A little help?

[adamrod]

you will learn to like wetsuits. they provide impact protection and flotation. some of the newer wetsuits are insanely comfortable and flexible. I got one of those oniel guroo gbs ones and it is absolutely unbelievable how soft and flexy it is.

anyway, you need a wetsuit. if you're a beginner you should NOT be going out at sherman without a wetsuit. if you lose your board, or if your kite deflates, you've got a long swim ahead of you and you'll likely end up with hypothermia.

trust me on this. 99% of the people out there will be wearing wetsuits. they do so for a reason. SOMETIMES you can ride without one, but most of those days it's 95 degrees out. this weekend will not be one of those days. especially because it's usually the best wind at sherman in the morning and the evening, and it's usually quite a bit cooler when the sun isn't up.

[friggin old guy]

For me the water in the Delta is plenty warm enough to go without a wetsuit- especially in the latter part of the season- but I found out a long time ago that a shorty makes for a more comfortable session. Both windsurfing and kiting have a pretty high splat factor....especially kiting. High speed water impact is much more pleasant with a little protection.....and prevents unscheduled colon cleansing to boot.

[baypirate]

if you're a beginner you should NOT be going out at sherman without a wetsuit. if you lose your board, or if your kite deflates, you've got a long swim ahead of you and you'll likely end up with hypothermia. trust me on this. 99% of the people out there will be wearing wetsuits. they do so for a reason.

As background, you probably don't know that Sonny has the gift of British understatement, hence the "recommending" of a wetsuit. Adam's CAPS are the way to go here. At the very least you absolutely need to wear a shorty, there is no way to grasp how cold an hour in even-not-that-cold water can feel like.

[Greg]

I highly recommend bikinnii's and going topless all summer!!!

Good for moral,
L.M.G.

[reyrivera]

Since you are from Florida, what we perceive as perfectly warm might be too cold for you. Maybe take a dip at the delta and experience it for yourself???

[super_monkey]

Always wear a wetsuit.

[joemount2004]

I think you'll be surprised honestly how nice the bay temperatures are. The supposed cold keeps alot of people from getting out there, but from May to Sept it's very comfortable. But yes, wear a wetsuit. If you get a lighter suit, like a 3/2, you'll forget it's even there...

[Kitejudy]

It sure seems like Mr. Wind-yuri is NOT a reliable source of information. I guess I should have known when he said that most of the girls at Sherman go topless. :?

[windhorny]

No I didnt say that. That was Greg. I said bottomless!

:)

[elli]

Before I came to the bay area I thought a wetsuit is something divers in Alaska use when they fix oil rigs. I don’t think I actually ever saw one before I took diving classes. You will have to get used to it. You can get away with shorty at the end of the summer inside the bay as long as you don’t fall. If you have to body drag you can be in serious problem, especially if you go far into the channel which many people do.

So get used to a wetsuit. If you are a beginner, get a FULL wetsuit. There are too many risk involved in the beginning, you don’t want hypothermia in that list.