Holy crap is it hot!

We are in an another heat wave here in Tamarindo - this morning I went jogging at 6am and it was already 28C.

Surfing has been okay - have had a bigger funboard out (7'8" Micheal Dolsey) and have been surfing some of the quieter breaks in the area.

With the offshore winds, and lack of decent swell this weekend, the water has been crystal clear and super warm. This morning, because I was doing a lesson (sort of), I had some fins on and a mask and was swimming off Playa Grande when I spotted a decent sized sea turtle. I swan about for a while with it then remembered my student who had washed up on the beach. Oops.

Looking forward to a decent week of surfing and working...

Flying Crocodile in Costa Rica apologizes - happier now

Hallo Patrick

I am real sorry what happened and I agree that their is a certain security height and as well a noise abatement procedure. We normally respect our neighbors and during 17 years of operation in Samara I think we have a good recommendation. As a small explanation I just like to tell you that the pilot flying over you is owning since short a Gyro and low flying is really one of the biggest fun for pilots. But normally!!! we do this when their is no person we could disturb. I apologize the situation and as instructor I will try to give advises to avoid these situations. Nevertheless the pilot would be happy to take you in form of a compensation for a flight in Tamarindo area.

wish you a nice morning

Guido Scheidt

Never fly with Flying Crocodile in Costa Rica - you might die

Here is a copy of a letter I sent out to the owners of the local ultralight business, with copies to the local and international aviation authorities.

http://www.flying-crocodile.com/

Flying Crocodile

Correo Playa Samara Codico 5235, Apdo. 99 Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Dear Sir:

On Saturday May 1, 2010 at about 16:30 hours, I observed your Tamarindo based helicopter-type aircraft flying over the beach directly overhead from my position 50 feet from the shore at an altitude of about 30 feet. (10 Meters)

Your pilot made two passes over the beach at this level and it was close enough that I felt the propeller wash.

The surf break over which you buzzed was full of surfers – I observed about 45 surfers in the water and 100 people on the beach.

This is extremely dangerous behaviour, and you are endangering people’s lives should you lose control of the aircraft.

I note the following from the FAA, whose safety standards are generally recognised globally:

FAR-91:

·         Over Congested Areas - Shall maintain an altitude of 1,000’ above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000’ of the aircraft.

·         Min. 500’ AGL over non-congested areas (except over open water or sparsely populated areas).

·         Anywhere - Should maintain an altitude such that if the engine fails, an emergency landing may be executed w/o undue hazard to persons or property on the surface

There is no way you could have maintained your altitude without endangering lives in the water or on the beach.

Furthermore, the noise pollution was unnecessary and generally not enjoyed by those of us who live here and are your neighbours.

I strongly urge you to not fly with reckless disregard to international safety protocols before a tragedy befalls us all and you kill someone.

Regards,

Patrick

Mid week update

The past few days have looked bad on the surf reports...and we all thought surf was going to be bad.  Well, these so called forecasters were all wrong except Austin Gendron who was perfect on his predictions as usual.

The waves have been very good considering the onshore afternoon wind and choppy conditions.  I have surfed 2 hours plus every day this week, and have only come in because I needed to get back to work!

We are experiencing early rains, and today we have thunder and heavy rain that started about 430pm.

This weekend should be good - look for me at Casitas (south Playa Grande) and Avellanas with some friends in town from Russia and Colorado.  (weird right?)

Hurricanes are Swell, Surf Costa Rica

I had that saying, "Hurricanes are Swell, Surf Costa Rica", made into a bumper sticker. Everyone loves the sticker, except one dumb ass (who recently failed at a surfing business here) who said, "Costa Rica doesn't get hurricanes."

Well, that's true. But we sure feel the effects of them when the trade winds come blasting from the East.

This season we are expecting 15 hurricanes, up from the average of 9.

That segways us into today's topic about the weather change here and the inbound southern hemi swells this week. The rainy season is here about 3 weeks early. 

Here is the view from my house this morning...ugh.  And the satellite view.  Double ugh.  At least it's cooler and somewhat greener though.  Usually, the rains begin here in Tamarindo around the 15th of May and are pretty heavy until late June, with rains usually coming down in the afternoons for 4 hours a day or so.  Thunder and lightening this early in April are unheard of, so I guess we have a banger of a season ahead.  Let's hope July and August are their usual selves.  (Pretty dry).


The change in season also brings about the southern hemi swells.  These swells originate from the Antarcitc and come racing up the west coast of Chile and Peru before spilling onto our shores.  See below.












As a result, we get some big waves.  Saturday looks to be way to big on the SSW facing shores, so look for more of a SW break, which should be easier.  Note the period at 9 seconds.

Thursday looks like the best day with a good period.

Have fun out there, and check to make sure you are using strong leashes and that your fins are on tight!

Camaronal Surfing

Playa Camaronal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Latitude: 9° 50' 60 N, Longitude: 85° 25' 60 W)

For my birthday, a few of us went down to Playa Camaronal which is about 20 minutes drive south of Samara on the Nicoya Peninsula. You can get there by either flying into Sámara and renting a car, or by driving in from San Jose (6 hours), Liberia (4 hours) or Tamarindo (3 hours).  To get there, you need a 4 x 4 and the shortest route will take you through rivers.  

 In the rainy season, be prepared to drive a longer route because the rivers will be impossible to cross.  Make sure to speak with locals for current river and road conditions before starting the trek. Fuel up on gas before and bring along all the supplies you’ll need.

Drive from Sámara through Playa Carrillo and about another 8km is your destination.  Look for the signs (small and easy to miss).

Playa Camaronal is of greyish sand and stretches 3 km between the mouth of the river Oro at the west, to the cliffs called Point Camaronal at the southeast of the beach. It has strong to moderate waves with a lush vegetation composed of madero negro, gumbo-limbo, wild plum, bastard cedar, stinking toe, spiny cedar, yellow cortez, gonzalo alves, red berry, terciopelo, mahogany, espave, canelo, balsa wood and white cotton. This beach is very apt for camping and fishing. During the green season, the leatherback and Pacific ridley turtles lay their eggs here. 

We camped in a designated park area about 50 meters from the beach behind the shore scrub and bushes.  The closest hotel-type accommodations are in Carillo or Samara.  Although we were allowed to have a small fire ‘for cooking’, no dogs are allowed in the park as it is a major turtle nesting beach. The site  has showers, bathrooms, and potable water (US$4 a night)

Local surfers from Sámara and Carrillo rave about its strong and consistent left and right beach breaks, but it remains almost completely unknown by travelers who opt for more-touristed and accessible surf spots. In fact, it is not unusual to be the only person there.

The waves were big...really big, and were coming in from the South / South-South West.  Some sets were over 10 feet (3 meters), and there was a massive rip.  This is definitely not a place for beginners, and even if you think you are a good surfer...make sure you are in great swimming shape.  Some of the locals say that the waves reach 20 feet (6 meters) some days...

We ended up surfing on the Eastern end of the beach, where it was a little more protected and the waves smaller.  We found that the best surfing was on the outgoing tide, but again, be prepared to paddle hard to stay on the line.

There were very few surfers out there, and we were the only campers except for the park volunteers who were all young women from the USA, Canada and Germany.  Volunteer opportunities are available at the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Camaronal. Contact either Julian Garcia or Dominica Alarcon (☎ 8332 3339).

Finally, should be a great week of surfing - look for SSW break again, and head out at first light.

April 7 - Major Swell inbound this weekend

Pull out your thrusters and some moxie!

A major swell is about the hit us up here on the Northern Costa Rican coast on Thursday and it should last at least a week!

It should peak on Monday with 8’ (yes...you read that right) peaks at 17 seconds at 203 degrees or SSW.

In between sets, I will make sure I take some photos.

Other than that, I am happy to report that the surfing has been stellar in Tamarindo and surrounding areas. I have been surfing 3 to 4 hours a day, both high and low tides.

If you are out and about, drop me a line.  If you have photo's, please send them to me.