Wave selection and timing

Today while I was out on my high volume round 6'6" NA round nose round tail, in dropping and rapidly degrading conditions due to wind, I was getting frustrated thinking I should have gone out on my LB. After a few initial rides I got too selective, got too far outside waiting for sets on an incoming tide, and missed lots of makeable waves just to paddle back to the "spot" which was no longer the spot.

As Yogi sez- 99% of the game is half mental. I pretended it had been flat for months and the ragged weak waves were an unexpected surprise. Sat well inside and got a steep juicy nugget. Redeemed my session.

 

i often find my shorter sessions, 1-2 hrs, are my better sessions.

the times I go for 3+ hours most of the time I find myself waiting for the last perfect one. but guess what, it was about 4-8 rides ago.

 

Huh?? 3 hour session?? By then, up in Maine where you live, hasn't the water disappeared due to large tides? Or, aren't you now floated up to bed with the lobsterman wife?

 

ah, fek, here we go againe

oh barry, you habitate aboot 55 nautical miles south, I can't believe tides are that different....unless trump finally deported you to the territory of Puerto rico - then yes tide changes can be a beyatch up here

 

Man, where have you been?? Haven't you heard Trump erected a tidal barrier for NH?? We no longer get tides. He also focused lunar tidal pull to the Kennebunk area so the Bushes mansion can be f sunk underwater. We are now prepared for global warming by deflecting tides back to yous guys in Maniacland.
Hap-pee Kwanza!!

 

over here on the left side, we've got a high around 10 1/2 ft this afternoon going to a low of minus 1 1/2 ft...basically a 12 foot swing. This is somewhat normal during this moon phase, and I've witnessed 15 foot swing during the height of winter.

Just exactly how bad is it in your neck o' the woods?t

Bay of Fundy?

 

about the same...today high of 10.5 low of -1.8

I think bathymetry and shallowness of the gulf play a big part as well. at a lot of spots around here when tide is out you have about 100-200 yds more beach from high tide line to low tide line

 

Yeah sounds pretty much like around here.

Conditions like that can make a surfer like a midget at a urinal...always on your toes.

 

Bathymetry or bathyscaph is huge--you are correct. That and combined with DIRECT gravitational pull of the moon, which is constant as moon circulates over certain areas, but NEVER in others.

 

there have been occasions when there's a 2-3 foot swell but I show up and get a pleasant surprise of 4-6 waves. doesn't happen very often, but when the moon is just right...

 

PNW?

yeah, sometimes trying to figure out how a place is working is poointless