North Fork for Spring Southerlies

If it's blowing from the south in springtime, it may be windier on the North Fork than on the South Fork.

I'd been hearing this for a few years (and resenting it as a then dedicated South Fork windsurfer) but decided to go with the flow yesterday (sorry) and join some guys who headed up to South Jamesport for the morning call of SW, as it was doing nothing on the ocean or our side of the Peconics.

Beautiful 5.5 conditions greeted us (maybe it was 7.0 sailable on the South Fork) though we only got about 40 minutes of sailing in before it began to die, following the forecast of a switch to W for the afternoon. Still, it was enough time to make a few observations:

-There was definately more wind up there.

-This jibes (sorry #2) with the experience some of us have had crossing the Little Peconic on southwesterlies and landing at Nassau Point, where it's often seemed a bit better. Now we have refinement on this idea...it's said to be better in the Spring.

-At South Jamesport the SW reach is straight across to Red Cedar Point. The run feels "open water" compared to Napeague or Mecox, yet cozy and protected compared to the usual bay sailing. It's predominantly shallow, with some interesting underwater topography that throws up some decent ramps in moderate wind.

-A correction to my first South Jamesport piece: I had said that the run on SW was headed out toward the middle of the Great Peconic. It had been blowing straight south that day. I've corrected the original post.

(Afterward: We ran back down to the south fork in anticipation of the westerly that was already rocking western Long Island. At west wind heaven (Sebonac Inlet) it first kicked in at 25 knots...got a bit of 4.7 in before it settled on a gusty 5.5 day with many a hole. Still a fine afternoon treat!

Comments

[matt]

my inlaws have a house in SJport right next to Great Peconic Bay marina inlet (beach to the left if entering the marina by boat)and i can attest that the summer SW thermals kick in every summer afternoon like clockwork and get blowin....