User Friendly Wave Sailing-- Nor Cal

[chophop]

Are there any spots that are less forbidding than Waddell Creek and Davenport?

Both can be a real challenge and a workout, at least to get out through the white water.

What sized swell translates to within reason to maybe catch a wave and not get munched. Is the South Swell considerably more do'able than the more common NW swell.

Is a 4-3 wetsuit with a hood enough for these early season conditions?

[beallmd]

Lots of folks out there are better qualified to answer this than I am but let me make a few points straight away.
First; Waddell is much much safer than Davy. Waddell has about 2 miles of safe landing and it is hard to imagine someone not getting back in. Davy just the opposite-if you get much downwind of the break area, it could result in a night or two on the beach in a little cove with no way out. This actually happened to a guy a few years ago. Make sure someone knows you're out and can notify someone if you don't get back in-do not take this lightly!
You don't have to go out if the waves are really big or "munch!" Pick your conditions -mid summer can be fairly friendly while this time of year can be downright deadly, also waves can come up very quickly; ask anyone who has surfed or windsurfed the ocean much. Kanaha, Maui is a perfect place to begin wavesailing, Cabarete can be also.
4-3 with hood and maybe booties is typical gear for both. Consider a helmet over the hood.
Typically on north winds both storm and summer thermal. Half Moon Bay or in rare cases some of the Santa Cruz breaks can work on a south wind. HEY did I see someone out at Steamer today at about 2pm on surfline cam?

[beallmd]

This should be moved to northern/so cal/Maui threads. Don't know how to do it.

[pirireis]

Were you sailing Davenport yesterday? That was a very tough day for a first time sail if you did, up and down, strong rip. Both Davenport and Waddell are ranked as expert spots here in Norcal. Especially when the waves are big and wind weak.

Crissy Field is a very nice spot, but you have to be a proficient sailor and very aware of your surroundings, tide, wind, sea traffic. The launch is easy, and you can get access to waves and come back. This is a risky spot though, rig small and if the wind dies you may find yourself outside the Golden gate bridge in open ocean. The boat traffic also is an important hazard.

[windward1]

Davenport and Waddell Creek are the two main wave sailing spots. If you go when the waves are about two to four feet to start with you should have little problem. Davenport has a channel in between the two wave sites and it is easy to get out except for the wind shadow from the upwind cliff. If you stay to the right break (as you face seaward) it is a little more forgiving as there is still the main beach downwind and usually has less sailors on it. It does suffer somewhat from wind shadow from that same cliff at times.

Natural Bridges is a fun place for some ocean sailing, but wave riding can be very tricky as the break "Sidewalks" breaks right on the rocks and can be too short to ride unless you are good at turning out quickly. Also if the swell is big, the shore pound can be a real gear cruncher. Plus one has to watch out for people on the beach and in the surf when coming or going from the beach.

Pleasure Point on a southwest wind with bigger gear can be fun. All of the breaks there are usually taken by surfers, but sometimes third peak is available without bothering anyone else.

Windward1

[chophop]

I have sailed both places, Waddell and Davenport, several times, but usually in the Summer when it is pretty small. Based on your comments i guess that it would be foolish to try it out as it is now, at 10 or so feet swell size.

[Epenrose]

Don't know how Waddell can be considered safer than Davenport, sort of a strange comment.

Waddell isn't a great wave spot. You maybe get one or two turns on a wave and it's a beach break so getting out can be a gear smasher if you don't know what you are doing.

Davenport is a much better place to learn to wave sail. Channel makes it easy on smaller days to get out, up to head high.

Take a trip to PSC and it will pay you back ten fold or better yet spend some time surfing.

Never sure why anyone recommends Waddell, great spot surfing on a south swell, aside from that it sucks.

[harris52]

I'd actually run a counterthought to this. I think Waddell is a great place to learn, precisely because you have to deal with the whitewater, currents and everything the ocean has to throw at you. The lessons are invaluable, because you will have to deal with it all (and well) when the surf is bigger no matter where you sail. The worst thing that can happen at Waddell is you end up on the beach. The idea that somewhere like PSC is the answer is just for the fact that you'll have more fun there. You won't necessarily learn as much, but you will definitely get more and better waves. If you think you're somehow going to avoid things like getting over the whitewater, dealing with being down in the surf and getting going again by going somewhere else with that nice end around channel, the biggest sets of the day will generally laughingly mock you in that belief. Best to have your "ocean skills" down and confident you can climb that wall, or if you don't, feel comfortable with what's about to hit you, IMO. Putting up with a couple of sucky and embarrasing days may not be much fun, but it may teach you a hell of a lot.

Potential problems at Davenport:
* running too far dtl at lowers and getting trapped by surf with no exit channel way way down at lowers, leaving you either trapped at real high tides or having to hike up rock with your gear.
* having surf throw you towards the cliffs on uppers if you get too far into the pit and the wave closes farther out than you expected trapping you from an exit.
* having the surf throw you and your gear on the rocks on the inside at uppers and the surf keep pounding at you when with little inside wind.
* not coming in far enough upwind after sailing at lowers and getting crunched by the shorepound down by the fishladder.
* the fishladder.
* overall shorepound potential when entering/exiting the water.

If someone is learning, the reality is they are somewhat likely to end up downwind and that can present a problem at Davenport, not to mention Davenport just has some issues that can go unnoticed if you don't have experience, until you notice them up close and personal. Waddell is a great jumping spot too and a couple turns off a nicely steeped up wave is fun as hell, IMO.

Plus, if you're down in the break zone at Waddell, you're only likely to go downwind and offend kiters.

[chophop]

i have been out at Waddell quite a few times and caught a few waves. I don't know how big it really is today but the forecast is about ten feet is that just too big for someone who does not really have a full skill set yet?

[boggsman1]