Getting through the shore break

[rtz]

A local guy went down to Corpus Christi. Didn't ride oceanside cause he said he couldn't get out through the shore break(on shore wind).

So how does one get out through it?

[swchandler]

Tenacity and persistence. If you don't have the kind of determination and resolve to break through the surf zone, you'll always be a loser in that venue. Yet, once outside, you realize a different world and its potential.

[jingebritsen]

all based on experience.

be lit up. gotta have upwind planing power. there is a lot bullshit about gear choices based on those perspectives that come from venues with far easier conditions. turning ability means very little if one cannot plane up to get out of harm's way. seen folks from far easier spots get humbled in local, east coast, onshore stuff. most places don't have reefs with channels. let alone side off trade winds.

choose your moment. there can be gaps in between larger sets of waves

if denied, turn around and start over. seen folks drop in that bad zone where the following current and wave period just hammers the fugg out anyone if they insist on trying to restart in the worst spot, over and over again.

when the option is square up and slog over waves, and possibly stall the sail, or run down wind, i nearly always run away.

work on chicken jibe skills on flat water, maybe even light wind dayz????? if one needs an explanation of chicken jibes.....

[bred2shred]

If you're talking about launching through true "shore break", which is when the waves are breaking directly on the shore (usually caused by a steep drop off in the beach topography), then in many cases it's not even worth trying to sail unless it's small enough that you can easily wade out beyond the shore break to launch. Shore break can be nasty stuff and quickly destroy your gear as the waves will slam it directly onto the sand. Try to find a beach with a more gradual take off.

Many people refer to any waves breaking near the beach as "shore break," so if you're question is more general - "how do you launch off a beach with breaking waves?" Then the answer is it takes years and years of experience to become proficient at wave sailing. The windsurfing fundamentals (getting on plane, getting in the straps, schlogging, waterstarting) all have to be second nature so you can focus on the task at hand - watching the waves, getting powered up, dealing with getting knocked down, etc. Most people who have never wave sailed probably don't realize this, but one of the most rewarding parts of wave sailing can be simply making out past the break.

sm

[ss59]

not sure if you mean getting out through breaking waves when is onshore winds or getting out through 'shore dump' (maybe a British expression).

Shore dump - of any size - don't, just wait for the tide to drop- simple as that! I went to the PWA slalom event in the UK many years ago and watched the best in the world get destroyed by the savage shore dump.

https://boards.co.uk/features/the-most-hardcore-slalom-from-the-80s-90s-and-00s.html/3

getting out through onshore waves; there are different tactics, one of them has already been discussed on here in the last week or so.

[cgoudie1]

If you mean getting out through breaking waves (not shore break), then
yes there is technique, and it could take some time to develop, but some
of the more salient aspects are. Watch the set. The waves do usually come
in in 3s, then there will be a gap to get out before the next set, so timing is
crucial. Like John says, being powered up might not be premium on
a wave face, but if you get hammered and never get past the break, does
that really matter? So ride a little bigger sail (and maybe a little floatier
board. When you're trying to get up over the face through the white water,
it helps to have your back foot anchored in the strap and your front foot
way up by the mast, then as you get close to the wave crest, you can pitch
your weight up and forward over the white water. Chicken jibes can really
be your friend too, because sometimes you just aren't going to get over
that danged wave. Clew 1st water starts are pretty handy also!

These are probably things to think about after you can automatically plane,
strap and water start and have ridden some swells. Otherwise you'll just be
kook'n hard out there.

-Craig

p.s. if you really did mean getting out through nasty shore break, patience
is your friend, and it's all about timing ;*)

[dllee]

Carpenter Beach is almost impossible to get out if it's head high, onshore winds, and higher tides making the head high wave break very close to shore in very shallow water. Wait for low tides and smaller swell conditions with some angle to the wind.
Port Aransas usually gives some angle to the wind, allowing you to go longer before hitting the biggest waves, so it's usually the choice for sailing in the surf in the Gulf.
Port Isabelle down in South Padre is super easy, shallow for along way, and mostly weaker breaking, so that's where you should start sailing in the surf in S. Texas.

[dllee]

Oh, Carpenter beach IS closeout SHOREPOUND, if it goes head high and higher tides. There is no room to jump onto the board and get nearly onto a plane before the hollow closeout wave hit's you while you're slogging out of the footstraps and totally underpowered.
Gotta wait for low tides when it breaks farther out and you have a chance to settle into your slog position and get some more wind to power out.

[manuel]

[LeeD]

Most videos and tips don't address an ONSHORE wind direction.