Where should I teach her to waterstart?

goltz · Joined: 09 Sep 2000 Posts: 84

My wife wants to learn how to waterstart and sail a short board this summer. I usually sail the coast north of Santa Cruz and I learned in a lake on the central coast so I dont know any good duck ponds or safe bay spots to teach her.

Any ideas?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Amswer: you do not teach her. Ask 10,000 other windsurfers the quickest way to break up a relationship and youll get the same answer: Do Not Try To Teach Your S.O. Windsurfing.

Have her boyfriend/ pool boy / tennis coach/ mailman do it and kill two birds with one stone.

Mike \m/

jondrums · Joined: 03 Aug 2000 Posts: 5

You should try Shoreline park. There is a smallish lake there with decent wind when the bay is going off. You could even take a few (very short) reaches here on a plane. Its very flat water and somewhat constant wind. They even have rentals, outdoor showers, and lessons.

101 to Shoreline ave. in Mountain View. (right where 85 crosses 101). Go out toward the bay as far as you can drive and youll see it.

jada · Joined: 07 Jan 2001 Posts: 32

Amen. Your wife knows you too well. She knows you REALLY just want to sail, and arent REALLY happy hanging there while she works on it.

How many birds do you get to kill?

spyder · Joined: 24 Sep 1996 Posts: 2790 Location: oahu

how about candlestick? and inside coyote on calmer days is reasonable.

a really safe place is shoreline lake, but the winds are weak.

Arrgh · Joined: 05 May 1998 Posts: 864 Location: Rio

Lagoon Valley off I-80 between Fairfield and Vacaville can be good before June. Too many weeds after that. Launch on leeward end of lake to avoid the islands wind shadow as much as possible.

nbamberski · Joined: 03 Jul 2000 Posts: 2

Definitely Alameda when windy in the summer, at mid to high tide. Warm & shallow water with virtually no rocks, beautiful grass rigging area.

When shes tired, she can lay on the beautiful 2+ miles sand beach, or take a waterstart lesson at the local windsurfing school Smile

good luck.

glambert · Joined: 18 Apr 1999 Posts: 6

I disagree - There is not enough wind at Alameda or shoreline and Candlestick wind is offshore. The best place to learn to water start is San Luis Reservoir. There is no chop and the water if fresh. The bottom is shallow so she can work on technique rather than spending all her time fighting to get the rig in the right place. If the wind is really blowing just go to a smaller sail. If the forecast is OK it is worth the trip...