- Shallow - Chop - Small Wave (< 1m) - Medium Wave (1-3m)
Hazards:
No Information
Quality:
- Cloudy
Best Tide:
No Information
In the San Francisco Bay. Big swell, open waters, great ramps, and long rides. The long fetch, shallow sandbars, and favorable currents make for spectacular swell in the 2-5 foot range. On epic NW wind days, 6-8 foot swells roll through the channel.
Two beaches, small beach by parking lot. Larger (Mud Flats) 3 minute walk from parking, with a lot a debris around (rocks, concrete). On low tides there are a few more beaches downwind.
In the spring, a full wetsuit is recommended. In summer thinner wetsuits will do and short sleeve wetsuits are sometimes used on warmer days - although full wetsuits are recommended to survive a hypothermia if you have to swim in from far out in the bay.
- March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October
Wind Type:
- Thermal Winds - Frontal Winds
Best Direction:
- NW
Main Direction:
- NW
Very consistent site in season. Strong steady winds fairly close to shore. Winds are typically strong in the afternoon during the season. The season starts with strong NW winds in late March or April. During the summer, thermal winds continue into September but gradually get weaker. Blows from March thru October. Mostly 18-22 mph. NW winds are the steadiest. W is ok. SW can be gusty and shifty.
From Airport (San Francisco) take 101 heading south and pass SFO airport. Take the 3rd Avenue off ramp and head towards the Bay. Follow the shoreline going Southeast. After the golf driving range entrance turn left, at the lights in the middle of the golf range, then right into the windsurfing parking lot. If you park at the golf course (Mariner's Point) at 3rd Ave there's a combo lock on the gate. That combo lock belongs to the bay area kitesurfers - not the golf course. They have limited flight golf balls to keep balls from going over the net into the parking area. The only thing they ask is that we keep the gate locked to keep the dirt bikes from getting onto the course and tearing it up. Please don't jump over the fence, there's some likelihood of damaging it. Use the lock (combo is 0420), and lock it behind you.
Be very careful of the gusts when leaving and entering the beach, they have a tendency to lift you towards the rocks, where many kiters have had scary experiences. Keep your kite out towards the water, so if you get lofted, you get dragged into the water, and not over the rocks. Don't launch/land from the windsurf rigging area at the end of the parking lot. No kite flying over/on the bike path.
It is very challenging to launch from the lower beach because of the wind shadow. First-time and intermediate kiters are recommended to pump their kites at the lower parking lot (SE of the golf course), walk up along the bike path (yielding to all others), and launch from the upper launch. From there you can downwind to the lower beach. If you miss the lower beach there are several other small beaches to land (except at high tide, at which you will have to climb out over slippery rocks). Stay close to shore in case of equipment failure or loss of wind.
)
)
)
)
)
