Coast spots?

[dllee]

Advice only works if you apply them.
If you insist on just going out whenever and whereever you feel like it, and then take any old wave to ride in, NOT go upwind hard left once in the whitewater, you'll be in for a lot of walks and thrashing around.
Surfer's don't just plop in the water and paddle out. They time the sets, wait for the end of a set, then paddle out while the last wave of the set is still breaking, knowing it takes a bit of time to get thru the shallow.
Surfer's don't just take any wave coming in. They look for a shoulder, they wait until most of the set has passed (if it's big), then go for the last two waves of a set, allowing them a lull to paddle back out or recover from a fall.
Manzanita is tough.

[riv2511]

Pretty sure isobars has never ridden a wave. And does not know how to ride a river swell properly...

[isobars]

I don't do ANYTHING related to individual playtime "properly"; My objectives are fun and adrenaline, not propriety. If I wanted to be proper, I'd visit the Queen at Buckingham ... unless it was sheduled for a windy day.

Purely for the sake of curiosity and besides non-interference with whoever got there ahead of me, what's the "proper" way to ride any bump on the water, be it salt, fresh, breaking, non-breaking, wind- or topography-generated?

Even more important, sez who?

[dllee]

Mike is pretty much a rec expert at riding wind waves on the Columbia, and would be also at Sherman Island.
Ocean sailing is a different animal, one you have to spend time at doing.
He admitted as much.

[brettn]

Oregon Coast is a very gnarly, cold and humbling. But super rewarding when you are coming in towards the beach and one of those huge rollers comes up behind you and you rocket down the face of it. So good! So satisfying.

As for the long walks and flailing, these can be greatly lessened by taking the great advice you find here, and perseverance. Be a repeat offender. Just keep hitting it every good forecast. Going when the surf is 4 feet or less will decrease the thrill factor, but is a lot easier to get out past than 6+ surf. Also getting it early in the day will make for smaller surf. Seems like when it's really honking the surf gets bigger and bigger.

South Beach Newport will have smaller surf the closer you get to the jetty.

As for nice mellow spots without all the coldness and impact-zone beatings, that would be the Gorge.

[dhanson928]

Ok, got it. I'll try one of the jetty spots, future visits to the coast. I actually spent my young life surfing, so I know waves and sets and breaks and rips..the strong side current I encountered was no fun..I spent most of my first coast time just trying to stay upwind...

[trudynlary]

Slow at work today, I tried to update the guide for sailing the Oregon Coast. It's been a hard year to predict the wind on the coast with all the heat this year. I have sailed a lot at Oceanside (a lot alone) this year. Currently I have about 30 days of sailing on the coast and 20 days in the gorge.

Coast sailing is really dependent on the wave size, it has been on the small size lately and actually fun and not scary. Hope this guide help you.

Trudy Lary


Oregon Coast Windsurfing Guide – Updated 8-25-2015

Welcome to the Oregon Coast Windsurfing Guide. This guide is written for windsurfers who are ready to give wave sailing their first try and those that have been around a while. This guide includes advice from good friends and personal mistakes we hope you find it beneficial.

Skill sets needed to sail the Oregon coast

1. Ability to swim without your gear
2. Ability to not panic when you lose your gear in the ocean
3. Ability to walk up wind for miles on the beach with your gear, after you get washed down wind.
4. A solid water start (I sailed years at the Oregon coast before I could gibe)
5. If you do know how to jibe, a chick jibe could save you a lot of heartache.

FORECASTS
MM5 is updated around 10 AM each day, go to the link below, scroll to the top of the page and click on the LOOP next to 10m Wind Gusts, we have found this has been the most accurate forecast for predicting wind on the Oregon coast.

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/mm5rt/rt/gfsinit.d3.html

Less accurate but still helpful:

1. Max’s Coast websites are the best, all the information at one place, best of all he decodes the MM5
a. http://www.windsurforegon.com/oregon-north-coast
b. http://www.windsurforegon.com/oregon-central-coast
c. http://www.windsurforegon.com/oregon-south-coast

2. Marine Forecast
a. North Coast: http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=pqr&pil=CWF&sid=PQR
b. South Coast: http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=pqr&pil=CWF&sid=MFR

3. Satellite, this is good to check out the fog situation on the coast.
a. http://sat.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/showsat.php?wfo=pqr&area=west&type=vis&size=1

4. Swell forecast
a. North Coast: http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/seaside-oregon.html
b. Mid Coast: http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/florence-oregon.html
c. South Coast: http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/gold-beachoregon.html

5. Buoys, actual swell
a. North Coast: http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgibin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=GARO3
b. Mid Coast: http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=pqr&sid=duno3&num=60&raw=0&banner=off
c. South Coast: http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgibin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=K4S1

Coastal webcams:
Manzanita: http://theoregoncoast.info/Webcam/Manzanita.html
Oceanside: http://www.oceansideoregon.com/surf_cam.asp
Lincoln City: http://www.lcsurfshop.com/webcam.htm
Newport: http://www.tripcheck.com/roadcams/cams/YaquinaBayJetty_pid645.jpg
Florence: http://www.co.lane.or.us/webcams/harborvista/HarborVista.aspx

Gear
North Coast: Big board and big sail.
Central Coast: Big and small gear.
South Coast: Small gear, but bring everything.

Tricks to get pass the breaking waves
1. Become an expert slogger
2. Don’t just speed out there, sometimes big waves will break and you can sail over the foam.
3. Learn to chick jibe really fast.

Rinse cycle fun
1. If you do get caught in the rinse cycle try to stay with your gear if you are way outside but don’t get involved with it.
2. Hold on tight to the tip of your mast and let the board rinse down wave of your body or hold on to your boom..
3. Be really careful in shallow water, stay away from your gear at all costs.

Sandbars
The sandbars change every year due to the extreme winter storms on the Oregon coast. Some years the sandbars setup for epic conditions at Florence (2010) other years the sandbar causes major shore pound, like 2015 at the Rock at Pistol River.

These sites are listed from north to south.

Astoria Jetty
A local windsurfer sails here, you almost need a gale force forecast to make this place work. There have been reports of great waves here.

Manzanita
Drive thru the center of town until you hit the beach, you can launch anywhere, however some locals think the south part of the beach by the houses is a better place to launch. The wind is often very “on shore” here good for jumping when the inside actually has wind in it. Look for Portland to be hot. This sailing site will go off when all other north locations are shut down due to the heat in Portland; down the line wave sailing here is near non-existent due to the on-shore wind. Jeff Albright has told us he had a down-the-line day here once.

Webcam: http://theoregoncoast.info/Webcam/Manzanita.html
Buoy: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46029

Oceanside
You can park anywhere along the beach, we park in front of the first house you drive to coming from the south.. This spot can often have some very nice waves. Often gusty but the waves are worth it. Be ready to move up or down the beach a bit to get the best set up for waves and/or wind. The wind here is often very up and down with lulls so it is a site for the sailor who really is focused on the wave. Check the Garibaldi buoy and Oceanside webcam before you go. Also it should show wind on the Lincoln City cam for Oceanside to blow.

Webcam http://www.virtual-oceanside.com/surf_cam.asp
Buoy: http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=GARO3

Lincoln City Roads End Park
The launch is at the Roads End Park just a short drive north of the casino. Turn off 101 like you were going to the casino on NW Logan Road and keep driving until you see a public beach park.

This place is often the best when the wind first comes up and there is less cross chop. If you see waves breaking on the outer sand bars the waves are probably a lot bigger then they look like from the beach. At High tide closer to the park there can be a nasty reformed beach break that takes a bit of timing to get through safely. The wind gets weaker the farther south you are from the park. Try not to get caught south of the launching area. A good choice for sailor unfamiliar with the break is to walk upwind from the park about 200 yards and launch there. Many times when South Beach is shut down Roads End will be blowing.

Live Cam: http://www.lcsurfshop.com/webcam.htm.
Wind Report: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=pqr&sid=ap682&num=60&raw=0&banner=off

Newport, Agate Beach,
Grass rigging and running water are here but a long walk to beach. This site can be fun and there is surfing just north of this location at the north end of this beach if the wind doesn’t blow. This site has not been sailed much lately; it is a great site if Road End is too big and South Beach is not blowing.

Newport, South Beach
This is a state park a short drive south past the Newport bridge. Follow the state park signs. Nice grass rigging area and outside running water. When the conditions are right, this is one of the best places on the Oregon coast to sail. Great down-the-line sailing with clean waves makes this place epic in the right conditions, which rarely happen. When the waves are north/northwest and big you can hide behind the jetty and sneak out and catch the big ones in spring, fall and occasionally winter.
Wind Report: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=SBEO3

Neptune
One of the most beautiful sailing sites in Oregon, You should park in the north parking lot and launch from there. This is an advance sailing place due to the rocks north and south of the launch. It also tends to blow early and blows when there is fog. You can catch a session here in the morning and hit Florence in the afternoon. At high tide there are rocks to the south so be careful and don’t get caught down wind. At low tide there is sand to the south be sure to keep an eye on what your options are if you end up floating south of this launch. One of the few places left on the Oregon coast without cell phone reception.

Stone Field
North of Ocean Beach, really short walk to launch, might be windy and sunny when Florence is foggy. I hope you like sailing alone because you will unless you bring someone. There is lots of tourist here so you won’t be entirely alone if something happens.

Ocean Beach aka Bone Crushers
North of the Sea Lion Caves, really short walk to launch. Ocean Beach might be windy and sunny when Florence is foggy. One benefit to this site is there is a very short walk to the launch. You will have all the waves to yourself, since you will be the only one sailing here unless you bring your own company. You can see highway 101 from the beach, lots of tourist will stop to watch you sail and ask you if you ever sailed the gorge. The locals call this place bone crushers, it can get really big when Florence is still spitting out 2 foot waves. There is not jetty here to break up the waves. A fun sailing site if the conditions are right.

Muriel Ponsler Memorial Beach
This is often a windy spot with an easy launch and should be looked at if Newport is not sailable on your way to Florence. I’ve sailed here a few times (solo) and had a great time.

Florence South Jetty
The entrance is about a thousand yards south of the Florence Bridge off of 101 there is a pay station here but the parking on the south jetty belongs to the Army Corps of Engineers, so you do not need to pay the fee that the ATV riders pay to ride in the park. If the rangers are at the pay booth simply tell them you are going surfing on the south Jetty they will let you pass for free. The road out to the Jetty seems to go on for a good 10 minutes so just keep driving. Don’t speed a few windsurfers have ended up with speeding tickets on the road out to the jetty. The jetty can be a NASTY place for non sailors when it is blowing! Conditions on the beach can be miserable, but non-sailors can hide behind the rocks near the shore of the jetty and be almost entirely out of the wind.

Florence is also one of the most reliable places for wind on the Oregon coast. However it can often be a late start. It is not uncommon to wait till 3 or 5 pm for the wind to start at Florence. Depending how far out on the Jetty you park it can be a bit of a walk to the water.

Live webcam http://apps.lanecounty.org//webcams/harborvista/HarborVista.aspx

Bandon, North Jetty
Roger and Dana sail south winds, you need to know what you are doing to sail south winds in the winter, do not attempt if you have any doubts.

Bandon, Face Rock
When Pistol is shut down with a thermal low this place can often be outstanding with great waves with very side shore winds sometimes even a bit side off. This is also the place to go if there are Gale force winds along the south coast. It can be 3.2 every where around the South coast with white water out a mile and it will be 4.7 with beautiful mast high sets at Face Rock. There are two places to park. The Face Rock park which is on the “scenic beach loop drive” or there is a vacant lot just a short distance south of the park (better choice). Across the street is a shared driveway that you can walk your gear down to the beach. There is a danger here. About mid way down the beach there are two smaller rocks. The first one is pretty easy to see from the beach. From the rock you can easily see from the beach there is an additional submerged rock that is about 40 yards out from that rock. This outer rock will suck dry in front of bigger waves. Make sure you know where you are in relation to these rocks! If the wind is too fluky north of these rocks it can be better a bit further down the beach. I like to use the rocks to get lined up for the sets. When you are further out you will see what looks like 3 attached condos on the beach. The northern most condo lines up with the mid-beach rocks to help you with your position. Face Rock is also a good place to go when NOAA is calling for a gale as Face Rock and the overlook point can block some of the stronger winds.

Paradise Point
Massive shore pound, nasty spot to sail, gritty sand makes this spot one of the least desirable sailing sites on the Oregon coast. If you have done the 6-7 hour drive from the Gorge or Portland and are really, really desperate to sail this place is for you (if NO other place within 500 miles is blowing, i.e. go to Cape Mendocino before resorting to this sorry place). It blows here when no place else on the south coast is blowing. However get ready for all your gear to get stuck together, enjoy going through the rinse cycle 1 foot from shore, and get ready for major grit in all the pieces of your windsurfer gear. You have been warned in advance. Some hints, run out with your gear past the shore pound, usually 5-6 feet from shore, immediately launch or you will be eaten by the shore pound, Stay outside until you want to come in. When you do decide to come in, sail right up and into the sand. Lift your gear and run as fast as you can to shore before the wave behind you eats you. Then go to town and have a beer and give up a prayer in thanks that you have survived.

Rhett's
Sail at high tide or say goodbye to your fin, many rocks in shallow water. However Rhett is really great waves on high tide in the right conditions.

Cole Point
This is a spot for advanced sailors only. It is the point half way between
Humbug and Retz. Best approached from the South at Humbug in case wind dies or
something breaks then it's all downwind home. Technically it is not really Cole Point but that is what everyone calls it. Cole is the point immediately to the right as you look west from Humbug. It too can have a long right hander but it needs to be bigger as it's deeper
there. Humbug is a huge cliff faced point and floating south for any reason will see you in the water for a long time until you see a sand beach to land on again.

Humbug
Don't break down and get down wind here. As you can see it is all cliffs and rocks south of here for 6 miles. Roger, Kenny and Jeff are two of the few sailors that have actually sailed here. Sometimes if you are desperate for entertainment you can do an “adventure” sail from Rhett downwind to Humbug.

Gold Beach South Jetty
As a thermal low first starts to creep in to the south coast this spot can sometimes be sailable. It is also a place to get a morning session on the south Coast. The Gold Beach South Jetty often has a nasty beach break so timing is critical to get out. The waves here often set up very nicely. It is always less windy than it looks, rig big.

Cape Sebastian
The sailing site is located on the South side of the cape and is the first turn off at the bottom of the hill.

This is a south west and west swells sailing location. If the swell is northwest sometimes some refracted waves get in here but it will usually be much smaller then Pistol River. Also at a very high tide a tiny bit of northwest swell can get in here. When the swell is Southwest it can be some of the best wave sailing you will get on the Oregon coast or anywhere for that matter! It is often extremely gusty here in the afternoon, so catch the early morning or late evening session. The outside turn can be 2 meters stronger wind then what you need in the line up.
A large rock blocks most of the northwest wind waves and can set up some side off conditions. There are rocks south of your launch which I have seen gear and people get washed up on and rescued from.

Pistol River a.k.a. “The Rock”
Just south of Cape Sebastian is Pistol River State Park. This is also a turn off right on 101. Just south of Cape Sebastian you will cross Meyers creek up on your right about 1000 yards there is a large rock on the beach that looks like a big loaf of bread. This is the launch. There will be sailors here if it is sailable. The waves here can get poundy and the wind is usually on shore. If it is a bigger day do not let this place be your first experience on the coast.

Crescent City
Sail at the south end of the bay.

[jimoakes]

Thank you for taking the time to post this Trudy. Thanks for all your photos as well. You do so much for the sport!

[trudynlary]

Thanks Jim,

Taking pictures is fun before or after sailing. Getting old I can only sail about 3 hours, digital photography has made taking pictures way easier and most sailors really appreciation a picture of them windsurfing.

There were 2 young sailors (Ben from England and Fabio from Italy) at Pistol this last trip, they would sail the Gold Beach Jetty in the morning with us, then sail the Rock (Pistol River), then come back and have a 3rd session at the jetty. I usually only had the morning session unless the wind was strong in the evening.

[capetonian]

I love the pictures. Makes me want to take a trip to the Oregon coast sometime.

3 hours of wavesailing is still pretty impressive. I'm toast after 2 hours, and feel it the next day.