Blog: Strong winds for Southern California & Bay. But...

[windfind]

Hi Gang,

Check out the animation below! This is a classic spring NW clearing pattern for Central California coast, Southern California and the Bay Area! But the forecasts for all these venues have a bit of a question mark to them.

Check out this blog for the back story behind these winds and the question mark.

http://blog.weatherflow.com/west-coast-wind-blog-classic-high-pressure-vs-low-pressure-setup-today/

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com/ikitesurf.com
Weatheflow.com

[dvCali]

Dreaming of some wind ... this has been the slowest start of a season in recent memory!

At 8:45 the wind line at Ocean beach is more than a mile out ... it does not look too good but maybe it will brake through ...

[windfind]

There is a decent pressure gradient to Stockton compared to the stong gradient to Morgan Hill. This usually means some of the wind will come over Ocean Beach rather than all of it curving through the San Bruno Gap.

OB wind focus should be towards Kellys Cove.

Mike

[dvCali]

[kevinkan]

now at noon wind at OB looks to be around 20mph. solid whitecaps. Two of us sailed from Kelly's a couple Mondays ago... small waves and 4.0 wind. Was fun!

[gerritt]

Hey Kevin. Please post more intel. Where exactly is the Kelly's cove launch and how onshore, side shore, port tack, starboard tack was it? I imagine it gets lonely windsurfing Ocean Beach. So, no need to keep it secret.

Many of us have surfed Ocean Beach and generally know the streets. I've only windsurfed it once many moons back. Launched just north of Sloat. It was a very rare dead north wind, that made for perfect side side/off starboard tack conditions - 4.7 for me. Waves were head high. It only lasted about half an hour and then shut down. Getting back was dicey with all the current and rips. Wound up having to walk it back north about a half mile to my launch. It was brilliant while it lasted.

Doesn't the prevailing W/NW wind direction usually translate to very onshore conditions with lots of downwind power sucking current, such that getting out is damn near impossible and only allows for shitty backside riding?

Thanks!

[dvCali]

[kevinkan]

Kelly's Cove is the top of the beach near the Cliff House. One reason to launch here is that the waves are generally smaller and the beach isn't quite as deep (less walking). I also sail from my house sometimes which is mid beach. That involves some extra walking, but it can be good here too. NW wind translates to very onshore wind here. Can be good for jumping, and there are some backside hits to be had. Even made a few DTL rides last time. We also sail here on a SE storm wind when it becomes port tack side shore. Usually waves are not that ridable but can be really good for jumping.

YouTube playlist with some OB vids. First one is walking from home. There's an entertaining one of my getting my ass kicked on a storm day up at Beach Chalet. It will give you an idea of how onshore the wind is.

Let me know if you want to check it out sometime

[kevinkan]

two winters ago: https://vimeo.com/207029215

a modern record crowd of windsurfers at OB... about 7 of us

[dllee]

1st day ever was early Sept. 1983, Sloat was the nearest carry from the car. Winds ssw fog around 5-12, surf in the 2-4 range, Alto board with stock 6.1 sail. Got 7 or so waves riding backside starboard, raised dagger after making it out. 8th wave, barely cleared the old Sloat pier on a smaller wave, fell on inside jibe in a lull and the sail dove under the pier while the board stuck itself atop the pier. Pepito, Mike, and MoreyPope laughing hysterically from shore. Incoming tide and sw swell.
Took maybe 1/2 hour to separate the rig, as the angle and the force of the tide and swell just pinned the rig in place.
Rode 2 other nw days that fall, heading S for 3 blocks before clearing the surf, on a 9' Seatrend glass and 5.4 tri radial.
Folling year, sailed maybe 40 days of nw winds and one day of n, one say of s winds. Ok, maybe closer to 50 days.