CC's Forecast - Here We Go Again

ron.c · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 1460

Well guys, it is just starting to pick up (5pm) No go for Today

In regards to sailing in the rain Bruce, here's a pop history quiz - does anyone remember sailing at Kalmus on July 5th, 2004?? It was one of those Monday holidays. It was by far the hardest rain I ever sailed in. I actually think the rain was bouncing off the water's surface. I had to sail with the leading eye closed. There were at least 10 other nut jobs on the water with me during the height of the storm. One for the record books!!!

RC

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Visored helmet + shades = no more rail or hail. NOISE, maybe, but no perceptible precip. Now all ya gotta worry about is lightning.

Mike \m/

speedysailor · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 841

scooper · Joined: 28 May 1987 Posts: 537 Location: Massachusettes

I've launched from Scatteree and sailed to the new cut in a NE. Where is the old naval air station?

nhsurf · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 13

Steve-

The end of Strong Island Road used to be the site of a naval airship station with at least one, if not two, large hangars for the airships. There was also a seaplane ramp at the time too. I tried to post a link to the google map here, but I don't seem to be able to make it work. If you search strong island road, north chatham, ma that should do it.

Great spot for flat water blasting and speed runs in anything from NNW to ENE. The water is pretty shallow north and east of strong island and you can stand in a lot of places, especially at mid tide or lower. The two islands to the north are not that high so they don't create much wind shadow at all. In a SW wind (which is offshore) walk your board a hundred yards to the point and launch. You can then sneak behind all of those sand bars on the southern edge of Strong Island and get speed runs galore. Tired of flat water...you can hit the new cut on a broad reach. I've only done that a couple of times and it was all on an incoming tide.

Chris

scooper · Joined: 28 May 1987 Posts: 537 Location: Massachusettes

Chris- Thanks for the info. I've sailed in that area a little but I've never used that launch. I'll have to check it out. I love the conditions around there, great variety!

ron.c · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 1460

Do ya wanna hear a story?

I don't know why I feel commited to uphold my end of the bargin when making plans for sailing, but I did today. Work commitments didn't start until 12 so WTF - packed up the gear and headed to Pleasant Bay. I'm OK with the Bay knowing that it would be a 110 to 1 chance anyone else would show. The conditions looked OK, trees bending and no rain.

Hit the Orleans side just when the rain started. Conditions went from a stiff 6.0 to light. WTF now wet, I gave it a shot. The wind was so light, I knew that getting a water start was not likely. The last thing I wanted was to have someone see me swimming it and the Coast Guard would have been called. So I kept on going all the way to the Chatham golf course. The whole way without the harness. With the wind due east there was shadow starting about 200 yards from shore. I pumped my 6.0 for all it was worth. Finally that didn't work and fell in. I ended up swimming the last couple of hundred feet right to their new clubhouse. The trip probably took 20 minutes. The rain was really starting to pick up. WTF - I felt lilke a Navy Seal coming out of the water. The plan was to wade / walk along the shore towards the ocean to get away from the shadow. The fifteen minute walk was needed to get the muscle cramp out of one arm. By this time the fog was setting in too. WTF -I told myself now is the time to be a big boy head back out. I went from glass calm water to being overpowered in 1 minute due to the shadow. Sailing back in no time, I said WTF and make one turn, just to say I did. One turn let to another, then more and more. From then on my combination of a 6.0 sail /85l F2 Axxiss and a large weed fin was a bit much. But WTF, it wasn't worth stopping. The rain was every bit as hard as the 7/4/04 event mentioned earlier. At one point a missed gybe drove my knee in the back of the board. It hurt so much I felt like crying, instead I continued to yell and swear as loud as I could until the pain went away.

While rigging a Cop, who is also a high school sailing coach was parked next to me looking for speeders. He's a good guy and wished me luck. 2 from the Harbormaster's Department came watched me finish up. They gave the thumbs up.

When home, I called Mike, the Cop, who was on the Dispatch Desk. He was happy to hear that things went well. Doing construction projects for both the Police and Harbormaster Departments has given an honorary badge, which I don't abuse.

Pure Sailing Grade a B - Intense Conditions made it an A and one of the 5 for the year.

Thanks for Reading. RC

PS: Sunday morning is looking good for CC Bay with a noon time high tide. Easy high wind sailing to be had at 9, getting bigger as the tide comes in!

ron.c · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 1460

I see that the forecast has changed again for Sunday. To early to call.

RC

speedysailor · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 841