, hope you have a very durable and adventurous family! (that likes sand in their food, hair, teeth and eyes)

tomg · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 294

I suppose it depends upon the time of year but i was there last spring and the wind went from zero and I mean zero to 25 right around noon. Amazing and wonderful and great for me and the more advanced sailors. Bu I was trying to teach my teenage son to water start and it was not good at all for that. Better to have winds in the 13-18 range and a nice sandy bottom. You should try to figure out the likely wind range and maybe find a good instructor.

gowinout · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

Thanx for the informed replies. Any thoughts on where to go to practice waterstarts in the winter?

human_catapult · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 374

I went last January and didn't see a single stingray. There is a good waist-chest deep sandbar out there to do this kind of thing. I shot video from it last year:

http://humancatapult.blogspot.com/2009/02/half-assed-footage-from-baja.html

It's a really cool place if you're at that learning-to-waterstart stage. The water isn't so big that it's unmanageable, and the wind is really nice.

Wyatt is putting on a pretty good deal this year, from what I've seen, so that's worth checking out.

gowinout · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

Thanx catapult man for your opinion. This may actually make my mind to go down there this January, I've been torn about it cause obviously it's not the ideal for that, but I really have not been using up much distance at Hood River to practice, so that sand bar in LA will probably suffice. Checked out the island of Bonaire, but the flight there is absurd, 24 to 40 hours from Portland. Thanx again. PS, the shivering in your video was a cool effect, way to hang in there.

MrFish · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 248

I don't think stingrays are a huge problem in LV. At least no more than anywhere else tropical or subtropical. Florida for instance is packed with 'em, and the water isn't clear there, so you can't see them till it's too late.

sail · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 5

Bomaire is a very good choice. My wife and I went down there about 8 years ago. It is a long trip from Santa Cruz too, but it sure was worth it. My wife got her waterstarts and was sailing all around. They have a great variety of rental equipment rigged and ready. Very friendly safe area that makes those learning to sail relax. If you dive then this can be a double header, don't miss under the salt pier.
If you are looking for someplace to encourage your S/O and bonaire is in your budget, do it!