Where We Sailed Today

[windward1]

Had not been out in a while. Last weekend, Natural Bridges parking lot was full the two days I tried to sail there. And that was where the wind was.

Sailed New Brighton today. When I got to the edge of the parking lot to measure the wind there was a Humpback Whale, swimming back and forth feeding. Sometimes only 20 yards from shore! In such shallow water its belly must have been barely off of the bottom and when it charged after the bait fish it created quite a wake with its body invisible below the surface, just this pattern of waves generated. There were about eight SUPpers out and a kayak. They were all watching the whale as were the folk on the beach. Once the whale came at speed toward a paddle boarder on a green board. The wave pattern arrowed right for him. His legs got shaky and he fell off just as the whale went under him. He fell right on top of the whale. I do not know if he touched it or not.

It was only blowing about 5 to 6 knots, but I decided to rig the Ezzy 7.0 and Angulo and go. A guy said the whale had been cruising the beach there since ten in the morning and it was now approaching 2 p.m. After launching I cruised off the beach and once the whale went under me and came up on the other side. And once it came within 20 yards of me on the surface.

I left the whale to the paddle boarders and went up to Capitola looking to see if there was any of the south swell making it this far into the bay. Not much and not often, but I did catch a few ankle and knee high waves. I had fun on the three hour jaunt and was so glad to be back out on the water windsurfing again. Two weeks is like a drought.

W1

[koogzah]

Nice late-season turn out for the ebb at TI today - one rider counted 20 sails.

[windoggi]

Tuesday Berkeley on my 4.6....Woof!!

[koogzah]

Semi-epic conditions at TI this afternoon

[tomg]

Koogzah must be WB? He was the only one out at TI yesterday when I hit the water at ~415. And it was epic then sketchy. The 5.0 sail and 95l board was perfect for the first hour with the wind out of the south, with extremley 'challenging' terrain on the west side, and a negative gradient toward Pt, Blunt. But then, as one would guess, the wind line started to shrink further toward the island until only a ribbon of 20mph plus air was left, the skies darkened and a creepy mood took hold over the Bay. TI always an experience!

[bert]

South wind at about 15 with gusts to 20 at Oyster Pt. Taking out a shortboard would have been iffy but no problem with the Kona Carbone. Took it out about 3 miles out to the channel. A bit choppy out there but the longboard cruised right over the chop. Thought about heading to San Mateo bridge but that would have been a 10 mile jaunt. The Coast Guard flew over me a couple of times to see WTF I was doing out there. Used a 7.3 North. You need a big sail to propel all that mass.

[bprice]

Fun but, early exit. First time I ever had to get off the water because of too much sea life. Enough said.

[koogzah]

[bprice]

What a difference a day makes. Smooth DTL peeling head high wave sets with warm air and water. Almost all the crazy volume of sea life from yesterday had moved on. Today you could sail without feeling like you were in a frogger game.

[dvCali]

18 nice powered session with 6.6 and Isonic 111 A Good dozen people out, maybe tomorrow will blow again.

19: to make the Isonic 111 happy I am with the GPS 8.0. Turns out to be perfect conditions for it, powered up but not overwhelming. The Isonic is REALLY happy with the big sail and simply erases any trace of chop in its path. Nice speed too, especially when pointing down wind where the board powerfully cruises on autopilot. Good day to fine tune the HSM GPS 8.0. It pools like a track and is VERY stable when powered up. FUN! Many people out, although conditions are light.