Tommy Bursian got pretty tight with his amigo Bill this morning.
Well, whatever happens at this point, we can't say that Hurricane Bill was Hurricane Bull. We can't be sure the East Coast will actually get good, but we do know it's going to get big. Puerto Rico already scored.
Welcome to Bill Blog #3.
Bill is still like a circular saw, cutting up the Atlantic. As of tonight, Bill is a Cat 2 Hurricane with top sustained winds of 105 mph, positioned several hundred miles due east of Florida.
The article was actually pretty good, without the token "hang ten" or "surf's up" donkey comment we usually see when the Atlantic occasionally comes to life in July and August. The author interviewed several beach patrol supervisors, who say they are ready for the swell. They also spoke with Scott Meredith and Don Tarrant, a pair of surf shop owners and old friends of mine. Both sounded like veterans of storm hype.
We harvested the crop today from our Puerto Rico connection, Rachel Tanner, who got her crew on some magical reefs circa de Aguadilla. It was clearly a barrel day with Alejo Marin, Nico Moreda, Jose Taveres, Tommy and Leslie Bursian, Josie Graves, and Alejando Moreda all coming through gapers.
Rachel Tanner
Everyone from Barbados to New Foundland was basically picturing himself doing this when Bill was upgraded earlier this week. Some of us might. But Jose Tavares has already done it.
Bill is now suffering from some wind sheer and will continue to weaken, but barely. The big front that is keeping Bill from turning Savannah, Vah Beach, or New York into a giant water park is pulling up south winds. But while they may be marring the pre-storm groundswell, they might set up a little direction for Sunday and keep us from getting mile wide dumpers.
I swam out for a bit of a body surf this evening. We had the same kind of moderate south chop (hotter than hell too) and I would say there were maybe a few five-foot faces.
Florida was finally seeing something today, though only in the three to four-foot range at the better spots.
The Outer Banks actually had some fun surf in advance of the swell, probably thanks to the residuals of Ana. Today registered a little bigger, but the winds weren't cooperating. Tomorrow is when the East Coast will really get rocked.
Matt Lusk
Tomorrow, Brett Barley may be holding a tow rope instead of his rail in N.C.
One source says that Cape Cod will get the biggest, at over 15-foot (that's taking a tropical meteorologist's estimates and translating it to surferspeak.) I happen to know of a half-dozen Californians and one Hawaiian already here for this one.
Since I haven't said this yet, don't get in over your head. This is a serious storm, and while you may have actually surfed bigger waves in Hawaii or the Caribbean, most of our beaches will have trouble handling it. Things could get out of hand pretty quick.
That said, have fun. I still think Sunday is the day.
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Contributors
Jon Coen
Jon is from New Jersey and continues to reside there with his wife and dog—which means occasional empty barrels and the occasional session in the snow.The state isn't as dirty as people might think, but he'll let them keep believing that.
Jake Howard
Jake lives, writes and surfs in San Clemente, Calif. He spent his formative gremlin years surfing points north of San Francisco, and for the past 10 years has been contently surviving behind the Orange Curtain.
Kimball Taylor
Author of "Return by Water," as well as books on Jeffreys Bay and Pipeline, Kimball drives a red-hot Camero, and back in the '70s, he used to party with your dad.
Daniel Ikaika Ito
Daniel surfs like a hippie, but dresses like a homie. The Native Hawaiian originally hails from Hilo, but now resides in Honolulu. He enjoys twin-fins, new sneakers and being ESPN's "Cuz On The Scene" in the 50th State.
Jason Kenworthy
About as majestic as a turkey vulture, when he's not schlepping his lens around the world or looking for roadkill, Jason can be found at home in Dana Point, Calif., tending to his growing brood.
