Loving Cape Hatteras as I do (and having to miss this year's pilgrimage over an elbow injury) I am a fan of Bill's OBX Beach Life. Lately he's mentioned that it's been a bit cold down there (who has sympathy for a windsurfer who LIVES on the Outer Banks?) and I asked him if he sailed the Pamlico Sound once the ocean gets cold. He explained how in fact the ocean is warmer than the Sound over the winter due to the effect of the gulf stream, and linked to some nifty satellite images that display the difference in surface temps there.
I was curious about the surface temps of the various bays and the Long Island Sound versus the Atlantic, and behold! The ocean is warmer than the Sound, and the Sound is warmer than the bays.
Am I the only person who didn't know this?
I still like keeping my head dry when falling in January, and may keep to the shallow water for winter windsurfing sessions, but I must consider giving the ocean another go before the snow falls.
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