Long Island sailing

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

Ted,

Complete answers to your questions would take about 40 pages to answer (we have at least 50 sailable spots), so here's what I recommend you do:

1. Join the Yahoo Long Island windsurfing forum, and
2. read my blog from time to time (much less important) at peconicpuffin.com. You'll find links to every source of info on LI windsurfing, wind, water, weather etc there. Also some stories. You may want to poke around the map (which is far from perfect, but it's a start, and has information on sailing directions for wind at most launches:
http://www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2006/12/windsurfing_pec.html

By participating in the forum you'll very quickly learn when conditions promise to be best, and where most people are headed to windsurf (ie the best spots for the conditions on any given day.)

Here is a vast oversimplification of what we get on LI: Fall/winter and spring guys 200lbs and under are on sails from mid 5's to mid 3's, and get sailable conditions on average perhaps three days per week. There is no predicting it. Summertime we can get anything, but it's generally lighter. I'm a 165lb guy and have sails from 3.4 to 7.0. Some guys go much bigger on their sails. We sail year-round. You'll probably want to keep your iWIndsurf subscription, as it's the easiest way to track the most meters.

When you get here let everyone know in the Yahoo group, and you'll have more invitiations to come sail with people than you'll be able to handle. You're not going to go wave sailing here alone (unless you're crazy...it's a bad idea) and there's always a few people if not more sailing, so let those people be your guide. I sail with guys who focus on east end spots (Cupsogue, Tiana, Road L, Ponquogue, the Bowl, Ditch Plains) and there are lots of guys in the Yahoo group who are Demo focused (a spot I still aspire to sail.)

In any event, you won't need years to figure out what to do...Long Island windsurfers are plentiful, knowledgeable, friendly and many!

btw put Columbus Day weekend on your calendar for a local windsurfing event...the organizers of the annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival (every June at Heckscher) just announced a Fall Regatta that will have racing, freestyle, SUP stuff...the works. It will be VERY casual and friendly, and a great opportunity to meet lots of your new neighbors. Details are on http://www.peconicpuffin.com

Take care, and looking forward to meeting you when you get here,

Michael

kraeva · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 73

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

wstt · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks for all the great info. I've got a lot to figure out. A few more quick questions.

Do you find iWindsurf's meteogram forecasts pretty reliable for the area and the best forecast to look at?

I know it's tough to say, but when iWindsurf calls for 17 or 18knots does that normally end up being like 5.7 or is that more often 6.5, or 7.5?

Coming from NYC, I'll have to kind of commit ahead of time, based on the forecast as getting my gear and car all ready to go will take some planning, so I'm trying to figure out what a good gauge and good cut off for the iWindsurf forecast relative to sail size.

That Demo story is quite a story. I've now got images in my mind of hopefully not what it's going to be like when I sail here. I'm glad to hear everything ended up OK.

Thanks.
Ted

mewindsurf · Joined: 30 Jun 2000 Posts: 177

Hi Ted,

For forecasting, it's never good to only look at one spot. Iwindsurf's forecasting, for heckscher anyway, is lacking to say the least. I don't even bother to look at it anymore. What Iwindsurf is great for is to see what's going on now as there are meters all over the place to get an idea of what's happening. I usually look at windfinder, and NOAA first, then if I'm not sure I'll use iwindsurf as a tie breaker. As for the meteograms, they are kind of ok for the fall and winter, but they don't account for spring and summer time thermals. They are almost always lower than what the wind will be. For the general rules on Forecasting for Hekcsher check here: http://www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2009/05/how-to-forecast-hecksher.html

See you on the next windy day,

Mike

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

kraeva · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 73

Frank4 · Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 69

Many ocean spots you do not need a 4x4. You can park and rig in the parking lot and carry your rig and board to the water. A county parks sticker can get you 4x4 access to some other beaches.

Ocean sailing days are rare in the summer unless you have big sails or a long board. Spring/Fall/Winter will have many chances to use 5.8 and smaller sails. Traffic is light and access is generally no problem.

Ocean sailing on L.I. can get very good at times, but the windsurfing in all the different bays is still the core of my season, with some wavesailing when the conditions present themselves. I seem to get on the ocean most during strong E/ENE winds, combined with rain usually. Sometimes a nice WSW wind can bring the rare combo of sun, wind, and wavesailing. I think to really get the most out of windsurfing L.I. you must consider it a cool/cold weather sport. Anything you get in the summer is just a bonus.

It will get MUCH better soon, July and August are the worst.

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

drysuit2 · Joined: 01 Apr 1997 Posts: 119

great thread guys