I've sailed Avila Beach and had a great time--blowing 20mph by afternoon. I pulled my trailer down onto the beach--I've got a 4X4--at the ramp located on the way to the fishing pier just north of Avila Beach proper. Rigged the boat on the trailer, rolled it off the back onto the sand and drug it out. The beach is somewhat protected, so the surf is present but usually tiny. If you want to get some experience in small surf, sail to the south side of the Avila Beach pier and go for it. Couple tips for starters: KEEP THE HULLS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE WAVES AT ALL TIMES. Coming in, keep weight well aft and, especially if you're on a broad reach, depower to let pressure off the bows (esp on a H16/H14). As you come down the face of the wave, you'll get marked weather helm, so hang on and keep the cat pointed where you want it to go (90 degrees to waves). Heading out, make sure you have enough wind to allow you plenty of speed and power to head directly out and power up the sails. If the wind is inadequate or in the wrong direction, don't try it. DID I MENTION KEEPING YOUR BOWS AT 90 DEGREES TO THE WAVES?



If you make it further north, try Santa Cruz (by the harbor) and Half Moon Bay, my home town. Half Moon Bay offers a good lauch ramp adjacent a sandy beach, both of which are located in a large protected harbor with plenty of windy but flat water sailing. And if you get bored of that, you can simply head out the harbor mouth to the open ocean where you can surf large swells and enjoy sailing down hill for miles...But bring your wetsuit--I spent years surfing myself into hypothermia up there.



And by the way, Huntington is a good as ever--spent Labor Day there. And Millerton has had some great days too lately. But I don't think either compare to ocean sailing...