Weed season for Wing foiling

[Richi]

Hey guys, its been quite a few years that I have sailed anything outside of jericho. I'm guessing BBay is a little too weedy to make foiling enjoyable,so just wondering what other spots would be worth the drive on a SE? I haven't sailed at the terminal, and used to windsurf at White rock, but cant remember if I used a weed fin or regular fin? I'm planning on being in white rock tomorrow, so hopefully its a good option for wingdinging. cheers, Rich

[lucas]

I get out in west Van pretty regularly on the SE storms, scored a session this morning at Erwin. I'm tempted to make the drive to BBay as that's where the waves will be the best tomorrow. West Van has pretty flat water on the SE wind. Probably have to stay way out by the mile marker in BBay to avoid the weeds. Any locals in Tsawwassen able to give us an update?

[Michael]

I'm guessing BBay is a little too weedy to make foiling enjoyable,

I've had some amazing days there and some really frustrating ones. Depends on how bad the weeds are. We might get lucky as it's a little early and they haven't started to die off in big numbers yet. I sailed at the ferry terminal twice last week and they weren't too bad. Actually not many floating around yet but the ones still growing were the problem. They are much thicker there and when the tide drops you foil right into them. Sorry but I haven'y been out in Boundary bay for a while, I will be out there tomorrow though. If you're winging Richi don't launch from Centennial, the tide is only doable there around 4 meters. You can get stuck on the sand bars when it drops. You can be sailing around quite far out and you think you're good, you ride a few waves in and fall, then you're stuck and you can't get going. You then have to swim out through those nice big breaking waves until it's deep enough. Still had some of my best winging sessions ever out there though. Hope to see you out there sometime.

[Richi]

You can be sailing around quite far out and you think you're good, you ride a few waves in and fall, then you're stuck and you can't get going. You then have to swim out through those nice big breaking waves until it's deep enough.

And that's why you ask a Local for information! I'm pretty sure I would have been in that exact situation within 30 minutes of my first visit!
I will most likely be in White rock tomorrow, so will post the weed conditions or any other obstacles I run into if I make it out on the water. Thanks Michael and Lucas for the locals info and insights, hope BBay plays nice for you guys tomorrow. Cheers, Rich

[CraigH]

A year or so ago I launched at 3rd, quickly went down on the sandbar and I can confirm it goes exactly as described, no way to get back up on the foil, ended up drift/walking all the way back in to Centennial. I swore off BBay but Johnny and Michael convinced me to return the next day and it was great, just gotta get away from the sandbar asap.

[Michael]

I've had some amazing days there and some really frustrating ones.

Well yesterday was one of the frustrating ones. The wind had a lot to do with it but there were enough weeds to make things challenging. It was nice to see a bunch of windsurfers out though, I wish the wind had of been better for them. Although it was nice and sunny for a while.

[Richi]

Well I went out to Whiterock yesterday but didn't end up sailing, just sitting on the Pier fishing with my son. The weed situation seemed pretty good, no clumps of weeds on top of the water and almost no weeds on the shore at the tide line, much better than I expected.
Conditions were pretty Meh, 15 knots at ESE for choppy conditions and only 1 kiter out. I believe S to SW is when Whiterock starts to light up and get Wavy. Hopefully get to give it another shot soon.