Tomales Bay launch?

[johnnyo]

Thinking about trying Tomales this summer when it's working. Any suggestions on the best launch?

[johnl]

Tomales isn't what I normally consider a summer place. Early summer maybe. This place normally goes off in the spring when the winds blow from the NW on the coast. That being said, this hasn't been a normal year so who knows. Also the weeds get a lot worse as the season goes on to the point that I want a weed fin.

I know of two places to launch, both on the NW side of the bay. One is about 2 - 3 miles past Marshal (towards the ocean). There is a turn out on the left with room for about 10 cars next to a big solo tree. Make sure you don't parallel park or you will waste space for others. A short drop leads to a small plateau where you can rig. Then another short drop puts you on the water.

There is another location the other side of Marshal. I've seen people sailing out of a cove there. But unfortuantely I can't really give you directions to that one...

[boggsman1]

The other launch is called Marconi. It is about 2 miles before you get to Marshall, and it is a cove where fishermen launch small craft. the wind is much lighter at Marconi, and there is no poison oak. John is right, Tomales is a Spring spot, will be closed for the season any day now.

[LeeD]

As said, GrassyPoint is N of Marshall on the EAST side of TomalesBay.
MarconiCove is about 2 miles S of Marshall on the EAST side.
ChickenRanch is 1 mile N of Inverness on the West side of TomalesBay.
Limatour is 9 miles W of Olema on the coast, best low tides and NW clear coastal winds.
PaloMarin is 5 miles NW of Bolinas, best NW coast clear and medium tides with some W or S swell action.
Dillon is 4 miles W of Tomales (the town). Needs clear NW and not too big a swell, as getting thru the shorebreak when it's well overhead can be tricky with all the waves upwind of you.

[jse]

True it's a spring spot, but I'm still holding out for a few more epic sessions. I've sailed there as late as October, when the wind cooperates, but it's rare. Boggsman, we sailed there late June last year. I was on a 3.5.

The windier launch is called Grassy Point, and it's an apt description. When you see it you will know. It's exactly 1.6 miles past Hog Island Oyster Company in the town of Marshall.

Steve

[boggsman1]

[LeeD]

NOA suspects NW clearing big winds by Thurs thru weekend. What do they know?
Best at ebbs, for big swells and wind.
For those sharkphobians, we swim from Inverness across the bay every July, and back, and haven't lost one yet.

[jse]

[victor]

Grassy Pt. is cold, isolated and parking is limited. Otherwise one of the best places to be on a strong NNW wind. Bring your small stuff. Weeds can be a problem later in the season but by then the wind is usually not favorable.

If it's too windy, launch at Marconi, where it mellows out a little.

Dillon Beach/Lawson's Landing is sailable if you like waves (and sharks, at one surfer bit there last year, his second shark bite there). Just inside the bay at Lawson's there is an area that looks good for flat water sailing at high tide. Never tried it, though.

Kiters regularly do downwinders from Doran Beach to Grassy Pt.

[sailandbail]

I have sailed Tomales year round. 5.0 sessions in December, south wind sessions in February; we had an off the hook day in November last year (3.4 and a foot wrenching to remember it by for the next two months).

Dillon is the most challenging in medium swell. When it gets big (over 10 ft) all the waves break on the outside sandbar and only smooth swell make it through and break at a much more manageable size on the inside bars. Low tide is better for smooth water sailing due to the same outside sandbar effect. Still a challenging spot no matter what size; but the most fun in regards to jumping/wave riding/survival possibilities. There were actually more sailors (3) than kiters (1) the last big NW blow we had (Sun the 23rd - overpowered on a 4.1)