Windsurfing When You Can’t See So Good

There wasn’t much of a breeze on Saturday but I wanted to sail, so I drove out to Napeague, where I knew the ABK clinic would inspire me.   If you’ve never done an ABK windsurfing clinic, they’ve got hundreds of things you can learn on the water in nonplaning conditions, and it’s always a blast.  (If you’ve never done an ABK clinic, get yer ass in one already!  I’ve been in more than a dozen over the years, and will be in their freestyle clinic come September.)

I arrived at Napeague to find a light easterly breeze bringing fog across the bay.   No matter…Andy Brandt, Tom and Brendon had folks out there working on tacking and jibing and backwinded sailing and no-handed floating helitacks and such while the water looked like Steven Speilberg was directing.    I loved the theatrics almost as much as the stoke of the clinic, so I rigged my 5.3, went out on my 109, and tried my hand at a half dozen spinny things (including that no-handed heli.)   I had a blast!   Friends I saw through the limited visibility included The Mighty Larry Hoff, OG Puffin Steve, Pete, George, Jake, Robert, Wilson, Andy, and the dynamic duo of ladies backwinded sailing:  Lily and Dana. 

  
Low speed sailing on an enclosed bay is definitely the way to play encumbered vision.   A few years ago Peconic Jeff and I were lucky to get back to shore when fog, sunset and boat traffic conspired to make things interesting north of Robbins Island on the Peconic Bays, and just last week at the Bowl I kinda maybe didn't see Bill behind me in driving rain (on account of keeping my eyes open was difficult) and nearly crashed into him during a jibe.

Better to work on freestyle in the shallows.

(The editor outbound during a rainy bowl session.   Photo courtesy Bedford.)

Comments

[Soundbounder]

Friday was beautiful but a lot of fog on Saturday and Sunday

[Bunty]

Never thought I would say it but.........have ''crossed the floor'' and moved over to the ''dark side''! Only in marginal winds though otherwise I remain a loyal windsurfer. :))

[Joe Rouse]

Wind was sweeping sand into everything this weekend. The gale forces pounded us into submission, alas some super macho types took off into the tumultuous sea never to return. My friend Greg saw the kiteboarder who was found nose down in the surf of off Ocean Beach shoot out the Gate around Baker Beach into the chop. He said that he was sure it would not end well and he was right.

[Michael]

I'm sorry to hear that, Joe. When conditions get hairy here, some of the regularly appearing kiters in The Peconic Puffin (Bill Barber, John Hulse) switch to windsurfing gear. If something goes wrong there are more ways to limp back to shore, and the worst that a crazy gust can do to a windsurfer doesn't compare to a kitemare.

Anyhow I'm sorry to hear of those people dieing on the water.