Windsurf Torrance Beach?

[jim5]

Has anybody ever windsurfed Torrance Beach? I always see kites out, but never any Windsurfers... Just wondering if the hike down from the parking lot with all the gear would be worth it? Wind meter was reading 20mph from the parking lot. Didn't go down to beach level for a reading....curious.

[kevinkan]

I've sailed there on a north wind a couple times. In fact, I got a sesh there last Christmas day. It was pretty choppy, and there were no real ridable waves (at least on a windsurfer) it was pretty fun.

https://www.facebook.com/sunsetsailboards/photos/pb.108991025823783.-2207520000.1427056843./860219397367605/?type=3&theater

[swchandler]

Kevin, I took a walk that Christmas day at Torrance Beach an hour before sunset. No one was kiting or sailing at that time, but the more unusual northerly wind direction was about as good as it gets there. Also, the consistent ground swell was thumping pretty good, so I'm thinking that timing was everything getting out, particularly down by Burnout.

[kevinkan]

I sailed from about 3-4pm. It was windiest earlier... John Amundson was out kiting on a 9 and ripping it up. By the time I got out the wind had come down a notch... sailed 5.2/101. Wind was a little up and down but was powered up on the outside. Shore break was not too big down by the southern most lot.

Burnout... almost got sucked over on a huge day way back in high school... i actually thought i was gonna die... scarred for life LOL. biggest wave i've ever seen.

[swchandler]

While I've had a long history surfing Torrance Beach, Rat and Burnout many many years ago, that was long before I discovered windsurfing. The one time that I tried launching at Torrance Beach in the early 2000s, I couldn't make it out. Pretty damn frustrating. Normally, the wind is direct onshore with the wind out of the west, and with the wave frequency being very short period, getting out through good sized surf has a lot to do with steely determination and tons of luck.

I envy you for getting it that Christmas day. With the northerly wind direction, it was that very rare day. If I hadn't been trapped in family obligations, I would have loved to score that afternoon, if even for a short session.

[kevinkan]

you coming up to the delta again this year?

I actually had to go to a movie with my family that day in Manhattan Beach and was afraid I was going to miss the wind. My first stop after getting out was El Porto as I'd seen people kiting there before. It looked very windy (like 4.2), but there really wasn't any wind on the beach. The wind was pretty much straight north and going side off. There were still surfers in the water and no sand blowing on the beach, so I pulled my phone out and started looking at the map to see where north wind might be less obstructed, and that's how I ended up at Torrance (which was on the way home anyway). Wind at Torrance was pretty much dead sideshore but started clocking a little bit onshore as the day progressed.

[jlederer]

no its not worth it. did it once in 14 years. go to cabrillo. maybe sup sail it.

[swchandler]

Yes, I hope to take a few trips up to the Delta, especially since I was unable to come up in 2014. I'm hoping that the construction at the various fish injection sites on Sherman Island doesn't affect our launch at The Access. With the less than optimum wind these days at Powerlines and The Sign, we really need The Access launch to remain open because I'm afraid that the County park just doesn't have enough parking to service the need.

[sailwave]

Use to sail Torrance a lot in the 90's with larger gear and it was hit and miss. It was always a bit more wind than than Hermosa, where I lived, and a bit more side shore. I often did not want to drive to Cabrillo. With todays gear this would be much more fun with a higher hit rate, about a 6m wave/all around sail and a ~120 liter FSW type board, ~28cm swept fin, 180lb person.