Re: Ideal Windsurf Spot Attributes for BCDC/SF/SFO

From: Greg Harris (harris@synopsys.com-DeleteThis)
Date: Fri Feb 04 2000 - 11:50:39 PST

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Message-ID: <389B2D8E.FEDFAACD@synopsys.com-DeleteThis>
Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2000 11:50:39 -0800
From: Greg Harris <harris@synopsys.com-DeleteThis>
To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis
Subject: Re: Ideal Windsurf Spot Attributes for BCDC/SF/SFO
References: <50.11ebd0e.25cbc142@aol.com-DeleteThis>
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About the depth: I'd mention that it needs to be accessible during all tides.
Depth is something that is always changing. Coyote is one of the few mid
peninsula bay sites that you can sail on the low-low tides (the ones that go
under 0 ft.) which are so prevalent during late fall, winter and early spring in
the afternoons. It's also one of the reasons that losing Coyote is huge
problem... because there just aren't the places on the bay where you can sail
with the consistent wind, access during all tides and accessibility to the south
bay commuters. There is no other place that does all this.

To me, the only places they can possibly do some sort of "real" mitigation would
have to be between the airport - but now obviously south of Coyote and the San
Mateo bridge. Everything south of there has worse mud problems and not as good
of wind. That might point to Seal, but Seal doesn't have as good of wind (I've
been there and not sure why but pretty sure it's a reality) and all along that
shoreline (Seal included) the mud is worse than at Coyote. Maybe they can take
over the golf course and take out all the sandbars at third and maintain them and
turn third into a huge windsurf destination. Of course, that would be
eliminating an established recreational activity where people will complain. Or,
we can be bold and say they have to do third, establish a site at hunters point,
establish a nice place at treasure island, force them to mitigate for Flying
Tigers (some other spot or provide better access up there) and do something else
along the south bay shoreline, like maybe dredging the channel at Palo Alto to be
a more wind direction friendly channel so you can actually sail there during
lower tides.

Personally, I fear they don't even have the capacity to ever understand what it
really would take to "mitigate" coyote and as such I really don't trust them at
all. If we ever do get in a position of having to ask for mitigation I think we
throw the boat of all our access issues at them with special emphasis on the
south bay.

Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis wrote:

> 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
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> 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.

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