Ned's Point in N.E. wind?

[wynsurfer]

Do any of you sail there in north easterly winds? Can it be any good without having to sail past Angelica Point?

[shreddbob]

Ned's is not good in NE winds. Now that it's after Labor Day we can get access to West Island Town Beach, in Fairhaven. This is an excellent spot that has a good NE fetch. I prefer NNE direction here, which makes it very easy to get out and upwind, though NE works too. I think in NNE the wind accelerates as it passes near the land to the north, making for reliable winds. Best to go when tide is opposite the wind to avoid getting blown out to sea, and also you can get decent swells with opposing tide (though not as big as north side of Cape Cod, Chapin, Mayflower). From this (North) side of Rocky Point, the rocks are easy to avoid so long as you stay upwind. A couple of us sailed here Saturday on 4.7. It was nice. Luckily they were not at the gate checking for town stickers, and there were no life guard and swimmer issues to prevent launching.

West Island also works in SSW. You launch from the south side of Rocky Point. But you must know where all the rocks are. There is only one safe line to get in and out from the beach, in all tides but the highest tide. And you are only able to make this line if the wind is indeed SSW, not SW, not WSW or W. But as luck would have it, the best reliable thermal winds always present as SSW direction, as read on the iWindsurf West Island meter! General rule BTW: Whenever West Island is reading healthy SSW, you know the Buzzards Bay thermal is underway or about to be. Crucial to have tide opposite the wind at this launch too. Best to ask someone who knows where the rocks are, or go spot them yourself at a very low tide and see what I mean! No room for error here.

[wynsurfer]

Thank you shreddbob! I will keep this in mind.