These days my favorite board/sail combination is my 77 liter Fanatic with a 5.0 (Naish Amp). And that's what I got to sail for my first 2008 session, in NW wind at Meschutt on the Great Peconic. It was cold enough (high 20's) that Jon Ford was heard to say "it's cold" so I proffered some Dermatone, which was the best bit of keep-warm technology I found last year (cover the exposed skin on your face with it...it works better and is more comfortable than a facemask.)
Dermatoned and ready to rock, I joined Jon and the Wolf on the water. Champing at the bit to begin pursuit of my 2008 windsurfing ambitions I discovered that I could not jibe. (Technically speaking I was keeping my weight back and failing to drive the board with my front foot and mast pressure, but if you were watching you saw a doofus carve to a roaring halt, then fall.) Just a few months ago I was teaching others to jibe, but on this day I was apparently in need of such tips as "bend your knees." Deep did I drink from the cup of humiliation.
I still had fun, though. Redemption hopefully awaits at the next session.
could the dermatone have been absorbed through your skin and into your brain, affecting cognitive functions? Maybe the section of brain devoted to gybing (that's how I spell it YMMV) wasn't getting enough oxygen?
What is that stuff? Sounds both miraculous and scary at the same time.
Posted by: Edward | January 04, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Hey, I've been that doofus before, and I'm sure I will again. All you've got to do is pull out a camera and wave it around and I'm sure to start swimming through my jumps and jibes.
I just ordered some Dermatone. I'll be the first in my neighborhood. It'll make me look cool, right?
Posted by: scooper | January 04, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Difficult to say, Edward. I used Dermatone ("the legendary Swedish formula") again yesterday, and noticed no ill effects whilst gybing. Perhaps you could try some on your voyage to Hawaii (it's got sunscreen and windscreen components)and see if it mucks you up.
Scooper, let me know what you think. It's not a miracle, but I do think it helps in the cold.
Posted by: Michael | January 05, 2008 at 11:42 AM