I’ve decided to join Alan on his Jekyll Island trip (see Jekyll 411 post below.) I’m heading down for a week from Friday June 6 through Friday the 13th, camping at the parks camp ground.
http://www.jekyllisland.com/accomodations/camping.asp
Hopefully there will be some wind, but I’m not waiting on the forecast. A week camping at the beach should be fun anyway. I’ll have my Windsurfing gear, Kite (and trainer kite,) Kayak, and Bike, and even a book. I'm hoping to work on my kiteboarding, which doesnt need too much wind, which means it'll probably Crank!
JOIN US! Road trip, road trip, road trip.
Gene
770-967-0104/404-735-4944
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Gene Mathis
I missed the Windfest this weekend so I had better go to Jekyll too.
Gail and I have a motel. Sunday June 8 to June 12th. I will take all my windsurf gear, kite, bike and jet ski.
Hobie Cat needs a forestay wire before I can raise the mast so it will just sit for now. Man, it would have been good on the lake yesterday but again I couldn't get the mast up.
PeelSkid
Long range weather looks like it is going to be 15 to 25 NW most of the week.
PeelSkid
Weather forecast just changed. Now it is 17 to 26 WNW.
Better make plans.
PeelSkid
Here's my links to the weather forecast at Jekyll. The first one is in Miles per hour, the second is knots. Remeber, any long range forecasts (over 24 or 48 hrs out) ususally arent that reliable. Also, East winds may be helped by the Sea Breeze in the afternoon, West winds may be hurt.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w1=td&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w4=sky&w5=pop&w6=rh&w7=thunder&w8=rain&AheadHour=48&FcstType=graphical&textField1=31.04140&textField2=-81.41730&site=all&BackDay.x=40&BackDay.y=8
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AM/450.html
Gene
770-967-0104/434-735-4944
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Gene Mathis
WNW winds would pretty much be dead offshore.
Where are you getting the forecast from David? I am seeing E winds at 10-15kts at everyplace I check.
My special super dupper wind forecast center, of course. The forecast center that is never right, just hopeful, just like Glen Burns.
Well, at least Lake Lanier is full pool now! It's about time!
PeelSkid
I think the wind forecast just got better. Calling for Sunny, Warm, Windy, Fun!
PeelSkid
Hey guys!! We don't usually see W...which is good..S to SE with the best wind in the afternoon is the norm..also a push at low tide. Low was at 4:30 today, just add an hour a day for your trip to calculate when low is for a given day. Come to St. Simons and meet some of the guys and sail from our compound! I'll miss you, going to FL...John
We just finished our first day of racing here in Charleston Bay and evidently they are having abnormally low, low tides here. Got finished with the last race about 4pm and ended up having to drag the hobies back to the beach through a couple of feet of mud, we all looked like we had been in a mud wrestling competition instead of a regatta. everybody made it back in one piece but the mud claimed a lot of shoes.
Ok it's not Hatteras but I do love this place.
Alan
I have a few things planned for us at Jekyll.
3 early morning bike rides.
one to an area of isolated beach on the north end that is picture perfect
two to the Jekyll Island Club and the 1920's houses that are around it.
three to the south end of Jekyll with very large sandy beach and a multitude of sand dunes.
One night we are going to eat our dinner on the south end beach and watch the sunset over the Marshses of Glenn.
But during the day there will be plenty of time for sailing.
PeelSkid
Hope you folks get wind at Jekyll. Further up the coast we've been getting good seabreezes late in the afternoon - enhanced by a high parked offshore. It's 6.5 stuff out of the S to SE - which is goodness - sideon to onshore and it blows the insects inland. I don't see any 20 knot potential unless it's thunderstorm related. If the forecast changes in the 20+ direction, I'll ride down and sail with ya'll one afternoon.
tc / thin'air
Tim: You are totally welcome to join us wind or no wind.
If there is no wind I am going to pull Gene around on his Kona with the Jet Ski and he will be Riding the Wind Surf, just like at Jaws.
Plus we are going to have a real estate seminar on how to Get Rich OverNight with Foreclosures. Of course, the insturctor will only speak after a few cold ones.
Come on down, we haven't seen you for ages. We can tell old dirt bike stories.
PeelSkid
Gene getting towed into the Atlantic bone crushers on a Kona. Might be worth the trip. un-Real estate seminar also sounds promising. Dirty old bikers telling tales . . . not sure about that one.
I'm sailing seabreezes again this afternoon. Will look at weather forecast and work calendar in the morning and let you know.
tc / thin'air
First let me say, this is really a beautiful place. Really, really nice. Here's the report so far:
Friday drove down, took 5 hours from Atlanta, set up camp and checked out the place. It was blowing maybe 15, didnt sail or kite.
Saturday, not much wind, maybe 10, didnt sail or kite. I did go with a fellow camper to catch some shrimp, we caught 4, not pounds, but 4 shrimp. They invited me over for a fried Shirmp, Hushpuppies and Fries dinner at their site. You meet the nicest people camping, just like windsurfing.
Sunday, I went for a bike ride in the am. David W and Gail made it down after lunch, it was blowing around 10, we tried it anyway on 7.5's. First I tried the 115 liter board, not near enough, then took the Kona out for a cruise, it was fun even though more wind would be nice. Alan Sloman and Josh came down mid afternoon, they're camping close to my site, we cooked up some dinner (smoked chicken) and then Alan, Josh and I went for a sunset bike ride, besides the nice sunset, we saw a snake, and 2 deer.
Today, Monday, the forecast is alittle better, 10-15. Barret and Peggy are on their way down, I think more to check out Jekyll than because of the the forecast. David and I did a bike ride this morning, and we're all supposed to get together at the beach this afternoon. David is going to put in his jet ski.
This is a very nice place, very laid back. Dogs and Beer are allowed on the beach. Dogs and Beer are allowed at your camp site. I hope to make more trips down. More later.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Jekyll Island is on my top 5 beaches to go to. I have been coming here since the early 60's and little has changed since then. I am here because they are going to begin developing this island. Linger Longer properties has beat out Cousins Properts in a bid to develope there area. Next year there will be dump trucks everywhere. Condos and Townhouses on the beachfront instead of public parking area and sand dunes. Oh well!
Gail and I took the jet ski out yesterday morning and went over to Cumberland Island and then to Sidney Lanier Bridge. this bridge is a comparable to the SkyWay Bridge just south of Tampa. Same history too they both got hit by freighters and had to be rebuilt.
Good sailing yesterday. Mark was on his kite and Gene pulled out his kite too. Mark is a good sailor and I was impressed with Gene's skills too.
Berrett was on a 8.3 and Gene had a 7.5.
Call is 10 - 15 for today and tomorrow. Temps are in the high 80's and low 90"s.
Did I mention this is a bicycle place too.
Did I mention I love this place and so does Gail.
PeelSkid
Quick update. As David said, Monday turned out nice, as Barret brought the wind with him. It went from 10 to 10-15 to 15-20 PLUS. We had a very nice 7.5/8.3 day windsurfing and I did get to mess with the Kite. Watching Mark W kite and getting air has got me psyched about kiting. The steady wind and shallow water sure does help.
Yesterday, Tuesday, I had a 6.0 / 100 liter board day. Forecast wasn't for much, but a big cloud came up, we had some thunder but it quickly stopped. Then the wind turned to the southwest, blowing side OFF (that's a big ocean out there,) and cranked up. David W had been on his 7.5 earlier and Barret had been on his 7.0. Barret said he was alittle over powered so I rigged my 6.0. It was gusty and fairly strong close in but was steadier and stronger outside. Barret and Alan Sloman (7.5) sailed a little closer in and I sailed farther out. It was fun but alittle scary; I don’t like the offshore direction. We all finally left the beach at 7:45 and met for Dinner at 8:30. Another fun day! And I do appreciate Barret bringing the wind.
Barret and Peggy and Mark W are headed home today (Wed) but David Delozier is on his way down to work on his kiting. David and Gail Wade are leaving tomorrow, and I think everyone else is planning on leaving Friday unless we get a real good forecast for the weekend.
I do think we need MORE ROADTRIPS!
Gene
Gene Mathis
Pictures from the Jekyll Island Road Trip are posted to the foto gallery listed in the Bulletin Board menu on the left side of the home page.
Barrett
Here's what happened the rest of the trip.
Wed, we had some more wind from the clouds but this time the direction was better, SideON. I sailed my 6.0 on the 100 liter board for about an hour. Then it started to drop and I assisted David Delozier with his flying his kite. Barret and Peggy had headed home in the AM.
Thurs, Jerry Farr joined us, he Kited and David D and I attempted to kite. The wind was on shore and did not time it with the low tide, so I didnt have much sucess.
Friday, I hung around till around 2, but looked like the wind wouldnt come up until late and it was blowing straight on shore, so wouldnt be ideal for me to attempt to kite, so I headed home. Jerry Farr was going to wait on it.
It was a good FUN trip with alot of different people coming and going.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Great trip.. I figured after a week and a half I would be home sick
but I really didnt want to come back. The wind was a little better in Charleston but did have a couple good days on Jekyll too. Thursday afternoon a rain cloud passed over us and the wind went from nothing to honking in seconds, the bad part ... I was a pretty good way down the beach on a big board and a 8.4 sail. The good part...I made it back with no broken gear (We won't mention my less than graceful exit from the water)
Lots of sailing, windsurfing, bike riding with good friends and even shot 2 over Par on the putt putt course
Alan
Down there some of the strongest non-hurricane winds are from the SW. For something different a couple of us would launch from a marina on the west side of SSI during the top half of the tide. By picking a good leg of the river, you could sail close to the marsh, get 30+ wind on the beam, and no waves. Just be careful of oyster beds and mud flats and don't do it alone.