Where We Sailed Today

bprice · Joined: 21 Oct 2000 Posts: 138

Another enjoyable foiling day at Lopez. Thanks to IW forecast team for fixing the forecasted wind direction issue. And thanks to Lopez and SLO county ranger staff for keeping the day use open (for now). Spotted a huge golden eagle today and the usual bald eagle too. Spring is here but heavy rain for the next few days now.

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

great to hear you still have access to the lake!

DelCarpenter · Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 499 Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Where I live there are absolutely no large parking lots in or next to parks. The available large parking lots are at public schools, churches, universities, & a few businesses. I sailed Friday at an empty, except for one other vehicle, 940 spaces lot at University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls IA.

Wherever you are, you might have lots you don't usually go to because they are usually too crowded, but are now empty.

I hope you can find one and can get part of a windsurfing fix with longboard skateboards, mountain boards, or sit-down land sailing trikes while wearing elbow pads, knee pads, bulky clothing & motorcycle or bicycle helmets.

Goodwind · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 323 Location: On water

Quite a few people wing-boarding at Crissy right now at 5PM. Are we allowed to sail in San Francisco county?

https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/park-web-cams

dvCali · Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 1314

Gwarn · Joined: 22 May 2013 Posts: 124 Location: SF

windoggi · Joined: 22 Feb 2002 Posts: 2743

Berkeley had the goods today. It was my first dip in the bay this season! It was good to see our crusty old gang. I love every one of them! Evil or Very Mad

bprice · Joined: 21 Oct 2000 Posts: 138

Super fun day at Lopez with 4 WS foils and 2 wings out. Wind was upper teens +/-3, mostly filled in, and went long enough to make some fun knee high swell to ride. About 3 inches of rain this past week so we lost a little beach which is a good thing. Grassy rigging hillside is muddy and slippery in spots so be careful.

Staff just started a max number of vehicles per day so be aware.

dvCali · Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 1314

Oh well it had to happen ... I never sailed TI in April and I got swapped away! Before the traffic made getting there impossible TI was my July to August treat when the fog came over Crissy and I cannot remember ever rigging bigger than 5. Yesterday the wind looked solid but apparently looks can be deceiving. I should have checked with Bill, who at my same weight went out with 100+5.3, but instead I went out out RRD 90 plus 4.9 and I was barely on a plane the whole time ... add the flood, moderate but there ... add the f@#$@ KS3 that de-powers if you look at it and ... drift ... and drift ... and drift.

Ending up landing on the other side of the Island. I don't think I missed my landing by this amount in 34 years of sailing the Bay Area! Maybe a couple of times landed at Crissy Sail Club beach ... off by 50 yards. I got lucky because if the wind dropped outside I would have landed at Berkeley. Live and learn! Next time is 6.5 and my (well ... Robert's) Exocet slalom!

greytwhyte · Joined: 02 May 1998 Posts: 21

Don't feel bad DvCali, it has happened to almost all of us that sail TI regularly including on the flood days. You're experience yesterday wasn't the worst. I just spoke to a buddy who launched at TI and like you thought it was windier than it was. He went 82 ltr wave board with a 21cm swept back wave fin. Oopps!! He sailed down to the Toll Plaza and luckily got a ride back with someone who was windsurfing from there with all the kiters.