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Similar on Saturday to last weekend, Sunday looking very iffy.
SAT: S winds, Fx to be low-to-mid teens across the area, so with a boost from Seneca’s long fetch I’d expect upper teens. Likely will turn on early and be much steadier in the AM, so I would favor getting there earlier than later. Bigger gusts probable in the PM, but recent experience is also for greater dynamic range as the day heats up (supposed to push 80, so not as warm as last Saturday). Lately this has tended to create holes the size of Montana (not the beach, the state) followed by short strong gusts. I think this is a boundary layer problem (wind not “attaching” well to the water). Windsurfers do better on longboards in this stuff, kites seem to fair a bit better as they have better wind aloft.
SUN: Uhhhhhh, we’ll see. SW everywhere across the region, but everywhere is calling for 5-15. Foiling conditions with big kites/sails, OK for longboarding, but I wouldn’t count on better than that. Bigger problem is that everywhere seems to be calling for faltering winds, so I won’t be surprised if it’s only 5-10. To plan ahead a little, look for the Fx tomorrow, and see if the trend is up/down/no-change compared to today. If it’s up, I’d be ready to see if that materializes. If it’s down, start hanging the crepe for Sunday. Erie and the eastern shore of Big O are the best hope for planing conditions. Should be decent access to beaches now (Southwick, Westcott, etc.), as most of the summer crowd will be gone.
PICK OF THE WEEKEND:
Gonna surprise you here…
Actually, I’m hoping for an EXCELLENT day at Southwick for SUP surfing and surf sailing on a windSUP, etc., as the waves from Saturday are expected to be in the 3-5 range diminishing to 1-3. I’ve had several VERY fun days like that at Southwick on my Kona 11’5, though somewhat in the laid back California longboard mode. This time of year the lake water is warm, the beach isn’t crowded, and it can be quite delightul. If you’re into wind sports only for the adrenaline buzz, this likely isn’t your gig. But I’d encourage everyone to give it a try, even high-wind addicts, because I find it a great change of pace and a good opportunity to practice my wave-riding chops. I don’t see all that many riders out there actually surfing (kiters or windsurfers), and Southwick is a good place to practice top turns, off the lips, bottom turns and sailing switch-foot to stay in the critical section, etc.
Southwick is good spot for catching SW to NW waves and riding all the way in to fin depth (and I do mean good rides ALL the way in). Southwick is one of the few spots in NY where the sets of swells form and are the swells are rideable pretty far outside. You can catch swells to the break (some will dissipate and you must jump onto the next swell), but once you’re at the outer edge of the break a longboard can ride that wave all the way to ankle depth (before and after it curls and breaks). I’ve often gotten really long rides on the Kona at Southwick (like 150-200 yards out all the way to the beach). Because it’s onshore wind/wave, the wave faces are actually better if the wind is just enough to sail out.
Another reason I advocate for a windSUP or surf-sailing longboard like the Kona as a core part of the quiver for upstate NY boardheads. And one doesn’t always have to venture to Southwick to get this kind of day, as the S shore of Big O is good for this kind of riding on a fading NW.
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