Locust / Whidbey - Friday Afternoon

[Chris Klohn]

Hey Dave,

Always stayed at the Best Western Plus in Oak Harbour. Good rates, rooms and breakfast. I sailed Useless three times only way back when. The tide was such that I was in waist to chest deep water a few hundred meters offshore each time. I remember large exposed sandbars to the SW. The bay gets lumpy with some nice smooth swell in the middle and crumbling surf close to shore.

Good Luck!

[Chris Klohn]

C36 - If you look at the live webcam for Useless right now http://dbcabin.com/live/ that's way more water then the days I had there. The webcam on that rental is right on the SW side of the bay. The sandbar here extended 100+ meters to the south on the days I sailed it. I'm not sure how much the tide is dropping this afternoon but you should be safe.

[Chris Klohn]

Alton & C36 - Tweegster just stayed in a rental on Mutiny Bay, 5 minutes north of Useless, a few weeks back. He might have some better tide info from the day he kited Useless. It's definitely starting to blow down there right now

[C36]

Using Smith Island, tide is forecast at about 4' at 10 am (now) and will hit a low of 0' at 2:30 for a loss of 4'

[Chris Klohn]

Using Smith Island, tide is forecast at about 4' at 10 am (now) and will hit a low of 0' at 2:30 for a loss of 4'

4 feet is a big drop On the plus side, the SSE wind directin and shape of the bay will hold a higher water level then calm conditions. Even on the days the sandbars are exposed on the webcam the water still looks waist deep when the kiters wipe out and stand up.

Ebey would be your other option with the direction today. No issues with the low tide and likely more wind then Useless in the afternoon hours. Just not as nice when it comes to water conditions. About 45 minutes closer driving wise compared to Useless.

[Chris Klohn]

Cold front just approaching west entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait now. Pressures are dropping quickly on the coast and winds are ramping up fast. I would expect a big bump up in wind speed by 1pm at Smith Island and 2-3pm at Locust. Oak Harbour, Ebey and Useless should all be gusting into the 30's within a few hours

[Michael]

Using Smith Island, tide is forecast at about 4' at 10 am (now) and will hit a low of 0' at 2:30 for a loss of 4'

This pic shows low tide is a bit of a walk.

[george]

On my way to locust...just hit the critical mass of 30...
George

[Chris Klohn]

C36 - If you haven't already I'd just head to Locust. The KSEA - KBLI gradient is tightening big time. Winds should exceed forecasted strength of 16-25 mph by a good margin and it's starting to ramp up quickly.

Useless is windy and wavy but it's such a LONG haul. Never leave wind to find wind right? However, I would head south after Locust and crash in Oak Harbour if family and work allow. You don't want to miss JWSP first light if the forecast holds. The TAF at KNUW is the only thing I'd like to see improve.

Enjoy the wind wherever you are

[Chris Klohn]

Crazy wind and waves in the middle of Useless Bay on the webcam. 45mph gusts right now rolling through. C36 - Made the right call on the tides going to Locust instead. Webcam looks like a pretty long walk to water deep enough to beach start. Still nice peeling waves though out in the middle. Things should turn epic at Useless as the tide comes in later this afternoon and evening. It looks as if the wind will continue to build right until dark