VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Hi. Just got back from a wicked session on the ocean across from the Esquimalt Lagoon. I was on a flattened 4.8 from 9 til noon. I've been sailing this place for years and hardly ever see anyone else out. It's a great alternative when Cook St is totally nukin'. The wind is generally about 10 knots less than what you get at Cook St. The water is choppy with medium sized swells on the outside, and flat on the inside - good for jibing . There is lots of parking, grassy areas for rigging, flat sandy beach, clean water (no logs or reefs) and no stairs.

The only negative is that the Westerlies can be a bit gusty, sometimes more than others. Check the lighthouse reports to see how it is. On lighter days, the wind tends to be cleaner a few hundred metres out so you either have to slog or wait for a gust....or go to Cook St! It's really good out near the barrels (middle of the beach). I don't recommend sailing in the lagoon itself as it's a total gustfest. It is a safe place to learn though.

The best wind is a SW. It's side shore and very consistent. NE is also very good at this beach. Also side shore and consistent but f--king cold
About once or twice each winter, when a honkin' SE pushes through, the lagoon is a really fun place to sail. It has to be really cranking everywhere else though (35-40 at Willows). The wind blows offshore (onshore on the ocean side but killer waves and HUGE logs) and the water is dead flat. You can do speed runs up and down the length of the lagoon about 20' from the beach. It's fun to watch the drivers in the cars as you speed past them!

Anyways, just thought I'd let everyone know that this place can be a great place to sail especially when it's too big everywhere else. Either me or my gear gets thrashed on those days so I tend to avoid them. I'm not sure how accurate the lighthouse reports are. The reports for Vic HArbour sometimes seem a bit closer. I've had some great sessions on an 88 litre board in what was apparently about 14 knots. If BWD is over 16, it's usually sailable especially if it's SW or NE. Best to pack your 6.0+ though, just in case.
Cheers

Yeah Rob, I met you down there on Thanksgiving. I had a whammer catapault when a +35 kt gust hit as I was leaving the beach (offshore, couldn't see it coming), and a couple of times the spray was breaking completely across the rock in the Lagoon that day . I've sailed the lagoon a couple of times since on big stuff, but I've never seen it good conditions yet (wind will of course help!). Was it less gusty yesterday than that Thanksgiving? Love to try it on a SW or NE. Kinda surprising more people don't take advantage of the easy access.

Hey> I remember meeting you that day. Your name was Morley wasn't it?? That Thanksgiving day session was nasty. Unfortunately, that isn't uncommon down there. The lagoon is especially bad for gusts. I've never had a good time in there. I stick to the ocean side. When it's good, it's as good as anywhere, and when it's bad.......well you've seen it!

Yesterday was the most wind I've seen there in a long time. It was marginally gusty but not really noticeable. I'd just get an extra push every once in a while. It was totally sailable - no surprises! I sailed Willows today and it was very similar to that.

As I mentioned before, the wind is cleaner further out. If you can see whitecaps near the beach, it probably has a bit of south in it and will be less gusty. If the water is black and pretty flat with no whitecaps, but there is alot of wind, it'll be one of those days. and you might as well go home. I find that the summer is better as it is a thermal westerly as opposed to a clearing - which tend to be more unstable. You also get more SW in the summer. I guess you just have to check it out. I was fortunate enough to have a windsurfing buddy who lived on the beach so I got instant, accurate reports. Unfortunately, he no longer lives there He did however move out to Gordon's

ahh glad to hear people actully still sail there! I love that spot! learned how to sail out there with a couple guys ( thanks for all the pointers rob!) too bad now I work at dockyards and I can see the wind all the time there but can never seem to get of work early enough to make it worth while! oh well can't wait for those long days and summer thermals!

With your vantage point, you can be the "Esquimalt Wind Cam". It would be nice to have a set of eyes down there

thought I'd resurrect this thread that my hubby started years ago for two reasons:

- the *new* Ogden point webcam is helpful to see what's happening at Esquimalt now (from a distance), since Windaddiction (little Dave) is no longer working at dockyards to be the eyes on the wind there.

- as people are again looking for local alternatives to Cook St for kiting:
Esquimalt is NOT a good alternative to Cook for newbie kiters (maybe the Wiki should be updated to reflect this more accurately)...way too gusty, and too many hazards...so, other than Island View...maybe, Agate and Taylor Beach.

Any other South Island locations, or secret spots that the veterans can comment on???

Personally I feel that 'newbies' are best using a buddy system & enjoying N. through S.E winds @ Island view ... The big advantages are the field for launching & the huge 'catchment area' created by Cordova spit (to the N.) ... Keep in mind as we move into fall that 'frontal' winds are inconsistent & watch for indications that the wind is dropping, increasing significantly or turning off shore ... A great time of year to pick up one of the fine weather books http://www.weatheroffice.pyr.ec.gc.ca/p ... ult_e.html from your local library ... Enjoy the fall kiting & play safe.

Esquimalt Lagoon (outside) can be fantastic on a SW though, and I would think it would be great for kites including newbies then - but that admitedly is a rare event. There has been a few times this summer when there was a decent S or SSW or SW when it would have worked but no-one was there to sail it.

Interesting to read this thread, that seems like soooooo long ago now!

Don't swallow the lagoon water! Yuck!

The problem is you never know when it will turn a little more West & send those squalls down into the bay, not good for kiters. p.s. Where is wind addiction ?