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South Irondequoit Bay Venturi-Thermal
For almost twenty years I’ve driven down Empire Blvd. in Rochester, past Irondequoit Bay to my home in Penfield. Some days I notice a thermal blowing on the bay, white caps and flags ripping in the wind. The “Open For Business” pennants at the Bay Creek paddle shop shouting out the wind strength. And every time I wonder how I can access this local meteorological effect. And every time I dismiss it as impossible. There is just no suitable public access with deep enough water to get to the wind. Today was different.
Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay are currently at record high water levels, 248 feet above sea level. We just surpassed 2017 records levels and are currently under boat speed restrictions of 5mph! The Groupme app on my iphone alerted me to some sailing activity on Lake Ontario. Eco-savy Tesla owner, Mark, posted that although moderate winds were currently being observed at Montana Beach near the Irondequoit outlet, he was anxiously waiting for it to pick up. As were most of the kiting/windsurfing community.
A fresh report stated that Jason was on a 14 meter twin tip and DougieFresh was in his boat documenting the valiant effort. Although not a stellar endorsement of conditions, I loaded up my windsurfing foil gear and headed toward Montana. Passing by the bay on Empire Blvd., there it was! Flags ripping, waves building and whitecaps doing a sailor’s line dance! Almost subconsciously , I turned the old Volvo to the right at the top of the hill onto Orchard Park Dr. and toward the west shoreline of the bay. Down the steep hill to the water I turned left along the waterfront and stop. The road is under water but my trusty wagon navigated the shallow water and stopped between Sutter’s Marina and the Fish and Game Club. A spot I am all to familiar with as I’ve been ice boating here for years. I know that in the westerly winds caution is warranted as winds rotor in over the high terrain just on the left side of the road. But once away from shore a spit of land with a high bluff to the north, often occupied by cormorants, forms a venturi and can accelerate the winds dumping down into the bay. I pull into the small parking lot and look out into the bay. The wind is howling even though the Montana meter is only mid-teens! I can access the wind. But one problem. I forgot my foil.
What the hell, it’s gonna be a traditional windsurf day on the 125 liter Free Race Goya Bolt and my Ezzy 6.5 twin cam sail should do just fine. Let’s face it, it’s a new spot, first time ever, I don’t need the extra challenge of getting the foil dialed in just right. And so it happened. Once out into the venturi thermal assisted wind, the Goya Bolt pleasantly rocketed off, totally powered by the 6.5 Ezzy across the bay. Again and again and again. Shore to shore. And to my great pleasure I was able to beat to weather and sail up the bay making it past the the cove in front of Bay View Village. Residents came out of their condos and stood on their balconies watching this crazy old school windsurfer breaking the 5mph speed limit! Boats out on the water daring the high winds to beat the summer heat, paused as I flew by, claiming my right of way with a quick wave of my hand. I can’t tell you how exciting this was to realize a long awaited dream of sailing the bay thermal.
Sensing a lessening of the wind strength, I proceeded back down the bay and towards my launch.I sheeted in for all I was worth to maximize my speed as I entered the wind shadow and my launch spot. Once ashore, I got a few curious looks from folks driving by who surely had never seen a windsurfer here before. The fellow in the Ford Explorer with pot smoke billowing from his open window didn’t seem to care one way or the other. Back at the Volvo, I reached in to my bag packed with ice and beer. Of the several brews available, I selected a Lord Hobo Angelica Hazy IPA to pair with this momentous occasion. And then spilled half of it loading the car! What a day.
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As sometimes happens with thermals, the next day after a thermal condition often produces similar conditions. I monitored the wind on the bay the day after this post and sure enough with winds only ten mph at Montana Beach, I was able to ride my foil in the thermal on south Irondequoit Bay. It didn’t look as strong as the day before so I put up a 7.5 meter sail. I punched out into the bay and it continued to build causing me to ride to the far shore by the YMCA and tightening up sail quite flat. I continued to ride for about 45 minutes before the winds fell off and I headed back to Sutter’s. Hard to predict, timing is everything! There is another potential launch spot a quarter mile north right next door to Bay View Village but it has a 50 yard hike. It does have better wind exposure. I haven’t tried this spot yet, it might even have kiting potential.
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Scott, I absolutely love reading your posts about windsurfing session. You inspired me to write a brief blog post about today. Not trying to compete with you, but I was just truly inspired to write it after reading yours. Thanks man! https://www.ericthebige.net/wind-blog/lake-ontario-score-within-volatile-low-pressure-system
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Thanks guys! When I have a good day, I’m unbearable with enthusiasm. I’m convinced it’s the stoke hormones talking and sometimes embarrassingly shows up here! Jammed my knee during my foil session and recovering from quadriceps tendonitis at the knee cap (taking prescription steroids, yikes). Earning points at home now.
It’s sad we don’t have better access to the south section of Irondequoit Bay. Another access point could be the public land on the east shore by the YMCA lodge and docks, but getting gear there is problematic.
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