Winter Paddling The Central Waterfront
Since most people are new to paddling from the central waterfront, and a good number new to paddling in general, I thought it would be helpful to give some thoughts and tips.
Tides, current, and wind: generally speaking there aren't significant differences with winter conditions. The air is nippier, the water slightly cooler, but for the most part, things are the same. When planning, consider slack tides (an hour before or after high or low tide) on low-wind days.
Stop at piers: the area between the dry dock and pier 54 are much calmer than beyond the piers (and often between pier 54 and 50). Stop before paddling past any pier and gauge the current (especially at the edge of pier 50 and the dry dock). If you're moving without paddling, the current is taking you. Make sure you're able to move well against that current before you decide to head into it. Check our map for the stopping points and other hazards.
Check the webcam: it's really a great way to see how things look at CCP. If you see chop / white caps, that means the wind is up and the sea is churning. Also look for other paddlers. A good sign that conditions are good is if others are out.
Timing: obviously the sun is setting around 5pm which means you want to be wrapping up on the earlier side. Sunrise is around 7:30am which often makes for calmer waters and stunning scenery. Post here if you want to gather some (socially distant) partners to join you.
Gear: I get asked all the time about what to wear when SUPing. If you are new and unsure, wear a full wet suit, especially in the winter. Confident paddlers know they're highly unlikely to fall in, so consider wick-dry clothes. Yoga pants, fleece bottoms, dri-fit tops, etc to stay warm (the pic below is our little crew headed out on a sunny winter afternoon). Your feet are the most likely to get wet, so some neoprene booties work well.
Enjoy yourselves out there! It's been exciting to see so many people launching on a daily basis. What a blessing this sport and this park have been!