Jim Snyder

You couldn't ask for better conditions in late December. Cloudless sky, temps around 50, water at 46, light offshore breeze. Present: Me, Bob Levine, Kevin Beckwith, all in NDK Explorers. We launched into the river just after high tide and drifted out to head south along the coast. There was medium sized surf in the mouth of the river and just outside but we passed it up to look for rocks. This section of coast is spectacular and even with half a foot of predicted swell, there was plenty of action around the rocks. Sadly, pictures were only taken in the tamer sections. As we rounded Bald Head the winds picked up and the chop was developing. We decided to retrace our steps and check out the rocks with the lower water level. We tried to get Bob to do some cliff diving of the 30 foot face at Bald Head Cliff but he didn't want to risk it in his new drysuit. Lunch on a pebbly pocket beach on the way back. We did a little surfing at the mouth of the river on the way back in. Good rides were possible if you were patient. Then fighting close to a 3 kt current to get back to the put in point. This could have been timed better but we would have been riding a tide in at near dark. Thanks to Bob and Kevin for an enjoyable day. Looking back over my reports for the year I feel fortunate to count 34 voyages on the ocean in 2019. Not ruling out one more but thanks to all of you who helped make that possible! track-122319-103008am.kml

This trip is a go, though we have only 2 so far. Predictions: Very small, very long period swell. Light offshore breeze. Sunny, mid 40s. Water high 40s. HT 8:27 am, LT 3:01 pm. Meet around 10:00 and plan on heading south along the rocky coast. Cold weather equipment and drysuits necessary.

The skies look bright The winds look light Join me for a paddle at a great launch site! Details to follow if interest is generated...

I abandoned this idea. If I'm going to sail it's going to be in a daysailer. I did buy a cheesy spinnaker to play around with and determined if there was enough wind to make it usable there was enough to make it scary. You can have it if you want it. If you're interested in a real sail I would talk to Kris on this forum.

It looks like this may happen slowly but I think it might make sense for NSPN to develop a library while the .pdf charts are still available. I have most of them saved already from the Bold Coast to Scituate and would be happy to work on this if the board deems it of value. Of course anyone can still download the charts now but those new to the sport ten years from now might appreciate a library.

I guess maybe I should have reposted this with a new title. Planning on launching from Odiorne at 10 am tomorrow if anyone else wants to join.

Waves at 1' predicted on nearby Jenness Beach with light onshore breeze. HT around 10 am and LT around 4 pm, which is to be avoided at Odiorne.

I'm a possible. I was planning on maybe Odiorne. Would you consider changing venues to get a quorum?

I'm interested in getting out on Wednesday somewhere between Odiorne and Ogunquit but want to have a group of at least three. Anyone interested, realizing it's short notice.

Winter paddling season is just getting started!

I want to go back also before really cold weather. Let's keep an eye on conditions...

It was a beautiful morning at Ogunquit Beach, not a cloud in the sky for the whole trip. Present were me, Dave Carroll, Prudence Baxter, Janet Lorang, Paul Sylvester, Andy Schoek, and Josco Catipovic. We paddled with bald eagles, seals and cliff divers, with a possible whale sighting by Josco. This link should open directly in Google Earth: track-101919-100420am.kml. Temperatures in the low 50's light winds, water temperature mid 50's. One foot swell was predicted and was pretty accurate except that periodically a set of 3 or 4 larger ones would make things interesting. We launched on the river side as the walk to the water at low tide on the ocean side was much longer. Paddling out of the mouth of the river there were some nice waves which we surfed briefly before heading down the coast. The coast between Ogunquit and Perkin's Cove follows the "Marginal Way" walking path which is worth the time, especially when conditions are big. This was my first time to see it from the ocean. . We paddled briefly into Perkin's Cove. Somewhere along the line, Dave managed to tear a gash in his boat and was taking on water. We landed on a stony beach and Andy patched it up with some epoxy. Heading on down the coastline with occasional rockplay: At one vertical rock face Paul, Andy , and Janet decided to do some cliff diving. Hopefully Prudence got pictures of kayakers in flight. After loading everyone back in their boats, we headed on. At one point Andy was in a passage and doing some nice maneuvering... when he briefly seemed to leave his boat and paddle without it. A little later he got tossed and made a spectacular combat roll. Sorry, no picture. We went on to have lunch in Cape Neddick Harbor. The trip back was pleasant but uneventful with a mostly following breeze and current. At the mouth of the river we got some nice waves to finish a great day. Thanks to everyone for making it a safe and enjoyable day! IMG_0851.MOV IMG_0851.MOV

Ken- give it a try, we'll take turns towing you Josko and Andy, glad to have you! The guy from visitor services that called me back about parking said it's a shorter walk at low tide to launch in the river than the ocean. We'll aim to meet at 9:30. Janet- I start with the .pdf versions of NOAA charts, this is from 13286 which unfortunately is fairly large scale but I don't think anything else covers that section. I copy a section of the chart into a publisher like program then make sure to grab the scale while I'm still in the same enlargement. I paste the scale and compass rose where they'll be out of the way and save as a .pdf. I'd be happy to walk you through it by phone. I've been having Staples print and laminate but I'm experimenting with printing myself on waterproof paper. I'll show you. New roster: Me, Janet, Prudence, Paul, Andy, Josko, maybe Ken.

Can't help you with breakfast but can you go wrong with a Surf? By the way although the MSW forecast has remained steady for tomorrow, the offshore buoy is reporting an 8' primary. As they say in politics lately, we'll see what happens...

Weather and conditions forecast have remained steady. Western Maine Shelf buoy has water temp at 55.4. See you tomorrow!

Sorry Prudence, Janet has it right. here's a view that shows the route in from route 1: Here are the directions from I95: I got confirmation that there will be no parking fee. I expect we'll launch from the ocean side for the shortest carry.

Confirming details for Saturday morning: As of now we have four paddlers: Me, Prudence, Janet, and Paul. Others should feel free to jump in, even at the last minute. We'll meet at the main parking lot on Beach Street at 9:30. If we're expecting you and you're delayed, please call or text me at 6O3 783 922six. Weather looks nice, with a south breeze building in the afternoon to sail us home. While MSW has 12' swells and sustained 40 mph winds on Thursday morning, it's supposed to have calmed down to one footers by Saturday. LT at Cape Neddick is 9:13 am, HT 3:18 pm. Max current on the flow is 1.7 kts at 1:42 pm. I've tried to confirm that the parking will be free on Saturday but am still waiting to hear back from "visitors services". If this changes I will post here.

I am suggesting 10am meet in deference to those with a longer travel. It will also give the 9:15 LT a chance to turn a little. I'm fine with 9:30 if most prefer.

Here's info on the history of this topic and national implications: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/stewardship:boater_registration

Saturday the 19th is now on the Magicseaweed app and there's nothing there, still a week out, to argue against this trip. Seas pretty quiet with a southish wind very light in the morning and building some throughout the day. Weather Underground has us sunny with highs in the mid 50s. Water temperature should be in the low to mid 50s. I will prepare an NSPN waiver. I suggest a meeting time of 10 am but when you confirm your participation here please state if you would like me to shift this earlier and we'll go with the consensus. Here's a chart for the trip, the attached .pdf should print on 11 x 17 if you want to take it to staples. They will print and laminate for under $5.00.Ogunquit to Cape Neddick 1117.pdf

Paul, I'm not arguing for it, I just wanted us to be well informed. The whole registration process has always baffled me a little. Why do I have to register my dogs but not my cats or horses?

I'm not sure I'm totally against this. We do use public launches and they're only proposing a $10 fee. https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB640/id/1851772 https://www.nhstateparks.org/getmedia/9cbdb138-d582-40d4-b736-24b0322f2bab/HB-641-testimony-Campground-Fees-S-ELMA-(002)-(002).pdf

Planning now for Saturday the 19th. Long range forecast looks good at this point, conditions forecast on MSW will be available on Sunday. I'm glad we weren't planning on going tomorrow.

According to the chart, a river launch is not an option near LT. Here's a satellite view of a possible route, depending on conditions, that would be close to 6 nm. David Carroll and I recently made the trip between Cape Neddick Harbor and Perkin's Cove and it was spectacular. To view this in Google Earth use this link: SEAiq_Route_Ogunquit_South.kml

If I can get free I might be a day paddler.