The conversations below are a sampling of the great variety of conditions on Bellingham Bay that can result in wave catching, great fun, and/or consternation and befuddlement.

1. How's Zit 6/19/2011
   1. Followup 7/03/2011
2. More Bay Mystery 12/23/2011
3. SW Wind in Bay 10/20/2012
4. How "West" winds can turn into SW or SSW in Bay 6/28/2016
5. SE Wind in Bay 10/11/2016
6. One of those surprisingly good days 5/14/2017
7. More Bay Convergence of Multiple Wind Directions 12/28/2017
   1. But Watch Out for Strong Convergence 2/24/2007
8. N. Cryder's Observations 1/26/2018
9. Eliza Is. to Portage Bay 6/30/2018
10. Ebb, Flood Tide, etc… 7/03/2019
11. Magic Carpets... 7/10/2019

There are periodic discussions about whether it was wise to paddle on Bellingham Bay on big days. To a certain extent the conversation is rekindled because newer paddlers are trying to find their limits. There seems to be a consensus among most of the boaters that with the exponential increase of force of greater wind speed, there is a point when the difficulty presented by the wind outweighs any enjoyment from surfing on the resultant waves. There is also a general understanding that weather patterns that are unclear or expected to change at an inexact time present unnecessary risk. Beam winds (from the West or East in the Bay) that are too strong for laps generally also reduce or eliminate the liklihood of safe or even enjoyable runs.

• Was it A Good Idea 8/31/15
• Sunday Weather 3/30/2021