Sailing in FL Panhandle?
Larry Freas
from Pensacola to Panama City? Shops and club
info also. Thanks
LF
WARDOG
> SOUTH WIND 20 TO 25 KNOTS AND GUSTY. SEAS BUILDING TO 6
> TO 8 FEET NEAR SHORE...9 TO 11 FEET WELL OFFSHORE
Cape San Blas, Alligator Pt., Mobile Bay.....
http://www.surfingsports.com/marineMOB.asp?
recdotter William Fragakis put together this great site:
http://www.windsurfatlanta.org/places/gulfplaces.html#blas
http://www.windsurfatlanta.org/maps/semap.html
http://sailusa.com/panhandle.html
Should get you in the ballpark...I've never been there, but I'd like to
be, right about now.
WARDOG
http://www.surfingsports.com
Brian Collis
outfit on the net. It didn't really matter though, cause there was no wind,
and lots of sea grass and muck floating in the water near the shore. Pretty
beaches though. The night life kinda sucked... unless you're 21 and looking
to party.
Brian
"WARDOG" <moon...@gte.net> wrote in message
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Campbell
There are some really great places to sail on the Gulf Coast -- the
problem is that it is hardly ever windy! With that being said, some
of the best days I have ever had been in that area. My favorite place
is Port St. Joseph bay at the state park. In 5.2 and below winds, the
swell can get often get overhead. Then if the wind is blowing the
right direction you can carry your gear directly over to the ocean --
very versitle spot. As far as places closer to Panama City/Pensacola
I would check out Leeside park in Destin/Ft. Walton. There used to be
several shops in Panama City and Destin, but I think they are all
closed now...
Phil
opened up last year. Has some equipment to sell, and last I talked to him
he was into gear rental and lessons. Places in Panama City are limited for
windsurfing. Best place on a north wind is Carl Grey Park adjacent to Gulf
Coast College by the bridge. Best for an east is Alligator Point behind the
Bayside Country Club entrance on Thomas Drive (Panama City Beach). Best for
south is probably across the highway from Carl Grey Park where you'd be
sailing in the bay. Another great place for southerly winds is along Beach
Drive. Limited parking but nice long runs in St Andrews Bay.
I do all my sailing on Tyndall AFB (10 miles east of Panama City). Probably
the best sailing in the area, but you need a military ID or DOD sticker to
access the base.
Former owner of Rogue Wave shop in Ft Walton is now located in Destin, but I
can't find his phone number. He also does the rental/lesson thing.
As for sailing, this winter's been a dud until this past week. Have been
getting good late afternoon sea breezes and with this slow front that just
came through, we've had 15 to 25 the past few days. No weeds, no jellyfish,
but footwear is probably a good idea with the amount of oystershells, etc in
the water.
Hope this helps for the Panama City area.
Phil
"Larry Freas" <fre...@juno.com> wrote in message
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Mike F
venue it would be otherwise. Water, water, everywhere, and the finest
beaches in the world (according to a wide variety of sources ranging from
navy friends to travel literature).
I had to smile at "Several shops in Destin", because there weren't several
BUILDINGS in Destin the last time I swam there.
Mike \m/
"Campbell" <chriscam...@hotmail.com> wrote
Mike F
access (also very handy in Corpus Christi), and will be out that way some
year or another.
Mike \m/
"Phil" <pmo...@excite.com> wrote in message
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Dan
on the barrier island hwy (forget the hwy name & #) and it is on the
bayside. There were a pretty decent amount of sailors when I there,
including the owner of Rogue Wave, Jack Stringfellow. His shop is closed
down, but I believe he still operates a business out of his house/van:
retail, rentals and lessons.
The state park has direct access to the bay and the gulf is a quick walk
from over the hwy and thru the sand. SE prefrontal winds are side off on
the bayside but the wind is not blocked by land or buildings. About 200
yards off the shore, look for a sandbar under water which makes for pretty
decent breaking waves and steeper swells. The wind "refracts" the waves out
from the channel, so instead of moving SE with the wind, waves around this
area moving easterly, which was perfect for jumping.
Dan - Fairfax Station, VA.
"Larry Freas" <fre...@juno.com> wrote in message
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JSTNG
the south shore of Cape San Blas (CSB) Tuesday waiting for it to come
in but it never did. This despite a tight pressure gradient and good
forecast. Really weird as it was blowing 20+ a few miles inland but
8-10 at the beach. This is the winter pattern along this coast.
I've queried the folks here at NWS about it but no response. Maybe
it's some sort of cold water effect. None of us can figure it out.
A couple points/observations about winter sailing along this coast:
Regardless of the gradient, wind with an east component seems to shut
down around noon on the Gulf side of the barrier islands but continue
to blow in the Bay and inland in the afternoon. This is especially
true for St. George Island (SGI) which can get huge on a solid
northeast + swell day. So the rule is, early bird gets the wave and
the wind.
Also, CSB gulfside seems to fire in the afternoon when it has a west
component. Flew over there last weekend and noticed a potentially good
break on the north tip. It's a series of 4-5 sandbars stacked about 30
yards apart and aligned with the beach. Looks like it could be an epic
down-the-line and jumping venue on a northwest day. Only problem is
access. You would have to launch at Mexico Beach and tack the mile or
so across St. Joe Bay. Or walk your gear a mile or so up the beach
from the state park.
The local venue for the 3.5 wave sailors over here (lost part of one
to a snowboard accident recently) is Alligator Point (the barrier
island south of Tallahappy, not the PC venue). It's great when wind
has any south in it - so our spring venue. Waves there don't amp up
like SGI but can still get 5'-6'.
For the other poster, Rogue Wave Jack's email is j...@bsc.net His
number is 805-243-1962. He rents gear on the beach in Ft. Walton
(bayside).
Hugh
WARDOG
JSTNG wrote:
Cool report...I was curious how it turned out.
> For the other poster, Rogue Wave Jack's email is j...@bsc.net His
> number is 805-243-1962. He rents gear on the beach in Ft. Walton
> (bayside).
Can't be...our area code is 805 and I'm in Central California. It's not
808 either , as that is Hawaii. I looked it up for you...850...
WARDOG
http://www.surfingsports.com
Mike F
coastlines and its cause is well defined and documented in weather books. It
has to do with localized heating at the shoreline versus a few miles inland,
if I recall correctly; the max wind near a shoreline is often found at the
steepest temp gradient. This might shift inland during the winter on days
when the sun warms the land mass while the shoreline temp remains under the
influence of the marine temps. The inland lake near Corpus Christi does that
often, too. Do some research on coastal winds in Google and the exact cause
should pop up quickly, helping you anticipate it next time.
Mike \m/
"JSTNG" <js...@yahoo.com> wrote
WARDOG
any coastline.
In simple layman's terms I call that "land wind"... The wind that should
have been on the beach but skips over and/or around your sailing area
and "attaches" itself further inland. It is often caused by a "heat
bubble" developing near the beach. The vertical wind profile becomes
divergent and deforms as the "clean" wind over the water encounters mass
(physical) which induces frictional forces slowing the wind down and
heat (thermal) which causes uneven variations in it.
These heat bubbles can be caused by a number of things. Headlands,
trees, buildings, beach sand, parking lots, canyons , dark areas on
surrounding hills, clouds, wind direction, velocity, and gustiness can
all contribute in one way or another to the beach overheating. It
becomes a catch22 until the beach area cools down to close to the wind
temp and allows the flow to occur and the blocking effect to subside.
Some areas blow all night and are becalmed during the day, because of
this differential heating effect.
Sometimes these micro-climates defy understanding...L(©¿©)K around for a
wind jinx.
Smells kind of skunky...;-)
WARDOG
http://www.surfingsports.com
Lowjiber
have an excellent cross reference of sites everywhere in Florida.
John Crumpley
JAWS Jax, Fl
"Larry Freas" <fre...@juno.com> wrote in message
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