The waves may have only been waist high and mushy, but what they lacked in size was more than made up for by friendly, playful, sunny conditions that had everyone on the water grinning like kids. Even the bluefish had a good time.
We’d been sailing for about 20 minutes when all of a sudden there were torpedos everywhere. Three feet long, it seemed like there were a thousand blues coming through the Tiana waters. Both Jeff and I saw bluefish in the waves backlit by sunlight…like the photos of dolphin you sometimes see, but Long Island style. There are stories of windsurfers being bitten by blues when they’re schooling and in a feeding frenzy (ask Bluefish Mike) but we had no troubles…only thrills.
Except for Peconic Jeff (and brief appearances by Johns Hulse and Ford) the crew were not the regulars. We had Racer Ted (my crash mate from last year’s Fall Regatta), Christine and Sasha, and Frank Messina (along with his wife Lauralee, who along with Frank is a fixture in my personal windsurfing mythology. That’s going to have to be a separate post, but suffice it to say that I was jazzed to see Lauralee after 18 years.)
Winds were on the light side (5.8 to 6.2 sails were the call) but steady, the inside was clean and generous, and the outside offered easy jibing off of the incoming swell. It was one of those days when everything seemed to go right. The only thing missing was the Wolf, He Who Never Misses a Session. John took a hard fall a few days ago and is recovering from a dinged rib. That should be a separate post as well, but if it doesn't come to pass, then Get Well Soon!
What a great day! Lauralee and I really enjoyed seeing everyone. It was great sailing with you guys.[Even if it was on large gear]. I had a blast, and have to thank Jeff for his post. Tiana is such an awesomely beautiful place. I can't believe that after 25 years of living on the island, I didn't even know it existed. Thanks, you've managed to re-stoke me again Mike.
Posted by: F Messina | October 10, 2010 at 10:57 PM
No digital photos, but I will archive these mental shots: (1) A dark fishlike form backlit in a light green wave. I kept staring at it as it seemed to surf the wave. (2) Spotting a blonde ponytail attached to a windsurfer! Welcome Christina, LI's only female wave sailor? (3) The late day sun casting orange and reds across a smooth section of white foam. I felt like I was planing across 1" of fresh powder. (4) The sunset in the parking lot with the crescent moon perched in the west and Jupiter dominating the SE, right above our precious sandbar. Not to mention 6 stoked wave sailors soaking it all in.
Get well soon John!!
Posted by: Jeff, aka PeconicJeff | October 11, 2010 at 10:26 AM
Re LI's female wave sailors, you've forgotten Jan, who is smooth as silk on the waves. The very first time I tried ("tried") wave sailing (Ponquogue 2005) I remember watching mystified as she zipped through the beach break like it was nothing, while I could never get out. Then she'd catch a wave, work it, jibe on the inside and again slip back to the outside. The comparison was humiliating!
Posted by: Michael | October 11, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Yes, how could I forget Jan? I've seen her bayside recently and have been plying her for secret health tips. I'm now on the hunt for some Rolfing.
Posted by: Jeff, aka PeconicJeff | October 11, 2010 at 12:44 PM
the wolf is out for a couple of months!he dinged it good.hes going to buy a impact vest.
Posted by: scott k. | October 12, 2010 at 09:38 AM