| Skill
Level: 5-10 |
Amenities:
Dirt parking lot with a great view of the action, pit
toilets, huge sandy beach. |
| Sailing
conditions: |
Beach break of small
to very large waves from all swell directions. Picks up more
swell than anywhere else. Wind is typically 4.0-5.3 and
fills in close to the beach and is steady. Evening
experiences a "glass-off" and the wind turns more
northerly. Take a bigger rig and get the cleanest conditions
of the day. South of the parking area is a large headland
and reef point-break. Rarely sailed, it can be unreal at
higher tides, just head back upwind before the wind dies.
|
 |
| Rigging
area: |
Rig in the dusty dirt
parking lot. Park upwind for less dust but a longer walk to
the water. Tip: sit on the tailgate when downhauling-much
lest dust in your face.
|
 |
| Launch: |
Navigate steps and
channels cut into the bluff with your gear. Take your board
down first and then your sail. Wind is very strong and
unpredictable in the parking lot. Launch anywhere you like
from the beach.
|
 |
| Parking/Camping: |
Dusty, dirty parking
lot. On weekends Rangers rangers charge a fee and enforce
all the rules. Parking lot often fills up on weekends during
summer.
|
 |
| Extras: |
To avoid
the crowd, park just north of the park on the side of Hwy 1.
The wave is good there too. Beautiful spot especially in the
fall.
|
| Warnings
and hazards: |
Standard
Safety Tips
Site specific: The break is very shallow at
low tide. Lots of masts are broken here. There are 2 large
rocks in the water at the north end of the parking lot.
These are often just barely covered and have claimed many a
fin. At the south end of the beach is "The Hole".
The wind is much lighter there, the southward current very
strong, and there is usually a rip there too. If you
end up there it is best to walk back up the beach, or you
might spend a long time wind-swimming. Great white sharks
are seen regularly here.
Special precautions should be taken when sailing in the
ocean. One should always be aware of the local
currents, tides and underwater obstacles.
|
Directions
to get there: |
From the
San Francisco bay area, make your way to Hwy 1 south with
signage to Pacifica, Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Stock up
in HMB for food and drink and head south about an hour. Just
past the Santa Cruz County Line the road opens up and you
will see other sailors and the site. Proceed another mile or
so and carefully turn right into the park.
From Santa Cruz, get on Hwy 1 and head north. Waddell is
jsut past the lumber company at the bottom of the hill.
|
| Site
owner: |
Man in
the Grey Suit |
| Site
liaison: |
none |
| Events
planned for this site: |
Kite and
Windsurf contest are held here most summers that make for a
good show, but restrict access.
|
| Comments
and news about this site: |
If you
have any news about this sailing site, or mistakes or
additions for this page; please Email us at windance@windance.com. |
