[East Bay] Bay Point
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2015 8:31 pm
Bay Point Regional Shoreline
end of McAvoy Road
Bay Point, CA 94565
5:00 am – 10:00 pm
This is a wild marsh area with steady predictable winds, and part of East Bay Regional shoreline. You can find additional information about activities and restrictions on the f following website:
Http://www.ebparks.org/parks/bay_point
Location
Http://www.google.com/maps/place/Bay+Po ... 0c888dc488
Amenities
Restroom
Picnic area
Parking
Additional parking outside McAvoy harbor, before the entrance. Please avoid parking inside the harbor unless you are a customer there.
Hours
Sunrise to Sunset. There's a post that says gates close at 5. I believe that is not enforced, the gates do not close. However, you will be cited by cops if you get caught at sunset. I had a friendly conversation there at one time with a police canine unit while packing just before sunset.
Launch location
38°02'52.5"N 121°57'42.5"W
38.047908, -121.961793
From the parking lot and picnic area, follow the path left side of McAvoy Harbor. It is a half mile hike towards the water, look for a set of trees in the horizon. Please remember, this is a marsh land, avoid creating new unnecessary trails.
Season
April through October
Kiting Abilities:
Intermediate and Up. You must be self reliant and able to self launch/land/rescue.
Wind Conditions
Use the Pitts burg Marina sensor to help predict wind conditions and forecast. It is a publicly available sensor with a free ikitesurf account:
Http://wx.ikitesurf.com/spot/100721
Similar conditions with Sherman island. Look for West, North West, or West North West direction. Average wind speed is 20 mph. Typical kite size for a 170 lb person is a 9 or 12 meter kite.
Crowd Condtions
Currently an unspoiled spot. I kite there by myself 100% of the time. That may soon change.
Water Conditions
River, fresh and muddy. Marsh land tends to get soggy and waterlogged on high tides.
When to kite
Low to middle tide. On really high tides, the marsh fill up with water, so prepare to walk mushy, muddy terrain if you kite on a high tide.
What to bring
Since this is a new spot and it is isolated, bring only your necessary toys to avoid your car getting vandalized, or broken into.
Suggestions:
You will be kiting here mostly by yourself. It is required you know how to launch and land.
Launching: It is an open space, you can practically launch anywhere. Typically you can launch to the right of the trees, but watch out for swirling conditions caused by the trees.
Landing: You can self land behind the trees, as it provides a wind shadow, wind is calm directly behind the trees.
Alternatively, you can use a carabiner and attach it to one of the trees if you prefer to tether launch.
Hazards
This is a popular spot for fishermen, duck hunters, poachers, and homeless people. Watch out for errant line tangle with fishermen or their hooks. You will also notice makeshift shelters built by either hunters or homeless people. For safety, be aware of your surroundings and secure your valuables.
Emergency procedure recommendations
A serious injury will require a helicopter medical evacuation in this area. Be careful.
If you get blown downwind or have to self rescue, you will end up in public marsh lands fenced by private property businesses, railroad, and military. Be careful and watch out for
snakes. Relax and walk/swim back to your original launch spot. It can take anywhere from 1/2 mile and up to trek back up on rugged terrain.
If you get blown way downwind and your close to the old refinery, your best bet is to ride/body drag all the way down to Pittsburg Marina. From there you are back to civilization and can call a cab to get a ride back to McAvoy harbor.
Shops
There is a store in McAvoy harbor, also plenty of convenience stores along Port Chicago.
Contributed by Rey Rivera, 2015
end of McAvoy Road
Bay Point, CA 94565
5:00 am – 10:00 pm
- bay_point_2250w_32c.gif (1.08MiB)Viewed 10458 times
Http://www.ebparks.org/parks/bay_point
Location
Http://www.google.com/maps/place/Bay+Po ... 0c888dc488
Amenities
Restroom
Picnic area
Parking
Additional parking outside McAvoy harbor, before the entrance. Please avoid parking inside the harbor unless you are a customer there.
Hours
Sunrise to Sunset. There's a post that says gates close at 5. I believe that is not enforced, the gates do not close. However, you will be cited by cops if you get caught at sunset. I had a friendly conversation there at one time with a police canine unit while packing just before sunset.
Launch location
38°02'52.5"N 121°57'42.5"W
38.047908, -121.961793
From the parking lot and picnic area, follow the path left side of McAvoy Harbor. It is a half mile hike towards the water, look for a set of trees in the horizon. Please remember, this is a marsh land, avoid creating new unnecessary trails.
Season
April through October
Kiting Abilities:
Intermediate and Up. You must be self reliant and able to self launch/land/rescue.
Wind Conditions
Use the Pitts burg Marina sensor to help predict wind conditions and forecast. It is a publicly available sensor with a free ikitesurf account:
Http://wx.ikitesurf.com/spot/100721
Similar conditions with Sherman island. Look for West, North West, or West North West direction. Average wind speed is 20 mph. Typical kite size for a 170 lb person is a 9 or 12 meter kite.
Crowd Condtions
Currently an unspoiled spot. I kite there by myself 100% of the time. That may soon change.
Water Conditions
River, fresh and muddy. Marsh land tends to get soggy and waterlogged on high tides.
When to kite
Low to middle tide. On really high tides, the marsh fill up with water, so prepare to walk mushy, muddy terrain if you kite on a high tide.
What to bring
Since this is a new spot and it is isolated, bring only your necessary toys to avoid your car getting vandalized, or broken into.
Suggestions:
- Cart or dolly to load your gear and haul into the spot half a mile to the water. Alternatively, you can also bring a mountain bike with a trailer to haul gear. If you have a canoe or a kayak, you can also drop your kayak/canoe on the inlet with your gear and paddle all the way to the launch spot.
- Drinking water. It also does not hurt to bring extra water for cleaning your gear as things get muddy on the way back to your car.
- Insect repellant.
- Changing mat.
- Small waterproof pouch to put in your cell phone, wallet, keys to carry with you while riding.
- Trash bag, please help keep the place clean by picking up trash along the way.
You will be kiting here mostly by yourself. It is required you know how to launch and land.
Launching: It is an open space, you can practically launch anywhere. Typically you can launch to the right of the trees, but watch out for swirling conditions caused by the trees.
Landing: You can self land behind the trees, as it provides a wind shadow, wind is calm directly behind the trees.
Alternatively, you can use a carabiner and attach it to one of the trees if you prefer to tether launch.
Hazards
- Thorny bushes that can rip your kite apart, watch out where you launch and land.
- Trash and broken bottles left behind by people.
- Wildlife: water snakes, mosquitoes, bees, ants.
- Old harbor wood piles to the left of the trees close to the inlet.
- No ideal exit points if you end up downwind. Safer to go upwind as much as you can before doing your tricks.
This is a popular spot for fishermen, duck hunters, poachers, and homeless people. Watch out for errant line tangle with fishermen or their hooks. You will also notice makeshift shelters built by either hunters or homeless people. For safety, be aware of your surroundings and secure your valuables.
Emergency procedure recommendations
A serious injury will require a helicopter medical evacuation in this area. Be careful.
If you get blown downwind or have to self rescue, you will end up in public marsh lands fenced by private property businesses, railroad, and military. Be careful and watch out for
snakes. Relax and walk/swim back to your original launch spot. It can take anywhere from 1/2 mile and up to trek back up on rugged terrain.
If you get blown way downwind and your close to the old refinery, your best bet is to ride/body drag all the way down to Pittsburg Marina. From there you are back to civilization and can call a cab to get a ride back to McAvoy harbor.
Shops
There is a store in McAvoy harbor, also plenty of convenience stores along Port Chicago.
Contributed by Rey Rivera, 2015