Wildcat this afternoon
David Hooper
11/08/20 #28010

I'm thinking to put in at Wildcat around 2:30, if anyone is interested. Looks like gale warning is projected to drop to just small craft advisory around 1. Hoping for big leftover waves, but less hectic wind. If poking my nose out towards Govs gets my face slapped, I'm happy to settle for smaller laps from Whiskey Rock.

Dave H.

Reivers Dustin
11/08/20 #28011

Just got back from there. It was really really great.

As I was sitting in the parking lot studying the water Anna and Wilson rolled in at the end of their downwinder from Cornwall or somewhere north. They said best stretch was Governor's to Wildcat. They said Bham Bay was straight downwind, not too technical, a bit gusty. My feet started hurting as I talked to them. They were standing there barefoot the whole time. man.

Then Jim S. showed up with boat ready to go. We talked about the plan: work up to Governor's then back downwind, rinse/repeat.

Eric Grossman showed up with a thousand watt grin. He's done this run before, so that was a good sign.

Before we got in the water some d/w paddlers showed up: “The Gerst”, Paul, plus Mike/Ryan. Similar report: best from Gov to Cat. In the bay it was tricky gusts, and not much size until about MP. They said the trick in the bay was to avoid getting too near MP area. Lots of rebound out of the dry-dock.

Jim and I worked the plan. It was reboundy around each little point as we worked north. Plenty of room near the shore for staying out of the wind. Some gusts would reach down over the ridges, but mostly just technical water from the rebound. I thought maybe we could work it all the way up to Governor's but that bit near Jesus Rock was gnar. So we rolled out from shore a little bit, then turned on a big wave or gust. They were fast, wide swell. I am still a little gassed from yesterday's run so mostly got rides when I got help from the wind or wave-shape. Super fast rides. My GPS max was 11.7mph. Fastest I've done anywhere in Whatcom County area. I tried to hang with Jim. We saw Grossman rippin it, but couldn't keep track. I did three runs and that last run was amazing. The wind was starting to ease, but the rollers were even better. Very smooth and organized. You would probably not even see these from shore because they didn't cap off very often. My only problem was just having no pop in my stroke. Jim might still be out there. Wind continued to ease making it a nicer upwind leg. Look for Grossman's video. Hope it turns out.

Nicholas showed up to drop his car off. So he did a D/W from the bay.

If wind is NE, I will be doing this run again. But, like EG says, there's something besides wind going on to make these swells. Might be water level, current, undersea topology, … Give us an after-paddle report ok david?

beau whitehead
11/08/20 #28012

Another great session at Wildcat today, although about half the size of Friday, plus the added bonus of paddling back into that easterly if you got greedy and surfed too far toward Anacortes. Ouch, that first lap hurt. Learned my lesson and didn't go quite so far outside on lap 2 & 3.

And now that Reivers has put his stamp of approval on the spot, it's gonna get crowded. Parking's gonna be a bitch (-:

Eric Grossman
11/08/20 #28013

Beau how do you keep your lens so clean? Rainex or something? Fun today

beau whitehead
11/08/20 #28014

Eric, good old fashion saliva… like your free-diving goggles(-: And yeah, it was a good day. Things just feel better all over for some reason. Probably just me though.

David Hooper
11/08/20 #28015

Thanks for the report, Rievers. I read it just before I left and it got my stoke up! Was running a bit late, and pulled into the Wildcat lot just before 3. Beau, Michael Wood, and Vaughn were just packing up, so I got some good beta from them too. Paddling up to Govs wasn't bad at all; in fact, I'd have sworn the tide was coming in, because with the wind blocked by the highlands, I made really good time. But looking now, I see that the tide was actually going out. Maybe there's some kind of eddy, or maybe I was just excited, or maybe it was that general feeling of “lightness” that Beau mentioned. Some funky gusts from the WNW approaching the point, but there was a lot of easterly coming out of Chuckanut Bay, leading to some crazy cross chop once I got out into it. So I just turned and followed the NE out a ways, then turned SSE. Best waves were the first 3/4 mile back toward Whiskey Rock, especially staying out around the wind line. Then it started to flatten out (unless you were like Beau and stayed way out, and were willing to fight your way back - thanks for the tip!). South of Whiskey Rock, the easterly gusts coming out of Wildcat made it harder to catch the flattening waves. So I did three laps in the fun zone, and came in just as the sun dropped below Cypress, with the Olympics silhouetted in the distance and the shadow line climbing up through the alpenglow on the Chuckanuts. With four, count 'em, four, bald eagles wheeling around above. Yep, that was a pretty good afternoon.

Dave H.

Reivers Dustin

11/08/20 #28016

Just wow. Good confirmation David H. I've been skeptical, but jeepers, didn't know waves could be like that around here. Thing is, some of these guys have been saying this for a few years now. Guess I to have to be drug out there and have my nose put in it to see the situation. But caution is advised. It's a rocky shore with not very many exit windows. Some of the pocket beaches go away at high tide. Plus, Beau is probably being understated. You get too far offshore towards Skagit county you got some hard work or some crappy choices. I'll be nervous for the next few times I do this run, until I know the situation better. Seems like Grossman had himself some favorite lines.

Nice to be able to get these waves w/o the covid carpool scene. Less nice that it takes a somewhat rare wind scenario. Amazing. It really didn't even look that righteous from shore.

David Hooper
11/08/20 #28017

Good point on the limited exit locations. And Beau was pretty clear that getting back from afar was a grind, which is why I stayed close-ish. I figured that, if necessary, I'd just keep going to Anacortes. I'm sure Sue wouldn't mind driving down to pick me up there. Now, if there happened to be a van with a trailer heading that way sometime….hmmm…

Dave H.