====== Northeast US - New England Surfski ======
**Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont**
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**Noank Downwinder**
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[[:us_places|Main USA Surfski Page]]
**New England Downwinding:**
//**One commenter on surfski.info:** //
" Consistency is definitely the problem in New England - both in terms of wind velocity and direction. Especially during the summer. Although we sometimes do have scheduled downwind races, it's really a crap-shoot as to getting what you hoped for."
This of course is an exceedingly broad generalization for such a large area. There may very well be locales within New England with more consistent downwind conditions than this one commenter is aware of. There is a pretty strong core of racers and downwind paddlers in New England which would seem to indicate that the downwinding is good enough to draw serious attention and participation. Becoming familiar with local tide races and when they have good waves and conditions that are suitable for your skill level can greatly expand your repertoire of surfable days and locations. Tide races often do not require much wind at all to provide good surfing.
==== Clubs and Groups ====
* [[https://newenglandsurfski.com/|New England Surfski]]
* [[https://www.facebook.com/newenglandsurfski|New England Surfski (facebook)]]
* ,,,
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===== Connecticut =====
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==== Downwind ====
* **Long Island Sound**
* **Groton Long Point ** [[https://youtu.be/rSdBbCQJVVE|video]]
* **Noank ** [[https://youtu.be/rpSihk88nLg|video]]
* Check [[https://www.oceanpaddlesportseast.com|Ocean Paddle Sports East]] for local knowledge, surfski sales, fellow paddlers in **Westport** and **Greenwich**
==== Tidal Races ====
**[[:tidalrace:tidal_races#safety_-_learning_tidal_races|About Safety]] ** (and watch out for boat traffic and lobster pots (harder to spot when the tide is racing))
* [[:new_england_usa#tidal_races1|Tide Races shared with Rhode Island]]
* **Lattimer Tide Race ** (Stonington, CT) [[https://youtu.be/IiFTmNTdQ-0|video]]
* **Plum Gut ** (between Orient Point and Plum Island)
* **Ram Island** [[https://youtu.be/wNNZZLCy-mQ|video]]
* **The Race** (between Plum Island and Fishers Island)
* [[https://youtu.be/6iqbJw4FlNE?start=38|Long Island Sound Video]]
==== Races ====
[[:races:races_usa|Main US Race List]]
* [[https://www.facebook.com/events/1820487538684813/|Conquer the Current]] (link for 2025, search for up to date links subsequently)
* [[https://www.lighthousetolighthouse.org/|Lighthouse to Lighthouse]]
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===== Maine =====
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==== Downwind/Paddles ====
* **Bailey's Mistake Bay**
* **Casco Bay **From StandupZone: "Casco Bay seems like another option with a lot of fetch and some protection from side swells. It lines up for NE winds, which should be good in the nor'easters we get in New England. Falmouth to South Portland is a good six mile run, and it could be extended to 9 miles by launching from Cousins Island."
* **Kittery, ME** to **York, ME**
* **Penobscott Bay ** [[https://youtu.be/unGGOB1onDc|video]]
* …
==== Resources ====
* **Eric McNett** - **Topsham, Maine** Think surfskis, [[https://www.facebook.com/atlanticpaddler/|Atlantic Paddler Facebook Page]]
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===== Massachusetts =====
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==== Downwind ====
* **Gloucester, MA** to **Beverly, MA**. 12 miles
* **Green Harbor to Plymouth Beach** 7.5 miles NNE - easy launch behind the jetty and a nice near shore run
* **Woods Hole**
* **Woods Hole, MA** to **Megansett Harbor, MA **10 miles (has been used in both directions for Cape Cod Downwind race)
* **Woods Hole - Oak Bluffs **6.5 miles
* **Tinkers Run (MA) **Devereux Beach-Nahant Beach 10 km See [[https://www.downwindable.com/tinkers-run|Downwindable.com]]
* **Stage Fort to Lynch Park (MA) **11 miles [[http://greglesher.blogspot.com/2013/10/ne-surfski-downwind.html|One Trip Description]]
* **Buzzards Bay (MA) ** Stony Beach at Woods Hole to Megansett Beach 10 miles
==== Flatwater ====
* **Charles River**
* **Concord River**
==== Dealers/Shops ====
* [[https://www.berkshireoutfitters.com/|Berkshire Outfitters]] Adams, MA; Epic Dealer
* [[https://fastpaddler.com/|FastPaddler]] Wayland, MA, Brača Paddles Chris Chappell Nelo specialist
* [[https://www.facebook.com/fastpaddler|FastPaddler]] (facebook)
* [[https://www.facebook.com/oceanspecialist/|New England Kayak Learning Center]] (facebook) Beverly, MA - rentals, lessons, Epic Surfskis
* [[https://www.nspn.org/|North Shore Paddlers Network]] (lots of sea kayakers, but they also have surfskiers)
* [[https://paddleboston.com/|Paddle Boston/Charles River Canoe & Kayak]] multiple stores
==== Resources ====
* [[https://www.nspn.org/|North Shore Paddlers Network]] (lots of sea kayakers, but they also have surfskiers)
* …
==== Races ====
[[:races:races_usa|Main US Race List]]
* [[:races:massachusetts_races|]]
* …
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===== New Hampshire =====
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==== Downwinds/Paddles ====
* **Little Bay - Great Bay**
* From StandupZone: " …Little Bay/Great Bay in southern New Hampshire quite a few times. It can work in winds from any direction, but the most common and best run is with wind from the west, which can give a 5-6 mile run if we start in the Lamprey River, with usually 2-3 miles of really good runners on knee to thigh high bumps. The Piscataqua river, from Dover to Portsmouth Harbor is another option for NW winds"
* …
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===== Rhode Island =====
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==== Downwinds/Paddles ====
Comments:
Wesley Echols: " Narragansett Bay East or West Passage, Newport RI. (//East and West Passage refer to east or west side of Conanicut Island//) We have clocked our fastest times ever from North end Jamestown to Newport Bridge with Northerly wind and current or Sakonnet River (really a small bay) in Portsmouth, RI on a good day! Newport is one of the sailing capitals for a reason! "
=== Little Narragansett Bay ===
* **Napatree Point ** (Napatree is actually just south of Little Narragansett) Kayakers catch waves here. They may be doing downwind laps and maybe there is tide race action that contributes to waves?
* **The Wading Pool ** there seems to be a shallow just north of the point that will build up long waves if there is some swell coming from the south. Check with local sea kayakers about best conditions, tides, shallow hazards? [[https://youtu.be/zzqE6XeNi1s?t=134|Kayaker surfing in the "Wading Pool"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cp3ma6KOmKI?feature=share|another video short]]
=== Narragansett Bay ===
* Wesley Echols ([[http://surfskiracing.com|SurfskiRacing.com]]) Launch Recommendations:
* **McCorrie Point, Portsmouth, RI**, Small Bay conditions, perfect for training, rarely overwhelming for intermediate paddlers. My home. Safe most of the time. Use most often.
* **Bay Voyage Inn, Jamestown, RI**, Just South of Newport Bridge, This is Jamestown Harbor. Many options. Can be rough, always jobbly. You will have to pay attention. summer - we use all the time. winter on the calm days.
* **Fort Wetherill State Park, Jamestown, RI**, Ride the Bull Race Course, Paddle out 100 yards and you're in the fray. Gets rough immediately for intermediate paddlers. On rougher days we use our intermediate skis now. When we were younger advanced skis on these days. Never use in the winter.
* **South Ferry**, **West Passage**, summer only.
* **North KIngston Town Beach** (Town of Wickford). Protected, use anytime almost.
* **Third Beach, Middletown, RI** on Sakonnet and within half mile in true ocean conditions or head North for Bay conditions. Use in summer/fall mainly.
* **Weavers Cove, Portsmouth, RI**, East Passage. summer only
* [[https://youtu.be/cWaCtHQUtVQ|video]]
=== Narragansett Bay/Atlantic Ocean ===
* **Point Judith** to **Jamestown** - approx. 10 - 11 miles
* Wesley Echols - "we NEVER paddle this course in the Winter Time. NEVER! Low Water Temps, Air Temps, and messy conditions. We stick to East or West Passage, Jamestown Harbor (on calmer days), always stay close to shore and in the lee or we paddle on the Sakonnet where I live or on Narrow River as last option. In fact even in the Summer we pick our days carefully, and drop down to our intermediate skis."
==== Tidal Races ====
**[[:tidalrace:tidal_races#safety_-_learning_tidal_races|About Safety]] ** (and watch out for boat traffic and lobster pots (harder to spot when the tide is racing))
* [[:new_england_usa#tidal_races|Races Shared with Connecticut]]
* **The Cans/ Wicopesset Passage ** [[https://youtu.be/xDYu8nRGDxE|video]]
* **Wicopesset Passage **at the east end of Fishers Island is technically in New York waters but is much closer to mainland Connecticut and Rhode Island than it is to New York
* **Lords Passage**
* **Napatree Point ** [[https://youtu.be/MOhPCSwxFfg|video]]
* **Sugar Reef Passage**
* [[https://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/risk-sea-kayaking|The Risks of Sea Kayaking]] good article about safety decisions with the back drop of a trip to Sugar Reef when the tidal race was running strong
* [[https://youtu.be/w_Txe33IgyA|Video]]
* **Watch Hill Reef **
* **Catumb Rocks**
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==== Races ====
[[:races:races_usa|Main US Race List]]
* [[:races:rhode_island_races|]]
* [[https://vimeo.com/user16369668/videos|Wesley Echols Vimeo Channel]] some demos and reviews but primarily race videos
==== Dealers/Shops ====
* [[https://www.kayakcentre.com/|The Kayak Center]] Epic North Kingstown, RI - Repair, Rental, Lessons
==== Coaching/Lessons ====
* [[https://www.surfskiracing.org/surfski-lessons-with-wesley-echols-janda-ricci-munn/|Wesley Echols/Janda Ricci-Mun]] (Wesley is also a surfski rep) (Wesley - Portsmouth RI, Janda - North of Boston, MA)
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===== Vermont =====
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==== Downwind/Paddles ====
* **Lake Champlain (New York/Vermont) **
* **Conditions**
* In a typical winter you may be iced off paddling on the lake from December until April. Needless to say, this is often cold water paddling and you should be dressed for immersion. Average July and August water temperatures reach 70 deg. F with a slight drop off in September. But watch the shoulder months around these warmer months, the average water temperature is considerably colder in June and October with fairly steep rise and fall going into and away from the warmer Summer months. The Summer month water temperatures are not extreme, but they are still cold enough to warrant some caution if you have any risk of taking an extended swim.
* [[https://seatemperature.info/lake-champlain-water-temperature.html|Seasonal Water Temperatures]]
* [[:cold_water_paddling|Cold Water Paddling Safety]]
* [[https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/champlain/|Experimental NOAA Lk. Champlain Forcasts]] (scroll down for wind & wave forecasts)
* **Burlington**
* **Appletree Point**
* **Appletree Point - Burlington Surf Club** 3 miles [[https://youtu.be/PRb2qYWQ-H8|SUP video]]
* **Laps ** [[https://youtu.be/l-rjToBWo6Y|SUP video]]
* **Burlington - Shelburne Bay **5-8 ? miles
* **Thompson's Point in Charlotte to Leddy Beach in Burlington **17 miles [[https://www.downwind.fun/courses/lake-champlain-downwind|Downwindfun]]
* **Whites Beach** (south end of Grand Isle) - **North Beach ** (in Burlington) 10 - 11 miles [[https://youtu.be/5Isqiy7f-yI|video]]
* [[https://youtu.be/tHpiNW1eBio|calm water video]]
* **Button Bay (South End of Lake)**
* **Crown Point Bridge - Button Bay **11 miles [[https://youtu.be/WeO0nlHwfzQ|video]]
* [[https://youtu.be/rYAzNJ0d3DM|Wave Surfing Laps]]
* **Split Rock Point **
==== Video ====
* [[https://www.youtube.com/@rachaelzoemiller/videos|Rachael Z Miller Youtube Videos]] Surfski & OC
* [[https://www.youtube.com/@jameslyne6318/videos|James Lyne Youtube Videos]] Surfski & OC
* [[https://www.youtube.com/@blainem13/videos|Blainem13 Youtube Videos]] OC2 on Champlain
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**Lake Champlain Downwinding at Split Rock Point**
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==== Resources ====
* [[https://www.burlingtonsurfclub.com/|Burlington Surf Club]] They downwind on Champlain with SUPs, Wings,…
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