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wind black hole Nehalem jetty

 
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bdennis

Since 01 Jun 2007
50 Posts

 



PostFri Aug 15, 14 8:12 am    wind black hole Nehalem jetty Reply with quote

so last sunday we decided to DW to the jetty from Manzo...
Saturday was sweet, and sunday seemed even sweeter, so why not?
Well when we got to the jetty, still powered up on 7's,
the wind died dead, like totally dead.
We could still see people 100 yards upwind zipping around!
Also, the waves at the mouth get weird, bigger, funky.
I think there is a current there too. There's definitely a current.
Cuz it took a really long time to paddle in!
Like an hour later we saw emergency vehicles, CG boat, ambulances, etc.,
racing up the beach to rescue someone. Actually they were coming to rescue us.
Which was really reassuring. maybe next time I wont bother paddling.

4 days later, someone in a boat near cape lookout found my kite!
The 7m nemi lives on!

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jeremy

Since 18 Aug 2006
273 Posts
Manzo & HR
Obsessed



PostFri Aug 15, 14 9:49 am    wrong day Reply with quote

Saturday a DWer would have worked, the wind was better and stronger south of town, but on Sun it was fading fast at the state park. When it's all hazy or foggy down towards Rockaway, don't expect the wind to be good down there, it needs to be a CLEAR day where you can see Cape Meares / Lookout.

I was wondering what all the rescue vehicles were doing on Sun, now I know.

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Gman

Since 11 Feb 2006
4907 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped



PostFri Aug 15, 14 10:05 am     Reply with quote

Rivermouths are serious - failure can be most epic

Best to know what the tide is doing

have had a fun downwinder Manhattan beach to Barview but it's
pretty amazing to have the wind go from 30 to zero in a few hundred yards -

when rollo, mystrygirl and I tried to connect Manzo to Barview it was clear and nuking - disheartening watching your kite spin out of the sky 600 yrs offshore an inlet - worse watching your friends meet the same doom...

Glad you got back!

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Wind Slither

Since 04 Mar 2005
2570 Posts
The 503
METAL



PostFri Aug 15, 14 11:11 am     Reply with quote

Andre has a similar story but way worse.

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blowhard

Since 26 Dec 2005
2023 Posts

Windward



PostFri Aug 15, 14 12:12 pm     Reply with quote

let's here it
Foghater

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ShiverMeTimbers

Since 26 Feb 2013
381 Posts
Gig Harbor
Obsessed



PostFri Aug 15, 14 12:17 pm     Reply with quote

yes, I'd like to hear it.

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blowhard

Since 26 Dec 2005
2023 Posts

Windward



PostFri Aug 15, 14 12:17 pm     Reply with quote

its bad

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4Stringer/KipWinger

Since 27 Apr 2005
541 Posts
Hood River
Addicted



PostFri Aug 15, 14 12:20 pm    mouth of Nehalem Reply with quote

The only time that I downwinded from Manzanita to Barview resulted in a near miss with the south jetty. It's been ten years gone, but remember missing the south jetty of Nehalem Bay by a narrow margin. I couldn't tell you then and can't now why it happened, but spooked me about that area. It could be that was ripping flood, or big westerly gust combined with ripping flood. Made me feel like there were forces at work in that area that I didn't understand, and therefore spooked me.

Update from 5 minutes ago; Funny that it now comes to me, after re-reading the post. Got a huge wave that practically forced me to the inside. Guess I was wrong about not knowing.

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buttersmoothcarver

Since 08 Oct 2008
246 Posts

Stoked



PostFri Aug 15, 14 1:02 pm     Reply with quote

Brian, you arent the first to be suckered by the manzo to Rockaway Dwer. I think Gabe Dorfman's sucked out to sea on a 5m/skimboard was a true classic.

My word of advice, never just assume its windy down wind. When dropping a car off (nice reason not to send a driver down to pick you up) to get visual on conditions. Then imagine it drop off another 10 mph three hours later. These kinda stories are childs play considering what Paragliders do for retrieval after a 120 mile flight.

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Sent from phone, please excuse typos.

Brad Gordon

Thermal Foundation
www.snowkiteadventures.com
text 2063000450

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consumer

Since 28 Nov 2010
406 Posts
banned
Obsessed



PostFri Aug 15, 14 3:07 pm     Reply with quote

So is it usual for the wind to not fill in at manhattan beach? That beach by the jetty looks like a nice place to launch/kite.

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undertow

Since 15 Feb 2008
371 Posts
BeaversBurg
Obsessed



PostSat Aug 16, 14 9:22 am     Reply with quote

Did a downwinder last Sat from the beach downwind of the Nahalem jetty to Rockaway. Wind was full of holes and the waves were funky too. It's a convenient place to kite being a block from where we stay, but I wouldn't do it again. Manzo is much more filled in, and the swell has been the best in the 9 years I've been kiting there.

Saw the rescue vehicles last Sunday, glad everyone made it out ok.

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juandesooka

Since 21 Jan 2014
96 Posts

 



PostSat Aug 16, 14 9:44 am     Reply with quote

yikes. I will be in that area next week, for first oregon kite trip. It looked like manzo to nehalem was the most straightforward of downwinders, but now not so sure about that. I think I'll just stick to starting and ending where my session begins...way less potential for drama. Always amazes me how weird wind patterns can be...local knowledge and experience is key. And the rule learned by this relatively new kiter ... if others with more experience aren't kiting a likely looking spot, there's usually a reason!

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