Looking for Earl ...

[Scott T-Bird]

With all due respect to those of you who have to take this threat seriously ... I'm looking for a break from this miserable weather we are having!

I haven't had a vacation since last August and I was really looking forward to this week ... 10 days with the hope of having wind for unrestricted time to sail. Well, since coming home from work last Friday, I'm still waiting! :cussing:

No wind Friday evening, ok cocktails on the boat were nice. Saturday was a nice day for working in the yard ... no wind, no problem. Sunday engagement party for my nephew, no wind, no problem once again. Monday entertaining my wifes friend ... no problem, no wind. At least I raised sails for a few puffs in the evening when they went out to get their hair done, but after a hour of drifting in a zephyr, even that gave up and I resorted to swimming and a few lonely cocktails before packing up. Tuesday, Sue wanted to see King Tuts exhibit in the city ... no wind, no problem ... crossing the Hudson on a ferry I was looking for any sign of life. Just glassy conditions. By this time the temps are in the upper 90's, thank God for a/c. No desire to be outside anyway! Wednesday, entertaining Sue's sister and nephews and niece on the boat, well the swimming was refreshing and Sue and I enjoyed cocktails in the cockpit after the sun went down and it was comfortable enough to sit outside.

Well today, we went on a bike ride along the Hudson and we saw a few sailboats at anchor and motoring, but the water was glassy once again and the heat is unbelievable. I also realized that Sue is indestructable and she kicks my ass when riding flat terrain but that's another story!

I'm just praying that Earl gets here tomorrow and brings something to the table. I can't take this heat and dead air any longer or I'm afraid I may go postal! On the other hand, I have been scoring points this week ... what they're good for, I don't know yet .

 

[Ed Schenck]

Points are good, count your blessings. Interestingly just a few hundred miles west of you the winds have been steady this summer. Yesterday I took some time away from the hospital(where my wife has been for two weeks) to run down to the lake. Almost more wind than the Highlander can handle. Later while having an ale at the yacht club two members came in looking a little soggy. They had put their Flying Scot mainsail in the lake. Like I said, windy here in Ohio.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Scott, you can find Earl just a little east of Hatteras right now, but I really don't think you want to! I'm about 150 miles due west of Cape Hatteras- just a nice breeze out of the north for me right now. -Paul

 

[seadaddler]

No too Bad

Just watched the news and they saying Earl is down graded to a 2 and just hitting hatteras with heavy rain and lots of wind,the track is now taking earl away from NYC and Long Island but not looking good for Cape Cod hope you guys are ready for Earl and hoping Earl gos east out to sea away from Cape Cod.
Nick

 

[kloudie1]

Just talked to friends in Oriental NC on boat.. Water came up very little.. Winds gusted to 30 kts briefly.. No problem on the western side.. Storm seems to be discombobulating (?) but still bears watching at Cape Cod/Nantucket area.. Great that the nasty east side stayed out at sea.. Noted some 40 foot waves at one of the buoys..

 

[seadaddler]

Looking Good

Watching the weather channel and NC is already clearing up and will be sunny and 90 today.
So far nothing here on Long Island but need to watch for Cape Cod.
All Hurricanes should be just like earl and so far others have gone out to sea up east coast and my boat down in Florida safe and sound.
The rest of Labor day weekend is looking good.
Nick

 

[CalebD]

Scott,
Saturday's forecast is looking good for you with west winds up to 20 knots.
The 'points' will come in handy some day.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Still waiting!

I'm hoping for tomorrow! At least it cooled off enough to do some boat chores ... I oiled my winches and scrubbed my bottom today!

Caleb, we rode that trail starting at the state park north of Nyack to Haverstraw yesterday. There are only a few downhills and there is one that has soft gravel at the bottom as we were heading south back toward the car, Sue hit her brakes when she hit the gravel and went over the handle bars. I thought I was far enough behind and it seemed like slow-motion but I had to hit my brakes because it was too late to swerve and I went over the handle bars, too ... and landed on Sue. So she had her bike land on her, then me, then my bike.

She got up, dusted herself off and took off for the car. When she was 50 yards in front of me I yelled at her that she's indestructible and that I wasn't catching up. She finished the ride about 100 yards in front of me and I'd had enough by that time.

Unfortunately, I think I used my points, as she is not happy with her scrapes and bruises. She's a little pissed off that mine didn't amount to much, even though I did give blood and I have a pretty tender elbow right now.

We drove by the NBC ... do you folks run short of parking?

 

[Pops]

No big problems on the Outer Banks. Lots of wind, and lots of rain. I hate the cockpit strainers on my H27. Has anyone changed them to eliminate the clogging problem from leaves and debris?

 

[Paul Brinkley]

M.P. - I had a problem with my cockpit drains, also- didn't even have a strainer! Went to WalMart, found a flexible plastic strainer sort of dome-shaped, and I drop that over the drain when the boat is sitting in the yard. Keeps leaves etc. out of the drain line, but is big enough that at least some of the openings stay open for drainage. -Paul

 

[CalebD]

Scott,
That sounds like a pretty adventurous bike ride. 'Hook Mountain' (as locals call it) or Nyack Beach State Park looks pretty challenging when viewed from the water, which is a sheer rock cliff that is over 200' tall.
Sorry to hear about the trail mishaps but I guess that is part of the thrill of mountain biking. Sue sounds like a pretty tough cookie!
The next time you are near NBC you could stop and let yourself in the gate and view the grounds and facilities. Since there is only parking on one side of the street on Wednesday evenings the parking gets a little tight. There are 2 municipal lots just south of the club that help accommodate the extra demand (both are free after 5pm).
Hope you are out sailing today.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Caleb, it's a nice interesting ride ...

for the scenery but the first half of the 6.5 mile length to Haverstraw Beach is flat at river level, then there are a few short climbs (or descents depending upon which way you are going) to get about midway to the top of the cliffs. There are still cliff faces above, with some steep drop-offs to the river, and several locations are protected with chain link fence in case you let your gaze wander for the scenery and go off the path! Unfortunately, one of the descents was an asphalt path which was smooth and Sue let go of the brakes until she hit the soft gravel at the bottom where she got on the brakes once again and went over the handle bars. For the most part, though, the ride is very level and not challenging as a mountain bike trail. But the scenery is good and we plan on coming back later in the fall.

It is interesting that Croton Point looks more like an island than a peninsula from that perspective. The also interesting feature is a monument sign at the north end of the trail that marks the general location where Benedict Arnold plotted with a British officer to make it possible for the British to take West Point. Major Andre was captured by the Americans and was hanged 10 days later in Tappan as a spy. Arnold narrowly escaped to a British warship on the Hudson and subsequently defected. The British failed to capture West Point so Arnold never got everything he was promised in negotiation.

Anyway, we sailed yesterday and had to use a double reef point for the first time in a long time. Today we were reefed at the first reef point. Sure feels great to sail in wind and cool weather for a change!

 

[gpd955]

I was thanking Earl as we were flying in the N Atlantic yesterday! He gave us beautiful weather this weekend up this way, Scott and I'm sure you were thanking him as much as I was for the great wind and waves!

As for his hurricane-ness, he left a lot to be desired!

 

[zeehag]

watch out how ye speak of bennie arnold, mon--is my cousin somewhere along he way--he WAS a hero at saratoga, where his leg is in permanent bronze enshrinement, as he lost it there.....twere only his marbles he lost for west point...

the hudson river is an awesome sailing ground--there is so much history there. and is gorgeous. we sailed there in my youth..
\

glad earl was a bust....