Windsurfing Bodega Bay!

spanker_jeep · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:07 am Post subject: Windsurfing Bodega Bay!

Hi All,

Some footage of Sailing in Bodega Bay. Speed Ditch
Thanks.

http://www.vimeo.com/961848

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui

Suba, are you sure you have the date on your video right? I'm thinking "wonder were I was on 4/25/2008?" If Bodega was going off, I'd be at Tomales. But I didn't sail that day. Checking the graphs for that day, neither appear to be sailable. See the graph for Bodega.

Just curious, because I hate the thought that I missed a great north-bay day - even though it was almost a year ago.

OTOH, yesterday was classic Tomales. Today should be the same. get on out!

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui

Oh I almost forgot: Nice video. How's your ankle?

Steve

spanker_jeep · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

Did not get windy till late, like 4pm. Ankle is %100. Wish I would have known about the shallow conditions. Killed my season!

kevinkan · Joined: 07 Jun 2001 Posts: 1661 Location: San Francisco

Nice... I love that place. I made my first Jibe there at Hart's Beach, Bodega Bay on a Bic Saxo 270 and Gaastra Total Flow Freeride 6.5 in the summer of 1999. This place is great cuz you can camp and sail all from the same spot... should definitely make some group trips up there this spring. Just don't forget some warm clothes.

My second fondest memory from this place was putting my Techno on the roof rack, bending down to pick up the rack strap, and looking up to see no more board on the rack.... had blown off and flown about 15 feet. Sad

I also had my own encounter with the sand bar. I had just returned from pinched nerve injury and was really excited to sail. I had brand new boards and sails, and I hadn't really done anything fun in a few months. Sailed full speed right into a sandbar and destroyed the nose on my brand new 2006 JP Freestyle 100 Pro Edition. I looked at my board and saw the big foot-long crack was pissed. My initial thought was "damn shitty Pro Edition construction". Of course when I got back to land, I realized that I also broke the head of my boom and that my ankle felt like shit, too, so I guess I was pretty lucky I didn't break my neck and that it was a pretty good crash... at least my pinched nerve wasn't bothering me anymore!

2bluehawaiins · Joined: 07 Mar 2002 Posts: 194

Sailed yesterday till 6:30pm one guy came out . Here are a couple of photo's of what it is like at a minus tide speed ditch.Not queit as windy as sunday but still 28 average gusting to 35 knots.

2bluehawaiins · Joined: 07 Mar 2002 Posts: 194

johnl · Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR

That's 28mph? Boy that's some flat water. I may have to dig my gear out of storage Smile

I'm about ready for some Tomales action......

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

I haven't sailed the entrance channel at Bodega Bay that often over the years, but one of my most fondest days there was in the late 80s. Lots of wind and a lower tide, yet I could come up to maybe a foot or two right next up to the sandbar to the west.

I was visiting friends outside Petaluma going west along the Bodega Highway, so the drive was quite minimal and the outcome quite impressive, especially since it was an unknown afternoon adventure for me at the time. An incredible speed venue both up and back, and I pretty much had it to myself.

kevinkan · Joined: 07 Jun 2001 Posts: 1661 Location: San Francisco

alright, i'm ready to head up there again the next windy day we get... and before the weeds come back. I need a good Tomales day, too.

Does anybody want to share additional info on the speed channel... i.e. tides or wind directions to look for. I know the channel is always sailable... but is it preferable to have low tide for minimum chop, or does it not matter? WNW vs NW make a difference? I've sailed both from Hart's Beach and the Marina... I've heard the spots respond differently to wind direction.