Magic Seaweed Bolinas offers information about the surf conditions in Bolinas, California. Bolinas is a small coastal town located in Marin County. It is known for its picturesque beaches and popular surf spots. Magic Seaweed is a website and app that provides surf forecast data and reports from various locations around the world, including Bolinas. Magic Seaweed Bolinas provides surfers with valuable information to plan their surfing sessions. They offer data such as wave height, swell direction, wind speed, and tide charts.
The conditions on the day I went were pretty bad. The only waves that rolled through were ankle slappers. These conditions didn’t stop people from paddling out though. There were about 15 surfers out in “The Channel” trying to catch what they could. There were another 10 or so beginners out in waist high water getting stoked on tiny waves. They were around the age of 13 and having a blast on barely rideable surf; it was a nice thing to see.
When a swell approaches the coast at a favorable oblique angle, meaning it is at an angle between direct onshore and direct offshore, the wave energy is refracted, or bent, by the coastal contours. In the case of swells which are arriving at a very steep angle relative to a spot, you can generally expect to see a significant loss in the size and power of those swells, if they show up at all.
They offer data such as wave height, swell direction, wind speed, and tide charts. This information is essential for surfers as it helps them determine the optimal time to catch good waves. The site also features a user-friendly interface that displays the surf conditions graphically.
Bolinas Revisited
Bolinas is definitely my favorite surf break and town in Northern California. It is an isolated little town stuck in the 1970’s on the southern coast of Marin. It’s only 13 miles northwest of San Francisco, but takes over an hour to get there. No roads directly usher you into Bolinas, and the recluse locals, whom were highlighted in Ernest Callenbachs novel “Ecotopia Emerging,” do their best to tear down any signs leading into their town.
The entire environment surrounding Bolinas is so picturesque; I enjoy going there even without a board. There are tide pools and a long strand of beach situated between the ocean and the Bolinas lagoon. You can even catch crabs if you’re lucky and bold enough to do so. If you get it on the right tide, you can hop in the water where you park and the current will carry you out to the ocean; a nice change from riding into a beach. The lagoon starts about 4 miles north of the ocean and encompasses approximately 1,100 acres. It has 16.7 square miles of watershed that feed into the lagoon. It is a tidal estuary, which is why you can float down the pass if the tide permits. It is also part of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The lagoon is said to have been one of the possible landing spots for Sir Francis Drake on the west coast back in 1579. There is a road named after him to get to Bolinas. The San Andreas fault, which runs through the lagoon, formed the trench where the it sits.
The weather and overall community is a perfect fit for small farmers. It goes without saying that these local farmers abide by organic standards. I had a friend who quit her job to make minimum wage on one of these farms. She would wake up before the sun came up to feed the animals, and tend to the crops all day. She seemed happy just to have her own goat. That job, however, did not last too long.
The day I went was not one of the best for surfing. I brought my board, but the conditions were too small to go wave riding. The wind was down and the sun was out, fortunately, so a cruise around the beach was refreshing and relaxing. The water temperature called for a 3/2 wetsuit, and a 4/3 if you really want to be warm in this 60 degree water. The conditions were the exact opposite of this:
There are two different spots to surf in Bolinas. One is known as “The Patch, “ and the other “The Channel.” They aren’t very far apart, but produce a different style and size wave. “The Channel,” located at the mouth of the inlet, is where most of the beginners and intermediate surfers go. The waves tend to not be as large as its counterpart and break more in a crumbling way as opposed to breaking. “The Patch,” which I’ve noticed, sometimes has a nice layer of seaweed on the surface, which may be where its name came from. It is located a bit further north than “The Channel.” This break is usually bigger and breaks with more authority. Either break you choose, a longboard should be the stick of choice. The waves are fairly easy to catch since the ocean is relatively calm in this area and the waves aren’t very powerful. There can be good, long rides to be had as well.
The break looks relatively innocent from the shore, but Bolinas has a rather rocky bottom that you can definitely detect when you catch a large wave and get bombed on. As I mentioned earlier, locals are very territorial about their city, beach and break. If they catch you not “packing in and packing out,” it will be a long day considering the flat tires you’ll be changing out. They are extremely protective of their beach. When the first storm rolls through, there is usually a great deal of debris that gets washed up as well. One year, the locals banded together and built a 12-15 foot, five person band out of all the debris that came to rest on the shore. That sort of thing, more or less, encompasses the Bolinas community as a whole.
My biggest fear, along with everyone else; is the big bodied, tooth aplenty sharks that loom beneath as I tread my legs. There have been 11 non-fatal (luckily) shark attacks at Bolinas since 1926. There is always a risk when surfing, bodyboarding, bodysurfing and even diving when in the saltwater. Outside the break of Bolinas, there is a large island where sea lions and seals like to frequent. These are the two sea mammals that you do not want around when surfing. They attract sharks and are a relatively easy target when isolated for the predator. This is one of the hazards of surfing at this particular location. The clip here is close enough to shore, that you can actually see surfers where the waves are breaking. No one likes sharks this close to shore……
A day trip to Bolinas consists of more than a few hours if you want to do it right. There is a museum open Friday through Sunday, and whenever Fred is there. Fred, unfortunately, was busy when I passed by. Every town has a post office and a fire department, and this tiny town is no exception. Most towns, however small they may be, have a bar. This one is located on the bend of the lagoon. “Smiley’s” employees a good bartender by the name of Dan, whom seems to know every soul that passes through. If you are in need of a jolt, the local coffee shop is your answer. They serve everything from black coffee to extra foamy, semi chocolate, fully loaded mochas at 163 degrees with three and a half pumps of vanilla goodness (not that I would know). There are not too many places to eat around here, however. They have a small cafe and a sandwich spot, but not much other than that. If you made the trip out there already, you might as well go a bit further up Highway 1 and grab some seafood. Oysters are a specialty around these parts, being next to both Tomales and Drakes Bay.
The 2 mile surf shop is where most people come to town to visit. They have daily surf lessons at a reasonable price by a knowledgable staff. They provide all the equipment you’ll need and the longboards are great for beginners. The guys there also have a blog that gives information about the conditions for that day. They use a lot of jargon and it’s a bit hippie sounding, but it is good, correct information from an insider who knows what he is talking about.
The conditions on the day I went were pretty bad. The only waves that rolled through were ankle slappers. These conditions didn’t stop people from paddling out though. There were about 15 surfers out in “The Channel” trying to catch what they could. There were another 10 or so beginners out in waist high water getting stoked on tiny waves. They were around the age of 13 and having a blast on barely rideable surf; it was a nice thing to see.
Taking a walk around the beach was more entertaining than I remember. The town has more tourists coming through than it did a decade ago; it’s one of those hidden gems in my book. There were people fishing right off the street by casting their bait over the wall into the lagoon. I didn’t see any evidence of a fish being caught, but the man and his kids seemed to be having a good time. The beach is also dog friendly, with most of them frolicking around leashless.
Long period swell from the SW is working with medium period swell from the WNW to generate surf with average wave heights of 1-2 ft and set waves reaching 2-3 ft, with a dominant period of 16 seconds. Recent winds have been moderate+ and trending onshore from the SE, averaging 10 mph. As of 1:08 PM wind is moderate+ and onshore from the S (180) at 8 mph. A 3' high tide at 7:42 AM is now dropping to a 2.2' low at 12:18 PM.
Users can easily navigate through the various sections and find the information they need. The forecast charts give a visual representation of the conditions over a specific period. Magic Seaweed Bolinas also offers a community section where users can interact with each other. Surfers can share their experiences, post photos, and discuss the conditions they encountered. This section helps create a sense of belonging and community among surfers. In addition to providing surf forecast data, Magic Seaweed Bolinas offers other helpful features. Users can access webcam footage to get real-time visuals of the surf conditions. This is especially useful for those who are unable to visit the beach in person. Overall, Magic Seaweed Bolinas is a valuable resource for surfers in the area. It provides accurate and up-to-date surf forecast data, as well as a platform for surfers to connect and share their experiences. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced surfer, using Magic Seaweed Bolinas can enhance your surfing experience and help you make the most out of your time in the water..
Reviews for "Bolinas' Seaweed: A Magical Superfood"
1. John - 2 stars - I really didn't enjoy "Magic seawred bolinas". The plot was confusing and I found it difficult to follow what was happening. The characters were also flat and uninteresting, which made it hard for me to connect with the story. Overall, I was quite disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 1 star - I couldn't get through "Magic seawred bolinas". The writing style was incredibly pretentious and self-indulgent. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be poetic and profound, but it just came across as forced and overdone. I found myself rolling my eyes at the overly flowery descriptions and the lack of a coherent narrative. I highly advise skipping this book.
3. Alex - 2 stars - "Magic seawred bolinas" was simply not for me. I struggled to connect with the story and found it to be quite boring. The pacing was slow and there were long stretches where nothing seemed to happen. Additionally, the characters were not well-developed and lacked depth. While I appreciate unique and experimental writing styles, this book just missed the mark for me.