VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

A friend said they saw a bunch of windsurfers sail at Cadboro Bay the last south easter when it was almost dead onshore and high tide. Where does one launch at Cadboro Bay? Regardless where are Victoria windsurfers going to sail tomorrow? Thanks! Rhonda

I'm not sure about Caddy Bay, but people might be out at Willows Beach today. Just be aware of the many dangers: high tide with logs, high wind and cold water, dog poo, etc

Also, there was a poor water quality from 2 days ago in Cadboro Bay: https://bigwavedave.ca/water-quality.html?site=475#data

Other than all that it should be good

Thanks! It looks like a day to pass regardless... it is pretty onshore. When things eventually get better at Cadboro Bay, where do people launch?

Also people launch at Cattle Point. What wind direction do people go out on those two boat launches? Cheers.

I have launched from the main beach in Caddy Bay many years ago. As for the Cattle Point boat launches, I prefer the 1st launch (facing South) on a SouthWesterly as it's flat water and sheltered and worst case you can swim into the 2nd boat launch around the corner. I like the 2nd boat launch (facing East) on North/North Easterlies (usually fall/winter/spring) high pressure weather events which are usually coolish in temperatures. Again these are some of my favourite flatwater sessions, sometimes a bit gusty but usually pretty darn good and worst case scenario is you swim around the corner to the 1st boat launch. Even better there are usually many boaters out off Cattle Point (known as CP sometimes) in the very worst case scenario. Do remember the tide goes through this area pretty quick if you get out a ways, if you're not planing or foiling it'll take you where it wants.

Forget Caddy Bay, even for my catamaran it was a bitch. Willows is safe, as Bobson points out the Cattle NE launch is scary for currents, the other is super gusty on W SW but can be done

Your safest SE launch is Willows but likely NOT tomorrow with logs & high tides.

Thanks all! The wind/water mysteries are slowly surfacing. Really appreciate it.

I've sailed out of the main beach on foil on a westerly a few years ago. Was pretty good, slogged in lulls and a couple of foils to get outside in clean wind (easier Cattle Pt launch). THere are a couple of accomplished wingers launch at RVYC docks (they are members) regularly and sail in the bay. It can be epic in a big SE, but the shorebreak goes about 150 m out, wouldn't even think of it on a bombogenesis day.......

Good to know. When there is no bacteria there, it sounds like a good option. Thanks!

I windsurfed cadboro last Saturday and was shocked to find the wind was significantly more than willows or cattle.. 20 gusting 25 with some nice rolling swell coming in ..willows felt like maybe 10 knt… I launched off telegraph bay rd /Tudor.…there’s a bench and a patch of grass just big enough to rig your sail and no rolling logs I would not normally windsurf here but worked for me that day SE wind was good .

yep that can happen depending if you have more south in it....

and there is a storm"" sewer outlet right there too lol

Aww nooo! No wonder my eyes were itchy I checked water quality results how bad is 1900 + enterococcus … could it actually be harmful to u … just curious I know Ross bay gets a bit sometimes too ..

I sailed in the brown leaky pipe Clover Point slick off the point for 10+ years, could actually feel greasy stuff on face/lips… yech ….and I survived….some got the odd ear & brain infection lol but nobody died

Aww nooo! Sewer grease on face and lips…. …..out of all the thousands of sports out there and we chose playing in freezing cold sewer water … …

Me and the OGs have had lots of wingfoiling success at Cad. It was a goto spot while I was learning on wingSUP and wingfoil. It's also a nice alternative if Willows/CP is nuking. Main beach is a decent put in. Loon Park just south of RVYC is also good, particularly if shorebreak/logs are bad at main beach.