Pritchard Windsurfing

 
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Written by Matt Pritchard   
Saturday, 09 August 2008

 

I just spent a week up in the Bay area and what a blast that was! The wind blew the entire week and I got to meet TONS of great people and see how GREAT the sailing conditions are. I wasn’t aware that sailing was an everyday affair out there..... if you have never been, you gotta check it out.

My week started with a clinic at the Boardsports School at Coyote Point. We had a solid turnout on Saturday with about 50 people showing up. I don’t know if they were there for the free food or to listen to me blabber but nonetheless, it was a good time for all. I did a Tips and Tricks class that is a question/answer/beach demonstration of how to do whatever moves the audience asks about! We talked about equipment set up, jybes, tacks, jumps, loops, volcans and everything in between. The wind was blasting that day and everybody had a chance to get on the water and practice what they learned! We also did a Tabou demo with the 3S boards and that was a big success.... I finally hit the water around 6pm and was pretty lit up on a 5.6 Remedy and 3S 97 LTD. We sailed way out in the middle of the channel and it just kept on getting windier. I was pretty surprised to see this 68 year old dude named Andre come flying past me on his 1989 North Infinity sail complete with a 1991 Mike’s Lab board- he was handling the conditions like it was a walk in the park- we sailed around out in the Chop, got some big jumps and headed back to the beach. After what seemed like 5 miles to get back in, my back leg was burning as I fought to hang on- Andre didn’t seem affected as he told me all about the good ole days...... That was inspiration- Go ANDRE!!!

The next couple days I floated around the bay, scoring at 3rd Ave and Coyote and even hit Davenport on the coast. I was hurting for some waves and my buddy Ruben and I made the trek. We were well powered on 5.0’s but the waves were pretty small. Some head high sets were rollin in but it was nothing like the stories I have heard about that place....I could easily see the potential and will definitely look forward to a nice south swell for next time. One thing I noted was the level of sailors- these guys know what’s up. They know what a real turn is and most all of them were RIPPING! That was good to see.

All in all we timed it perfectly-everyday was windy and the bay impressed me- See you guys next year!

» 4 Comments
1Comment
at Saturday, 09 August 2008 22:02by Steve Nodner
Glad you got to enjoy sailing in the SF Bay. Your right- it is an almost everyday affair with so many locations to choose from. 
Hopefully you;ll be back to race with the fleet next season. 
Steve
2Comment
at Sunday, 10 August 2008 18:55by Rude Dog
Hey Matt, looks like I need to check in more often. Would of been nice to sail with you again while you were here.  
Maybe next time you can put Sherman Isl on the agenda. Although the place has changed since the early day\\\'s with other wind enthusiast (K-boardrs) taken over. The wind still blows hard and wheIn the ebb coincides it like it always has been, sweet! I can still remember those early days when the pritchard family rolled in and set up camp. I couldn\\\'t wait to get home from work and sail with you guy\\\'s. Those were the best of times on the Island. Anyways, just wanted to say Hey to you and Kev. keep up the good work on the site. Until we meet on the water again take care. 
 
Mahalo Rude 
 
PS I saw your Loop how to. I still remember the day you and Kev psyched me up and got me over it. I do beleive that was in the late 80\\\'s.
3Comment
at Monday, 11 August 2008 06:03by MP
Hey Rude Dog- I wanted to get out to Sherman but just ran out of days..... it was also windy in the bay the entire time so hard to leave wind to find wind? Yeah, the good ole days-I remember them well. We have to keep making every day the good ole days- that is my theory. Get your self over to Maui one of these days and we will have some BIG fun......Would love to catch up- See ya out there! 
 
MP
4"soulsurfer"
at Monday, 11 August 2008 11:33by arnie
Nice to hear you got it good. The SF Bay Area is hard to beat, and the stoke is high. Almost wind and waves everyday, year round, peaking april through september. A forgotten gem??? Come on over on a big masthigh day and we'll gobble it up.  
 
aloha, 
arnie
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