Introduction

The California Coast Kayak, Canoe, and Stand Up Paddle Board SUP Guide - Online Guide Book.

INTRODUCTION

Paddling is a great way to enjoy the beautiful California Coast.

The scenic coves, rugged cliffs, and peaceful wetlands are your's to enjoy most intimately as you paddle. Rolling over the ocean swells, there are dolphins, seals, sea lions, otters, and whales to see. Gliding along the smooth water of the wetlands, you can almost touch many beautiful birds.

This book has over 40 spots to launch and paddle along the California Coast from Just North of Monterey to the Mexican boarder. Many of these spots would be hard to find if you didn't have this book and the detailed maps included.

I've included launch spots for both the beginner and advanced paddler.

There is also an accompanying website at KayakDave.blogspot.com that provides additional information.

KNOW THE OCEAN AND IT'S MOODS

The Pacific Ocean has many moods. One day it can be calm, peaceful, and safe while the next day is windy, wavy, wild, and treacherous. Huge surf can be pounding on one side of a point while the other side is as smooth as a swimming pool. The tide rises and falls and creates currents. If you're going to paddle, it pays to know about the wind, weather, surf, swell direction, tides and currents. In addition to the information provided below, my website tells about these and provides some links to forecasts and reports on the conditions at (weblink).

WIND AND WEATHER

Wind greatly affects you when you paddle. Fortunately, the wind along the California coast is usually quite predictable. In the early morning there usually is very little wind. The direction of the light wind in the early morning varies, but is often offshore(from the southeast to northeast). The wind usually begins to switch to the south or southwest and gradually pick up later in the morning(from 9:00am to 12:00 noon). Because of the light winds, the morning is usually the best time for paddling.

After noon, the wind usually picks up more and often shifts a bit more toward the west. The wind usually blows the hardest onshore(from the west) between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. In the evening and late evening, the wind often dies down some.

There are some exceptions to the pattern mentioned above. Occasionally the wind will blow from the north east during a condition called "Santa Ana Winds". When Santa Ana Winds blow, the wind is less predictable. In the fall there are usually a few days where the wind blows from the north east most of the day. Sometimes the Santa Ana Winds can blow very hard(30 to 40mph). More often they blow less strongly. Days when there is a light Santa Ana wind are often excellent for paddling because the air is very clear and the wind may not come up from the west

until later in the day. Because Santa Ana Winds are less predictable, you should pay closer attention to the weather

forecasts and observe the wind more closely before paddling.

Storms usually only occur in the winter along the California coast. Before and after a storm, the winds vary from their

normal pattern. Except for the few days when it is stormy, the winter often has beautiful clear days with no fog.

Fog often occurs in late May and June. Fog can also occur occasionally at other times of the year. Unless it's very thick, it usually isn't a safety problem.

SURF AND SWELL

While it may not be necessary if you're only going to paddle in protected estuaries and harbors, understanding the surf and swell can safely open many more paddling opportunities to you.

The west coast's ocean swell is normally created from wind and storms far out in the pacific ocean. Surf is created when the swells roll into shallow water and break.

Surf and swell can also be created and affected by nearby winds and storms.

Once you are in deep water where the waves aren't breaking, the swell has little effect on ones paddling -- although currents and rip tides tend to run stronger when there is a large swell with big surf (see section on tides, currents and riptides below).

In the winter, the swells tend to come from the northwest and the west. In the summer, the swells usually come more from the south and southwest. There can be swells coming from several different directions at the same time.

Understanding the swell direction can be helpful when choosing places to launch and paddle. If the swell is from the northwest, south facing spots will have less swell and surf. If the swell is from the south, north facing spots will have less swell and surf.

Waves tend to come in sets. Some very large swells from far away can have up to an hour between large sets. These large set waves are sometimes called sneaker sets -- they seem to sneak up on those who are unaware and surprise them. It always pays to check surf reports and marine forecasts before paddling.

In addition to checking surf and marine forecasts, before launching it pays to watch the waves for a while to see how large the set waves are and where they break. Sometimes moving up or down the beach a few yards or around a point can mean the difference between an easy safe paddle out or difficult dangerous one.

If you are going to paddle out through breaking waves, the fact that waves come in sets can be used to your advantage. Watching the waves for a while can help you get the timing of the sets so you can paddle out in between the larger sets.

Watching the waves is also very important when coming to shore, paddling around points who's reefs you are unfamiliar with, and exploring sea caves. In general, the bigger the surf and swell, the more caution you should use and the more ocean experience you should possess.

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TIDES, CURRENTS, AND RIPTIDES

Tides, currents, and riptides are important things to know about when paddling in the ocean or any of it's wetlands or harbors.

Knowing what the tides are doing can help you avoid the situation where a falling tide leave you high and dry on a mudflat or a rising tide sweeps away your beached vessel. Timing your paddle properly with the tide can allow you to paddle with the current the tide creates in both directions. Understanding riptides and other currents can help you use them safely to your advantage.

In each 24 hour period there are normally 2 high tides and two low tides. The difference in height between the the most extreme high and low tide is about 8 feet. Normally the difference is from 3 to 5 feet.

The gravitational pull of the moon is the largest factor in determining the tides. Because of this, the high and low tides are very predictable. Tide tables published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict the timeand date of each tide. My website has a link to tide predictions here.

When you are paddling in wetland estuary areas and harbors, the time of the actual high and low tides is usually later then what is stated in the tide tables. This is because of the additional time that is required for water to flow in and out of the wetland or harbor through an opening that is somewhat restricted. The actual time difference varies but in most of the areas covered by this book there is only a few minutes difference.

Currents are created by many different factors. In estuaries and harbors, the falling or rising tide create currents that flow one way and then the other. As the tide reaches it's high or low point, the current stops flowing for awhile before it changes direction. A rising tide will produce a current that flows away from the ocean and a falling tide will produce a current that runs back out toward the ocean. The wind, swell, and breaking waves also create currents. A riptide (or rip current) is a current that runs back out to sea and is where water pushed in towards shore by the breaking waves finds it's way back out to sea. In the surf zone, currents also run along shore often following the swell direction until they reach a rip tide and flow out to sea. Outside the surf zone, currents can also run along the shore -- these currents are usually stronger as you get closer to shore.

Go with the flow! Currents can be used to your advantage when paddling. It's much easier to paddle with the current then to paddle against it. Using the current from the rising or falling tide in constricted waterways such as wetlands and harbors is one obvious use. Using a riptide to paddle out through the waves is another use. In addition to carrying you out through the waves quickly, a riptide tends to reduce the size of the waves where it is flowing. Depending on it's strength and how it's affecting the waves, a riptide may or may not be a good place to paddle

back in.

Occasionally, there are currents that are too powerful or extremely difficult to paddle against. With careful planning,

you should be able to avoid situations where you need to paddle into such a strong current. However, if you do encounter a situation where you are paddling into a current such as this, the action you should take will vary, but here are a few options:

--In a constricted water way where the current is caused by tidal flow: land your vessel and wait for the tide to turn.

--For a long shore current caused by the swell or wind: Paddle further from shore where the current is less strong.

--For a riptide: paddle parallel or diagonally to the shore and come in some place else.

--If none of the previous suggestions apply or work: just let the current take you, change your trip plan, relax, and land some place else. Rip currents end a short distance beyond the surf zone -- so you probably won't end up in Hawaii. Long shore currents can run for a greater distance. Be sure to wait for a safe place to land -- with a fast flowing current, it shouldn't be too long.

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TECHNIQUES

Since this book is for paddlers who use a wide variety of vessles including kayaks, sit on top kayaks, surf skis, canoes, standup paddle boards, outrigger canoes, small dories, ect, I'll just talk about some general advice which might be usefull in any type of vessel or is especially important for ocean and bay areas.

Some basic skills that should be mastered in calm water:

--Stearing your vessle

--Getting in or out of your vessle

--Getting out of your vessle when upside down (for enclosed kayaks)

--Unswamping your vessle (for open vessels if your going to go in the surf)

Many books available about paddling techniques are about river paddling. While many of the same techniques can be used (a tidal current is like a river that runs one way on a rising tide and then the other on a falling tide), in the ocean it's good to know some addition techniques.

--In the surf zone keep your bow or stern (front or back) pointed towards the surf. This will help you to ride up over the waves or punch through the waves.

--For the surf zone, watch the waves and time your entries and exits between set waves.

--Paddle through the surf zone quickly.

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