I've wanted to windsurf at Ditch Plains in Montauk ever since I first heard the name. "Ditch Plains" put me in mind of vast stretches of water with conditions so gnarly that ditching one's gear was a standard survival move (I should probably learn the actual origin of the name.) Anyhow for years I've wanted to check out Ditch Plains, which is famous for surfing (Surfline describes it as " Mecca. The most consistent wave on Long Island".)
But when Jonathan Ford called and said "we sail at Ditch Plains" I had to think it over. It would be an hour's drive each way, and I'd only be able to sail for an hour given other obligations. All that driving for an hour at Ditch Plains? "I'm on my way!"
It was Jon Ford, Radek and myself with the sails (me on a 6.2), playing with the waves further out and keeping our distance from the surfers closer to shore. The waves were gentle and long, about shoulder high, and made Ponquogue seem chaotic and challenging by comparison. Given my lack of waveriding skill, the relative ease of catching the Ditch Plains wave was greatly enjoyed. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be on a bigger day.
The Wolf and Scott arrived as I was wrapping up. The wind was dropping a bit, and I suspect they put sails on their SUP boards to play with the swell.
I got my first taste of watersports at Ditch Plains. I stayed there for the month of August in 1980. I had a $12 boogieboard, just a styrofoam board wrapped in a cloth, but I loved that thing. I used to paddle all the way out to the surfers, then ride the waves all the way back to the shore, sometimes getting a 100 yard ride. That was a lot of fun. Too bad nobody ever handed me a surfboard.
-Ian
www.hudsonwindsurfer.blogspot.com
Posted by: Ian Berger | October 04, 2008 at 11:23 PM