Jennifer wrote:Thanks for all the tips Dave. We've met both Dana and Leo, both have lots of knowledge about the area like you said. Your comments about Cape in the am and the rock in the evening held true today. That's pretty much the way the crowds (of 10 sailors) moved around.
Today the winds definitely kicked in. I was on 4.2 at the Cape in the morning and then 3.7 at the rock. Generally super gusty and quite onshore. We missed the nice 10am 4.7 session at the cape before the winds got crazy. Despite the crazy winds there was some nice swell today, the sets were nicely spaced out so getting out wasn't too hard. Between shoulder to logo high sets came through. It was just so windy that I found it was hard to control on the waves....although Ryan and the locals all caught some good rides. Lots to learn and lots of fun :)
Hopefully see some of you down here next week?!
Glad to hear some of my ramblings have been some help.
AWESOME to it all!!! Meeting 'the resident' (Dana) and Leo; double-header of the cape and the rock in one small day; crazy wind; and sounds like the south swell showed up (icing on the cake)!!!
If that forecast holds true, early starts at the cape may serve up the best conditions of the day. The Cape can get blown out before lunch and the afternoon at the rock may turn into full-on freak show! Sounds like some of that may have unfolded today. Waiting for the wind to back off crazy days is a crap shoot - it can sometimes rock to dark on big days ~
If wave forecast holds true the wave spacing may begin to tighten up as the south swell may be over now (hope they are wrong and it lingers longer).
"Lots to learn and lots of fun"
I can sense the BIG smile afterglow from the challenging day!
Ryan wrote:Today was tough, super gusty, but some nice waves were coming through.
Pistol River was very onshore.
I had two long chases after my board down the beach during our Pistol River session, my new strategy is to head directly for the beach once I lose my board then run along the beach to try to catch up with it.
I really respect your frank comments Ryan! Haven't seen you challenged very often locally, so it must have been a pretty challenging day. I can TOTALLY relate to heading straight to the beach and letting the gear fend for itself on 'tough' days - sometimes it comes down to conserving as much energy as possible (and getting organized and going again in the 'death zone' is faint hope and can be a HUGE energy sponge - for me anyways)!
Not sure if the rip / channel is still there south of the rock, in years past the littoral current increases in strength the further south of the rip you get (making catching up to your gear that much harder). On those 'tough' days I would try to tuck up close to the islands to the north (like getting into the lee of the south jetty at Newport) - smaller waves and less current. Hope that makes sense. I have seen BWD and TheLaw (and others) score really clean rides up there on certain days.
My impressions are confused waves are common at Pistol River, but the wind us usually steady, so what you got today is hopefully 'unusual' and wind should be more side-onshore and steadier in future.
I sense you will both sleep well tonight!!! Enjoy the well deserved rest.
Thanks for sharing!
Early morning sessions might be worth considering if it really lets loose. 
