====== Bellingham Bay Downwinding ======

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{{  :locales:bellingham:bellinghambaydownwinder.jpg?direct&717x273  |bellinghambaydownwinder.jpg}}

Photo: Collin Smith - Click photo to enlarge - from [[https://vimeo.com/480574189|video - Bellingham Bay Weather Bomb]]

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[[:bellingham|Main Bellingham Page]]

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===== The Bay =====

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  * [[:bham_bay_launches|Bay Launch Locations]]
  * **Downwind & Laps**
      * [[:stories:bellingham_bay_conversations|Conversations about when the Bay is good for downwinding]]
      * Prevailing winds - most commonly from south to north but sometimes can work from north to south
      * Laps - start and end at same location - paddle upwind and turn around to downwind surf. Repeat # of times preferred.
  * **Surf**
      * Once in a blue moon Bellingham Bay may get strong enough wind swell to create some shore surf, but it is rare. South winds can sometimes also build a little bit of shore waves at the northern beaches in the Bay.
      * There are a few fairly dedicated board surfers who seem to find more frequent opportunities at [[:birch_bay#surfing|Birch Bay]]. And if you want to start to practice getting in and out through shore break, Birch Bay can be one place to start that more frequently has a bit of shore break, but is almost always just quite moderate in comparison to places around the world that employ surf lifesavers.
      * [[https://youtu.be/XmEBifLrTIU|2016 Surf at Marine Park Video]]
  * **Boat Wakes**
      * [[:surfable_boat_wakes|Surfable Boat Wakes]]
  * …

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===== Conditions =====

  * [[:bellingham_local_conditions|Bellingham Bay Conditions]]
  * …

**Duncan Howat speaking about the Bay in stronger weather:** \\ //<WRAP center round tip 90%>////Well the thing about the weather and wind forecast is kinda this: when NOAA is calling for Gale Warning , (34-47 knots,or 39-54 miles per hr) SE, or even S,makes it a little strong and difficult to get away from the cove (Wildcat cove start), and then the mix up out of Chuckanut Bay for a mile or two makes for a very challenging run, except for those who have done it many times or other similar runs. That 40 + wind can get you, particularly in a surfski in winter like conditions. Gale Warning = 5-6 foot seas ,mixed even without much tide, Mix in a big ebb, then it can get big \\ </WRAP>//<WRAP centeralign>

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**The Bay When It's Too Big For Most**

**Ana Swetish - SS1, Wilson Reavley & Kate Baring SS2**

{{youtube>HRbrgRtv_os?large}}

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{{:locales:bellingham:bellwind.jpg?direct&624x332|bellwind.jpg}}

.{{:weather:windkey.jpg?direct&493x56|windkey.jpg}}

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===== Videos =====

  * [[:bellingham_bay_downwind_videos|]]

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===== Photos =====

  * [[:bellingham_bay_sunset|Bellingham Bay at sunset]]
  * …

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{{https://surfski.wiki//lib/plugins/ckgedit/fckeditor/userfiles/image/locales/bellingham/bbaytopo.jpg?direct&650x345|bbaytopo.jpg}}

**Bellingham Bay **click to enlarge map:fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com

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