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Drake's


users votes Drake's users ratings

USA, California, Sonoma

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Surf Spot Characteristics
    Surf Quality
 wave qualityRegional Classic
 experienceexperienced surfers
 surf frequencysometimes break
    Wave
typerivermouth
 directionright and left
 bottomsandy
 power- hollow
- fast
 normal lengthnormal (50 to 150m)
 good daylong (150 to 300 m)
    Tide, Swell and Wind
 swell direction- NorthWest
- West
- SouthWest
- South
 wind direction- North
- NorthWest
- NorthEast
 swell sizestarts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 4m+ / 12ft
 tide positionmid and high tide
 tide movementrising tide
  Author: Anonymous
Contributors (1)
They surfed this spot ! (1)
Drake's Access
  This spot is more of a 'Sonoma' break than a Marin break, because it is way out there and out of Marin County and more towards Sonoma. You have to take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from highway 1 all the way towards the lighthouse (about 45 minute drive), then turn off at 'Drake's Beach' sign as you are nearing the lighthouse. Park in lot and hike SE down beach 20 minutes to rivermouth (estuary).
  distanceday trip
  walkgood walk (15-30 mn)
  easy to find?OK
  public access?public access
  special accessDon't know
    More Details on Surfing
  week crowd empty
week-end crowd empty
  dangers- rips / undertow
- sharks
  webcam url
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Additional Surfing Infos
 Drake's is a spot which breaks into the Drake's Estero outflow, forming unreal sandbars on both sides of the egress (especially on the south side!) There are a few problems, though... This spot has a heavy great white shark population, and people have spotted huge great whites feeding in packs (on dead whales, etc.) just offshore! You really should only surf here only when the tide is coming up, because when it is dropping the sharks feed at the estuary outflow (where the line-up is). Also, at dropping tides the estuary flows like a fats-moving river, and you wouldn't want to get sucked too far out- possibly to your death either by drowning or getting eaten by a great white shark! (And I am entirely serious!)
  Overview
  Atmosphere What makes this spot magic is the fact that the predominant N-NW winds blow straight offshore here- and often with force! And teh water is often crystal clear and windex-blue! It picks up south swells like a magnet, and big winter and spring surf can wrap in here too! Usually empty, but when it's really firing you might find some 'Pt. Reye's Station locals' out- and while it's good to have company out here, don't do anything to intimidate poeple in the line-up. Have a positive attitude and surf well and all will be well. Most of the time you will have to surf alone! South side of outflow actually has best sandbar- an epic left. But this means you would either have to hike 3 hours up from Limantaur from the south, or paddle across the estuary- a hariy proposition (and never attempt this at a dropping tide! You might not make it accross!) Wave can be world-class when it's on- a crystal-blue, offshore freight-training barrel that wraps all the way into the estuary. But must be big and the sandbars must be right!
  General You will see bigger waves breaking on sandbars way offshore- but this is a death-wish (due to sharks and currents). Surf the estuary bars or the sometimes-not-closed-out beachbreak only, and keep your eyes peeled for sharks!
 
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Comments
 

comment by kpb123, 2007-10-29 16:19:52

shark fin pic
To who ever posted the shark fin pic and is claiming it is drakes... your wrong. The dead give away is the houses and the trees on the bluff. drakes is in the middle of no where. anyone who's been there knows that. we all know drakes is sharky so why post a pic of a place that isn't really that place. i hope that made sence.

comment by Anonymous, 2007-05-30 17:27:48

sharky?
Friend who USED to surf there a lot said he has on several occasions seen 50 pound chunks of blubber floating in the line-up or washed up on the beach. Also he's flown over in small plane and seen numerous dark outlines on the bottom, waiting for a seal like shape to missle launch up into/through. He won't go there anymore....

comment by CrazyE, 2005-12-23 19:44:20

My best day at Drakes...
I'd have to agree, the guy who posted this and claims Drakes is a Sonoma spot is a moron. Me and my buddies have made the drive numerous times only to get skunked, but I had the best day ever there about 2 years ago in the spring. It was right after the 2nd Iraq war broke out and a solid long period west swell was rolling in. As we came down into the lot we saw some nice 3-5ft waves rolling in at the parking lot, light offshore and crystal clear water. We paddled out a little north of the lot as there was some good shape. Once we got out, we noticed there were a ton of women lined up on the beach with people up above on the cliffs as well. All of a sudden we saw this mass of women, ~30 or so, take off their clothes and lie on the sand in formation. Then a helicopter flew in and hovered for a while. My buddy's dad took a wave in to see what was going on and it turns out that they had spelled P-E-A-C-E in naked women on the beach and were having pictures taken. What follows is still to this day one of the best waves I have ever caught. I saw a set on the horizon and started to paddle, turned around made the take off, and pulled in. As I looked out from the cover up, I saw the whole group of naked women run into the water and start splashing around. Needless to say I didn't make it, but that was one of the best views I've had in my entire life. And for those who don't believe me, there were about 8-9 guys in the water that day that can attest to the truth of that story. Plus you might be able to find a pic of those chicks on the internet somewhere. As for the sharks there, if you've surfed any amount of time in this area or NorCal you're bound to see a shadow or two, maybe even a fin, if you can't handle the risk, I suggest taking on a different sport or moving to a city that has a FlowRider. Sharks live in the ocean, deal with it.

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