Received: from opus.hpl.hp.com (root@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis [15.0.168.176]) by jr.hpl.hp.com (8.8.6/8.8.6) with ESMTP id VAA29104 for <wind_talk_ls@jr.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis>; Thu, 3 Feb 2000 21:48:32 -0800 (PST) From: Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis Received: from hplms26.hpl.hp.com (hplms26.hpl.hp.com [15.255.168.31]) by opus.hpl.hp.com (8.8.6/8.8.6) with ESMTP id VAA19145 for <wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis>; Thu, 3 Feb 2000 21:48:16 -0800 (PST) Received: from imo11.mx.aol.com (imo11.mx.aol.com [152.163.225.1]) by hplms26.hpl.hp.com (8.9.3 (PHNE_18979)/HPL-PA Relay) with ESMTP id VAA21796 for <wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis>; Thu, 3 Feb 2000 21:48:46 -0800 (PST) Received: from Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis by imo11.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v25.3.) id 1.50.11ebd0e (7094); Fri, 4 Feb 2000 00:44:34 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <50.11ebd0e.25cbc142@aol.com-DeleteThis> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 00:44:34 EST Subject: Ideal Windsurf Spot Attributes for BCDC/SF/SFO To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis, billrx@worldnet.att.net-DeleteThis, harris@synopsys.com-DeleteThis, bob@quake.net-DeleteThis, geohaye@hotmail.com-DeleteThis, Randyboz@aol.com-DeleteThis, karinaoc@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, Robberson.Bill@epamail.epa.gov-DeleteThis, OConnor.Karina@epamail.epa.gov-DeleteThis, harris4life@yahoo.com-DeleteThis, CoyoteSurf@aol.com-DeleteThis, bdow@cisco.com-DeleteThis, TFeldstein@grmslaw.com-DeleteThis, mtischler@mail.arc.nasa.gov-DeleteThis, jrunge@netcom.com-DeleteThis, jmcgrath@portoakland.com-DeleteThis, lstanley@stanleyrose.com-DeleteThis, ErikRog@aol.com-DeleteThis, buck@velaresorts.com-DeleteThis, RedKen2@aol.com-DeleteThis, AIRBOYD1@aol.com-DeleteThis, david@windcall.com-DeleteThis, carlyle@savesfbay.org-DeleteThis, jameslord@pacbell.net-DeleteThis, cathyb@baylock.com-DeleteThis, cems1@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, Berteva50@aol.com-DeleteThis, clem.wang@altavista.com-DeleteThis (Clem), peter@windsurfers.net-DeleteThis (Peter Liu), gerry_owen@hp.com-DeleteThis (Gerry), ggbsf@earthlink.net-DeleteThis (Gary), nmackisoc@yahoo.com-DeleteThis, happynewyear@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, Vitalize@aol.com-DeleteThis, MStokowski@evokesoft.com-DeleteThis, taxwind@ad.com-DeleteThis, sewing@nbn.com-DeleteThis, wndrider@hooked.net-DeleteThis Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows sub 54 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by jr.hpl.hp.com id VAA29104
Here is what I have so far on the Ideal Windsurf Spot Attributes with
additions from many of your comments. I haven't yet done the part where I
rank Coyote against the attributes. As you all know it has them all. Hit me
with any additional comments. E-mail me if you want it in MS Word that is
easier to read with bullets, bold headings, etc.
P.S. This would be a great year to really rally around the race at Coyote and
show SFO and the Bay Area how important Coyote is. Maybe some Pros or people
in the industry could get involved, write letters to BCDC, SFO, etc. and
maybe have a press conference regarding the concerns. We should have a race
and race week that would be high profile enough to get some press and be
noticed by the broader community. I tried to enlist industry people to help
with the 301 Airport Boulevard but couldn't even get a letter out of anyone
except Buck Lyons at Vela who wrote a great letter about how the hotels in
Aruba messed up the wind there. A top guy at one of the major distributors of
boards and sails who used to be a Coyote pioneer couldn't be bothered and an
editor of one of the windsurfing mags couldn't either. If anyone personally
knows anyone in the industry who cares, I think they could add something.
Maybe we should have a press boat (albeit flat bottomed) by the upwind mark
for the race to show them how far up there we (and the pro/world champs who
fly form 1,000 of miles away) sail.
Peter
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Wind Conditions
· Steady Wind- A steady wind is required for windsurfing to be practical or
enjoyable. A Windsurfer selects a sail and a board that is appropriate for
certain wind speeds. When winds are highly variable, a windsurfer will
encounter conditions where the gear they are using is inappropriate for the
conditions. When a sailor encounters a gust that is too strong, they may be
thrown from the board or thrown into the rig. An intermediate or advance
windsurfer uses a harness which connects them to the rig and allows them to
counterweight more power in the sail, but this harness will also cause the
sailor to be thrown into the rig when they are overpowered and lose control.
Injuries can and do occur when sailors hit the boom or mast portions of the
rig. When a strong lull occurs, a windsurfer will often fall into the water
because the wind that they area counterweighting has disappeared. The effect
is similar to what occurs when one is playing tug of war and the other party
lets go of the rope. When wind is highly variable in direction, a windsurfer
may be back winded. When a windsurfer is back winded, they not only lose the
power in the sail that was holding them up as they leaned a way from the
sail, but they also encounter a force pushing the sail back toward them and
forcing them down into the water.
· Consistent Wind- A good windsurfing site needs to have wind frequently. The
better sites will have good sailing wind on the majority of the days during
the summer months. Ideally winds are predictable so that windsurfers can
count on a site to be sailable when particular weather patterns prevail.
· Wind Direction- The wind direction is ideally side shore. If the wind is
offshore, it creates a situation where windsurfers may not be able to return
to shore. Many beginner and intermediate windsurfers have some difficulty
staying upwind. Even advanced sailor will have difficulty staying upwind when
the are underpowered. Often as the wind drops late in the day, windsurfers
will have a reduced ability to stay upwind or travel upwind. A sailing vessel
can never travel straight upwind, but must move upwind by zig zagging while
pointing at an angle off the windward direction.
If the wind blows straight or nearly straight onshore, it creates a situation
where many windsurfers will be blown back onto the beach. If they are unable
to travel upwind, they will be constantly sailing back in the shore and the
shallows as they try and gain headway out into open water.
Water Conditions
· Water Depth- The minimum water depth for launching a windsurfer is
typically 2-3'depending upon the length of the fin used. If a windsurfer
unexpectedly sails into a shallow area, they may be thrown from the board or
onto their rig when there fin impacts the bottom. A hard impact on the fin
can damage both the fin and the mounting box that is built into the board.
For beginners, an area near shore that is around waist deep may be ideal.
When beginners can comfortably touch bottom, they can rest while standing on
the bottom without worrying about being pushed downwind by the wind or the
current. They also can wade upwind without having to return to shore.
· Firm Bottom- Where the bay bottom is firm, a windsurfer may be able to wade
in or out across areas too shallow for sailing and launching. Windsurfers
cannot wade across deep mud in shallow areas due to the weight of the
equipment that must be carried once the water becomes shallow. The weight of
the windsurfing equipment used typically weighs in excess of 40 pounds.
· Lack of Debris/Hazards- Launching and sailing areas should be free of
debris, especially underwater debris that cannot be seen. In some areas of
the bay there are hidden hazards such as concrete chunks, reinforcing bar,
and old pilings that can be struck by a windsurfer's board or fin. In some
areas there is also debris which can cause injury when stepped on such as
spikes, reinforcing bar, and broken glass.
· Lack of Boat Traffic (Near Shore)- A site should have minimal boat traffic,
especially near shore. Boat traffic can be hazardous to windsurfers,
especially those who are less experienced. Many beginner to intermediate
windsurfers may have difficulty getting up once they have fallen off their
board. A windsurfer down in the water is far less visible then one standing
upright on their board with a sail flying. There have been numerous cases of
windsurfers at rest in the water being hit by boats. Advance windsurfer may
actually welcome the presence of some boats such as larger ferries that
produce a wake that may be jumped or surfed. Boats in areas further from
shore may also provide assistance to windsurfers who have been injured or
broken equipment.
· Strong Swell/Uniform Swell (Offshore)- Advanced sailors prefer launches
where they can sail offshore into area of swell for "bump & jump" conditions.
The swell can be good both for jumping and for turning on. A uniform swell
provides better ramps for jumping. Swell may be better in a deeper water
area, such as the channel between Coyote Point Park and Alameda, or in an
area where the wind has a long fetch over open water, such as in the area
north of the elevated portion of the San Mateo Bridge.
Shoreline
· Protection from Current- A windsurfer who is less experience or who is
lightly powered often will be unable to maintain an upwind position against
the prevailing wind. This is especially true when the wind and current are
both moving in the same direction. An ideal launch site may be in a cove or
downwind from a point so as to reduce the current near shore. Beginners, who
are especially prone to being forced downwind by the wind and the current,
typically stay close to shore.
· Downwind Return- Even the most advanced windsurfers occasionally are forced
downwind by the wind and or current conditions. A good windsurfing site needs
to have a safe place for windsurfers who have been pushed downwind to return
to shore. A long stretch of beach is ideal because a windsurfer can return at
any point along the beach and can walk their gear back upwind. Many
beginners, in order to gain experience and practice, will spend an afternoon
being repeatedly forced downwind and then walking back up the beach to start
over. As they progress, they eventually develop the skills that allow them to
stay upwind in most conditions. The worst case scenario is a launch where
being forced downwind results in a windsurfer being pushed offshore or into
areas that are shallow, muddy, rocky, or have no exit onto shore.
Amenities
· Launching Area- Adequate areas for entering and exiting the water are
necessary. Some sites are served by one or two narrow ramps or dock which
allow only one or two people to be moving to or from the water at any given
time. A beach launch is ideal because it allows a larger number of people to
be moving in or out of the water at one time. It also allows more room for
beginners to remain near shore without blocked limited access lanes.
· Rigging Area- A rigged windsurfing sail is typically 15' tall and 6' wide
at the boom. In order for a sail to be rigged, a windsurfer should ideally
have an area to rig that exceeds the dimensions of the rigged sail. The sail
is rigged lying flat on the ground. A windsurfer needs to walk around the
sail as it is rigged and needs to sit at the foot of the sail when the
downhaul line is tensioned and tied off. The typical board is 8-10' long and
2-3' wide. The board is typically placed in the rigging area as well once it
is offloaded from the car.
· Area for Rigged Gear- Many windsurfers will leave their rigged windsurfing
equipment lying onshore while they are resting, socializing, or donning or
removing their wetsuit. A good windsurfing site needs adequate area for many
sets of gear to be lying on the ground.
· Adequate Parking- A good site needs parking to meet peak demand. The better
the on the water sailing conditions are, the higher the demand will be.
Parking should be close to the rigging and launching areas since the removal
of gear from a car typically involves multiple trips back and forth. Regions
with a limited number of windsurfing sites relative to local demand, such as
the South Peninsula and South Bay, will have greater demand for parking. The
launch site at Third Avenue in Foster City is currently the most impacted
site with regard to parking.
· Bathrooms/Shower/Hoses- A site should have bathrooms available and ideally
showers and/or hoses so that windsurfers can rinse off and also rinse their
gear. Rinsing of gear preserves the equipment and is also preferable for gear
that is stored inside of a vehicle.
· Overall Appeal- Some windsurfers will often bring their family or friends
to spend time at a windsurfing launch area while they windsurf. Launches that
are in areas that are attractive for overall recreation and which have
restrooms and possibly food availability are ideal.
Security
· Personal Safety- A site should be secure so that windsurfers are not
concerned about their personal safety or the safety of their family or their
property. The equipment a windsurfer transports to the site is typically
worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. Often equipment is stored on racks on
top of the car where it may be less secure. Safety is less of a concern at
times when many windsurfers are on site, but it may become more of a concern
late in the day or on lower use days. Many windsurfers will regularly sail
until sunset when the wind conditions allow and then de-rig as night falls.
· On the Water Safety- A site where a windsurfer is more likely to receive
assistance in the case of an emergency is preferred. At Coyote Point Park,
rangers will notify the Coast Guard when they located the vehicle of
windsurfers who failed to return to shore.
Accessibility to Site
· Easy Access to Site- A site should be easy for windsurfers to reach. Many
windsurfers sail both on workdays and on days off. On workdays, a windsurfer
is likely to head to the windsurfing spot directly from work during the
afternoon. Easy access is especially critical on the weekdays since a
windsurfer is often dealing with commute traffic that will restrict how far
one can realistically travel to reach a spot in a reasonable amount of time.
Many of the windsurfers who sail at Coyote Point Park on weekdays travel from
jobs in areas south of Coyote Point Park and would have a great deal of
difficulty traveling further north during the afternoon commute.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Sep 27 2002 - 12:23:48 PDT