Westhampton Beach Friends Attempt to Paddle Board Around Long Island

On July 5 Mike Mignone of Westhampton Beach and Chris Mensch of Remsenburg began their 80-mile stand-up paddle boarding adventure from Breezy Point, Queens, to Shinnecock Inlet.  Without wetsuits, only going into the water to cool down, the two friends and adventure-seekers, had waterproof bags tied to their boards, containing only essentials, which included an iPod, protein bars, almonds, coconut water shots, bug spray, sunblock, a cell phone for emergencies and a camelback that holds 100 ounces of water. 

The friends have been stand-up paddle surfing in the ocean for a few years and thought it would be fun to start long distance paddling.

The pair, who had intended to end their excursion in Montauk, had strategically planned to paddle approximately 35-40 miles or 8-9 hours per day and were content that they arrived at their destinations close to schedule.

The first day, they reached Lido Beach at 10 a.m. At 7 p.m. they came ashore at Kismet on Fire Island and asked a homeowner if they could leave their boards at their house while they ate dinner. 

Mignone said, “The family offered to let us sleep on lounge chairs on the back deck so we did. We woke up cold and wet with blankets on us, and continued the paddle at 5:30 a.m.”

Due to foggy conditions, day two was spent on the bay.  At 3 p.m. the two reached Smith Point Beach.  At 4:30 p.m., they were thrilled to be greeted by their wives and kids at

At 6:30 a.m. on, July 7, the voyage continued as they paddled along the bay then crossed to the ocean when the tide was no longer against them.  Shinnecock Inlet was their last stop at 3 p.m.

Mignone said that they hoped to make it to Montauk on the fourth day.

“We would’ve had to have been in the ocean for the rest of the trip. The wind switched and began to blow from the east and a heavy fog rolled in. We decided to stop at Shinnecock Inlet.” 

He says that although they were disappointed, physically, it felt good.

Family support and excitement was essential to these men.  Becky Mignone explained that she was not surprised by their idea to do this.

“Those two can’t get enough of the ocean. Surfing has been their favorite pastime since they were kids growing up on the same street in Newport Beach, East Moriches.”

Having previously competed with each other in races, starting first with 5k runs then moving on to triathalons, they enjoy challenging each other.  “But this time,” Mrs. Mignone added, “They were more of a team”. 

Mignone and Mensch said  that some people thought they were crazy, and couldn’t understand why they would want to do something like this for no reason, while others thought it was a cool thing to do.

Watch for the duo again next summer, though possibly at a different location and for a good cause.

In 2012, they will have more planning, taking into consideration the tides and weather conditions, and arranging for places to sleep at night along the way.

The optimistic and enthusiastic pair hope to paddle that last thirty miles from Shinnecock to Montauk before summer’s over.  They say that with the right conditions they can do it in one day.