santa cruz 10/15 conditions report

There was a steady swell rolling in but nowhere near what was forecasted. There were way too man surfers out at cowels and steamer lane. There was major bird action going on straight out from the wharf. I'd guess in the 60 ft area. Wish I would have brought my kayak as it was very doable and the wind was mild all day.

-Brian

Yeah.  The report I read said the NE portion of the bay would be much flatter than down here.
Pat

on sunday the waves were taller, but more northerly and shorter period thus slower and less able to refract around headlands.

This means the wave height will drop off more quickly as you enter areas sheltered from the nw. like santa cruz.

On friday saturday, it was less northerly, and longer period, so there would be less of an ability to find protected water.

I was sick so I didn't fish or surf, but I did look at the buoy pages.

I've prepped my leash, winter suit, and longboard.

Now I need to go do some surveys during the day to find when the crowds aren't on the waves.

At Bodega Bay, where I was at the British Canoe Union sea kayaking symposium we had 25 knot winds gusting to 31 knots (that's gale force nearly) Sunday. The refracted waves in the outer bay were 6-10 foot but were 14-18 breaking on the outer reef/island from what we could see--looked like Mavericks. Paddling into a 25-knot off shore wind to surf inland blinded by wind-spilling spray off the shore break as well as practicing rough water rescues in 53-degree water was a new experience for me. Thanks to a dry suit and a sea worthy closed deck sea kayak, I say "Thank you Mother Nature, may I have another?" Ah, kayaking is the life for me