Windsurfing in San-Francisco?

[cliffhl]

Hi, hope you can help. Need a little more info on the windsurfing scene around San Francisco. Have seen a few guys sailing in the bay when leaving the airport but wonder what else the area has to offer. Whats the water temp like, what variety of conditions are there etc etc?

Have just been offered a job there, but need to know more about this before decisions can be made. ps. any more info about skiing (nearest slopes etc) also welcome. How far is the drive to lake tahoe?

Cheers, Cliff, UK.

[Anonymous]

Cliff,

Barring the somewhat chilly water, the Bay area rocks. It's hands-down the best spot in the world for urban windsurfing. During their season (and it's a long one), average sail sizes range from 4.7 - 5.2. You might have to drive around the bay, or at worse, out to the Delta, but there's gonna be wind somewhere 5 out of 7 days a week.

Plus, it's tough to beat for proximity to the Gorge, Maui, and local coastal wave spots. Toss in an active windsurfing community, multiple launches, and it's tough to beat.


Caveats: It's one the most expensive cities to live in in all of America.

Let us know what you do!

[Spennie]

Cliff:

I've sailed extensively in the Bay Area, and Josh is right, it's the best urban windsurf area in the world. There's every kind of sailing within an hour, including wavesailing at the coast, and due to some interesting micro-climates it's almost ALWAYS blowing somewhere. There's probably 30 windsurf sites around the bay: Great flatwater sailing by the airport (Coyote Point) or Candlestick, unbelievable bump-n-jump at Treasure Island, waves on the ocean side of the Peninsula. Drive an hour East and you're in the Delta, my personal favorite, I like it better than Aruba, an hour West and you're wavesailing at Waddell!
I must take issue with his saying the water's chilly--maybe by Florida standards, but I've never needed more than a shorty 95% of the time.
It is expensive to live there, second only to D.C. I believe, but if you can live outside the city it might be doable. If wondering about the sailing is the only thing holding you back, wonder no more, GO!!!

Spennie the Wind Junkie
P.S. See my "Delta Documentary" at www.windjunkie.net

[Spennie]

Oops, forgot to mention: Lake Tahoe skiing is about 3 hours away by car.

[Duncan Adam]

So Cliff (known as forcefive over in the UK Boards forum), you are considering a move.

Obviously we expect to have invites, if we are in the area (and borrow some of your kit of course) :lol:


I just don't know why you would want to give up this cold water sailing?


http://www.windsurf.me.uk/cpg133/displayimage.php?pid=399&fullsize=1

http://www.windsurf.me.uk/cpg133/displayimage.php?pid=398&fullsize=1

[Jrobb]

Here's a few links for more precise info on certain launches around the Bay.



http://www.windance.com/west_coast_guide/california/californiahome.htm

Iwindsurf.com has great info on different sites as well. It is my favorite tool for finding the wind around the Bay during the Summer. It costs to recieve detailed info but is well worth it. I have my cellphone hooked up so I can get up to the minute weather readings as well. Worth the 7bucks per onth if you ask me.

http://www.sfba.org/sailguide/guide.html
another site, but the Iwindsurf one has better detailed info.

J