Wrights SB Sonoma - Late Report 6/8-6/10

Camped at wrights last weekend.  Got there at 0200 on Sat.  There was somebody squatting in my campsite (No. 7), a camper, with wheels chocked.  We, in turn, had to squat in Site No. 3.  It was so late and I was so tired, we just emptied out the trunk and slept in the back with the dog.  Note to self: the explorer has much more room than the ML350.  Very cramped back there with the three of us. 

Up at 0600, but the camp host is nowhere to be found.  Finally, at the crack of 0900, i meet frank, the campground host. Let him know that somebody's in our spot.  Frank goes over to site no. 7, does some body and fender work, and the squatters are outta there.  Cut to the chase, I wasn't able to get out on the water until 1100.  By that time, the swell, wind, and sun were fully awake and doing they thang. 

Surf Launch!!  Before we went out, a lifeguard boomed over his PA from the nearby cliff:  "This is a very dangerous beach..."  It's true, it is dangerous, but I wanted to try anyway.  My brother in law was fishing my adventure, and I was riding my outback.  I gave him a good shove at just the right time, and he made it out clean as a whistle.  On the other hand, I did not fare so well.  There was some pretty big waves, mostly shorebreak so it was tough to time.  A lifeguard drove his truck down to watch me and make sure I was ok.  I wasn't (initially).  My mirage drive kept going straight on me and I would stall in the sand.  I caught a huge wave that just tossed me like a salad.  took me a few minutes to shake that off.  LG came over and asked had I ever done this before .  Eventually I made it out clean, just gotta time it right.

Once out, found the swell too intense for my bro.  Water is way colder up there than in MB or SC ~48 deg.  Bro was feeling squeamish so I only got a few drops of the swimbait before he asked to shut off the ride.  Felt like we launched, paddled around for a few minutes, then turned tail and tried to land.

Surf Landing!!  Before I shoved off, LG told me to try and land at Duncan's Cove.  "It's like a lake", he said.  Well we paddled straight past it, and kept on going straight to what turned out to be Schoolhouse beach.  That place was like a wave machine.  At one point, we had set up just outside the surfzone and were waiting.  I thought there was an opening and was just about to gun it for the beach when I took one last look back.  Saw a friggin' tsunami just about to curl on us.  I yelled for bro, we flipped a U, and just BARELY made it over what must have been a 10 foot face.  Narrowly avoided the yard sale.  Eventually made it back in without incident, but also without any fish. 

Ended the trip by bumming a ride back to camp to retrieve the cars while bro watched the gear.  Very fun yak session, but definitely not the best move to take a rookie out like that.  I was confident that I could get him out and back in one piece, but I think he was pretty afraid.

We booked two adjacent campsites.  Nos 7 and 8.  View from Site 8 was just amazing. Gorgeous sunset, but leaves you really exposed to the winds, which were blowing 10-20 kts ALL DAY!  how irritating.

Me and bro talking it over.  Looks FAC in the pic.  Trust me it wasn't.  We probably shoulda been launching instead of talking right then, though.   

Some pics of me trying to make it out.  See, I wasn't lying about the launch.  check out all that white water!

The place is very dog friendly.  My pooch had the greatest time.

fishing wise, I dunno.  Is that a good spot?  I got a few drops over some decent rocks but just didn't get picked up at all.  anyone ever do any good near Wrights?

Jim "InSiene" Hobbs and Naoaki live just south of Wrights Beach.  Actually they're just past Duncan's Landing at I believe Gleason Beach. 

http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=12508&mode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002
They (we) fish out of there fairly often.  Roll the kayaks down the driveway, over HWY 1, across 30 yd of beach and into the surf.  The fishing isn't spectacular, but you do okay and you can't beat not having to drive far (if at all).

Brian

One BIG mistake I noticed you made was not stowing your rods while launching in that kind of surf.
It would be one expensive yard sale if you get tossed because you would have to replace all those broken rods.
Stow your rods or at the very least lay them flat on the kayak and secure them.
If the swells are too gnarley I find it is easier to swim the kayak past the break.
I don't get comfy when I hop on either. I grab my paddle and get going from whatever position I am in whether I am laying on my back or stomach or facing forward or not. The idea is to get safely away from the break THEN get comfortable.
Just my .02.
Glad you guys made it back safely.

Thanks for the report and great pics, yakuza!

And Tote, I have often wondered about swimming the yak out past the breakers. Somebody told me its possible but I haven't tried it yet.
How do you go about this task? I would ASSume one would just stow everything securely then jump in and swim while pulling the yak with a rope...or do you hold the yak instead of a rope. I say rope because it would suck to get tossed onto your yak...or vice versa.

Thanks guys!
PK

I camped there a few weekends ago. Waves were massive. No sun either. Glad you made it out; if I had my yak on the weekend I camped there, it would have stayed on the truck. Nice going!

I camped there a few weekends ago. Waves were massive. No sun either. Glad you made it out; if I had my yak on the weekend I camped there, it would have stayed on the truck. Nice going!

FC, thx for giving me the info about the place.  from your VM, I figured it was tough terrain, but decided to go for it anyway.


Thx for pointers Tote.  as for rods, I figured since I had em leashed, id be able to retrieve em if I dumped.  Still wouldn't have prevented them from getting snapped though huh?  [Insert head scratching emoticon which I'm too lazy to find]

I'm not sure I'd want to the boat out.  I've been an open water swimmer for a long time, so I'm pretty h20 competent/confident.  To surf launch a kayak, it'd be dicey.  Guess I'd have to see it done before I knock it, but as i sit, that wouldn't be my preferred method.

I wade as far as I can with the yak in tow using the bowline.
It all depends on the depth of where the breakers are as to how I approach it.
I have held onto the bowline and gone under the break. As soon as it passes I yank the bowline towards me and shove the yak beyond the next break then swim to it. From there I hop on. Sometimes I arm paddle like a surfboard. This is my least favorite as the yak is pretty wide.
If I can get the paddle in my hands in a hurry I will use that no matter what position I am in. I usually only need to gain a few extra yards.
I have to acknowledge that as I gain more experience ( get older ) and the conditions are less than favorable it is easier to call it a day before the kayak ever leaves the rack.

Be careful with the shore breaks. They are the dangerous ones. They tend to come up out of nowhere and slam you on the beach. True you don't have to paddle as long to get past the break, but they are harder to read, because they break sooner and more violent. Look for beaches with a more gradual break and paddle straight through the waves. Even if they break over you, you'll punch through em if you have a head of steam. If a real big one catches you rolling in outside, you can back off and let it break, then paddle for all your worth into the soap. Hit it straight on so you don't get turned sideways. And ditto on the stowing the gear. It's a good practice to do it on all surf entries/exits. Even a small wave can catch you and dump you unexpectedly. One more big tip, when your punching throgh a wave, right at the last momment hold your paddle inline with the kayak and low so the wave doesn't catch your paddle and slam you in the teeth!! Don't want to be spittin chickletts out there... Be safe, use good judgement, and if it doesn't feel right. Trust your intuion and don't even go in....