Jim Snyder

Again in the spirit of the Wednesday Lunch Paddles I plan to launch again next Tuesday at 10am from Odiorne. Conditions are predicted to be inconsequential except for the water temperature, which is still around 40. Reliable drysuit, layers, and neoprene head gear are required. Possibly cooking hot lunch. 

Reply here if interested or contact me if you have questions. I'll be posting a float plan /signup. 

This was a short notice weekday paddle on a break from big or windy conditions. The group was me, Jim Snyder, and Ricardo Caivano and Richard Blais. Anticipating the wind to build from the southwest, we decided to head south to Wallis Sands. Despite the small conditions we were respectful of the cold water, about as cold as it ever gets here at 40 degrees. As always, it didn't take big waves to make for beautiful interplay between rocks and water.

The small waves breaking right at what little was left of Wallis Sands made for a sporty dismount. Lunch was getting a little breezy but we anticipated having either lee or following conditions on the return.

In an odd reversal of normal, when we rounded the end of the breakwater and into Little Harbor, we were hit full in the face by wind and whitecaps. That final 3/4 mile into the southwest wind felt like it took 3/4 of an hour. I found myself looking to the shore to make sure I wasn't going backwards. 

It was an enjoyable winter outing but looking forward to warmer water!

Yes, still on for tomorrow. We're only two at this point so it would be nice to pick up at least one more. We'll plan our route for minimizing risk due to cold water.

It occurred to me that this is notably

• The first posted club trip of the year (I think)
• The Winter Equinox paddle on a new moon spring tide

Much like a Wednesday Lunch Paddle, the plan will be determined by participants at the launch. Signup is here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v7sEBTcvGh9W6NU4OUlSEovvvxwE7mSr8oblQxqw2p0/edit?usp=sharing

Joe, the park website doesn't indicate that it's not. However even when it's open they are not totally reliable. There are a couple alternate launches within a short driving distance if there's a problem. 

Launch from Odiorne at 10am, return by 3pm latest to avoid a big muddy new moon low at 5:40.

• Predicted air in the 40s
• Predicted wind 6-9 kt
• Predicted waves medium period 1'
• Water temperature around 40.

These are very easy conditions except for the water temperature. Good layering under a reliable drysuit and neoprene headgear are a must.

I will post a floatplan/signup if there is interest.

Gary, I might try a product like this on a raincoat but I wouldn't trust it on a drysuit. If the points of entry are small I would consider trying Aquaseal, you've really got nothing to lose. Alternatively I would try Outdoor New England. They've done good work for me at reasonable prices.

If you have any trouble with the discount code, please let me know, I might need to renew it with them.

It was a beautiful day off the New Hampshire coast, feeling more like late October than late December. We were only three, Sandy Blanchard, Paul Sylvester, and me. We expected a muddy launch, less than an hour before low at Odiorne and weren't disappointed. We managed to get out without walking although I suspect a half hour later would have been a different story. Soon we were on the open ocean with small long period swells creating a little action around the many rocks south of Jaffrey point.

We landed in small surf at Wallis Sands for lunch, managing to catch a little bit of a ride on the way in.

Heading home after lunch we picked up a light tailwind and enjoyed the low sun on one of the shortest days of the year. After a couple of months where good conditions were sparse, this was a great day on the water.

Track_12-30-22-101151AM.kmz

The link should open in google earth.

Very short notice but conditions look nice for a paddle from the Goat Island launch near Newcastle tomorrow. Post or message me if you'd like to join, a paper float plan will be filled at launch. 

This is winter kayaking! Drysuits, proper seakayaks and winter experience are required.

Hi Max,

There are some of us who paddle all winter when conditions allow but often short notice and informal rather than posting here. If you join the club you can be reached by private message or you can email me (address in profile) then I can let you know if there's something happening. The ocean's been pretty windy with some big conditions lately which has made it hard. 

Edit:  I see you did join but are still listed as a guest. That should be fixed shortly. 

17 hours ago, Dan Foster said:

if you splash water on your DWR-treated garment, and the water beads up and rolls off

My new warranty replacement suit beads up nicely. I guess I'll revisit this if it stops.

Why am I just hearing about DWR? How do you know if your drysuit has "persistent beading surfaces"?

I recently sent mine in for a test which I agreed to pay for. They replaced it under warranty and didn't charge for the test, if they did it.

Welcome to the club and congratulations on rehoming the Explorer. They're great boats. A lot of us with NDK boats have abandoned backbands in favor of a foam block glued to the bulkhead. It can be shaped for comfort.

16 hours ago, Frederick Goodman said:

It's not an occasional drip, Jim.   It's a whole lot of water sloshing around after an hour on the water. 

Trying to be actually helpful this time. Here's a thorough article on Valley skegs. It recommends epoxy putty from the inside. It seems like this is more likely to form up well.

https://www.kayakacademy.com/pages/valley-sea-kayak-skeg-cable-replacement-pre-2011-models

I'd be inclined to live with an occasional drip rather than put a bunch of goo in there...

If you were looking for thrills and high adventure, this was not the day for it. If you wanted beautiful weather and easy conditions you came to the right place. We ended up with four, me, David Mercer, Peter Brady, and Sandy Blanchard. Leaving Odiorne, the biggest excitement of the day was some one foot swell piling up on the shoals outside Jaffrey point. We proceeded out to Whaleback with the intent of working our way over to Fort Foster.

Some of us hadn't been to Wood Island in years so we stopped there to see the improvements. A big ship loomed offshore, possibly waiting for high water and an escort.

On to Fort Foster for a leisurely lunch. We talked about a plan I have for a "Hot Lunch Paddle" coming soon. This would be the perfect location.

Crossing the river, we made the decision to paddle up the river, which was pretty much slack by this time, to Goat Island and back to Odiorne that way.

Thanks to everyone for a relaxing enjoyable day.

Conditions still look nice for Tuesday. As a reminder, if you're joining don't forget to add your info to the float plan found here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v7sEBTcvGh9W6NU4OUlSEovvvxwE7mSr8oblQxqw2p0/edit?usp=sharing

In the spirit of the WLP, this trip will take advantage of mild conditions and launch from Odiorne at 10am. Lunch is planned for Fort Foster but other venues are possible as well. High tide is at 12:41 pm and it's a big one, with the full moon directly opposite the sun over our heads. I'm not sure if a reservation is still needed, as a NH senior I don't need one. Although the sun will be warm and the wind light, the water temperature is cooling into the high fifties so please dress for the possibility of immersion.

Please sign up on the float plan using this link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v7sEBTcvGh9W6NU4OUlSEovvvxwE7mSr8oblQxqw2p0/edit?usp=sharing

We ended up with seven for this trip. Me, Mike Habich, David Mercer, Jim Doscher (on his first NSPN trip!), Karen Volkman, Sue Morin, Fred Goodman. We set out from the campground at low tide. If it had been three inches lower we would have done some walking. The sky was leaden, on the very outer edge of the Hurricane Ian system.

We managed to surf some micro waves washing up on the little beach beyond the bridge to warm up. I got to ride one backwards but sadly no picture. Outside the harbor we immediately found the small swell to be providing some fun on the ledges.

Some provided surfable waves, then we proceeded to the beautiful chasm below Bald Head Cliff.

On past Perkin's Cove to the river mouth at Ogunquit. There was some surf there but it was kind of erratic and we were getting hungry. We ate on a beach so flat that we found ourselves edging our boats up every few minutes on the rising tide.

On the return we stopped for a stretch on a very steep beach that was just slippery enough for reverse seal launches.

This is a wonderful stretch of coastline that never disappoints. Thanks to everyone, and especially to Sue and Jim for additional pictures.

This trip is on for this Saturday, with definitely fall like weather. If you missed this one, I intend to do another, maybe in November.

As of now the big conditions are out of the forecast so this trip is a go. I will start a thread for the people who responded here tomorrow.

Thanks for the response! I will keep a list in the order of posting. If conditions aren't favorable I will reschedule to the next appropriate day (if we had to go with today's forecast for 10/1 we would have 8' waves at the mouth of the Ogunquit River). I hope to make a decision or reschedule by Wednesday of that week.

This would be the 4th annual October Ogunquit trip. Still tentative as to the date, too far out yet for conditions. This year Ogunquit parking has changed. It's $35/day until the end of October! So I'm reversing the trip route. We will launch from Cape Neddick Campground where the fee will be $10, although they implied they would reduce a rate for a group. The added benefit is lunch on beautiful Ogunquit Beach! This trip is intended to be level 3, and I will be looking for suitable conditions. Rock play and surfing are expected. Please indicate your interest here and I will start a message thread for participants.

Here's a report from last year: