The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Breaking the (Almost) Ice at SJ

I haven't gone through an entire winter without a session since 1996.   It had been four months since my last sesh (at Meschutt).   FINALLY the windsurfing gods said "okay it won't be ideal but there will be wind and people to share it with" so I ended up at South Jamesport with Scott, Artie, Christian, Dilay, Eric and Cyrus.  4.7 on ESE...not ideal but nobody except The Art of Windsurfing wanted to drive to Orient (I was intimidated, having not sailed in ages).

The tide was not ideal...mid to high with the bay flooding on the Easterly to begin with, so there was plenty of unorganized chop to greet my rusty ass.  Prime kooking conditions!

I launched, and sailed maybe five hundred yards out feeling unbalanced and off, then blew a jibe and came in to assess.  First thing I noticed was I was still wearing my wool rigging gloves, which now weighed about two pounds each with all the water they'd absorbed!   Back to the van to swap out for WINDSURFING gloves, then run #2.   Still unbalanced and inefficient, managed an ugly dry jibe, then on the way in all of a sudden everthing clicked in place.  It clicked in place more than I wanted it to...I was flying lit through a smooth section faster than this rusty old guy was ready for...but I made it back.   On the beach Lord Scotworth and I discussed arm fatigue.   I noticed that my mouth was having trouble forming words...42 degrees air with no sun and some rain...I went back to the van to warm up.   While I'm in the van Cyrus showed up, wearing flip flops.   Me I need something heavier than a drysuit but Cyrus is rigged for summer!

Took a couple more runs then called it a day.  I was struggling and cold, but happy I'd gotten back on the board.  Each run was better than the preceding one, so perhaps next sesh I'll sail like someone who windsurfs!

Winter Missed (by me)

For the entire winter a session had evaded me.  Scott too...between life schedules, cold temperatures and lack of wind, while many of us had gotten little, the Earl of Kielt and I had got none.

Then Sunday Sebonac Inlet beckoned.   Cold (36-40) but sunny and windy.    I had obligations, but Scott made it on the Last Day of Winter!   T'was Scott, Frank, George and Artie with 4.7 the sail call (Artie says Frank was on a 4.5 but this sounds unlikely.  Frank is mas macho.)   The Peconic Puffin salutes them all.

For myself it's been twenty years since I missed getting at least one winter day in.  I whiffed!  Oh well...bring on Spring!

 

 

Where is my first winter session?

It's March.  I haven't sailed since November.   The last time I went this long between sessions was 2006!   Bad luck, bad scheduling, bad winter for me!

Skunks and Puffins

The forecast seemed so promising.

Scott and I were at South Jamesport, willing the tiny whitecaps to become bigger whitecaps.  Didn't happen.  Some nice people installed a beach cleaning station (baskets to pick up garbage, a can to dump it in.).  I took a run with it, returning with a soda bottle, a plastic bag, and a couple pieces of paper.

On the phone George reported a breeze on the ocean but unfavorable water conditions.   Artie called with a promising theory of sunlight and wind shifts and a hope of wind at Sebonac Inlet, so off most of us went (George stayed by the ocean awaiting a wind report.)

At Sebonac it was more of the same.   Tiny whitecaps.  Good 7.0 conditions, argh.    A puffin flew by!   Then three more!  Not quite windsurfing but still pleasing to this editor.  (If siting puffins is your thing, Sebonac has been the best spot over the years.)   Cyrus (also spotted at SJ) showed up...he'd never sailed Sebonac.   Dilay arrived too.   I gave up (wife and house guest at home) but Dilay and Cyrus went for it, and got going for a brief while.

George wisely passed.

(Top:  The new clean-the-beach station.  Middle:  Dilay will not be dinied.   Bottom:  Cyrus' maiden voyage at Sebonac.  Sailing photos by Artie.)

 

West Meadow Fridge Session

Me I was on a plane flying from Europe to JFK.  We flew in straight east, so I knew it was still blowing straight west.  But catching it in the first frigid sesh of the year were George Pav, Artie, Chris, Rob and Steve...maybe others in 38 degrees (my cutoff is 40 unless there's blazing sun!)  We honor their bravery, and envy the sesh (it was still well within the Long Island Rule of 100). 

(Photo courtesy Ken the Kiter.  Reporting by Artie.)