Sport Today

by **nikit** » Sat, 21 May 2005 22:47:17

I was in Pleasure Bay (Boston) with a friend yesterday. We rigged and
were about to go into the water as a park ranger came over and said
that we weren't allowed to. He said that he's been asked to strictly
enforce the "no watercraft" regulations. I expected that something like
that would happen once the water gets warmer and people start swimming
there. However, the water is still about 50F and only windsurfers and
kiters use the bay. The guy said that he would not allow surfers/kiters
from now on and forever (even in January). Said that the bay was not
safe for us, since Coast Guard can't come into it and rescue us - kind
of ridiculous safety reason to be forcing us into open ocean where a
beginner surfer/kiter can drift for miles without anybody even
noticing, and everybody has to watch out for power boats whizzing by.

Anyway, has something like this happen before in P Bay? Do they go back
and forth on this enforcement issue? I have no problem sailing
elsewhere when people are swimming there in the summer, but I would
like to keep going there when the water is cold.

Nikita.

by **holom..** » Sun, 22 May 2005 02:36:40

Oh man, that sucks! "Not safe"? That's about the safest place I can
imagine sailing. My bet is some locals complained to the right people
for some reason - although maybe its just that one range power-tripping
out. I guess the best thing to do would be to go out into the harbor
and get run over a barge, or perhaps that aircraft carrier that is in
town this weekend. Alternatively, maybe more people will start going
to Nahant.

by **capice..** » Sun, 22 May 2005 02:43:54

Any politically connected windsurfers in the Boston area? Hmmmmm.....
Seems like it would be worth trying.

Quote:

> Oh man, that sucks! "Not safe"? That's about the safest place I can
> imagine sailing. My bet is some locals complained to the right
people
> for some reason - although maybe its just that one range
power-tripping
> out. I guess the best thing to do would be to go out into the
harbor
> and get run over a barge, or perhaps that aircraft carrier that is in
> town this weekend. Alternatively, maybe more people will start going
> to Nahant.

by **weed..** » Sun, 22 May 2005 02:54:45

Quote:

> Any politically connected windsurfers in the Boston area?
Hmmmmm.....
> Seems like it would be worth trying.

> > Oh man, that sucks! "Not safe"? That's about the safest place I
can
> > imagine sailing. My bet is some locals complained to the right
> people
> > for some reason - although maybe its just that one range
> power-tripping
> > out. I guess the best thing to do would be to go out into the
> harbor
> > and get run over a barge, or perhaps that aircraft carrier that is
in
> > town this weekend. Alternatively, maybe more people will start
going
> > to Nahant.

Write John Kerry. Let him do something for once.

by **Windandsur** » Sun, 22 May 2005 03:44:18

You can call Sen. Kerry's office at

(202) 224-2742 (DC)
(617) 565-8519 (Boston)

Additional contact info (including mailing addresses and fax numbers)
at
http://kerry.senate.gov/text/contact/office.html

Here's some info from US Windsurfing's site re: water access and
working with public officials :
http://www.uswindsurfing.org/usw_library/other/work_public_officials.pdf
http://www.uswindsurfing.org/usw_library/other/water_acces.pdf

Organized groups seem to make a difference (example is the Baltimore
Area Boardsailing Assoc. getting Mayo Beach reopened near Annapolis)

Hope this helps.

by **holom..** » Sun, 22 May 2005 05:58:26

Hey good idea. I sent him a mail. What the hell - he's my neighbor.
I'm sure the ranger should be apologizes to Nikita any minute now...

by **D T W .../\\..** » Sun, 22 May 2005 06:13:33

Quote:

> I was in Pleasure Bay (Boston) with a friend yesterday. We rigged and
> were about to go into the water as a park ranger came over and said
> that we weren't allowed to. He said that he's been asked to strictly
> enforce the "no watercraft" regulations. I expected that something like
> that would happen once the water gets warmer and people start swimming
> there. However, the water is still about 50F and only windsurfers and
> kiters use the bay. The guy said that he would not allow surfers/kiters
> from now on and forever (even in January). Said that the bay was not
> safe for us, since Coast Guard can't come into it and rescue us - kind
> of ridiculous safety reason to be forcing us into open ocean where a
> beginner surfer/kiter can drift for miles without anybody even
> noticing, and everybody has to watch out for power boats whizzing by.

> Anyway, has something like this happen before in P Bay? Do they go back
> and forth on this enforcement issue? I have no problem sailing
> elsewhere when people are swimming there in the summer, but I would
> like to keep going there when the water is cold.

> Nikita.

Hey Nik,

My faded memory says that in the late 80's there was a sailing club in
the Bay. When windsurfing became popular we started getting in the way of
the sailboaters. I seem to remember that they got us banned from
windsurfing in there and the BCM, Boardsailors Coalition of Mass. worked to
gain access to launch at Kelly's Landing. Gone now, as is the BCM, but it
faced out into Dorchester Bay, on the other side of the flagpoles. I
believe that you can still launch there, although It's certainly not ideal.
After the sailing club left, we got back into the bay, but it was an
unwritten rule that it was closed to us when summer rolled around. Since
then "the man" has usually looked the other way when it was "off" season.
You need the ranger on your side, don't give him a hard time.

See you at Nahant ;-)

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest, I've just wasted.

by **Dan Weis** » Sun, 22 May 2005 06:28:50

Nikita: Please contact me directly via e-mail or check out the US
Windsurfing directory on its website www.uswindsurfing.org and let me know
the details, like who, in what capacity, when (date and time), and that sort
of thing.

Continued and meaningful access for windsurfers is one of US Windsurfing's
highest priorities. I'll get on it first thing on Monday morning.

-Dan

Dan Weiss
Director, US Windsurfing, Northeast Region

Quote:

>I was in Pleasure Bay (Boston) with a friend yesterday. We rigged and
> were about to go into the water as a park ranger came over and said
> that we weren't allowed to. He said that he's been asked to strictly
> enforce the "no watercraft" regulations. I expected that something like
> that would happen once the water gets warmer and people start swimming
> there. However, the water is still about 50F and only windsurfers and
> kiters use the bay. The guy said that he would not allow surfers/kiters
> from now on and forever (even in January). Said that the bay was not
> safe for us, since Coast Guard can't come into it and rescue us - kind
> of ridiculous safety reason to be forcing us into open ocean where a
> beginner surfer/kiter can drift for miles without anybody even
> noticing, and everybody has to watch out for power boats whizzing by.

> Anyway, has something like this happen before in P Bay? Do they go back
> and forth on this enforcement issue? I have no problem sailing
> elsewhere when people are swimming there in the summer, but I would
> like to keep going there when the water is cold.

> Nikita.

by tf » Wed, 25 May 2005 00:59:12

Quote:

> I was in Pleasure Bay (Boston) with a friend yesterday. We rigged and
> were about to go into the water as a park ranger came over and said
> that we weren't allowed to. He said that he's been asked to strictly
> enforce the "no watercraft" regulations. I expected that something
like
> that would happen once the water gets warmer and people start
swimming
> there. However, the water is still about 50F and only windsurfers and
> kiters use the bay. The guy said that he would not allow
surfers/kiters
> from now on and forever (even in January). Said that the bay was not
> safe for us, since Coast Guard can't come into it and rescue us -
kind
> of ridiculous safety reason to be forcing us into open ocean where a
> beginner surfer/kiter can drift for miles without anybody even
> noticing, and everybody has to watch out for power boats whizzing by.

> Anyway, has something like this happen before in P Bay? Do they go
back
> and forth on this enforcement issue? I have no problem sailing
> elsewhere when people are swimming there in the summer, but I would
> like to keep going there when the water is cold.

> Nikita.

by tf » Wed, 25 May 2005 01:22:42

Nikita

Interesting that he should say "no watercraft" for there is a sailing
center located on the same body of water. At one point in the past
they did have, and may still have, windsurfing equipment and lessons
available to the public. In fact one of the instuctors recently wrote
to Windsurfing magazine to appeal to manufacturers to donate windsuring
equipment to the sailing program. The intent is to give inner city kids
a healthy activity. The letter was published in the magazine.

At one point, the now deceased head of the center, Harry McDonough,
sought
to keep the waters clear for his sailing program. That was about
twenty years ago. Additionally there may be a rule that says no
"watercraft" while lifeguards are on duty.

It is great place to learn, make speed runs, and safely sail in
conditions such as Noreasters, of which one is due tomrw.

Good to read that Dan is taking up the charge of getting to the real
issue. Thanks Dan

Thanks Dan

Quote:

> I was in Pleasure Bay (Boston) with a friend yesterday. We rigged and
> were about to go into the water as a park ranger came over and said
> that we weren't allowed to. He said that he's been asked to strictly
> enforce the "no watercraft" regulations. I expected that something
like
> that would happen once the water gets warmer and people start
swimming
> there. However, the water is still about 50F and only windsurfers and
> kiters use the bay. The guy said that he would not allow
surfers/kiters
> from now on and forever (even in January). Said that the bay was not
> safe for us, since Coast Guard can't come into it and rescue us -
kind
> of ridiculous safety reason to be forcing us into open ocean where a
> beginner surfer/kiter can drift for miles without anybody even
> noticing, and everybody has to watch out for power boats whizzing by.

> Anyway, has something like this happen before in P Bay? Do they go
back
> and forth on this enforcement issue? I have no problem sailing
> elsewhere when people are swimming there in the summer, but I would
> like to keep going there when the water is cold.

> Nikita.

by **Dan Weis** » Wed, 25 May 2005 04:33:03

My pleasure to try to help.

The latest is that Parks and Rec is looking into Nikita's complaint and will
get back to me regarding their position on windsurfing (actually, whether
they have a position or not and, if so, what it is and upon what it is
based) and the nature of the Park Ranger's purported authority to enforce or
fine.

My goal is to keep a lid on this issue to prevent unnecessary escalation.

To all Boston area sailors, please let me know of any new developments. It
was pretty windy on Saturday and I have not heard whether anyone was sailing
there. Keep me informed, thanks.

-Dan

Quote:

> Nikita

> Interesting that he should say "no watercraft" for there is a sailing
> center located on the same body of water. At one point in the past
> they did have, and may still have, windsurfing equipment and lessons
> available to the public. In fact one of the instuctors recently wrote
> to Windsurfing magazine to appeal to manufacturers to donate windsuring
> equipment to the sailing program. The intent is to give inner city kids
> a healthy activity. The letter was published in the magazine.

> At one point, the now deceased head of the center, Harry McDonough,
> sought
> to keep the waters clear for his sailing program. That was about
> twenty years ago. Additionally there may be a rule that says no
> "watercraft" while lifeguards are on duty.

> It is great place to learn, make speed runs, and safely sail in
> conditions such as Noreasters, of which one is due tomrw.

> Good to read that Dan is taking up the charge of getting to the real
> issue. Thanks Dan

> Thanks Dan

>> I was in Pleasure Bay (Boston) with a friend yesterday. We rigged and
>> were about to go into the water as a park ranger came over and said
>> that we weren't allowed to. He said that he's been asked to strictly
>> enforce the "no watercraft" regulations. I expected that something
> like
>> that would happen once the water gets warmer and people start
> swimming
>> there. However, the water is still about 50F and only windsurfers and
>> kiters use the bay. The guy said that he would not allow
> surfers/kiters
>> from now on and forever (even in January). Said that the bay was not
>> safe for us, since Coast Guard can't come into it and rescue us -
> kind
>> of ridiculous safety reason to be forcing us into open ocean where a
>> beginner surfer/kiter can drift for miles without anybody even
>> noticing, and everybody has to watch out for power boats whizzing by.

>> Anyway, has something like this happen before in P Bay? Do they go
> back
>> and forth on this enforcement issue? I have no problem sailing
>> elsewhere when people are swimming there in the summer, but I would
>> like to keep going there when the water is cold.

>> Nikita.

by **nikit** » Wed, 25 May 2005 06:55:32

Quote:

> To all Boston area sailors, please let me know of any new
developments. It
> was pretty windy on Saturday and I have not heard whether anyone was
sailing
> there. Keep me informed, thanks.

> -Dan

There were a couple of guys sailing in the bay and they said they
didn't see the ranger. Maybe it was a day off for him. I didn't want to
take the chance and sailed on the outside - just because he would
remember me and I may not get off easily. I don't want any escalation
either.

Nikita.

by **Scott** » Wed, 25 May 2005 23:01:55

I blame the kiters.
Windsurfers have been there for years with no problems.

by **msirac..** » Fri, 10 Jun 2005 03:59:41

I was wondering if there were any new info about this Pleasure Bay
issue. Someone recomended I try sailing there (instead of traveling
down to the Cape). I was going to try it out this Friday (looks like
there will be some nice wind) and wanted to know if I should even
bother trying.

Thanks,
-Michael

by **nikit** » Fri, 10 Jun 2005 05:22:53

Dan was trying to find the official word. I am sailing on the outside
of the bay now and it's not too bad, except it's choppy in places.
Yesterday the wind was from the west and it was perfect - water almost
flat. It's also something that wouldn't have been safe for me a few
months ago, but now I am a lot more comfortable with waterstarts,
staying upwind, etc, so if you are not a total beginner, you can sail
there as well. Friday is looking like a good day, I may try to come as
well after 6pm.

As for the bay itself, kiters are still using it. Interestingly, I saw
a ranger on the damb (I think it was THE ranger) with his SUV and he
was just standing at the fence, watching the kiters. There was a
policeman with his cruiser there as well. Later the kiters told me that
none of the officials had anything to say to them and they just kept
kiting. So I am not sure if he was having a bad day when he chased me
off or what.

Nikita.

Sport Today

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?

Pleasure Bay - no more?