New Jersey Windsurfing Sites

NEW JERSEY WINDSURFING SITES

According to Felix Cabral

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Bayview Park, Brant Beach (Long Beach Island)

Location:

On Barnegat Bay. From the Garden State Parkway, cross the bridge on Rte. 72 to Long Beach Island. Make a right turn when the road ends. Follow the main drag south for roughly 20 blocks (you'll pass Island Surf & Sail en route - 3304 Long Beach Blvd., 609-404-5553), and the beach is on your right on 69th Street.

Access:

A season pass sticker costs $15 *per board.* Gravel rigging area, fresh-water hoses for washing down equipment, restroom facilities, an outdoor shower and a fenced-off swimming area away from the launch area.

Faces:

Winds:

All directions.

Lodging:

Lots available on Long Beach Island.

Notes:

On sunny summer afternoons, expect 15-20k thermals. The bay is very shallow (2-4' in many locations). Eel grass can get pretty thick. The better wind is often further out.

Cautions:

Sand bars and shallow water near Sedge Islands.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Harvey Cedars (Long Beach Island)

Location:

On Barnegat Bay, Harvey Cedars, NJ. From Garden State Parkway take Rte. 72 east over the bridge onto Long Beach Island. Make a left turn when the road ends. Drive about 4 miles, the park is near the water tower.

Access:

A recreation area on the bay side of town. It offers a place to park and rig, plus other amenities.

Faces:

Winds:

N, NW, W, SW, S

Lodging:

Lots of seaside lodging in the area.

Notes:

The bay is very shallow - if you sail a mile or two out, if you're not in a boat channel, you can probably stand.

Cautions:

Beware of boat traffic in the channels.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Sandy Hook Bay (Lot C)

Location:

Garden State Parkway to Rte. 36 East to Sandy Hook National Recreation Area. Stay right over the drawbridge. Lot C is the second parking lot after the pay booths.

Access:

Run by the National Park Service. $4 weekdays/$5 weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Season passes available.

Faces:

Bay side faces west, ocean side faces east.

Winds:

NW, N, S, SE. Summer thermals are common when wind is predicted from any southerly direction and the temperature is above 80F. During summer thermals the wind conditions can be 4.5-6.0 and about one meter stronger on the ocean side.

Lodging:

Many small motels/hotels/B&B's can be found in the surrounding areas.

Notes:

Sandy Hook Bay offers many launch sites from ocean sailing to bay sailing. Lot C is the most common location for NW, S and SE winds. Great jumping swells on northwesterlies. Showers, bathrooms and food are available during the summer season. A Wind Hotline meter is located at the Seagull's Nest Restaurant. Although the best sailing is in the afternoon, arrive early on a nice weekend day to be sure that you can get in - the park closes when full by 11:00 a.m. on hot sunny days. Flat water is available in the shallow bay close to shore. The windiest months are May, October & November.

Cautions:

Beware of boat traffic.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Sandy Hook Bay (Horseshoe Cove)

Location:

See entry above to Sandy Hook Bay Lot C. Continue past Lot C approximately 2 miles. Stay left at the "Y". You can park in either of the two lots (K or L) after the "Y".

Access:

For fee information, see the entry above regarding Sandy Hook Bay Lot C. Sailing is on bayside across the street from the parking lot. Grass rigging can be found on either side.

Faces:

Winds:

NW, N, W

Lodging:

Many small motels/hotels/B&B's can be found in surrounding areas.

Notes:

Rangers prefer that sailors use Lot C but they usually won't bother you. This is a much wider open sail area than at Lot C. A small reef just offshore can provide wave sailing on a strong northwesterly. The water level is deep just beyond the reef. Great location when the tide is too low at Lot C.

Cautions:

Open bay very deep (over 30 feet). Large swells and small waves with strong currents. Intermediate to advanced sailors.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Spy House (Raritan Bay)

Location:

Just north of Sandy Hook Bay. Garden State Parkway Exit 117 to Rte. 36 East. After Dosil's Sporting Goods make jughandle at light onto Main Street (Port Monmouth). Make a left onto Wilson Avenue following signs for the Spy House. At the "T" make a left, and the parking is on your right.Access:

There is a small county park, with a fishing pier, adjacent to the Spy House Museum. Park in this parking lot, not the Museum's lot. The lot is gravel and grass.

Faces:

N, NE

Winds:

NW, W, E, NE

Lodging:

Hotels / Motels in surrounding area

Notes:

Water level can be knee to chest-deep for about a mile out during low tide. This is the best place to sail bayside when Sandy Hook is too low to sail. It's also a better location for NE, E, and W winds, since Sandy Hook has blockage from these directions. Considered to be a secret spot for hard-core sailors. Only a handful can be seen here during strong winds.

Cautions:

There is a fishing pier. Small pilings can be seen at low tide to the far left and right of the launching area. Beginners should stay close to shore since the current and swells can be challenging halfway out.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Port-au-Peck (Shrewsbury River)

Location:

Garden State Parkway to exit 105. Route 3 east about 4 miles to left onto Branchport Avenue. Make a right onto Port-au- peck Avenue. Go to end at the "T" and make a left. Make another quick left into the gravel parking lot.

Access:

Lot is gravel with some grass rigging. Watch out for dog waste.

Faces:

Winds:

E, NE

Lodging:

Hotels and motels in surrounding areas.

Notes:

This is a great place to sail during northeasterly storms when all other locations are too gnarly for 3.0's or are closed to the public. If the wind direction is E or NE and you don't find anyone sailing at other locations you can usually find a handful here. The water level is mostly waist/ chest deep and overhead in channels. Boats are moored in- season. Only about ten minutes south from Sandy Hook Bay. This is the place to ice sail when the river freezes.

Cautions:

Boats moor close to shore. Keep an eye out for moorings.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Seaside Park (Barnegat Bay)

Location:

Garden State Parkway to Exit 82, follow Rte. 37 east for 7 miles over the bridge over the bay. Stay right after bridge towards Island Beach State Park. Make a right anywhere after the 7/11 to bayside or go to 13th Street (left) for oceanside. In the town of Seaside Park, NJ.

Access:

Small town municipal beach. A $25 seasonal or $4 daily beach badge is required during the summer months, and may be purchased at the town's municipal building or at the parking lot, near the boat launch ramp. It also allows access to the oceanside beaches in town. Bathrooms are in the public works building 2 short blocks away.

Faces:

Winds:

N, NW, W, SW, S

Lodging:

Lots of seaside lodging in the area (available for as little as $25/night off season).

Notes:

The beach area gets crowded when conditions are good. The bay is very shallow - if you sail a mile or two out, if you're not in a boat channel, you can probably stand. Weed fin essential in summer. Summer thermals are common. Oceanside is excellent on SW & S.

Cautions:

Beware of boat traffic in the channels.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Lavallette (Barnegat Bay)

Location:

Vance St., Lavallette, NJ

Access:

A $5 parking permit must be purchased, good for the entire season. There's an adjacent bathing beach.

Faces:

Winds:

N, NW, W, SW, S

Lodging:

Lots of seaside lodging in the area.

Notes:

The bay is very shallow - if you sail a mile or two out, if you're not in a boat channel, you can probably stand.

Cautions:

Beware of boat traffic in the channels.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Berkeley Island Park, a.k.a. Trixies Landing (Barnegat Bay)

Location:

Garden State Parkway to exit 80. South on Rte. 9 5.2 miles, left onto Butler Blvd. (Light but no sign, after blue/white strip center on left, sign for Cedar Creek Golf Course on right, and a used boat yard on the right with a sign that says "Trixies." If you pass the Cowboy Museum or a large yellow billboard that says Cedar Creek Campground you've gone too far.) Go 0.8 miles and turn right on Bayview (also no sign, it's at the chain-link- fenced utility station). Go to end and turn left onto Brennan Concourse, driving out onto peninsula into Barnegat Bay for 0.5 miles, see Trixies sign on left, pull into field with split-rail fence on right. At the end of the peninsula is Berkely Island State Park with facilities.

Access:

Unrestricted. Parking right next to the water. Grassy rigging area. No fee.

Faces:

N and E

Winds:

NE, W, SW, S, SE

Lodging:

Small hotels and motels in surrounding areas. Camping is $18 per night at the Cedar Creek Campground.

Notes:

Three minutes walk walk to the state park for showers, food, beach, restrooms, phone. With the exception of the shipping channel, you can stand in most of the bay. Water is brown from the Cedar Creek, but not dirty. Bottom can be muddy and mucky near the launch area. Clumps of weed and grass may be floating during the warm-water season. Biting flies can be a problem dur- ing the season, as can jet-skis and boats on a nice summer week- end. Launch is from a river mouth, and there's protected sailing in the mouth. The open bay is 8-14' deep with big chop

Cautions:

Boat traffic, especially in channels. The main channel is opposite the launch 100 yards. This is a popular spot for large sailboats.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Lakes Bay (Pleasantville, NJ)

Location:

Garden State Parkway to "Pleasantville" exit #36 Follow signs to Route 40 East, Rte. 322 east. Once around the circle and onto Route 40 look for the Hampton Inn on your right approx 3 miles.

Access:

Site located at rear lot of the Hampton Inn hotel. Plenty of parking. Bathrooms are located just inside the hotel. A shower stall is situated out in the parking lot. A large wood deck and furniture provides comfortable sitting. DO NOT RIG ON THIS DECK! The owner caters to windsurfers but he asks that you don't rig on the deck. Small parking charge on summer weekends unless you are a hotel guest.

Faces:

S, SW

Winds:

S, SE, NW

Lodging:

You can sleep in the lot and use the facilities of the hotel or share a room with your favorite whatever :-) Hotel provides free continental breakfast each morning.

Notes:

This location is a favorite for the Atlantic City area. A rental shop is situated on site. They sell from screws to boards just in case you break down and don't have spares. Sail all day and drink all night for free at the casinos! The hotel provides a free casino shuttle to guests.

Cautions:

Low tide can be tough on fins near shore. Watch out for channel markers close to shore. They look like broomsticks in the water standing straight up. The bottom is muddy so you may experience a quicksand effect if you fall in a standing area. Beware of crab traps as well. Otherwise a pretty good place to sail a 5.0m2 summer thermal which is very common here. Past the channel, the average depth is 3-5 feet mlw.

[Bayview Park] [Harvey Cedars][Sandy Hook] [Spy House] [Port AU PECK][Seaside Park][Lavalette][Trixie's][Lakes Bay][Spruce Run]

Spruce Run Reservoir (Clinton, NJ)

Location:

Route 78 West to exit 17 (Clinton/Washington). Follow road to 3rd light (Van Syckles Road). Make left on Van Syckles. Go to Spruce Run park entrance and turn left after entering to boat launch area.

Access:

Large grass rigging area. Plenty of parking. Public bathrooms and water located on site (no showers). Large fresh water sailing on nice scenic park. Excellent near by mountain biking trails.

Faces:

most directions

Winds:

most directions

Lodging:

Camping in park by permit.

Notes:

Lots of sailors here on a nice summer day. Waterstarts or uphaul ability essential since most area is deep. Wind strength can exceed 25 knots on rare occasion. If it does the water is off limits to all boaters due to park regulations. A meter sitting on the bathroom roof will sound a siren and light if winds reach 25 knots.

Cautions:

On the far end of the reservoir there is a short waterfall. Do not venture too close. Canadian Geese love this place. Watch out for the droppings. These geese love to eat and ...