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Bodega Bay Overview
Bodega Bay is a tiny unspoiled coastal village on the Sonoma county coast with 6 very different sailing sites within one square mile. At low tides, Hart's Beach offers very strong winds and a totally flat water speed channel. Doran Beach offers ocean speed sailing near shore and bump and jump sailing outside and one of the world’s fastest wave sailing spots. The Yacht Club and Spud Point offer shallow water and mild bump and jump sailing. Bodega Rock offers advanced to expert wave and open ocean sailing in big wave conditions.
All the sites have clean sandy beaches except the Yacht Club which has a muddy launch but a sand bottom in the sailing area.
The Yacht Club is a great place to learn since at some tides you can sail in waist deep water. In the morning, beginners can sail long boards in shallow water with a firm sand bottom. Later in the day intermediates can hone their high wind skills with the same security…you can always walk back to the launch site. Lessons can be arranged here through Windwalker Board Sports at 707-874-2331. A weed fin is mandatory. Kiteboarding lessons now available at norcalkites.com 707-849-5865
Bodega has the longest season of any site in the Bay Area. From early spring to early summer there are many strong NW days in the 4.0 to 5.0 range. These winds start very early in the day. By late June, fog often covers the bay in the morning. If it burns off, then there is a good chance of 7.0 to 5.5 winds in the afternoon. Sites inside the Bay get very weedy by mid-summer but Doran stays weed-free.
In the winter, Bodega and Doran Beach have epic storm sailing. At Doran, the SW to SE winds are side-onshore with long period swells in the 4 to 10 feet range. Best of all you can get out without having to go through a shorebreak if you launch at the base of the rock jetty. Storm winds are in 3.5 to 5.0 range and can die fast. SE winds are most reliable. The sensor will read 5-10 knots low in southerly storm winds.
There is lots to do in the Bodega Bay area. There is a good windsurfing school. This area abounds with beaches. There is also claming, restaurants, B&Bs, surfing, fishing, party boat fishing, and whale watching. You can camp right at some of the launch sites and carry your gear from your tent to the water.
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Regional Directory
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Shops,
Schools,
Clubs,
Events,
Food,
Lodging,
More,
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| Season: |
December - August |
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| Water: |
Cold & Clean |
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| Ability Level: |
Beginner - Advanced |
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| Familiness: |
Camping & Lots to do |
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| Parking: |
Lots of parking |
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| Launch: |
Most sites have a sand beach |
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Sensor Notes
For Hart's Beach, the sensor is dead accurate for normal NW winds. The winds will be about 5-8 knots lighter at Doran Beach near shore and at Spud Point. If the wind is a bit North of true NW, the wind will be lighter at the Yacht Club than at the sensor. If the wind is WNW, it will be bit windier at the Yacht Club than at the sensor. During southerly storm winds the sensor will read low by 5 to 10 knots. With the greater error factor for SE winds.
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