Paddling Long Island and New York City. Kevin Stiegelmaier
rule of thumb: “When in doubt, don’t go out.”
Assuming you’ve been properly trained and have all of the requisite gear for a safe and enjoyable paddle, the last and perhaps easiest precaution to take is simply to let someone know exactly where you’ll be and what your itinerary is. A float plan may prove invaluable in the unlikely event that you run into trouble and need to be rescued. Sea Kayaker magazine has created a basic format for such a plan that anyone may use; look for it at seakayakermag.com/PDFs/float_plan.pdf.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
TIDES
While many factors determine the conditions on a particular body of water, perhaps none are as important to sea kayakers as the tides. They can make all the difference between a quick and easy trip and a slow and painful slog. They can also open up large areas of navigable water or leave them completely inaccessible. In short, knowing what the tide states are and using that knowledge to help plan your paddles can ensure you of a safe and enjoyable day on the water.
Many variables affect the earth’s tides, the most pronounced of which is the gravitational pull of both the sun and moon. Indeed, both heavenly bodies exert this force on the planet and its waters, although lunar pull is more prominent since the moon is much closer to the earth. As a result, it pulls the water on the side of the earth it faces toward itself, creating what we know as a high tide. This leaves less water elsewhere on the planet, otherwise known as a low tide. Amazingly, the moon also tugs on the far side of the earth, which actually distorts the planet’s shape enough to cause another high tide. Thus, there are actually two high and two low tides each day as the earth spins on its axis.
With two of each type of tide occurring each day, one would expect the time period between each high and low to be an equal 6 hours. In fact, the difference is a bit longer—6 hours and 12.5 minutes, to be exact. The reason is that tides are based on a lunar day that lasts 24 hours and 50 minutes, whereas our common solar day lasts only 24 hours.
Another unique feature of this system is the phenomenon of spring and neap tides. Spring tides are those that are higher and lower than the normal high and low tides, while neap tides show less of a change than is usual for an area. They cycle back and forth about every week, as the positions of the sun and the moon change relative to each other and to the earth. For example, the sun and moon are both aligned with the earth around the time of both a new and full moon, which increases the overall pull of gravity on the earth and its waters and causes spring tides. Likewise, the sun and moon are at right angles to each other when the moon is at a first quarter or third quarter. They limit each other’s effect on the earth’s waters at these times, thus causing a neap tide.
There is one more piece of the tidal puzzle that may be just as important as knowing what causes high or low tides: paddlers should understand how the changing tides and their currents interact with the environment around them. For example, as a tide rises or falls, water will flow into or out of an area, flooding or ebbing, respectively. As it does this, it may get pinched between two land masses or pass over a deeper region of water, speeding up the tidal current as a result. Alternately, currents running through a wider gap in land masses or over shallower water will slow down. Tidal currents can also form reverse eddies, or areas where the flow actually heads in the opposite direction, wherever they pass an obstruction such as a jetty, dock, or sandbar. As anyone who has ever tried to paddle against a strong current can attest, reverse eddies can be a blessing.
Obviously, the tidal system is very complex and would be quite hard to keep track of were it not for tide tables. A paddler’s best friend, these charts predict the heights and times of both high and low tides, sometimes listing the information years in advance. Tide tables can be found in most major newspapers and are also printed in convenient booklets sold in boating-supply stores. They are also published annually in the legendary Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book (to order, call 800-992-3045 or 617-482-8460) and are updated continuously on websites such as saltwatertides.com and mobilegeographics.com. If you own a smartphone, you can even download apps that literally put tidal information in the palm of your hand.
WEATHER BY SEASON
Long Island experiences relatively mild winters, with average temperatures around 31°F. Along with New York City, it may only see temperatures fall below zero in two or three winters a decade. Such conditions are due in part to these locations’ proximity to water. The Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, and Great South Bay retain their summer warmth for quite some time and warm the land near them as a result. Long Island’s winters aren’t overly cold, but they are usually quite wet, with about 3.5 inches of rain and anywhere from 3–10 inches of snow falling each month (although some parts of the island may receive more precipitation than others).
Moderately high temperatures are usually seen on Long Island and in New York City during the summer months. These areas are also considerably more humid than other areas of the state because of their proximity to large bodies of water. Thankfully, these waters also bring breezes to the island most summer afternoons, making the heat more bearable.
Summer also marks the beginning of Long Island’s hurricane season, with storms most likely to hit during August and September. Some incredibly strong hurricanes have hit Long Island in the past, leaving behind significant damage and greatly altering the island’s topography. Fortunately for its residents, Long Island sits at a high enough latitude with cold enough waters that most storms weaken before they strike. Nevertheless, hurricanes remain a potential danger during the warm, humid dog days of summer.
Long Island’s weather is quite pleasant during these seasons, again because of the moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, and Great South Bay. Because these waters warm slowly during the spring, they cool the air considerably, keeping the island’s temperatures in the 60s until mid-May. Conversely, these bodies of water retain their summer heat and help warm the land near them. Thus, Long Island can see temperatures hovering in the 70s throughout much of September and October.
WILDLIFE
While Long Island has no dangerous native insects, there are three that can cause a great deal of discomfort and annoyance: the mosquito, the greenhead fly, and the tick.
All three, unfortunately, are plentiful across Long Island and the New York City area, although mosquitoes and greenheads are predominantly found along the beaches and marshes of both the North and South shores. Both are incredibly aggressive biters and cause welts that burn and itch. They often occur in swarms that have been known to follow a person for long distances. These species are most active during spring and early summer months, although both pests can sometimes remain active well into the fall. Dozens of repellents exist; everyone has a personal favorite. The most common comprise a bug net that can be worn over the head and bug spray. Most people agree that sprays containing DEET work the best, although there is some evidence that the chemical can lead to certain health problems. Organic sprays sometimes work just as well as the others. Keep in mind that different repellents may work for different people, so try a few and find the one that works best for you.
Ticks, on the other hand, are tiny parasitic insects that live by feeding on the blood of other animals. Two distinct species—the wood (dog) tick and its smaller cousin, the deer tick—can be found on most parts of Long Island but are