The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

The Patron Saint of Windsurfing?

To whom should our wind prayers be addressed?  I stumbled upon a blog post by John Rutledge in which he discusses potential patron saints for windsurfing (he notes that ice skaters have a patron saint, and I ask you What do ice skaters need a patron saint for?  Ice?  Geez...)

Rutledge considers St. Christopher, the Virgin Mary, St. Jude (of course) and St. Brendan of Clonfert.   Clonfert, also knows as Saint Brendan the Navigator, may have a nautical edge.   Rutledge also looks at pagan choices and sacrifices of good wine.   If any of this appeals to you I encourage you to read the piece.

Please Welcome the Newest Long Island Windsurfing Blog

It's called "Occasional Windsurfing on Long Island".  It's the latest in a long line (four, I think) of Long Island windsurfing blogs.  Windsurfing the East End came first, then The Peconic Puffin, then Drysuit2, and now Occasional.

Its creator Antonio promises "a dumpster of occasional thoughts."  Here at the Puffin we first interpreted this as an incursion into our turf ("dumpster") but upon careful re-reading we spotted "occasional" so we're feeling better.

So go check out "Occasional Windsurfing on Long Island"...featuring a fine mastcam shot worthy of anyone seeking windsurfing distraction!

I Almost Made It Over The Wave (just ask Jeff.)

I thought it had been a private moment, getting eaten by the wave, but it turns out Jeff saw the whole thing.  CD says “do yourself a favor and read Jeff’s great summary” and he’s right…you should!    Jeff described the day as one of his top five Ponquogue days ever.   For me the day included one of my top five mistakes in the waves ever, and for some boneheaded reason I left it out of my summary of the day.   In what Jeff describes as a Maui Moment I was so very much in the wrong place at the wrong time.  So now I figure I better cover it in my own blog too.

I was shlogging through the shore break in a race to clear the sets of increasingly punishing impact zone dumpers.   I thought I was going to be fine…I’d just cleared a four footer before it broke, so surely my forward progress (or imagined forward progress) put me on the good side of the impact point.   But no.   A new wave jacked slowly to eye level and hung there as I approached…twenty feet away, ten feet away, eight feet away…

It felt like time was slowing down.   It felt like I could take a tape measure and detail parts of this wave standing in front of me, diagram it on a piece of paper and determine whether or not it was going to break on my head (please no) or pass under me in an exhirating elevator ride up and down (please yes).

Six feet away, five feet away…

(I had been lucky in these situations all day.)

At four feet away I realized what a complete fool I had been.   I was about to have “Bozo” tattooed on my ass, on my forehead, and on the soon to be tattered remnants of my board and rig.   There wasn’t even time to dive, so I just stepped to the left and curled up as the wave crashed down.

Under the water I was strangely calm, resigned to the broken mess of carbon that I was about to swim after and drag up on the beach.    But incredibly when I surfaced my gear was right next to me, intact!   I actually waterstarted and got out of there, thanking my lucky stars.

 In the future I will be chicken jibing or diving with the mast into the wave.   I don’t expect that kind of luck often.

Anyhow it was a memorable, wonderful, brutal day...go get the details from Peconic Jeff!

Whipped at Ponquogue, But We Lap It Up

I went straight for the advil when I got back to the van.   I was sore everywhere.  “Whipped” was the word Scott used.    That sounded about right.  

Please sir may I have another?

The wind was steady and fine (most of us sailing low 5’s at the outset, and high 4’s as it built) the waves were three to five feet and tightly spaced (very tightly) and for some reason the jumping was nuts.   What do I mean?   Altitude was there for the taking, but it felt to me that the higher you went, the stronger the wind got, which lead to lots of spectacular crashes.    I saw Jimi Sobeck get a fine 20-footer, or so I thought until he bailed at the top and absolutely flapped his wings all the way down.

This happened twice.   For myself I have the distinct memory of reaching the top of some jumps, and hearing a voice in my head say “landing is not going to feel good.”

But the jump punishment was nothing compared to the beach break.   When the session started shortly after low tide, Ponquogue was its typically friendly launch.   But by 7PM it was not uncommon to see three lucky guys actually sailing, seven guys standing in knee deep water waiting in vain for a moment to launch, and three or four guys in the rinse cycle, thoroughly rejected.    And I mean good windsurfers rejected, not just knuckleheads like moi.  John “he only comes out when it’s perfect” Natalie was getting worked!  (He also looked great tearing up the waves once he got out, but still.)   Twelve hours later I continue to comb sand out of my hair. 

All in all a thoroughly abusive session.   And great fun…we sailed until dark (did I mention it was also pouring rain?) and I’d take another day like yesterday in a second (after a day of recovery.)  Here is an incomplete list of yesterday’s wind and wave warriors (if  I’m missing your name I apologize…please comment at the bottom so I can get it right.)

It was great sailing with everyone!  The partial list:

Adam
CD
Christian
Eric
Fisherman
Frank
George
Jake
Jeff Usher
Peconic Jeff (whose account of the day can be found here)
Jimi 
Jon 
John
Keith
Scott
The Wolf.

The Ocean Can Make You Feel Small

Who doesn't remember their first ocean session?    That's Ethan Doutney at the Bowl last month, discovering the added dimensions that swell and current bring to waterstarting.   We've all been there, Ethan (and will be again!)

This excellent photo is by his dad, Bill Doutney.

Dana Miller: The Stoke Goes Digital

Dana Miller is:

A.    The guy responsible for the “Cancel this, kiteboy” and “if it were easy they’d call it kiteboarding” bumper stickers,
B.    The galactically stoked windsurfer whose writing and photography have graced New England Windsurfing Journal and Wind Tracks for ages,
C.    The guy with the van(s) covered in windsurfing wisdom,
D.    An outstanding windsurfing photographer who does some of his best work in the straps.
E.    A long-time fixture in Cape Hatteras windsurfing mythology, now transplanted to Pistol River, OR.
F.    A “person of interest” (as the authorities say) to The Peconic Puffin since it was a three-page newsletter back in the ‘90’s.

That's not a quiz…just my half-assed list o’attributes of Dana Miller.   Dana who now has a website (well past time, bro!) at Boardheadinternational.com.

With Wind Tracks gone, NEWJ coming out only a half dozen times per year, and Dana no longer dependably findable down OBX way, the editors of The Peconic Puffin are stoked to have a new window on Mr. Miller.  Bring it, Dana!

Catching a Little Air at South Jamesport

Lately the internal windsurfing conversation in my head has been dissing bump and jump sailing in favor of flatwater.   It seems that after a decade of dreaming of ramps, followed by two years of getting them, I was ready to indulge the freestyle and big fat carved jibe urge once again.  (I always like waves.)    But after a month of nothing but flatwater, I had a jones for some decent air (or even indecent air.)   So when the first ramps began to show themselves at South Jamesport yesterday, I was on them.    Nothing big, mind you, but respectable, well-formed two-footers were setting up on port for all to enjoy.   If you’re not familiar with windsurfing at South Jamesport on SW or SSW, you get mostly flat, shallow water, with sections that run a bit deeper which serve up ramps when tide and wind disagree.   And that’s what we had this windy, warm afternoon, and I was happy to get my little three and four foot jumps.

 The afternoon crowd was the Wolf, Scott and I on 5.2/5.3 sails, and Keith holding down a 6.0 (Keith was well powered!)   Bill Barber and John Hulse were also there, rocking the dark side.    I think I’m over my flatwater favoring, and will light a candle for a 25 knot westerly at Sebonac Inlet.  Bring the sky!

The Gilgo Shark Isn't My Shark

A large basking shark (is there any other kind?) has been making appearances on the south shore of Long Island over the last few weeks.   It was photographed while it cruised by some local surfers at Ponquogue a few weeks ago (a friend SUPing in the area who saw the thing described a massive fin) and seems to have washed up dead at Gilgo a few days ago.   A few people have suggested to me that perhaps this was the shark that scared the hell out of me at the Bowl last month.

T’was not.

The basking shark that washed up (as well as the one in the photo) is at least twenty feet long.   Mine was seven feet.   I’m fairly sure I would not describe a twenty-something foot shark swimming in spitting distance of me as only a third it’s size.  And the fin shape in the photographs of the basking shark is not the shape or size of the fin I saw.   Etc. etc.   Mine looked more like the fellow in the second photograph…lean, built for speed and business.

In any event, Long Island plankton are breathing easier today!

(Top photo: a basking shark at Ponquogue, photographed by Matt Murphy, courtesy http://27east.com via the Southampton Press.   The bottom photo is something I found and tweaked that is a good approximation of what I saw over my right shoulder at the Bowl.)

SUPing on a Superlight (Low Budget Stand Up Paddling)

"I'm on a Low Budget..."

-The Kinks

At some point in the future I'm going to get a stand up paddle board and join the SUP crowd.   But not soon.   In the meantime I've been wondering about the 12-foot board I already own...my beloved, battered Mistral Superlight.  Would it work?  Could I practice SUPing on it?  Not in the waves (I say now, but I'm nuts so maybe later...) but perhaps on windless days on flat water.  Perhaps on Davis Creek (a tidal inlet).  Would it work?

The answer is Yes.  I grabbed a kayak paddle and had the thing cruising in no time.  It glides like a dream (like it does with a sail).  Turning it is not so easy, but maybe I can learn to pivot the thing...more practice is called for.   Shortly after I went out my neighbor Remy grabbed a paddle and got on her Techno, and then Sally did the same, and suddenly there were three of us paddling windsurfers up and down the creek.   It's good fun.  If you have access to a long paddle (I'm using a kayak paddle...see photo) you're fine, but a canoe paddle is too short for most people.

(A kayak paddle and a longboard = SUP on Davis Creek.  Photo by Remy McFadden.)

Steve Had Every Right To Clobber Me

Steve had every right to clobber me.   He whacked me in the hand with his mast when his helitack came undone.     You may ask why he’s throwing a helitack so close to another windsurfer.   The answer is the other windsurfer was believed to have already tacked, but instead was in fact crowding Steve.   That other windsurfer (me) knew he was crowding him (a little voice in my head said “tack already and give Steve room”) but instead I sailed like one of those inconsiderate jerks.

So I got clobbered.

In the scheme of things windsurfing with Steve, this was particularly fair.   The last time I crowded Steve, I rammed him.   It was several years ago...he was resting in the water next to his board and I’d decided to jibe around him, except that instead I sailed right into his board.

Then I did the exact same thing again a year later.  The idea was that by jibing close to him I’d remind him of my boneheaded move the year before, and that this would be amusing.   It didn't work out that way.

And I’m supposed to be his friend.

So there we stood in the water at Mecox on Saturday, with one side of my hand in pain and the other side numb,  Steve, ever the neurologist, was interested in the pattern of numbness.  I was more curious about the pain bit.  

I got better.   And I’d gotten what I deserved.

The thing is, I still want to jibe near him…   

(The knuckleheaded author of this blog displays said head shortly before the incident.  Photo by Remy McFadden.)

Peconic Jeff Does Demo

Jeff beat me to it.  It's number one on my list of 2009 Windsurfing but I still haven't sailed Democrat Point yet.   Nevermind me, though, and check out Peconic Jeff's post on his first session at this storied Long Island wave break.    And hope he takes me along with him on his next Demo sesh.

Haiku for This Morning's Excellent Session at Towd Point

            7.0 balanced,

            Warm water sprays on my legs,

            Peconic summer.

Windsurfing Racing Returns To Long Island in October!

After all the fun at the East Coast Windsurfing Festival, you know you couldn’t wait a year for the next Long Island event.   And you won’t!   Racing, freestyle, and stand-up paddling events are all planned for the East Coast Windsurfing Fall Regatta:

Notice of Event:  East Coast Windsurfing Fall Regatta

Date: 10/10 - 11  (Columbus Day Weekend)

Events:

Windsurf Racing - The main event, with multiple races
scheduled for Saturday & Sunday.  There will be several Divisions, including:

  -  Open Division - no limits re board or sails.  This will include RSX and Formula, and any boards with a sail > 7.5.

  -  7.5 Division -  limited only to sails that do not exceed 7.5, and no formula gear unless the wind is honking.  Intended for the casual racer, this will likely be the largest fleet and main event.

  -  Womens Division
  -  Juniors Div  - (17 & under)
  -  Masters  (50 yrs and over)
  -  Heavyweights - (Actual weight category TBD)

Also at the Regatta:

Freestyle Expression Sessions - Freestyle will not be an official
competition, but, we will be looking for freestylers of all levels to go out in between races and show us what you got.  This is for the crowd… hot-dogs wanted!

SUP Races - If enough people bring paddles and are willing, we'll run some SUP races along the beach.   SUP boards are preferred, but Longboards can used as well.

Windsurf Relay Races - Yes, you read it correct, this would be a
first, but our Race Director has something up his sleeve.

Location:    It depends on the Wind!    The organizers will select and announce the specific venue the night before the event, based on forecasted wind conditions, so the best possible event can be had.  If wind is forecast out of the South, we  will run the event at Heckscher State Park.  If anything out of the North is expected, we will go to the LI Sound side.   The location selection will be posted on:

-PeconicPuffin,
-the LI Windsurf Yahoo group
-iWindsurf.com’s forums,
-the windsurfing newsgroup.

We will also list a phone number one week before the event as the Regatta Hotline!

Registration:    Send an email to [email protected]  and let us know you're in.   Indicate which Division you plan to sail.   We will look for a $10 contribution at the event.

The East Coast Windsurfing Fall Regatta is an open event; windsurfers of all levels are encouraged to attend.   If you're not sure you're ready for casual racing (or if you are sure and would like to improve your skills in advance) sign up for the ABK clinic at Napeague in September that will feature Andy Brandt teaching a special "racing" group for anyone who wants to focus on racing skills.

Wave Sailing: The Breath Mint

I had to see it to believe it.   My original best windsurfing buddy (and OG Peconic Puffin) Steve gifted me these over the weekend.  "Mast high waves are no problem for the windsurfer with fresh breath!"

They are strong (as they'd need to be to stand up to such conditions.)

Sailing With A Friend

Just a few years ago Massimo was my partner in crime on the water.    We sailed together seemingly every weekend.    Massimo is in fact the guy who unintentionally pushed me into winter windsurfing, when he called one Thanksgiving day to ask “If I buy a drysuit, will you sail with me this afternoon?”

I don’t remember how cold it was that day, but I remember we had a great session at Mecox.   And so a windsurfing partnership was forged*.

So for a couple of years we sailed together whenever it blew.   But then Mass got caught up with work and house renovations and children and golf (renovations…what was he thinking?) and by the time we got to last year, we sailed together all of once.

So when I received a one-word email (“windy?”) from Massimo on the morning of July fourth, I was on it.   Stopped by his house to make sure he got into his van, and then hit the water at Sebonac Inlet.    And while the wind was less than honking (we were planing on 7.0’s) it was an exquisite summer session…sunny warm air warm water…and of course Sebonac Inlet is perhaps the prettiest place to sail out east, if pretty is your thing.   I saw a huge turtle...maybe two feet long...it was the largest critter I've ever seen on a Peconic bay.

But the main thing was getting Mass back on the water.   Afterwards he proclaimed the session “awesome”.

I think he’ll be back for more.

(*apologies for “partnership was forged” such a tired phrase…but I was in a hurry.)