The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Liquid Smoke

At one moment during the up and down madness of Elsa's winds, it kicked in a solid 40+.   Note the garbage can in front of the car in the photo...that can had been 50 feet upwind a moment before.  We watched as the whitecaps were ripped apart by the gust, and then when things settled down decided to rig (rerig for Scott, who already had a 3-something on a mast.)   4.2 for the Earl of Kielt and me, 4.1 for Christian, whilst the Wolf opted for 3.7.  Good calls all.

Things didn't start out this way.   Pouring rain with no wind in the morning...would Elsa be a washout?  Then the meters to the west started jumping and Scott headed to Sebonac.   He texted "3.7!  It will last for an hour!"   

I jumped in my van as the trees overhead went from calm to buffeted by 30 mph gusts.   Arrived at Sebonac to find...wait for it...no wind.    But a wall of clouds was coming so we were patient, then rewarded by flying garbage cans and then 4.2 gusting to 3.7 (I probably should have been on the 3.7).

After 90 minutes of good times I smashed my hand in a blown jibe (boom/hand/board/blood) and so got to rip downwind overpowered in big chop with one hand.   Good times.   In the parking area some of the guys were taking a break, and we watched some boating fool launch out of Bullhead Bay ("alone" Christian observed) head out about three hundred yards directly into the wind, then tried to turn around ("this isn't going to be good" several of us said").  He then proceeded to turn 360 degrees twice (freestyling?) before heading back, now wearing his life vest.  Good decision.

Artie arrived as I bandaged up and the wind dropped some.   "5.4" he guestimated, and I concurred.  "Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to rig and fly."  Artie rigged and flew, while I grabbed neosporin and large band aids.

Foiling Sesh #3

Sally and I headed out to Napeague Saturday, for a post-Covid reunion with Wilson and Lili and family.   They foil out there, and my two previous foiling experiences in 2018 and 2019 were due for an update.   Wilson of course has gotten pretty good in the ensuing years that I've been off-wing, and gave tips that got me flying for up to 20 seconds a stretch (once).  Amazing to be planing (or whatever one calls it...flying?) on a 4.8 sail in what for "finning" would be 7.5 conditions.

Attempted on jibe...didn't come remotely close.

Finally, Returning to South Jamesport

"You know how many times we've been here this year?" Scott demanded?  I did not.

"Three!  This is the worst year for South Jamesport!"

Possibly true, but Scott, George Pav, the Wolf and your editor were out on 5.3's and small boards (93 for me, 85 for Scott por ejemplo) and the water was warm and friendly during the Friday afternoon sesh.

For my previous windsurfing session I'd had to wear my drysuit (cold at East Landing) as I don't have a 5/3.  This day at SJ I was needlessly wearing a 3.2 because I hadn't yet loaded my shorty into the van.  Could have worn one though!

A fine late Spring afternoon, and my first session with Lord vanderWolf in ages.  Good to see the Old Man of the Sea!

Six Years Ago By Comparison...

...there I am at South Jamesport, chasing the ever speedy Scott in the distance.  In a shorty.  Not a DRYSUIT!!!   I am ready for summer shortboarding.

A Memorable Session at East Landing

I don't think I've worn a drysuit on Memorial Day weekend before, but my choices were that or a 3/2, and 3/2 wasn't going to cut it.   It was nuking and about 50 degrees in rain at East Landing...when I arrived Scott was tailwalking in, to rig down to 3.7 whilst Christian kept it together on a 4.1.  Pav was leaving, while Artie and Joe Nat arrived right behind me.   Tiny sails it was, and I rigged my 3.7 for only the second time.

This time it dialed in.

East Landing at low tide has beautifully spaced swell with smooth jibing areas outbound...I planed fully through my second jibe (normally I'm happy just to stay dry when the sails are three meters.)  And the jumping was good on both tacks...I had a few nice long ones on port, and tried to imitate Christian's S turns up ramps on starboard.

The wind died (LOL) after an hour of my being there ("what did you do to the wind?" Scott demanded of me.)  I rigged up to 4.2 and life was good again.   Rigging up to 4.2...that's a problem to have!

As the tide came in the spot became quite bumpy, and I'll confess to my shoulders frying pretty quickly.

Next time the forecast is NE I'm heading to East Landing for low tide.

P.S.  re the drysuit...it was for the howling cool air.  The water was warmer than the air...summer booties, no thought of gloves.  Give me 70 degrees air and on comes the 3/2.