Wed Lunch Paddle 7/14/21 @ Riverhead Beach

[Joseph Berkovitz]

Yesterday's WLP was a thoroughly enjoyable affair, including: Sue Hriciga, Jody Harris, Barbara Ryan, Ricardo Caivano, Benjamin Rechel, Joe Berkovitz and Joyce Carpenter. Particular thanks to new NSPN members Barbara and Ricardo for joining us!

Conditions were mild in the harbor with little wind but heavy fog, temperature near 70 F. Easterly breezes had been blowing for the last couple of days so we expected the outside might be bumpy and interesting. We headed up the eastern side of the harbor to the lighthouse, avoiding a stream of cute little kids in little sailboats landing at their club.

Once around the corner of the lighthouse things definitely perked up. Although there had been no strong winds for a while, the persistent onshore breeze had cooked up a brew of mixed wind waves and short-period swell.  Coming around Eastern Point, the fog lifted enough for us to see south to Tinkers Island, our likely lunch destination. The conditions were a bit stronger now, outside Marblehead Neck. With the low tide, waves were breaking rather violently and chaotically on Tom Moore's Rocks.

We decided to head offshore, east of the rocks, and proceed southwards to Tinkers staying clear of the shoal field there at low water. At Tinkers, we were treated to a fairly sheltered landing and lunch spot:

A couple of Tinkers denizens were out and about and seemed friendly; we kept below the high tide line. After we landed, Ricardo helped a resident who had landed at the same time turn over his aluminum skiff and set it on its wheels. They struck up a conversation. Apparently this man got his place on Tinkers when he got lucky one year and saw a For Sale notice that had just been posted at his workplace. (It must have been a physical sign: the year was 1983.) He's had the place since then and spends all summer there, shuttling supplies from the mainland as needed.

We munched and talked. As we did so, the fog moved in and shut down visibility quite completely. Our view of the mainland became this:

With some timely encouragement, Ben had previously figured out a bearing to the land while we could still see it. He then followed that bearing (as seen above), and the rest of us followed Ben. It is  very short crossing and we were there in no time.

There remained only the traverse back north around the top of Marblehead Neck. Our return was noticeably bumpier, but nothing terribly out of the ordinary: sizeable lumps of water, but not too steep. We paddled right through them, through the shoals this time as the water had risen considerably and the waves were not large enough to break.

Rounding the lighthouse, we had a quick capsize and rescue near some of the ledges there. The light wind made this a very easy incident to manage and the paddler was quickly back in their boat, which was left partially flooded to speed things up; there was a convenient beach just around the corner for emptying purposes. While that took place, Ricardo and I practiced some self-rescues and the group observed and talked about it. Finally, we headed back to Riverhead in the fog and calm harbor conditions.

Another great lunch outing. Thank you everyone!!!

Joe

 

[rfolster]

Nothing like fog to sharpen senses and attention. Nice trip!

[Barbara Ryan]

Terrific, detailed account of our fun and (for me) thrilling adventure. I'm a better paddler for having paddled with you and new paddling buddies. Thanks Joe!