Windsurfing near Sunset Beach
- Seal Beach/River's End (5 km)
- Alamitos Bay (7 km)
- Huntington City Beach (8 km)
- Belmont Shore (8 km)
- Soak City Wave Pool (15 km)
- Newport Sea Base (19 km)
- Cabrillo Beach (19 km)
Nearby Windguru Forecasts
The waves from here through Huntington Beach are reasonably sized, and there is a sudden drop off from the shore which creates an impact zone that can be a tough tumble when the waves get over 3 feet high (I have had my wave sail ripped twice here). Not for the faint of heart, these waves come in relentlessly, but it is still easier to deal with than Jalama Beach.
The wind is mostly straight onshore, but the current will drag you south in a hurry, so it's not really worth the attempt unless it is blowing 15 knots--which happens occasionally. Fortunately iWindsurf (http://www.iwindsurf.com) has a sensor here so you can keep an eye on it.
During the summer, the lifeguards strictly enforce a 2pm curfew--no sailing any earlier--and make you launch only between two checkered flags located at lifeguard station #15; so park at 15th street. They even chase swimmers out of the water between the flags before they let you launch. Some kiters come here, but most go to Belmont Shore.
Unable to distinguish kiting from windsurfing, lifeguards have banned both at the state beaches directly South of here: Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beach (South of the pier). However, Huntington City Beach in between those two (from the cliffs to the pier) is still legal. Generally though, as you go South, the wind gets weaker--except for the occasional Southerly winter storm.
Christopher @ Clew First Windsurfing (http://www.clewfirst.com)