Messy short-medium period wind swells are building. Looks like surf paddling opportunities abound this weekend, albeit less than “ideal” in quality. Water is now down into the upper 50’s. We are definitely heading into the cold water season. But, I gladly take it!
First snow of the year was Thursday morning on the mountains. I’m hoping to get out about three more times for some storm paddling before water is too cold for my current wet suit collection.
Your surf conditions are so nice up there, Sing! Our surf here is smaller, albeit with 71 degree water temperatures at the N. Carolina/S. Carolina border!! On a side note - I didn’t realize those chines were so sharp on that Stratos 14s!!
I have to say that I really enjoy the Stratos as a relatively affordable surfing playboat. Compared to my (way more expensive) Sterling, the Stratos is not as light, fast and directionally responsive. But it handles well enough on a wave. The Stratos is manueverable in a “predictable” manner. It seems to have more movement “inertia” and will turn with very focused intentional control. In contrast with my Sterling, which I just surfed several days ago, I can lose control and spin out very easily on the bigger waves. I attribute this to being “over adrenalized” and exerting too much edging and ruddering in initiating turns and cutbacks. The Sterling will immediately go with me and spin out. The Stratos seems to resist more and take a more gradual approach to the turn and cutback. This served me well today.
I enjoy having the Stratos in my array of play crafts.
PS. I have to believe that the coasts of the Carolinas get more waves than we do in MassBay in any given time period, given the proximity to the tropics.
Cat 1 Oscar has taken a sharp recurve up into the Atlantic for a “fish storm” track. Not a big storm to start off with, Oscar may still push some small swells up along the east coast. MassBay won’t get anything until the weekend, if at all.
Oscar fizzled out. But, a cold front that passed through New England yesterday cooled us down from unseasonal warm temps and has been stirring up the local waters. Looks like a small surf window from today into tomorrow (the latter being smaller but cleaner with offshore winds!).
Wicked fun day! 3’ plus swells @12 seconds with offshore clean up winds of 15-17 knots. Enough wind to really steepen the waves and to make it a bit honest work to drop down the face. I take it any day.
Really was a short fleeting day of fun surf. Glad I took time to ride these emphemeral waves. Now mostly gone, with no major wave generators for near future.