BajaNomad

Bahia de Los Angeles BOLA

bball123 - 10-20-2021 at 05:03 PM

What is happening in BOLA and La Gringa on to Campo Coronado? Would I expect the "big wind" to start howling in the next 3 weeks? I love to kayak around the area and snorkel around the little islands (rocks). The town was always very low key in October and November. Also planning on taking the rocky road further south and checking out some beaches and possible connect to highway 1 around Los Arcos. Anyone been that way recently?
Thank you for any replies.

AKgringo - 10-20-2021 at 06:08 PM

I haven't spent much time on the water around the bay, so no help on that request. I like the road south from there, and on most of my trips, I choose it over Highway one.

It was in good shape last November, but one bad storm can change a lot of the areas that pass through a wash. I hope you get more current information, but I suspect that it wil be a good trip.

Over the last ten years, the maintenance has seemed to be improved in frequency, and quality, but wash boards and loose sand can be part of the adventure as well.

BajaBlanca - 10-20-2021 at 06:29 PM

Welcome to bajanomad! You can look at some sites for wind predictions. Last week I was told is was super windy in BoLA.

Maybe someone can chime in with a wind site? Les uses accuweather.



mtgoat666 - 10-20-2021 at 06:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bball123  
Would I expect the "big wind" to start howling in the next 3 weeks? I


Likely to be some windy days, and some less windy days.


JZ - 10-20-2021 at 08:21 PM

Hit or miss, but if you go soon less windy days than windy days. The more consistent wind generally starts a little later in the year.

Be prepared for it to pick up though. Better to be cautious out on the SoC.


bkbend - 10-20-2021 at 08:30 PM

Windfinder has a pretty good forecast for the area but nobody really know more than 4-5 days out. North winds will become more frequent the later you go into November. There will probably be a decent day or two a week, and some mornings a couple of hours will be calm enough for a crossing from La Gringa to Coronado. But, the wind does blow and the wind always wins. If you've been there you know the wind can go from nothing to ugly very quickly. Watch the forecast and err on the side of caution.

Bajaboy - 10-20-2021 at 09:04 PM

My experience is when high pressure builds in San Diego, the north winds blow in Baja. Keep an eye on San Diego weather for storms and you'll have a pretty good idea.

honda tom - 10-21-2021 at 07:35 AM

Baja 1000 prerunning starts this weekend and runs through race day... Nov 18 and 19 will be huge traffic days in BOLA. Plan accordingly.

A good time.... drive south of BOLA about 5 to 10 miles on thursday and set up a camp. Light a fire and enjoy the show all night. Should see first truck around 730pm.

Or stay in town and watch pit stops all night.

Or go back out Hwy about 5 miles to the BFG Semi. a huge pit with a lot of action.

Hook - 10-21-2021 at 08:29 AM

Rather than rely on predictions that probably don't do the area justice and are marginally valid for maybe 48 hours, why not just refer to the one PWS that seems to be pretty consistently operating in BOLA.

Yeah, it's in town and not out at La Gringa, but you might figure on adding about 20-30% to the reported wind speed if the wind is from the southwest through the compass through true/magnetic north.

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/IENSEN28

If you scroll down this page to the pull down menus representing dates, you can basically see a 24/7 representation of wind and direction in the past.

David K - 10-21-2021 at 09:09 AM

When Graham is out on Isla Angel de la Guarda, we communicate using his Spot device. Since winds determine when he can safely kayak from one part of the island to another or have a panga pick him up at the end of his adventure, he asks me to report what this website predicts for winds there:

https://www.windfinder.com/forecast/bahia-de-los-angeles

wilderone - 10-21-2021 at 10:21 AM

It only takes about 1 1/2 hr. to kayak from the "mainland" to Isla Coronado. If it's blowing in the morning when it's usually very calm, don't go. If you think the wind might blow in the afternoon when you want to return, maybe pack enough water and a sleeping bag to overnight just to be on the safe side. If you're a strong, experienced paddler, can handle chop and troughs, probable headwind ... only you can determine the risk for yourself. Consider all aspects.

JZ - 10-21-2021 at 11:06 AM

Take a VHF handheld with you.


willardguy - 10-21-2021 at 11:06 AM

keep an eye to the west, if you see what resembles an elephant trunk over the mountains get some terra firma under your feet quickly....no shortage of wind sites...... https://tides4fishing.com/mx/baja-california-golfo/bahia-de-...

[Edited on 10-21-2021 by willardguy]

mtgoat666 - 10-21-2021 at 11:16 AM

You’e gonna need a bigger boat

Suntan - 10-21-2021 at 01:58 PM

My wife and I have a home in BOLA. I fish primarily Dec-Mar. We always check on Windfinder or Windy.com before heading out. Windfinder has proved to be an excellent forecast to rely on. Oct-Nov are usually mild in the wind dept. You can Kayak most days if you start at sunrise and plan on being back by 10:30. North winds are consistent after 11:00. Watch for the blue line approaching. The road south of town is generally rocky and slow going depending on race use and weather. There are some neat places to camp and explore at Los Animas and San Rafael. San Francisquito is another good spot to explore. If you head South to those destinations have all your supplies purchased. You won't have a lot of people company South compared to La Gringa. Take your time and enjoy the BOLA area.

Alm - 10-22-2021 at 06:35 PM

There is no way to tell whether there will be a heavy Northern or Western wind in this area in the next 3 weeks. You're asking too much from the weather man. Check windy.com, they are more-less accurate within 4-5 days.

Alm - 10-22-2021 at 11:11 PM

West wind in BOLA can be fierce and sudden. It's more dangerous than North wind because you don't see it from the shore and it can easily keep a kayak from getting back home. But it doesn't (usually) last more than 1 day.

OTH, heavy El Norte often blows 3-4 days. Breeze up to 15 knots may come and go any time, picking up in the morning and dying in the afternoon. At least, this used to be the pattern. Now with climate change it can be anything. The sign to watch for is clouds getting stuck on top of the mountains to the West just before West wind starts blowing. Meat is delivered once a week, beef and pork, can't say about elephants.