Rank of Winter spots in Continental North America

Hi,

What are the good spots to be in for an intermidiate sailor in winter in Continental North America. I am thinking October-November timeframe.

My ranking for North America during these two months would have Hatteras at the number one spot

Go to Hatteras in October. The wind is as reliable as you will find compared to any other spot. Just make sure you bring all your stuff cuz you get everything from light to raging wind. It's cheap and you've got the variety of the sound and the ocean.

<snip blatant BS>

Maybe down in santa barbara but not here, clearing winds don't sart until march and anything in the winter lasts few hours at best not days. Thinking about moving housing prices beyond belief and no jobs unless you have a trust fund or are retired no way anyone under 40 can afford to buy here, must be why the waves are so empty, god bless and if you are beyond rich and like light winds yes santa barbara is great.

Don't you guys find the clearing winds gusty as hell? I grew up in Saratoga (south Bay Area), and I found the southerly, warm, pre frontal winds solid as could be, but the NW clearing winds were a mess. Then again, I wasn't the best sailor at the time (nor now).

While we're on the topic, where do you guys draw the line between N. Cal and S. Cal? We always believed that anything south of Monterey was S. Cal, but I don't think Santa Barbara folks (Wardog), put themselves in this category,. Central Cal maybe? I have noticed; however, that people from this area put articles in front of pronouns which is a distinctly S. Cal trait:

The Baja The 405

Sorry guys, but its Baja California, and Interstate 405. Us Northern folk have always wondered why this is added?

I guess the real test is Dodgers vs. Giants?

Go Giants!

Jay

When I first started windsurfing my parents lived in Morro Bay California and I lived in Reno. I used to go down there to visit and hunt for wind during the winter and found that the wind is pretty skimpy down there during the winter unless you want to try the ocean during frontal storms and that is expert only and butt cold. The lakes are mostly reservoirs and during the winter they are usually down and normal acess is limited and again, butt cold. I have had some luck sailing during the winter in Morro Bay but it is very tidal and if you get caught out there and the tide goes out you can get stuck in the nastiest muck. I have also sailed in the mouth of the jetty by the big rock and have found access during low tide at the base of the rock inside the jetty and moderately safe wave riding surfing into the jetty. I also remember one christmas vacation where I drove all over central california for a week and never saw a white cap. So I think that you will need to get pretty lucky to find a lake that is warm enough, has enough water and wind during the winter in Central California, but if you wait till the spring, Lake Lopez and Lake Isabelle is good and safe. RON

Jay clearing winds are very fickle, yes gusty and many times shifty to the offshore side after the frontal passage, they are best starting late febuary and can lead to multi day blows going into spring. Problem is winter gives the inland the cold heavy air which loves to funnel offshore. Any winter clearing NW wind sailing has to be done under optimal conditions like rain front passes in the morning doing at least 15 mph no later than noon next system has to be at least a day away... The only thing keeping people sailing here in the winter are the waves, they can be epic but its cold after the front, generally Socal starts S of Pt. Conception, Central CA = Pt. Conception to Pt. Arena and N of Arena is the the cold Northern scary large wavesville!

Tauras

OOPs.

So will ya hang with me?

I'm only a third year. We always have shit loads of beer to hang with our Canada friends

Jay

Ya didn't answer buddy Jay

Sure as long as I can't see through the beer, but best wind season here is March into August, can blow as late as October depending on the year thjen winter is spotty at best unless you have light wind gear or kite, been pretty dead here after last weekends blow but there is always next week, ever in Morro Bay stop in, have fun!

Tauras http://www.slonet.org/~tsulaiti/surfreport/

Here is a pic and a note that a customer of mine sent me after getting his new 400 RDM for Christmas...he launches from his home on Morro Bay: http://surfingsports.com/images/ gonzo_morrobay_xmas.jpg

Like Gonzo says, our season runs Jan. 1 to Jan. 1... their season runs April 1 to Sept. 1...whatever... I've sailed 21 straight days in November... So what if it's light...that's relative...here is Chris Wyman enjoying a secret spot in Santa Barbara on Thanksgiving Day, oh yeah...we surfed 1/4 mile long point waves earlier in the morning: http://www.surfingsports.com/chris_wyman.asp For several years, before we started wintering in the Baja, I've sailed the three days up to and including Christmas...I'm talking epic big wave surfsailing...career sessions...the last three years we have been blessed with 6 days in a row of world class surfsailing near UCSB campus in February: http://www.surfingsports.com/action_bust.asp We get great clearing winds from wet and/or dry frontal passages in Santa Barbara, North of Pt. Conception is typically still in the wet muck, when it's blowing... http://www.surfingsports.com/santa_barbara.asp http://www.surfingsports.com/mo_santa_barbara.asp Then there are the port tack Santa Anas: http://www.surfingsports.com/vidstream/wind/ devil_winds.ram Anyways...I am baffled why anyone would put their windsurfing gear on moth balls in California, just because the calendar says Labor Day...

WARDOG