The Great North Swell of 2006 (new pics)

iowaguy · Post by **iowaguy** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:11 pm

Awesome pictures, Joshie.

Unfortunately, I'm a little less diligent with my photography, but here are one or two shots of the north swells in March 2008---Rick G was there that same week. I would have preferred some calm water.

Greenskeeper · Post by **Greenskeeper** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:36 pm

Is that what the waves are like right now?

Joshie · Post by **Joshie** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:46 pm

minnjim · Post by **minnjim** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:46 pm

We were there during some heavy swells in March 2008. I still cannot bend two fingers all the way on my left hand after getting slammed into the bottom by a wave on Cinnamon.

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:59 pm

Wow. That's all I can say to that. In our one winterish trip (in November) I did notice Cinnamon in particular was much rougher. Maho was still fine, if smaller and Jumbie was still ok wave wise but the waterline was MUCH higher.

Those waves are just crazy.

Wakey · Post by **Wakey** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:26 pm

Look, don't touch

Nice thread..

hugo · Post by **hugo** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:40 pm

The north swell is not exactly predictable. Generally resticted to the late October to mid- April time-frame, although a hurricane passing to the north can be pretty impressive. Month with the lowest chance of swells: June-practically nil.
Otherwise, the size and duration is wildly variable. I remember the "perfect storm" of book and movie fame...late October, 1991: the waves were washing through the dining room at Caneel. The other seas that REALLY stand out in my memory were mostly combined with wind, and usually were early winter. High seas that last longer than 4 days are quite unusual, but there are winters when they recur almost weekly.

Exit Zero · Post by **Exit Zero** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:40 pm

You can get a real time record and graph of waves and/or swells and the wind and direction at www.ndbc.noaa.gov --- use buoy 41043 - this is NOT a predictive site.

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:04 pm

Here's my buddy Andy thinkin twice before getting in the soup. He never did. I was havin a blast body surfin that day until a big one took me up and put me in a handstand. It was a perfect a ten as I landed on my feet with arms in the air. Could have been really ugly if I hadn't gotten my hands down. Needless to say that was it for bodysurfing that day.

Heres a guy that caught a good one

Is that a head or two in that wave?

usvi-on-line

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The Great North Swell of 2006 (new pics)