Back-to-Back Winners

Peconic Jeff said "I'll take back-to-back days like this anytime!" I agree.

While Friday morning was foul and nasty by the reckoning of the sane (pouring driving rain, air temps in the mid 40's) it was also blowing from the east at low tide at Ponquogue. If you are an eastern Long Island windsurfer not of the Ponquogue cognoscenti, here's what you need to know about those who are: We begin our bedtime prayers each night thus:

"Please let it blow from the East tomorrow. Let me get to Ponquogue at low tide."

Amongst those favored by the gods on Friday were Peconic Jeff, Fisherman, Jon Ford and The Wolf, in addition to your editor. While the current at the shore was a bit challenging, once you pushed through it the wind was steady 5.0, with reasonably long waves well-spaced and friendly, as Ponquogue is wont to serve up.

After a couple of hours both the wind and currents began building and the waves took a turn for the gnarly, so we took advantage of one of the many charms of Ponquogue: We left and drove one mile east to sail The Bowl. The Bowl has a well-sheltered inside thanks to the jettyies protecting Shinnecock Inlet, and the outside gets Big. The sail call was a full meter smaller. Out we went on storm boards, with rigs ranging from 3.8-4.2, jibing off of the ten to twelve foot swell on the outside. Both Jeff and I described the outside swell in train metaphors...he saw them as locomotives, I though it looked like whole freight trains were coming through.

Back in the inside we had a visit from Jeff's seal, which periodically shows up at Jeff's sessions. This seal is becoming increasingly forward in her admiration of windsurfers...I received a playful bump in three feet of water, and she was seen staring at windsurfers as we'd come jibing through the inside. Apparently we are more interesting than fish.

We sailed until exhaustion.

Saturday brought West winds ("West Northwest" Jeff would correct me,) and West (or West Northwest) means Sebonac Inlet. Sunny and warm (perhaps 50!) only The Wolf, P-Jeff and I showed up, but the scant showing of windsurfers was no indicator of the conditions. With outgoing tide and 5.2 conditions, the sand bar provided classic rampalicious Sebonac terrain, which after the previous day's intimidating conditions we attacked with gusto. Jeff's seal did not show up, but several puffins were seen zipping around. The wind dropped a bit in the early afternoon, and while John and I packed it up, Jeff kept sailing ("he really goes for it" commented The Wolf,) working on vulcans and push tacks in the underrated flatwater stretch close to the inlet.

(Top photo: Jetties at Shinnecock Inlet make the inside at The Bowl a safe place to launch or regroup before hitting the big action on the outside. Photo by Jeff.

Bottom photo: Jeff cruises the pristine flatwater along the eastern beach at Sebonac Inlet. It's a fine jibatorium and great place to practice freestyle...just don't get sucked into the inlet during rising tides!)

Comments

[Bunty]

At least you're having some fun out on the water. The most fun I am having right now is looking at past photographs!! Haven't been out since Christmas and am beginning to get really peed off now. It looks like it should be sailable Friday but Thursday evening I am whisking hubby off for a couple of days to Venice, Italy. Don't think we will be surfing the canals there!!