Another Pt Isabel Forecasting failure

windsrf · Joined: 01 May 1998 Posts: 464

One simple reason for "only 10" at PI yesterday was that ALMOST EVERYONE was at Berkeley! Why go elsewhere when you know it's howling (remember Mike F - NLWTFW)? Also, Mike G's earlier comment about Pt Potrero paid off handsomely for me the day before when Berkeley sucked. Had marvelous time behind the jetty - and if desired extreme chop, could have simply portaged 20 feet across to south side. Putting sensor away from shoreline at PI would be basically useless IMHO (from what little I know about meteorology/winds). However, there is that nice wood platform/marker out in the middle if a wireless/solar sensor setup could be attached? David US212

johnl · Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR

I can't get over the number of people here who do nothing but bitch about the wind forecasts. Do you ever look at the weather forecasts??? Regular paid "weathermen" can't even get those right, yet you want specific wind forecasts for specific locations with VERY specific wind forecast. Get real.

Try going back to before Iwindsurf (or Call of the Wind as it was). I was a member the second year they came out and it more than doubled my days on the water by knowing where the wind was blowing and not just guessing and driving to the location and sitting waiting (and praying) I made the right guess and the wind would come up...

As to the sensor, yes it would be nice to have a new sensor (I live 2 blocks from Marina Bay launch) in the area that I live at, but it is not that simple to just "throw up a sensor". If it isn't in a good location then it won't be accurate and you all will just bitch about that. Those of you who know somebody who would be willing to have a sensor set up (I think 2 peole live on the front) try HELPING getting them in touch with Iwindsurf and maybe then can work something out. But it isn't just a sensor, it takes some way of getting the information (land line) to the system....

Really, if you hate the service that much why pay for it? Why not just leave.....

andydavis · Joined: 11 Apr 1999 Posts: 319 Location: Point Isabel

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui

vadler · Joined: 20 Apr 1999 Posts: 82

I've heard many on the forums say that they like PI. Is the swell bigger than 3rd? Does it need an ebb or just big wind?

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

boggsman1,
I teach. High school math, physical education, and windsurfing during the summer as well as coach high school football. I also used to coach high school basketball but that became too many irons in the fire.

Coachg

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

ethurlow · Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Posts: 119

Carl is right...any south or fog at the gate means PI or Berkeley or Rio will kick in. Iwindsurf has a radar/satellite that shows the location of the fog. It is pretty useful.

Also, if Berkeley is cranking up, as someone responded in this thread, then PI is a good spot.

If you live south of the "maze" then traffic might persuade you to stop at Berkeley and before reaching PI.

Ernie

johnl · Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR

Don't get me wrong, I would like a working sensor at PI also, but they might need some help and/or suggestions on where. Remember the guys at IW don't live at every sail sight. So they may not know all the places to set up and indicator. Then there needs to be a "landline" and a place for the hardward to be set up near the sensor. Somebody posted that there were two people who live down by the water at Marina Bay (which is just as good for most PI winds), but if the guys at IW don't know who they are, how can they ask to use their home? Maybe those who know them might suggest they contact IW and work something out.

As to Berkeley and PI having the same wind, that isn't always true. Sometimes PI is going off and Berkeley is flat, other times it's the other way around. And it isn't just wind direction. If you live in the area, you will notice a "fog finger" that extends across the bay and into the El Cerrito Hills. This seperates Berkeley from PI. It's the microclimates that Godsey has talked about. I prefer PI over Berkeley but many times it doesn't matter and only Berkeley has the wind.

I haven't really noticed any difference in tide and it's effect on swell. PI is a shore based sailing area (vs a channel based area), so there isn't much current.

As for the forecast, regular meterologist can't even get rain/dry right. I don't think they are right more than about 50% and that is just talking wet/dry. Trying to say if the wind will be 12 or 17 is beyond most of them (if you don't believe me, check the marine forecast). Yet many people here expect perfection from people providing the service here. Use the forecast as an indicator, not words from the "burning bush".....