Atlantic Ocean, New Hampshire, US

Jenness Beach

Usual Difficulty	I(V) (for normal flows)

River Description

Some of the best surf conditions can be found from late Summer through Winter when tropical storms, hurricanes, and nor'easters are most common. The storms can be several miles off the coast and can kick up a descent swell. Look for east to northeast winds for the best action.

Directions

Jenness Beach is on Route 1A in Rye, about 5 miles south of Odiorne's Point, and probably a mile north of the North Hampton town line (if that)...
From Manchester.. take Rt 101 east to 1A.
Take a left (north) past Hampton to Jenness beach parking lot.

Surf Etiquette

Newcomers to surfing rely on friends to explain the rule. There is no readily available document nor is there frequent publicity to ensure one has a common understanding. Fortunately commonsense prevails by and large. Most surfers do develop a similar concept of dropping-in. However the greater variety of surf craft sharing our beaches nowadays is causing some conflict. This is mostly a result of frustration on the part of those on slower paddling boards. The problem is magnified by vague right of way rules. It would benefit all surfers for a logical and easy to understand rule or set of rules was developed and publicized. Following are proposed right of way rules for surfers. They are put forward as a starting point for further consideration and discussion. The rules were developed with free surfing in mind. Obviously specialized rules may be required in competitions. It would be ideal if a set of rules could be endorsed by the majority of international amateur and professional surfing associations. Most surfers would comply if such rules were well publicized. Self regulation should work quite well as long as everyone knows and understands that the same rules apply to everybody. Primary considerations must be safety and a sense of fair play. The following guidelines account for all types of waves: peak, point, close-outs, sectioning, reformed waves and white water. They are designed to apply to craft that ride waves mainly due to the action of gravity.

A SURFER WHO FIRST CATCHES OR RIDES ONTO AN UNBROKEN SECTION OR WAVE HAS RIGHT OF WAY ON THAT UNBROKEN SECTION

Notes:
1. A wave that is partially broken or just starting to break should he considered to be unbroken for the purpose of these rules.

2. Usually when more than one surfer attempts to catch a wave at the same time, the one closest to the point where the wave first breaks (the critical point) will catch it first and have right of way.

3. Once a surfer has caught a wave, another surfer may not paddle inside and take-off in a more critical section.

4. The point when a surfer can be considered to have caught a wave is when he/she stops paddling, kicking or stroking and continues to move down or along the wave under the force of gravity.
A SURFER HAS NO RIGHT OF WAY IF TAKING-OFF IN A COMPLETELY BROKEN WAVE SECTION.

5. The surfer can ride from a completely broken section to a unbroken section that is not already being ridden, they will then be entitled to right of way.
A SURFER RIDING A COMPLETELY BROKEN WAVE SECTION SUCH THAT PROGRESS TOWARD THE SHOULDER HAS CEASED, HAS NO ENTITLEMENT TO ANY UNBROKEN PART OF THE WAVE.

6. A surfer can gain right of way by riding out of the white water onto a unoccupied, unbroken wave section.
A SURFER TAKING-OFF ON ONE SIDE OF A PEAK HAS NO RIGHT OF WAY OVER A SURFER WHO HAS ALREADY CAUGHT OR IS RIDING THE OTHER SHOULDER.

7. This means a surfer cannot cross under the peak to the opposite shoulder if is already occupied.
A WAVE RIDER MUST AVOID ALL OTHER SWIMMERS OR SURFERS WHO ARE EITHER STATIONARY OR PADDLING OUT.

exerpted from: SURFSKI QUARTERLY 17