The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Freestyle...Take it Easy

Bust a move in eight knots. Bust a move in six.

In the current edition of Windsurfing Magazine, Matt Pritchard says that freestyle windsurfing events should lose the wind minimums. If the wind is light, Pritchard says either get out bigger sails, or keep the sails and get out the big boards, and freestyle it like they did in days of old.

Of course there's plenty of new-school nonplaning freestyle, and probably the best place to see it is Bonaire. Check out the guy in this excellent clip by Mike Stefanski, shot right off the beach.

ABK Boardsports teaches this stuff, starting with the basics. If you want to see some of these moves done individually, check out ClewFirst.com.

Anyone can do this stuff, and its fun. All you need is a floaty board, a sail, and less than ten knots of wind. How hard will it be to find those conditions?

Le 5.5 Nouveau Est Wet!

How long after you buy a new sail do you get exactly the wind that it's meant for? My usual answer is "WAY TOO LONG!" But this week it finally happened. I got my new 5.5 a few days ago, and today it was exactly what the wind doctor ordered.

A solid 20 blowing across the Great Peconic had a bunch of us sailing from Meschutt (Jon Ford, John V, CPU John, with Scott and myself rounding out the non Johns) in a solid 20 knots. I did not know that you could do a straight run from Meschutt to Sebonac Inlet, but Scott and a John made the run today. Rousted up a bunch of puffins, too...they'll be leaving in a few weeks when it theoretically starts to warm up.

Speaking of new sails, Jon Ford's sail (pictured) always reminds me of the Union Jack. Brittania ruled the waves...

Le 5.5 Nouveau Est Arrivé!

It's a glorious day.

A few weeks ago when my all-time favorite sail had to be put down, some of you made kindly comments. There was a suggestion of palliative drink. Admiration for the sail's breed was proclaimed. While it was a tough time (right up to the moment when I pitched the old thing into a dumpster,) sharing the experience made it easier.

Now it's Happy Time...

Can the arrival of a new sail be as exciting as that of a new board? Conventional wisdom says No, but I say Maybe. If you'll get pagan with me for a moment, they honor complimentary elemental spirits. A board is of the water, whether skimming and carving along the surface, leaping and landing in chop, or playing on waves. A sail is what the wind sees...the wind invisible yet as wild and powerful as the waters.

Setting that claptrap aside, I'm particularly excited that it's a 5.5. I have sailed a 5.5 on every board in the quiver, from the ancient pre-footstraps 250 liter Superlight (Mr. Al) down all the way to my 84 liter Naish wave board (Little Wings II), and every board in between. What board wouldn't like to have a little fun with a 5.5?

This new sail is going to get around.

Don't Take Hatteras for Granted

The only bridge that connects Cape Hatteras to the rest of the world has been inspected by the Department of Transportation. It's condition has been rated as four out of one hundred. Not four out of ten...four out of one hundred. If you're driving across the Bonner Bridge, sneezing is probably a bad idea.

The state of this gateway to heaven came to my attention as I checked out a post on Bill's OBX Beach Life. I've been thinking about a Pamlico Pilgrimage almost daily for several weeks...the van is loaded, my wife has pre-blessed the trip...all I've been waiting for has been a promising forecast. I've been thinking about that perfect moment when you crest the bridge and see Hatteras stretching off to the horizon. I NEED that moment (or something quite similar) now and in the future.

Some years ago after a hurricane came through the Outer Banks and did the usual (damage, but nothing the lighthouse and the locals couldn't handle, or sail for that matter) Clay Feeter served up one of my favorite Wind Tracks quotes, something like:

That's why you appreciate Hatteras...you never know if it's going to be there next year.

Now we can also appreciate that there's a way to get there...now. People advocating the replacement of the Bonner Bridge can be found and assisted at www.replacethebridgenow.com.

Welcome to South Jamesport

Sailed a new location today:  South Jamesport Beach on the Great Peconic.    The wind was light from the south, and I was joined by JP 109 brotherhood member Jason.   On south the run points straight into the middle of the Peconic, but the inside stays reasonably shallow for several hundred yards, presenting a reasonable jibatorium, though as you get within 100 yards of shore there's quite a scattering of submerged rocks that looked like eat fin.   Taking runs of about half a mile it was very flat...Napeague or Mecox flat.* No wind was expected for today, and this being Spring, the best approach is the Boy Scout motto:  Be Prepared.  I'm stoked for tomorrow, as even if there's no wind I'm going to rig a brand spanking new sail for its first time, the replacement for my beloved and dearly departed 5.5. *Check out all of these locations on the Long Island Windsurfing Map.

The Rigorous Rigger: Flip It...Flip It Good

Cut your downhaul costs in half (or more than cover the costs of upgrading to Spectra)!

You already may do this and find this stupendously obvious, but most people I mention this to had never thought of it before, including a pro windsurfer whose jaw dropped when I explained it: You can get twice the life out of a downhaul line by flipping it.

It's simple: The only section of a downhaul line that wears out is also the only same section that needs to be able to handle hundreds of pounds of tension: the first 12-18". You can remove a downhaul line that's starting to show excessive wear (photo, left) from your mast extension, cut off the knot, flip the line, and reattach it to your extension, and now the portion of the downhaul that's running over the pulleys and going into the cleat when you're fully downhauled is in nearly brand new condition (photo, right). Now each downhaul can be used twice as long.
If you're particularly conservation-minded, cheap, poor, or otherwise enthusiastic about such strategies, there's more. Once your downhaul line is worn at both ends, you can use the four good feet in the middle for an outhaul, where the stresses are a fraction of what they are to the downhaul or inhaul. Don't forget to check your inhauls while you're at it! And even the little bits of safety retaining line on your unis, if they use them. Having line break on the water is a drag, if not downright dangerous depending on which line, the conditions you're sailing in, and where you are.

Ask A Puffin

-from Ophrys Photography, who have more good things where this came from.

The Art of Recycling

How great is this chair? A sawed-off board, two boom arms, some sawed off masts with boom extensions for cross braces.

From Recycle Hawaii's 1999 "The Art of Recycling" calendar.

With swap meet season coming upon us, sometimes there's the question of "sell or drag to the dump." If you can't sell it (or don't want to part with the bones) there are some inspired alternatives. I love being around old gear...it makes me think of where it's been and what it's done.

Easier Downhauling Can Be Yours

Welcome to the first installment of The Rigorous Rigger, where our motto is "I may not sail too good, but I rig REAL good!"

My ability to downhaul a sail has improved dramatically in the last few years, despite my getting older and tireder, due to two changes I've made in how I do it.

BIG TRICK #1: Rig like Robbie rigs, and use the newfangled downhaul threading pattern that manufacturers recommend.

It's astonishing to me how much easier downhauling is with this threading pattern, compared to what I'll call the "spiral" where you just make sure that the lines never cross over one another. A side benefit has been that since it's less backbreaking to downhaul, it encourages me to make more subtle adjustments to the downhaul, helping me get the sail tuned real good. So: Less friction, easier to downhaul, easier to adjust, and once you use this pattern a few times, it's easy to remember. (I learned this from the pamphlet that came with one of my Naish sails which is where "fig. 1" came from.)

BIG TRICK #2: Switch to Spectra or Formuline for your downhaul line. Back in 2005 I was in the Avon Sail Shop in Cape Hatteras, listening to Margaret explain why my friends and I should spend twice as much money on our downhaul line (spectra was stronger, it would last longer etc.) I was unmoved by the pitch, but I liked the shop so much I bought two for the heck of it. A month later I needed to replace a downhaul, did so with my new pricey Spectra, rigged up and noticed immediately how much more easily the sail downhauled. A sail that I used to have to finish downhauling with a crank now was no problem to downhaul solely with a cleat! Margaret didn't say "THEY'RE WAY EASIER TO DOWNHAUL" but they sure are. If you ever thought of putting a lubricant on your line (which is probably a bad idea) don't bother...these lines slide as if they're pre-lubed.

It's still worth noting that a downhaul crank will save your back and mine from stress and potential injury. I just find the above to make the entire process easier and more enjoyable.

ADDITION March 27: Andreas Macke recommends giving your downhaul line a rub with an old candle every five or six sessions. He has more thoughts at the bottom of this rigging post.

(Thank you Dee Imbert, star of Ghost Stories, The Search for One-Eyed Jimmy, and the windsurfing cult microclassic The Ginsu Fin for naming The Rigorous Rigger.)

A Great Goodbye to a Great Winter

In November of 2004 my friend Massimo made the almost outrageous suggestion that we sail over Thanksgiving weekend (I was strictly May-October in those days.) In 2005 I became an April-December man. In 2006 I sailed a freak warm January day, though in truth I expanded my horizons to March-December. It's only been in the last few months that I've realized that Long Island is a great windsurfing location year round...it's just a winter sport when it's greatest! Compare it to skiing, not waterskiing when thinking about comfort.

The last three days of winter have been outstanding...a beautiful 4.7 day at Sebonac Inlet on Sunday, Monday's "gentle ocean day" (according to John V,) setting the cold aside I'd give it four out of five stars on the Giampaolo system for "really fun" on a 5.5,and on the last day of winter, today's return to Sebonac Inlet, 5.5 on a westerly. As the tide started going out, the waves began rolling in, and it was just playful enough (who wants to fall in 39 degree water?) Also, I came closer to a puffin than I ever have, when one made a 180 degree turn into the wind only 50 feet in front of me, appearing to hover for a moment in the 20 knot blow before rocketing off upwind (they can do 50, thank you very much.) There's no wind in the forecast tomorrow, and that's good because I need the rest. It's also a good time to think about what I've learned over the winter:

*If you haven't sailed the spot before, ask for sail size recommendations (aside from the usual safety questions.) I'm a good judge of wind at the spots I know, but if it weren't for Jonathan Ford, John V and Scott, I'd have rigged wrong pretty much every time I sailed with them.

*Below 45 degrees, the focus is on keeping your hands warm (gloves work to a point, but rest often and do the crazy arm swinging dance.) Below 35 degrees, keeping your face warm becomes a challenge (I like Dermatone better than the neoprene ski mask I bought.)

*Watch, listen and learn. I've gotten more tips both offered directly and just by watching some more seasoned sailors over this winter than I have in years. Thanks all around to Jason, John, Jonathan, Scott, Bill, Fisherman and others.

*Bring a friend. I thought Jeff was going to tell me I was on my own when I said "we won't have REALLY sailed in the cold until our sails ice up from frozen spray" but he joined the madness and made it more fun.

A great winter. Still, Spring has arrived, and not a moment too soon. Here's to waving goodbye to winter's cold.

(one of Jeff's photos)

Bad Break

Not mentioned in yesterday's post about the session at Sebonac Inlet was Jeff's breakdown.

We all saw Jeff spending some time in the water working on his rig. He was in the shallows and only a few hundred yards out, so while everyone had an eye on him nobody was particularly concerned. After about five minutes he walked his gear in to the beach on the far side of the inlet. Once on the beach it was clear from where we stood that he'd broken a boom arm, but not until he got close to the inlet could we see that both arms were snapped.

Many windsurfers are familiar with the recommended strategy of dealing with a broken boom, the usual case for which is a single snapped arm. If you were sailing outbound when the break occurs, just turn the board around, uphaul (or waterstart most gingerly), and gently sail back to shore using the one good arm. Remember that your boom is at half strength at best...whatever weakened the other side to the point of breaking probably has lessened the strength of the good side as well. And if the inbound side of the boom is snapped, then it's a matter of releasing the outhaul, removing the boom over the tip of the mast (don't seperate rig and board), flipping the boom, reattaching and retieing the outhaul. Your harness line will be upside down but bfd...you're still sailing home.* This is less of a hassle than it sounds like...I once contemplated swimming my gear the few hundred yards to shore when this happened to me, but flipping the boom only took about two minutes. Also, doing it once is a great confidence booster.

But what to do in a case of complete boom failure, like Jeff's? Walking your gear to shore is a good choice, if it's available. If you're with other windsurfers and someone can come out with a new boom that fits your sail, that will of course work. You can de-rig, roll up your rig and paddle in. If conditions are too hectic for that you can thank your rig for its years of service, give it a sea burial, and just paddle your board in. If by myself, I would be tempted to try the following: I'd extend a boom arm about a foot further than had been necessary, and square-lash** it to the mast with the extra downhaul*** I carry. Retie the outhaul (not worrying about achieving anything close to proper tension...we just want to be able to shlog to shore.) ****

But hey, this is a post about Jeff, and now the best part comes! When Jeff gets to the inlet, the tide is ebbing and there's a good 3 knot current flowing out into the bay. Also, the inlet is dredged so that it's deep right up to the shoreline (the uninitiated trying to land here invariably find themselves carried 100 yards out in the bay by the current. One windsurfer...me...found himself 100 yards out in the bay three times in a row before he figured out to pretty much run aground before stepping off the board. ***)

Jeff positions himself on the upstream side of the inlet, tosses his broken rig in, and swims like a sunuvabich and makes the other shore! Then he swims BACK, gets his board, and does the same, by which time I'm happy to say I'm back on land and able to help him the last few feet. Later we learn that he used to be a lifeguard. It showed!

The Peconic Puffin regrets that we can not bring as many details to you as Jeff. As soon as Jeff tells his story on his own blog, we'll link to it directly for additional color and detail. (UPDATE: HERE IS JEFF'S POST.) Meanwhile in the interest of safety it's good to think about what to do in the event of a complete boom failure...in a discussion about hypothermia here a week or so ago, complete boom failure was not considered in the mix of things that could go wrong.

* Unless you're Bjorn Dunkerbeck, who once reportedly sailed out to someone who broke a boom in crazy conditions at Hookipa...the break was on the wrong side for heading back in, so he just came in clew first overpowered.

**Learning a few tricks with rope is helpful. I was a Boy Scout, learned me my knots well, and have been dubbed "knot boy" by fellow Puffin Slo (Slo who can BARELY RIG! But he's a hell of a cook, so I help him out with his gear and he feeds me.)

*** The preferred launch is on the other side of the road.

****If anyone has different ideas about what to do in this situation (or has any other thoughts on the matter), please comment!

UPDATE: See Jeff's photos from the day as well as his other fine windsurfing and water-related photography.

I Love Sebonac

A beautiful day of windsurfing today at Sebonac Inlet. Sebonac has rapidly become one of my favorite places to sail. There's the open water feel of other Peconic launches but with plenty of sandbars for refuge, the mini-waves that kick up once the wind is over 25 knots, plus for humor the practical joke of trying to launch or land directly on the inlet (three feet from shore the water is over your head, and the tide will take you 100 yards out into the bay very quickly if its ebbing.) The mogul field set up by the inlet current fighting against the western winds that bring us there is small enough that it passes quickly, but rough enough to make the rest of the bay seem playful, which of course it is. Also, the vista is very easy on the eyes, and there are puffins in the winter.

That I love sailing at Sebonac Inlet does not mean that I sail well there...the last post involving a Sebonac session was titled I Suck but I look forward to learning the ways of the port ramps, and getting through the mogul field with more dignity.

It was windy and wintery...I sailed a 4.7 on my 84 liter Naish (Little Wings II to those playing along with board names. Both the water and air were 38 degrees, yielding a 76 total for those of us who scoff at the Rule of 100.

NEWJ Long Island Mega Issue

The mighty New England Windsurfing Journal brings it hard in the March edition. From the cover photo to a three page spread with articles on both North and South shore sailing, it's a whole lotta Long Island windsurfing! I particularly like the Fire Island inlet story...every time I hear about this place it's always "but if you screw up you're in deep s***" and this piece does not disappoint. Articles by Kevin O'Shea, photos by Steve Domjan, modeling for action shots by Florian (who I WILL meet and sail with this spring!)

Puffin Greatness

The record number of fish carried in a single puffin’s beak is 62. The haul consisted of 61 sand eels and one three-bearded rockling.

(So says The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.)

Spring Wipeout Spectacular

At the gym this morning I remembered that I wanted to start excercising my neck muscles. I'd had the original thought about a week ago, approximately three seconds after a nasty crash that wrenched my noggin pretty good. And seeing as how one of my New Year's resolutions for windsurfing is to get no less then 20 feet of air on a jump, more rough tossing of the head is likely in my future.

But not like these guys. Hopefully...

(clip originally spotted by Chas in the Yahoo LI Windsurfers group.)