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Legacy Directions

Cape San Blas

6 hrs.+. Port St. Joe offers a variety of spots from St. Joseph Bay to the Gulf itself. You can sail about any direction from someplace in the bay or on the outside. Port St. Joe is about 40 miles east of Panama City on US 98. Rod Dodsworth writes: if members, especially families want an isolated and drop dead gorgeous location check us out. St. Joe Bay is about 5 x 10 miles in size and has launch sites on the western side at the state park, on the east side at a free beach in Port St. Joe. Clear salt water, no hidden oyster bars. St. Joe Bay, which is formed by 14 mile long Cape San Blas, is just about as close to sailing nirvana as I can imagine in north Florida. The waters are clear, warm (88 deg. in Aug) and the bottom is hard sand/grass visible to at least 20 ft. I have been living on the Cape for three years and still can't believe how near pristine the bay is. The bottom gradient from the shore outward around the entire bay is shallow for at least 300 yards; perfect for fearless honing of new skills as long as the tide is not at a monthly low.

My observations (as an intermediate) are: From fall thru spring I rely on frontal passages. A fast moving cold front will kickup 15-30kt E-S.E. winds prior to passage. Eagle Harbor in the state park is perfect for such conditions as the 4+ mile fetch across the bay ensures clean air and on or cross onshore wind. The N-NW blast after frontal passage will give some of your members a terrific time. Look for 3-4' chop in the bay due east of Eagle Harbor. Outside of fronts, i.e. the summer, the prevailing SW sea breeze starts around 11:00 am and dies of course around sunset. I'd guess that every third day or so the seabreeze tops around 15 kts. In this case you'll have to sail the gulf or launch on the east side of the bay at the county park in Port St. Joe to have onshore wind. While not typically very strong, the seabreeze is quite reliable, and can be fun even on a longboard as you look at the critters on the bottom. I am not kidding when I say that on a low wind day on the gulf it looks like you're floating in space above hard ground. For campers in the state park the gulf is a three minute walk.

Lodging: Plan ahead! Especially in the busy summer. It's not that the beaches are ever crowded, there just isn't that much in the way of rental vacation properties. The state park has about a dozen "cabins" in a woodland setting which are really quite comfortable and can sleep about 10 friendly people. They are right on St. Joe Bay. Don't forget to bring your food and beverages too. The nearest grocery store is 18 miles away in Port St. Joe.

Lodging phone #s: Anchor Vacation Properties: (800) 824-0416 Cape San Blas Realty: (904) 227-2160 T.H. Stone State Park: (904) 227-1327 I rarely see other boardheads, so give me a holler if a member wants additional info or plans to visit. Another view of San Blas - by Hugh Bosely

Another view

(In response to a rec.windsurfing post about Cape San Blas) I am one of small group of wave sailors that regularly sails the wave venues along North Florida's Gulf Coast. Wardog is wondering what it is like when CSB fires. This happens usually in the winter months after the passage of a cold front. A solid 20 mph push from SE to WNW makes this worth the 2+ hour drive from where we live in Tallahappy . Add in any swell and CSB can get some clean head high, point-wrapping peelers that make for some centerfold-worthy down-the-line slashing and NASA certified air. As it clocks more to the north (NW to NNW), Mexico Beach, the mainland beach opposing CSB becomes the place. Because the wide channel goes from deep to shallow relatively close to the beach, things jack up pretty close to shore. We were there one day in early March of this year and it was mast high and crunchy. Too much west component and the outside becomes a mogul field on crack. There can also be some pretty good currents depending on the tide. But it is really the only wave venue for something with a lot of north in it. And when its clean, it is exceptionally clean.

As the fronts progress and the wind starts to clock to the east, we opt for St. George Island (SGI) which is about 30 miles east of CSB/Mexico Beach and about 30 minutes closer for us. A dog-leg shaped barrier island that dips down into the Gulf, there are a series of outer sand bars and shoals along this 25 mile long stretch of beach that can red-line the pucker factor. At the east end of the Island there is a State Park with restrooms and showers. Very pristine and undeveloped. We usually launch near one of the turnouts before these pavilions, rig by the side of the road and carry our gear the 100 yards down the boardwalk to the beach. The waves there are usually thick with plenty of amplitude and pitch. Coming off the top, the drop can surprise you. In one session last fall, they claimed an eardrum and a knee from two sailors. Definitely not for the meek or uninitiated.

Closer to home, our regular venue is Alligator Point, another barrier island between Shell Point and SGI. This venue is wave sailable on anything from a SE to a NW. Waves are typically waist high on a 20-22 mph day. Fun stuff for tricks and just b&j blasting. It gets proportionately bigger with increased wind/swell. A summer cyclone in the Gulf can render it head high.

For speed sailing, the bay at Alligator point is separated on the west end by a 20' wide spit of land that sets up like Coche on a S to SE: mile long half moon, glass flat, off-shore plate of water where you can scare the fish.

Maps in this Wiki

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== East ==
+{{#display_map:
-<googlemap version="0.9" lat="29.964453" lon="-84.92157" zoom="9" width="900" scale="yes">
+{{Map_KML}} | kml={{Map_KMZ}}
+| centre=29.889472,-84.774628 | markercluster=on | clustermaxzoom = 9 | height=900px | type=hybrid | zoom=10 | scale=yes
+}}
+{{Map Key}}
-.136385, -85.720339, Alligator Point
+== Legacy Directions ==
-.167267, -85.701592, Ramada Inn
-Check to see if access is still available
+=== Cape San Blas ===
-.186897, -85.730662, Carl Gray Park
+hrs.+. Port St. Joe offers a variety of spots from St. Joseph Bay to the Gulf itself. You can sail about any direction from someplace in the bay or on the outside. Port St. Joe is about 40 miles east of Panama City on US 98.
-DO NOT PARK on the GRASS
+Rod Dodsworth writes: if members, especially families want an isolated and drop dead gorgeous location check us out. St. Joe Bay is about 5 x 10 miles in size and has launch sites on the western side at the state park, on the east side at a free beach in Port St. Joe. Clear salt water, no hidden oyster bars. St. Joe Bay, which is formed by 14 mile long Cape San Blas, is just about as close to sailing nirvana as I can imagine in north Florida. The waters are clear, warm (88 deg. in Aug) and the bottom is hard sand/grass visible to at least 20 ft. I have been living on the Cape for three years and still can't believe how near pristine the bay is. The bottom gradient from the shore outward around the entire bay is shallow for at least 300 yards; perfect for fearless honing of new skills as long as the tide is not at a monthly low.
-.098394, -85.653832, Tyndall AFB
-Location approx. consult directions. With Gov't ID only.
+My observations (as an intermediate) are:
-.101086, -85.611688, Callaway
+From fall thru spring I rely on frontal passages. A fast moving cold front will kickup 15-30kt E-S.E. winds prior to passage. Eagle Harbor in the state park is perfect for such conditions as the 4+ mile fetch across the bay ensures clean air and on or cross onshore wind. The N-NW blast after frontal passage will give some of your members a terrific time. Look for 3-4' chop in the bay due east of Eagle Harbor.
-</googlemap>
+Outside of fronts, i.e. the summer, the prevailing SW sea breeze starts around 11:00 am and dies of course around sunset. I'd guess that every third day or so the seabreeze tops around 15 kts. In this case you'll have to sail the gulf or launch on the east side of the bay at the county park in Port St. Joe to have onshore wind. While not typically very strong, the seabreeze is quite reliable, and can be fun even on a longboard as you look at the critters on the bottom. I am not kidding when I say that on a low wind day on the gulf it looks like you're floating in space above hard ground. For campers in the state park the gulf is a three minute walk.
-== West ==
+Lodging: Plan ahead! Especially in the busy summer. It's not that the beaches are ever crowded, there just isn't that much in the way of rental vacation properties. The state park has about a dozen "cabins" in a woodland setting which are really quite comfortable and can sleep about 10 friendly people. They are right on St. Joe Bay. Don't forget to bring your food and beverages too. The nearest grocery store is 18 miles away in Port St. Joe.
-<googlemap version="0.9" lat="30.230595" lon="-86.63269" zoom="9" width="900" scale="yes">
-.368572, -87.171147, Taco Bell
+Lodging phone #s:
-Not sure if access here is still available
+Anchor Vacation Properties: (800) 824-0416
-.342226, -87.148501, Beach Blvd
+Cape San Blas Realty: (904) 227-2160
-.397037, -86.579241, Leeside Park
+T.H. Stone State Park: (904) 227-1327
-.136385, -85.720339, Alligator Point
+I rarely see other boardheads, so give me a holler if a member wants additional info or plans to visit.
-.167267, -85.701592, Ramada Inn
+Another view of San Blas
-Check to see if access is still available
+''- by Hugh Bosely''
-.186897, -85.730662, Carl Gray Park
+=== Another view ===
-DO NOT PARK on the GRASS
+(In response to a rec.windsurfing post about Cape San Blas) I am one of small group of wave sailors that regularly sails the wave venues along North Florida's Gulf Coast. Wardog is wondering what it is like when CSB fires. This happens usually in the winter months after the passage of a cold front. A solid 20 mph push from SE to WNW makes this worth the 2+ hour drive from where we live in Tallahappy . Add in any swell and CSB can get some clean head high, point-wrapping peelers that make for some centerfold-worthy down-the-line slashing and NASA certified air. As it clocks more to the north (NW to NNW), Mexico Beach, the mainland beach opposing CSB becomes the place. Because the wide channel goes from deep to shallow relatively close to the beach, things jack up pretty close to shore. We were there one day in early March of this year and it was mast high and crunchy. Too much west component and the outside becomes a mogul field on crack. There can also be some pretty good currents depending on the tide. But it is really the only wave venue for something with a lot of north in it. And when its clean, it is exceptionally clean.
-.098394, -85.653832, Tyndall AFB
-Location approx. consult directions. With Gov't ID only.
-.101086, -85.611688, Callaway
-</googlemap>
+As the fronts progress and the wind starts to clock to the east, we opt for St. George Island (SGI) which is about 30 miles east of CSB/Mexico Beach and about 30 minutes closer for us. A dog-leg shaped barrier island that dips down into the Gulf, there are a series of outer sand bars and shoals along this 25 mile long stretch of beach that can red-line the pucker factor. At the east end of the Island there is a State Park with restrooms and showers. Very pristine and undeveloped. We usually launch near one of the turnouts before these pavilions, rig by the side of the road and carry our gear the 100 yards down the boardwalk to the beach. The waves there are usually thick with plenty of amplitude and pitch. Coming off the top, the drop can surprise you. In one session last fall, they claimed an eardrum and a knee from two sailors. Definitely not for the meek or uninitiated.
-== Legacy Directions ==
+Closer to home, our regular venue is Alligator Point, another barrier island between Shell Point and SGI. This venue is wave sailable on anything from a SE to a NW. Waves are typically waist high on a 20-22 mph day. Fun stuff for tricks and just b&j blasting. It gets proportionately bigger with increased wind/swell. A summer cyclone in the Gulf can render it head high.
-Some of this stuff is seriously dated. Double check before launching.
-* pensacola
+For speed sailing, the bay at Alligator point is separated on the west end by a 20' wide spit of land that sets up like Coche on a S to SE: mile long half moon, glass flat, off-shore plate of water where you can scare the fish.
-** 5.5-6 hr. For NW, as soon as you cross the bridge over the Bay into Gulf Breeze (US-98) look for a Taco Bell on the left. Turn down the street beside it and park in the dead end.
-* ft. walton beach, leeside park
-** 5.5-6 hr. Just east (.5 m) of the big draw bridge on US-98 is Leeside Park. It has a nice beash for kids and is shallow for about 50-100 yards out which is good for beginners. Best directions are SW, W around N to NE. However, since Opal flattened the dunes between the park and the Gulf, anything works. Across the highway is the beach for the more adventurous.
-* panama city/ pc beach
-** 5-5.5hr. Phil Morgan of PC writes: WS booties are absolutely required in all our areas due to oyster shell deposits. He also sent us the scoop on a bunch of PC spots and reminds us to remember that PC and PC Beach are 2 different spots (but beside each other)
-** Alligator Point (beyond the Bay Pointe Marriott) N, E and S (sea breeze) directions will be put up shortly as I know how to get there but the names of the streets elude me. In the meantime, phone Bayside Windsurfing for directions. It works great for most directions except west. This is a good place to sail the sea breeze. It's shallow for a small area for teaching or beginners and more able sailors can sail all the way across towards Tyndall AFB. This launch is just inside the pass from St. Andrews Park. St. Andrews Park has access to the same slalom conditions but it is a hike across the dunes from the parking lot. The park is a good place for wave sailing and if you get skunked the park rents SCUBA gear if you have a C card.
-** Panama City Ramada Inn: Hotel and staff reportedly don't mind people ws there. Nice grassy rigging area. Good for W, SW, S winds. US 231 South to US98. West on US98 to large intersection (about 2 mi) with Beck Ave. Left on Beck to the end. Entrance to Ramada Inn and Harbor House is at the end on the right. Proceed to the end of the parking lot.
-** Panama City - Gulf Coast Community College/Carl Grey Park: Excellent ws for N, NW, and W winds. Semi-grassy area for rigging. "The place" for winter ws in the area. This area is at the eastern side of the Hathaway Bridge which divides PC from PCB. US 231S to US 98. West on US98 to Gulf Coast Community College (a few miles). GET IN RIGHT HAND LANE. Just pass the college entrance will be another small street. Florida Highway Patrol station is visible from the road. Turn on this street which is just before the station, a couple of hundred feet up the traffic sign and then left into the parking area. Rig anywhere. CAUTIONS: Don't park on the grass. Don't even let your tires TOUCH the non-paved area or you will be ticketed. Also, keep away from the immediate area of the bridge. Stong currents will take you through to the south side forcing you to make a long trek back.
-** Callaway - About 9 miles East of Panama City at the eastern foot of the Dupont Bridge which leads to Tyndall AFB. Good for N winds on western side and NE to E on eastern side. US98 east to Dupont Bridge, cross bridge and select a lane for turning depending on which side you want. Grassy rigging areas. NE and E ws is excellent with long runs. N side has short runs and tricky windshifts (which is why we go to Carl Grey Park).
-** Tyndall AFB - Military/Govnt ID card required. Excellent for E, SE, E, SW, W, NW ws. US98E, continue over the Dupont Bridge about 1 mile to first gate on right. After guard clearing, continue approximately three or four miles on this road. You will enter a housing area, observe speed limits and continue to almost the end of the housing area. Turn on the last street on the left where housing appears to end. Make the next right on a gravel road and you'll continue down a fairly steep embankment to the water's edge. Grassy rigging, long (up to 5 mi) runs. Shell Island is a few hundred yards from Tyndall offering flat water speed runs.
 {{Maps List}}
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+[[Category:Maps]][[Category:Windsurfing Sites]] [[Category:Southeast]] [[Category:Florida]]