From: felixc@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (felix.cabral)
Subject: east coast wind report (long) (was Re: Danielle) 
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 13:38:06 GMT

In article <1992Sep29.172603.461@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> ktc@onan.jhuapl.edu writes:
>The poop on Danielle was that it was absorbed into a stationary front running  
>up the coast from south of hatteras to offshore of new england. BTW, this is  
>the BEST possible weather system for wind that we get on the east coast.  
>Somebody wrote a short article about it in Windsurfing within the past year. 

Sorry to disappoint you but I totally disagree. I use this to give an east coast
wind report.

>With the stationary front, sequences of highs and lows move up the front (past 
>your front door if you live on the Delmarva), resulting in alot of windy days  
>when you are south of a high and north of a low. Draw a picture with isobars on
>it to see how there is an intensification of gradient wind in that part of the 
>front. Downside is that just behind the front there'll be zilch.

That I agree with. A high and low close to each other wind create good winds
in certain areas. We get this during hurrican season quite often around
here.

>
>Reality check: After Danielle was absorbed into the front, the Cheasapeake and 
>Delmarva had THREE good days, peaking on friday, and dead flat on saturday (the
>low passed by friday night).

Same here. We had three great days from wednesday to friday. I used a 4.8
wednesday most of the day and again on thursday until I rigged up to 5.3.
Friday was the best of the three (although I did not sail) I weigh 165lbs
and my 200+ friends told me they were on 4.0's. Here in NJ you need to
know where to go on certain wind directions. A person that goes to the
hook on a NE or E wind will find they don't have the wind punch others
get if they go to shrewsbury river or trixies.

I sailed an 8'6 wave/slalom board both days I sailed my 4.8-5.3. On a 9' 
slalom board I probably would have gone down in sail size.

I disagree with your first statement because our season (east coast) really
starts in the fall and ends in the late spring. We can get 2-3 days a week
of 4.5 days (for me) during this time. The dominating factor for these winds
are cold fronts. Not hatteras born storms. Although they do contribute, these
storms don't occur as often as cold fronts.

Case in point. Yesterday (9/29) I sailed  like a mad man from 8am until 6pm.
I sailed for two hours on a 3.9 in the morning. Then I rigged my 4.8 and
sailed most of the day. It was gusty from 20-35 knots. I could have stayed on 
the 3.9 but I need a bit more sail to point on my wave board. I needed to head 
upwind to the horseshoe cove reef in sandy hook. There you can do some pretty 
good wave sailing bayside.

At around 2pm the wind picked up to a steady 25-30 knots (gusts to 35). I 
wanted to rig down to my 3.9 but decided to keep the 4.8 (wave sail). There 
were guys my size on 3.5's (cambered). I sailed from 8am-6pm with at most 45 
minutes of total non-sailing hours. I have learned to relax while sailing to 
conserve energy. The powerbars help too. Also, the advils work wonders. Today 
I feel like I got run over by a truck (even with the advils). What a great 
feeling! :-)

Anyway, all that wind yesterday was due to a cold fron that rolled in early
morning tuesday. Here in the east coast we get great sailing days all winter
those that don't know about it are those that don't own a drysuit :-) You
also have to be willing to sail in 40 F degree weather. Its much easier
than you think. Providing you have the right equipment and sailing partners.


-- 
Felix Cabral         {felixc@mtgzfs3.att.com}      "Give me nukin winds,
AT&T Bell Labs       {  att!mtgzfs3!felixc  }       a rad board, rad waves,
Middletown,NJ        {     (908)957-5081    }       and a company sickday!"