WEST DENNIS WEEKEND, windsurfed, 10-25, SE, 6.2/Carve 123

Lighthouse Inn- We've had terrible luck with weather for our weekend trips to the Lighthouse Inn with the AMC windsurfing club but this is the first time that we've been kicked out of the West Dennis parking lot!

Saturday, Hurricane Evacuation- I was almost done rigging when the environmental police drove up to say they were locking the gates at 4:30. It was 4:20. "Why are you closing the beach?" I said. "Because the police chief said to," was the reply. "what about everyone out on the water?" "We'll get the police down here with bullhorns if we need to."

On the lam- The official drove off to harass others. So I finished rigging and went out, walking against the traffic of kiters and windsurfers coming in. Elaine, from our AMC group, said I had better hurry before the officer on the beach noticed me. I felt like I was a fugitive from the law making an escape but I launched without incident. I sailed out and gave the bad news to a few of our group who were on the outside. Then I pinched upwind, heading for the Lighthouse Inn, about 1/2 mile away. Barbara drove our truck back.

After 2 runs I was about halfway there, on the inside run, when I saw an official truck with flashing lights driving quickly down the beach towards me. I turned and headed back out. I could hear the truck's horn blasting as I was sailing out.

Freedom- One very long run out, 1 run back, and I was upwind of the Inn. No officers. No problem. Betsy, from our group was sailing in front of the Inn, so I had company for a while. Before long the rain started and the wind really picked up. At the peak it was pretty intense, driving rain, chop breaking in front of the inn but I couldn't really see it, a little overpowered with my big gear. Then the rain stopped, wind died, and it was time to get ready for dinner. It was a crazy session but I always love adventure. That's what windsurfing is all about for me.

Sunday, glassy water- On Sunday, Hurricane Kyle was a non event, except that the parking lot was still closed. That meant that we couldn't sail in the pond with the NE winds but it didn't matter. The 27-31 mph that IWindsurf forecast for the area never happened anyway. It wasn't the best West Dennis trip ever, but those of us that attended in spite of the weathers attempt to scare us off, will probably agree that it was memorable in it's own way.

The last time I was kicked out of West Dennis the conditions seemed to justify it.

Picture- Ben practises hand stands against the baby lighthouse (outdoor shower) at the inn.

NANTASKET, Surfed, Carve 123, with Gerry

Nantasket- unkown surfer dude Poor man's surfboard- Take a moderately sized windsurfing board, stick a wave fin on it, strap a leash on the back footstrap, and viola! You have a surfboard. It looks silly but it works. I had fun. I got a lot of questions from other surfers like, uh, what kind of board is that? Dude, is that a windsurfing board? But I didn't mind. Hanging out with Gerry, who has a real surfboard, boosted my credibility. Nantasket- Everyone says it's a little better at mid-tide. The waves were barely catchable to start but got bigger as it neared high tide, then dropped swiftly around dead high. I was told that at dead low the waves break on an outer sandbar and tend to close out. I guess dead low and dead high aren't so great. There were a lot of surfers there, maybe 20 to 30, spread out all along the beach. Surf glasses- The waves were small enough to get by with wearing my glasses. That's a first. I could actually see the waves coming in before they broke on me. This was very user friendly surfing.

THE CUT, Windsurfed, Skunky winds, SSW, 6.2/Acid 94, with Jeff S

Jeff waiting for power This was my first skunk since getting back from PEI. I'm back in the real world. Apparently it was blowing 15-25 at West Dennis and Kalmus. The wind machinery for Chatham wasn't working.

HARDINGS BEACH, windsurfed, NW, WNW, 20-35 then 15-25, solo, 4.2 then 5.7/RW 94

Hannah's wind- I left the house at 5:00 am to get an early morning session before the wind tanked at 11:00. It wasn't the wavesailing I had hoped to get, with the tail end of tropical storm Hannah going thru, but I can't complain about the wind. Maybe I did get a little spoiled in PEI.

Harding's notes- NW was slightly side off, wind was a little gusty, not too bad, sailing was straight into the chop, good for jumping for the first hour. I found a sandbar with small waves way out in the bay, upwind and east of a tall bouy, (white and green with a ball on top). I couldn't believe I could stand in waist deep water way out there, (mid-tide). Too bad that the wind was dropping then. I had just discovered the sandbar when I had to head back. It seemed like Chatham held the wind longer than most sites, as IWindsurf predicted.

Josh's new horizon- We got Josh off to his new school in New Hampshire this afternoon. This marks a new chapter in our family life. The school seemed very nice, warm & friendly, beautiful farm country. I hope that Josh is happy there.