The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

What lurks beneath the surface at South Jamesport?

"There's something out there" Scott said, pointing at a spot about 50 yards out at SJ.   "Look at the hit my board took!"   A sharp gouge about six inches long could be seen on the bottom of his board.   He was planing when he hit it.    It had to be narrow...like an iron rod...because his fin didn't hit anything.    The theory is that the very low tide we had Saturday brought the bay to the point where the Gouger was just under the surface. 
So we moved west about 50 feet to launch.  Heck it was a 4.2 day!   Me Christian Zee Artie Scott the Wolf Joe...guys from Brooklyn and Queens and Heckscher all showed up to catch SJ glory...at least ten windsurfers on the water.   Joe says that at a previous session he once saw something poking out of the water...the spot seems to be straight out from the beach if you line up with the road, and Scott places it 50 yards from shore.  I wouldn't want to fall on it.  Be wary!

(Photo:  Scott, Christian, Artie and the Wolf discuss the perils of SJ)

Andy Brandt One Day Foiling and Windsurfing Clinics

Three one-day clinics:

October 10th Foiling only
October 11th Windsurfing
October 12th Windsurfing

Each clinic will be limited to six students. Andy Brandt teaching. Get good while the getting's good!

Register at the ABK web site.

West Landing? Yes Indeed!

Where can we park?

It was blowing 16-18 NE today but we could not figure out where to sail on account of all the parking restrictions.

The logical choice was East Landing.  Yes it's posted as requiring Town permits but many of us (your editor, for example) have never been asked for one there.  East landing was where Christian, Artie and I were headed.

Scott suggested Meschutt (no permit required.)   In the interest of all sailing together the call was made to go to Meschutt.  I arrived first and was promptly stopped by a park attendant who said $18 to park.   I said "I've been sailing here 20 years and have never heard this".   Apparently as long as it's summer they can charge, and today was Hassle People At Beaches Day (there were no cars in the Meschutt parking lot.)

So we headed to East Landing.   Where a police car immediately showed up and told us we could not stay without town permits (next year I'm getting one).   He was kind enough to tell us about West Landing, where there was an area to park sans permits.   After some running back and forth between Landings East and West, we ended up at West Landing.   Nice beach, but the wind is pretty much dead onshore in NE.  Still we have a good session.

Scott and his Rope Fins

Scott, the Wolf and your editor at Meschutt.   The wind was blowing straight north...a little weird, and barely enough to plane on larger gear.  Scott was on his 5.8, I had a 6.2 on my 109, and the Wolf was trying to make a 5.3 work on his 102.*    

Meschutt Beach is still rigged for summer, meaning that swimming areas are roped off.  I'd never sailed there in the summer so it was all news to me.   My first run where I needed to go through the swimming area I spotted the full ropes soon enough that I was prepared to jump them and clear my fin.   Execution is everything though, and I failed to get the fin high enough.  Kapow, as Batman would say.

Soon after Scott launched, and I watched him head towards the swimming area.   He went through a section that apparently had no rope.  OF COURSE he knows the ins and outs here I thought.  So I headed the same way, but fortunately remembered that Scott's boards all sport weed fins.  He's cheating!  He has ROPE fins on!

So I tacked and headed upwind towards the jetty, where I was finally able to get high enough to reach past the ropes.

Other than that it was an unremarkable session...the forecast had called for a lot more wind but it wasn't to be.    Still, I learned a new rigging trick.  Rope fins!

Week-long Swap Meet at Hampton Watersports

Sept 12th - Sept 19th. Week long swap is back. Stop by whenever convenient. Buy or sell used and closeout Foil, Kite, surf, Wing and Windsurf gear.
Sellers - drop your used gear now thru 11am 9/12
Buyers - Come by and check it out . Note: Anyone looking for anything specific, let the store know before hand.

Hampton Watersports
1688 County Road 39
Southampton, NY 11968
(631)283-9463
www.hamptonwatersports.com