Its Been A Cold Winter!
I guess I do not have to tell this to all the US east coast blog readers, but even here on the OBX, our Gulf Stream warm water influence has been all but offline this year. Yesterday, we again had a dusting of snow, and today freezing air temps have patches of ice formed on my hot tub cover! Though, its been windy, there has been a price to pay with the cold air temps! Last night, I took a trip down OBX Beach Life's memory lane using the calendar widget in the top right hand side bar. Checking 2008, we had a complete opposite winter from this year. I sailed a number of days last year and only wore a cap once! Booties and gloves were not even part of the winter wardrobe as we had many 70 degree windy SW days! Water temps were consistent between this year and last, but what a radical difference in air. I guess its "climate change" in action?!
Well, looking forward its March and the long-term WindGuru forecast shows a string of warm mid-60s SW coming. Hopefully, our final 2009 OBX dip below freezing is today.
13 Comments:
Hey Bill, that long range wind guro forecast could line up quite well with my schedule.
Heres to an OBX trip in my near term future!
We're locked in so hard here with ice, I'm debating if I'll get wet in the backyard until May. !!
It most certainly has....its a balmy -16 c here today and I'm sick of it...I hope all is warmer when I come down in April!
Great site BTW
I'm not used to seeing you in winter gear...it's strange! Hopefully you'll be out of it soon. Hopefully so will we!
Yea, I do not mind wearing the suit, but the gloves and booties are "restrictive," and the cap looks kind of dorky! : )
piece of advice Bill-
looks like you're wearing glacier gloves?
mitttens will keep your hands warmer. i remember wearing those you wear in the picture, they where horrible.
of course its all moot if you aren't really gonna get out there often in the colder stuff
Yea, I probably would not go much colder than works with those gloves. Otherwise, I would probably need to bump up my suit from the current 5/4 to a 6/5mm.
Though, we are into March now, and on the OBX those 30 something degree days should be over now, right?!
At least WindGuru shows all 60 degree air though the long term OBX forecast...now if we get some wind?!
George,
I wear Glacier Gloves a lot over here while winter sailing in the Netherlands and think they work great! But- I am also using a Kokatat drysuit which does not constrict your forearms as much. This makes wearing gloves a lot more tolerable than with a wetsuit. That being said, when it is really cold we do switch to mittens. I use the NRS Toaster Mitts and have never had cold hands with them. They work good with wetsuits too and seem to be more durable than the Dakine Mittens.
Chuck (Temporarily displaced Norfolk,VA/Hatteras sailor)
Hi Bill! We're in the van heading down to Assateague! Forecast 25 SW! I'll be the photographer for George and Ken today. I told him a few minutes ago that I need some Bill Bell BAlls to the WALL full on hair flying, loopin, bailin out sailing style today. I'm tired of all this baby pool stuff.
Hey Janis!
Sounds excellent, and yea I want to read/see some hair flyin action on the next live2sail post!
Here on the OBX, the forecast is looking great as well, so hopefully this afternoon, my hair will be getting a work out, unless, its under a cap?!
All in all, the TV local weather guy mentioned near 80 degree air down here for the weekend! If it bumps that high, there has to be wind?!
People have been arguing about mittens vs. glacier gloves for as long as I can remember. Glacier gloves work very well. I should try a pair of mittens just for variety, but whenever I sail with "mitten guys" their hands get cold just about the same time that the Glove Guys hands do.
just found your blog and it is very cool.......headin down to Corolla in about 10 days.....hoeing for some warmth....
bl
Hey Bill- A new 6/5/4 will be substantially more comfortable and stretchy than your current 5/4... You will not regret upgrading! But I guess at this point you might as well wait until next November!
See ya soon!
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