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Norwalk Light Overview
North winds are only sailable in the river, and even in the strongest wind, it can be very difficult to launch with a sinker. Crossing the channel during northwesterlies can be tricky, and sailors must give right-of-way to all boats in the channel. Warm, southerly winds are perfect for beam reach cruising in front of the beach or towards Westport. Expect big swells and waves during east and northeasterlies. Launch at Low Tech Beach to avoid the dead corner at the shop school. Low tide poses many shallow spots, ask the locals what spots to watch for.
Local club, Gone With the Wind Surf Club (GWW), for launching at the school and after-sail barbecue otherwise use the public launch down the road. Call 203- 852-1857.
Large shallow water on the inside good for learning basics, beachstarts, or waterstarts.
One of the few beaches in Western Connecticut available to nonresidents.
Non-resident Parking is $30 Memorial to Labor Day, (season pass $50 for GWW members).
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Maps & Directions
From Route I-95 south, take exit 16 and go over the freeway. After you go under a railroad bridge and through an intersection, the road divides. Bear left onto Cemetery Street, and continue to next rotary which has a "Ludlow Park" monument. Go left and keep the park to starboard. The beach is at the end of the road.
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Sensor Notes
The sensor is located on Gone With the Wind Surf Club's (GWW) building at the launch. Bruce, organizer of the GWW, has extensive experience using these wind reports. Here are thoughts on sailing and interpreting the meter as reported in a GWW newsletter:
North - Worst direction to sail in Norwalk. The WHL meter is a little blocked by trees, causing the reading to be about 70% accurate.
Northwest - Pretty accurate readings, but this is usually a very gusty direction and readings can range from 10-30 mph.
West - Can also be gusty, but the readings are accurate.
Southwest, South, Southeast - These onshore directions receive accurate wind speeds from the WHL.
East, Northeast - Easterly readings are more accurate than northeast, but both directions offer great sailing. Even if the reads only 10-18, it is probably blowing 20+ farther out.
From member Gregg Healey:
N - E reading is low because meter is offshore and shadowed by trees.
Definitely reads low on an NE-E (people don't really sail Norwalk in N
or NNE) which are great wind directions for LIS and this launch. My rule
of thumb is that when it's blowing NE-E, the average gust value
generally represents the average wind speed on the water. A way to
sanity check this is to look at the Bridgeport meter. Both locations on
an easterly usually have similar wind on the water (most of western LIS
gets similar wind on E). the ESE - NNW readings are generally true, but
because the meter is 40 feet up, it sometimes reads a little high on a
southerly.
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