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Sailing Loreto?
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windfind



Joined: 18 Mar 1997
Posts: 1899

PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 3:55 pm    Post subject: Loreto winds Reply with quote

I spent about 8 years in the Loreto area (3 months per year) doing reef research on the local islands with a group of UCSB faculty so I know a bit about the winds in the area.

When there is a big El Norte wind originating in the 4 corners Loreto has strong wind a bit weaker that La Ventana and somewhat smaller swell due to the topography up swell.

The big problem for Loreto is that unlike La Ventana there is no huge valley downwind to create a local sea breeze.

Unfortunately, for Loreto, the most common wind in the Sea of Cortez is a combo wind with a mild El Norte wind in the 10-15 knot range combining with a local sea breeze in the 5-10 knot range created by a valley downwind. So in that pattern La Ventana is in the 15-25 range while Loreto is in the mid to upper teens. Good for big gear but not quite in the La Ventana range.

This is the reason most of the hoards of kiters and windsurfers keep on driving south passing Loreto.

But Loreto has much to offer visitors and the nearby islands are truly spectacular and the fishing superb especially in the summer. And if you are there during a big El Norte stop and sail for a day or two before heading south to more reliable wind.

Just for fun...below is a photo of me the first day I ever windsurfed which actually was just south of Loreto. Don't laugh too much!

I think my board and sails have improved in the years since that day....nothing else in the photo has gotten better except maybe the trunks.

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com
windnotes.com



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loretosurf



Joined: 06 Apr 2010
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with that the windfind comment that the wind can be less at the town of loreto, but there is a local wind effect increasing wind in Loreto Bay as the wind is concentrated along the shoreline as it closes into the bay. The swell also picks up as it approaches the transition from deep water to 15 foot water of the bay creating shoulder high swell . Compare Iwindsurf archive reports for la ventana and loreto and you can see the numbers are pretty good, we had over 30mph winds last week and the wind in the bay is higher than the station would report.
It is a bit tricky getting out thru onshore wave and wind but anyone with a swell capable water start can do it.

By all means check it out if you are driving to la ventana the Inn at Loreto bay usually has rooms on short notice and last week it was in the 80 dollar range. Flights are also available from LAX 3 x per week direct to loreto.
below is a photo on a typical day when el norte is on , 20mph+ on 6.5meter 110 liter board

I hope to see a few more sailors in the bay next season.



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tramontana00



Joined: 15 Feb 2010
Posts: 204

PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Loreto winds Reply with quote

windfind wrote:


Just for fun...below is a photo of me the first day I ever windsurfed which actually was just south of Loreto. Don't laugh too much!

I think my board and sails have improved in the years since that day....nothing else in the photo has gotten better except maybe the trunks.

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com
windnotes.com


Ha. Great photo. My first board was Windsurfer with wood boom and mast base that was not fixed to the board. Great memories.

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MrFish



Joined: 04 Sep 2009
Posts: 248

PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One thing about baja, is that the wind sensors are pretty crazy. The one in La Paz is inland at the airport, so it always reads low. The one in San Jose Del Cabo is just plain nuts- I've driven right up to it, when it's reading 20--in reality no wind.

The one in Loreto I don't know--I guess it's at the airport?

The new Ventana one is OK, but reads low because it's in the wind shadow. The two or three wunderground one's in LP or El Sargento are ok, but often go off line (the one at the marina, which is down now, reads 10 knots or so low)

Windy spots are uncovered by sensors on both coasts, and additionally, there's sometimes really local wind -- in say the La Paz area-- there might be wind in Tecolate, or El Comitan, or on Punta Mogete, but it's guesswork. Further south, La Riberia can have wind, when nothing else down there does--but there's no way to be sure, other than going.
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dvCali



Joined: 23 Aug 2007
Posts: 1314

PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Loreto winds Reply with quote

windfind wrote:
I spent about 8 years in the Loreto area (3 months per year) doing reef research on the local islands with a group of UCSB faculty so I know a bit about the winds in the area.


How is the camping in Loreto? The drive down is much shorter from the Bay Area!
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windfind



Joined: 18 Mar 1997
Posts: 1899

PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 4:53 pm    Post subject: camping in Loreto Reply with quote

I always camped on the Islands but there are several places to camp south of Loreto in the Puerto Escondido area. I have not been to these places in several years so thing may have changed. Juancalito should have camping south of the village near the palms or on the beach to the south. The problem is that you are partially in a wind shadow from the main wind.

For stronger wind you would probably be better off staying in Loreto and launching from the beaches there.

Incidentally from Loreto you are only a short half day drive from La Ventana.

Mike Godsey
weatherflow.com
iwindsurf.com
ikitesurf.com
sailflow.com
fishweather.com
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andymc4610



Joined: 19 May 2000
Posts: 684

PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We would stay at some RV park in Loreto and pitch a tent or in Mulege at the fishing huts (bar on the beach) for the night, both were $5 but that was in the early 90's.


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loretosurf



Joined: 06 Apr 2010
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

camping is available at loreto shores, my friend stayed there en route to la ventana , it is reported to be pretty good, rates are not bad i think it was around 10 /night .

I have made up a web site to promote Loreto as a windsurf option.
It includes links to hotels and camping and has loreto shores there as well as other stuff like a comparison of wind ( from airport meter) .
check it out
loretosurf.webs.com
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jlund5807



Joined: 06 Feb 2014
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:36 am    Post subject: Loretto in the summer - any wind? rental gear? Reply with quote

I'm going to be in Loretto mid-July fishing with my dad.
Any possibility of windsurfing while he takes his siesta?
I'm a newbie, so a calm wind sounds nice.
Also, I'll need to rent everything.
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geohaye



Joined: 03 Apr 2000
Posts: 1437

PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It doesn't sound like there's much gear rental for windsurfers in Loreto. You could ask around, maybe someone has something.

Also, July isn't prime season down there for windsurfing, though it sure is for fishing. For sure you'll have a blast fishin' in the Sea of Cortez....
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