Directions:
Park in Farmers Johns grass lot that he has made for us kiters. Coming from the south on Chuckanut drive, take a right on Colony Dr. and take a right into the first drive way. Turn right through the fence and park in the lot next to the road there on the corner. Walk directly west, through the grass field, straight toward the water.
Launch:
Rig in the field and launch, walk past the drainage ditches, up the dike, then down over the rocks to the water. If you don't want to deal with the rocks, walk 2 minutes north to an easier launch spot. There is a significant amount of wood from an old dock right by the shore. It's easy to get around, but is a downwind obstacle to look out for. Ridable on a +4 tide and higher. Small, mucky beach at +4 feet. At high tide the water is waist deep at the rocks.
Satellite view and pictures of rigging/launching area:
Pictures: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3467&p=22450#p22450
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&ll= ... 1&t=h&z=19
Etiquette:
This is private property which means there is an unwritten code we should all follow so that we keep farmer Terry happy and agreeable to access his property.
Please don't park in front of the fire hydrant.
Since it's private property and Terry doesn't drink we should respect that and not bring alcohol to the beach.
Terry also requested all personal gear while kiting should be kept up on the dike or the yellow area in the picture above and not in the field. Last year he had to plow that area while people were kiting, but could not because of gear in the way.
I also heard a rumor that the home owner near the parking area has small kids. He expressed concern that folks were making the area smell of urine and that his kids may have got a glimpse of a "juan thomas" or two. So please be discrete or change out in the field.
Also if you see litter, please pick it up. Terry said he would shut us down if he saw any litter.
Forecast:
TJ's forecast works well for Hunter.
Use http://nwwind.net/wind.php?region=1
Skagit getting close to 10+ from the NW is a good sign.. Whatever Skagit reads, it is usually +5 on the water.
IF the Arlington to Eastsound pressure gradient is:
.02 North... Likely 16m Winds...
.03 = Likely 12m...
.04 = Likely 9m...
.05+ Likely 7m...
Start time is usually by 1:30 or so... so keep your eyes on the gradients.
Water / sea floor:
Flat and shallow. Small swell and kickers as the tide comes in. The sea floor is thick, sticky greyish mud that will suck in your feet and makes for murky water. Clam shells and the rocks by the launch mean booties are recommended.
More info taken from Dogfish Point:
Chuckanut works on high pressure Northerly patterns so that usually means blue skies and warm air. Wind often is hair dryer steady, but it can have the odd gusty holey day. Also low tides in summer mean warm water.
Chuckanut benefits from local topography and a micro climate. To the south the Skagit Valley and Snohomish heat up quickly compared to the San Juan Islands creating a thermal draw. Add a Northerly pattern over the Sound and a venturi effect from Chuckanut Mountain that gives the wind a 5-10 knot boost. When it sets up it goes off almost always between 12:00 and 1:00, and blows till about 4:00 or so. Sometimes it starts sooner and/or lasts longer, but 1:00-4:00 is the time to hit it.
Wind: NW, N
Observations: nwwind.net should be NW and bumping up
Entrance Is and Vancouver W-NW in the teens in the AM, trending up
Skagit Regional, wind trending up in the AM, should be close to double digits by 11:00
Bellingham, wind will be W and trending up to around 10 by 11:00 or noon
Increasing Northerly pressure diffs between Vancouver-Seattle, and East Sound-Arlington
.