S2S 2011

The second annual S2S paddle took place on Wednesday August 24, 2011.  At 8AM a group set out from the Broadway Beach.

Jamie, Tyson, Danny, Lynn, Gary, Eve

Tyson gets some extra credit here.  While those of us on-island had out coffee and strolled down to the beach, he rode his bicycle all-out from Babylon to Bayshore to catch the 7AM ferry - and on only a few hours of sleep.

When we all reached the lighthouse on the ocean side, Lynn and Eve bid farewell, and headed back to Saltaire.

Danny, Tyson, & Gary at Democrat Point.

We had hoped to find a full flood tide to carry us in the inlet and home, but the water was totally slack until we reached the bridge.

Coming home.  Total time, 370 minutes; total distance, 14.25 miles.

The GPS track.

In 2010, Tyson and I did the paddle in the opposite direction - bay to ocean.  We rode a full ebb tide out of the inlet (and recorded a peak speed of over 6mph as we did so).  We now know that either direction can work, but each has it's own advantages:  bay to ocean means little traffic on the bay side and perhaps a following wind on the ocean (if it's a typical SW thermal); ocean to bay means little wind in the AM and a following tide to ride home.   

Things to keep in mind for next year:

- date for the paddle must be determined by tide tables (either direction)

- the tide is slack in the inlet for 2.5 hours after low/high

- hydration packs are by far the best solution for fluids

4 of us made it all the way this year - we hope to double that number in 2012.