Sunday, October 30, 2011

Lewes Delivers!

The Delmarva was hammered by a Nor’easter on Saturday. While inland areas seemed to get anywhere from 3-12 inches snow,  I bided my time, allowing the precipitation to move off, and the tide to go out. By 1pm, a check of the radar showed that we where almost in the clear, and we headed north to Lewes. You know your living right when you pull up to the beach during a raging nor'easter, and the rain stops. We timed it just right!
I gotta say Lewes was pretty intense. Gusty conditions. . It was a very impressive storm 12 hours of a NE gale pushed in A LOT of water, and the shore break was INTENSE. The shore pound was so big that even though the wind was onshore, there was a huge wind shadow right at the water’s edge.
Definitely and overhead carry launch is needed, and then you gotta swim your gear out between the sets. It was the only way to get out, and I was still denied a couple times. Can’t ever remember that happening before at this venue.
I love this first picture, look at the swell just 20 feet of the beach. Pretty impressive, can’t say I’ve ever seen it like that here. Remember, this is the Delaware BAY. A little tricky getting off the beach, but oh man the holy grail awaits. Click on this pic to see the full screen view. Yeah, storm sailing ALOT of fun ;)
Once on the outside, the conditions could best be described as psycho chop. Very disorganized, and it was super difficult to approach the ramps with any comfortable speed. So it was a terrible day for aerials. That being said, I love sailing in storm conditions, and it was awesome being out there.. ahhhhhhh J

looks like fun eh? ;) 
All the outside psycho chop aside, the inner bar was beautiful. I don’t know why, but every few runs it would clean up for one really nice bottom turn and gybe.
It would clean up and you’d be carving on nothing but white foam, and due to the size, the power in the sail got dumped
you could even do one handed gybes and drag your free hand in the water.
going front side is super tricky in onshore conditions
The inner bar was definitely the highlight of the day. So much fun.
the psycho chop made it very difficult to approach the ramps with and decent speed, so the aeirals weren't all that impressive
real nas...
Sun trying to peek thru the low cloud ceiling here

A few Starboard ramps too, but pretty random
 
Here are a couple of shots of Indian River inlet as we headed north to Lewes around 1pm.   
The ocean pretty big and was over washing the jetty. The original plan was to sail south side-Indian river inlet, but when we drove past, it was still raining sideways, not very appealing. Stan, we gotta hit this place on the next storm
STORM conditions at Lewes... AHHHH :)
A few port ramps too where had too

Here is a gybe on the inner bar and.....
....carving thru a root beer slurpee- 
cool shot
  

Stoked :)
looks like more wind on the way Tuesday. I love the fall here on Delmarva
live2sail

Friday, October 28, 2011

HUGE Forecast Tomorrow ;)

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING...SAT NE WINDS 25 TO 30 KT...BECOMING N 30 TO 35 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP TO 45 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT...BUILDING TO 8 TO
13 FT IN THE AFTERNOON
….but the direction isn’t entirely clear to me, so venue not yet determined from my perspective. Could be anywhere from Azz to Slaughter. I do think its an afternoon gig, as tides drop into the afternoon. Sam, hit me up if you wanna sail……. Bob & Andy, time to step up your game..
Broadkill Beach

Bring it on!
Live2sail


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Ankle High At Assateague

But still fun! Ken, Alain, and I had fun yesterday.

Here are a few pics to give you a flavor of the conditions:
Alain stopped by on his way to Hatteras to sail with us. He caught a nice one here..
Not the day we expected, nor what was forecasted
….but still….any day of sailing is a great day of sailing.
Clew first-good practice
Was pretty windy for the first half of the afternoon
Then it dropped off, so I took the opportunity to take a spin on the new Loft 5.7 Lip wave and the RRD Diamond Classic 9.6
BTW-have you seen the Hatteras forecast?!  If you’re headed down there, you’re in for some nice SW today, and then a solid run of N-NE. Time to pack up the truck! ;)
just loving my 101 FSW and the 5.8-my go to kit when i need float and power in light conditions
Ken was in the groove with his SUP and a 5.8








At one point,  I pointed out to Ken that it appeared some bigger stuff was rolling thru, but it was not to be
no complaints though
Enough power early on for some aerials
This way to a nice bar-sand bar that is
Our DelMarVa forecast for the weekend aint to shabby either ;)

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THEN DEVELOPS OFF THE CAROLINA COAST
FRIDAY NIGHT AND ADVANCES NORTHEAST THROUGH SATURDAY.
SAT NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...BECOMING N 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO
ROUND 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 6 TO 8 FT.

Bring it on.....live2sail

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

SUP Connect Photo Contest

I hope you all will vote for the 2011 SUP Photo of the Year Contest.  Janis has a photo entered in the contest and it's a beauty.

Here's a link to view the photos and vote.

http://tinyurl.com/3pnbntt
Here is the photo she submitted.  This is one of our yoga instructors, Elizabeth.  The location is Cape Henlopen State Park.

Another Shot At The Temptress That Is Assateague

Tomorrow looks good for another old fashioned romp down on Azz.
I’ll be looking for more conditions like I experienced here last Thursday
Ken and I should be there by mid-morning

Bring it on!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Sesh 2: Tower Road

***All photography Janis Markopoulos***
If you like these pics, show the photographer some love. The entire gallery is available for viewing or purchase here

.....so after ripping my hand open during the first sesh down on Assateague, we redeployed north to Tower Road in Delaware. Lots of of good stoke on the beach as we all appreciated the absolutely fabulous conditions we were scoring: SW 30 gusts to 35+.
The fact that most if not all of us were poaching (playing hooky) and scoring on a Thursday made it that much more special.

I arrived around1pm, threw down a lightening rig of my 4.7, and hit the water.
Sam
Jake looking solid on the RRD 76 ltr thruster
Andy
Bob showing off the bottom of his RRD wave twin
small ramps but no complaints

dialed

Windsurfing is rocking here on Delmarva 
working on my transitions
Sam laying some rail
unkown sailor out there rippin'
My RRD 75 quad ltd rips
Ted Pfarrer
Sam was lining up these starboard ramps
Andy blasting out
Sam and I had a blast pacing each other. Lots of hoots and hollering was going on I assure you
Bob...even on his small kit, he is still The ZAMBONI
Jules and Donna even pulled out their windsurfng gear
Donna
line em up
yeah bruddah
Ken- you inspired me to work on my 360s again
came close today
close....
but...
no cigar this time!
Bob again
Andy

Sam you were ripping today!
Ted
Jake
The Dewey crew consisted of myself, Andy Pierce, Bob Ramsey, new comer Jake Agoos, Sam Postlethwait, as well as a host of others.
Fall windsurfing season in full bloom here on Delmarva..Come on out and get some

.....ahhhhh still buzzing from that Azz sesh :)

live2sail