The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Days of High Wind Sailing, Part One: The Wolf Scores a Three Launch Day

Last Friday set up big from the east, and The Wolf was at Ponquogue with CD while the rest of us were loading up to try and catch some pre-weekend wind.   By the time I got there Ponquogue was done, and the guys were all moving to the Bowl, where it was full-on 4.0 sailing with big wind on the outside.  Scott, Bill, Jeff and Jon Ford had joined the crew.

After awhile it died, though, and everyone was packing up and ready to go home when a phone rang.   East Landing was nuking!    Some of us who had not been satisfied by their Bowl session (ie me...couldn't get comfortable) couldn't wait to get a second chance.   The Wolf had already had his second sesh, was "totally spent" but he was going to drive over just to look.     When we got to East Landing it was honking.   Bill suggested that the gusts were hitting 35.  I expressed my doubt of 35, launched on a 4.0, and was summarily flattened by a 35 knot gust.

The Wolf sailed, of course.    "My first three location day!" he said.

(Photo of The Bowl by Jeff.)

How Will The Freestyle Competition Work at the East Coast Windsurfing Festival?

Don't you want to know? I did. I asked Mike Burns, and here's what he says: "There will be 2 classes for freestyle to keep the playing field level. The Championship class, and sport class. The sport class is there for one reason. To have fun. This class is for the guys and gals that have either recently discovered the joys of freestyle or are new to competitions. If the vast majority of your tricks are moves where the board stays on the water, the sport class is for you. Although going for that first forward or vulcan will impress the judges, the winner of this class might be the one with the most fluid duck jibe or fast tack. Event if you only know one trick, that's all it might take to win in the sport class. The Championship class is a different story. If you're thinking about entering this class, you'd better know how to throw down some impressive moves. If you are making moves with your board in the air, upsidedown, spinning in circles or backwards, this is the class for you. The spectators are in for the windsurfing show of their life watching the championship class. There are rumors of multiple pros showing up to dazzle the crowd with all the latest moves and show the the potential of our sport. Phil Soltysiak is one of the pros from Canada who is a confirmed competitor that I'm sure will be showing me how it's done." Click here for more details and directions to the East Coast Windsurfing Festival, taking place June 7-8 at Hecksher State Park.. (Canadian pro Phil Soltysiak in Margarita, thinking about the fun he's going to have at Hecksher. Photo by Michaela Malina.)

Scooper Wants Real World Wavesailing Video, Peconic Jeff Delivers

Jeff had it all figured out.   He showed up for Saturday's Ponquogue session not only ready to push his wavesailing to the next level, but with a personal cinematographer (the mighty Chiaying) to capture it all on video! When the Peconic Puffin ran a quick clip of shorebreak punishment (also by Chiaying/Jeff) earlier this week, we got a comment from Scooper singing the praises of real-world wavesailing video.  Well, Scooper, if you liked that taste, here's a full course!

Ponquogue Shore Break, or Time To Go To The Bowl

When the tide gets past halfway in, Ponquogue ceases to be the great wavesailing spot that some of us rave about.  Invariably we stay past the point of goodness, until we're so exhausted that we realize we should have headed to the Bowl twenty minutes earlier (see the post from earlier this week.)

In this quick clip by Chiaying and Peconic Jeff you can see myself, CD, and Bill B wrestling with getting out of the water, along with a shot of Frank and I trying to get back out.    Presumed magnificent footage of better windsurfing in the better conditions earlier in the day are being edited by Jeff while you read this.

Pete DeKay to Save The Day For ABK (Napeague Clinic to Accept New Students)

If you love a good windsurfing clinic, the news is just too good.

ABK Boardsports was no longer accepting new students for the May 16-18 clinic at Napeague, as the camp was "full" and ABK maintains limits on how many students they'll take for each instructor.   But here in the hotbed of Northeast windsurfing, where ABK already runs three count-em three clinics per year (come back in September for more!) there were too many wanna-learns banging on the closed doors.   What was ABK to do?

Enter Windsport editor Pete DeKay, former right hand man to instructionmeister Andy Brandt.   Pete is going to stop the presses for three days and come on down for some LI windsurfing instructional action!

So if you're not currently registered for the May clinic but would like to be in there for some world-class instruction (featuring the rare chance to work with Pete Dekay) go to ABK's web site on Tuesday and sign up.   Andy says "if the website still says "closed" just wait a couple of hours and try again."

Can't Stop Thinking About The East Coast Windsurfing Festival? Take the Poll!

No, not a poll about whether or not you can control daydreaming about windsurfing (you can't) or the event, but a poll about what you think you'll be doing AT the East Coast Windsurfing Festival.     Big hint:  If you're coming but telling yourself that you won't be competing because "I'm not good enough" (my standard excuse) you'll be changing your mind shortly after arrival.  Too much fun to be had!

Here's the poll...note that because you can vote for up to three activities, the results show the portion of people interested in any particular activity.   Because many people will be interested in more than one type of event the percentages will add up to more than 100%.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Three Board Day at Ponquogue (on a Saturday!)

As I walked up the beach taking a break between bouts, George Pav said to me "it's amazing how much more tiring sailing in these conditions!"  "Waves are a whole different sport"  I agreed   I can't remember the last time my arms were still burned out a day after windsurfing.   But yesterday was too good for too long for anything less than total exhaustion.   

The gift of a Ponquogue session during the weekend is not to be passed up lightly, and few did.   There was a good crowd on it by 9am that grew through the morning and into the afternoon, including but not limited to (if I didn't get your name that's 'cause I'm as challenged with names as I am by waves):  Scott, Bill, Frank, George Pav, CD, Jonathan, the Wolf, Peconic Jeff, Stan, Jason, Jimi Sobek, the kiter with the Quigley van (I covet Quigley vans) and more.

It started out kinda light (5.5's to 6.2's on big boards) but classic Ponquogue...well mannered, well spaced shoulder-high waves with just enough umph.  Friendly.   After an hour the wind gods flipped the  switch to full on 5.2-5.7 and all of a sudden the jumping was up there with the surfing.  Everyone boarded down.   It kept coming on...time to rerig and bring out the small boards and 4.7's.   But by then the rising tide was playing havoc with the waves and shore break, and after an hour or so most folks headed down to the Bowl for Part II.    After an hour of being overpowered no matter what I rigged (last attempt with a 4.5) I realized I wasn't windsurfing, I was just being dragged around by my gear

  As I'd only had a few hours sleep the night before, I took my groggy and toasted self off the water, where even better men than I had had enough.  What a day! (All photos are video stills taken by the video goddess Chiaying:  at the top George Pav checks out a new sail, in the middle Frank jumps while Jon Ford looks on, at the bottom Scott thinks sky.   Let's look forward to the video to come from Jeff and Chiaying!)

Shinnecock Wind Meter Is Back

Long Island windsurfers, the Shinnecock wind sensor has been replaced!   

If you're new to this source of wind information (which sits above the western jetty of the Shinnecock Inlet, immediately to the east of the Bowl) it's a great source to tell you what's happening on the south shore, particularly at Ponquogue, the Bowl, and Mecox Bay.   Because of its height, it gets higher readings on southerlies when the ocean is cold than we get at sea level ("bubble effect" and all that.)   

You can link to the Shinnecock sensor directly, or see its readings in iWindsurf's real time wind display for Long Island.

Thanks to the USCG Group Moriches ANT team for helping to get it done.

Why Hecksher? East Coast Windsurfing Festival Update #5

Mike Burns knows Hecksher.  He should...he sails there over 400 days per year (that's unofficial, like the event.)   Seriously though, Hecksher State Park is the site of the East Coast Windsurfing Festival June 7-8, where there's going to be lots of racing and freestyle and speed trials and all sorts of fun on the water.  To tell us WHY it's happening at Hecksher, we turn to Hecksher's Most Familiar Face On The Water, Mike Burns:

"Heckscher is centrally located on the south shore of Long Island and very easy to get to.  During May and June, the SW thermal winds are in full swing for a very steady reliable wind.  The beach at Heckscher is also dedicated purely for the use of windsurfers.  There are no swimming areas at the windsurfing launch that lifeguards will be yelling at us to stay out of, and no dangers lying slightly below the surface.   The water conditions at Heckscher is choppy enough to go for really big freestyle tricks, but flat enough to really get some good speed for racing.  It is a shallow bay (just slightly over your head), so the water is plenty warm that time of year.  Some of us are already out sailing in our 3/2 wetsuits.  There is more parking at the launch than anyone could possibly need, with grass rigging areas and only a 40 ft walk from the parking lot to the water.  What else can you ask for? "

How about directions?  Here is a link to directions from the Long Island Expressway.   The parking lot is Field #7.