The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Night Surfing at Jaws Video

Jaws is insane to begin with. How about at night? Love the lights! That's Mark Visser...check out his web site for more information.

Cold Waves Caught (by Jeff, Jon and the Wolf)

I missed it, of course...layed flat by a cold.  Better to be pummeled by a wave!   Here's the scene at Old Town, photos by Jeff (Jon goes right, the Wolf goes left):

Living On The Edge (of a Big-Ass Storm)

Should we stock up on wine or screwdrivers?  

Map adapted from Peter Woodbury's, as posted on Facebook.

Wind and Wave Prayer

Can we add something about warmth? Last time I stood waterside the air temp was 7 degrees! If we can just get the air into the 30's, add a little sun and wind (or waves) and I'll be back on the water. If it isn't frozen over.

Riding a Wave for Five Miles

Turnagain Arm in Alaska is already known by cognescenti to offer some unusual (and extreme) windsurfing conditions.  The difference between high tide and low tide can be as great as 30 feet (!), producing what they call a tidal bore.   Now some SUP surfers are riding that tidal wave when the wind isn't blowing.  Christian sent me the link...thank you sir, and let's get back on the water soon!

Missing A Great Session

The yoga class was about to begin.  I was sitting, calm, balanced, emptying my mind, ready for 90 minutes of great yoga, when the thought exploded in my head:  "You missed a session at the Bowl!" CD had texted me to come, but I was in the city.

I told myself to let it go, to accept that I can not make every session (ie that I am not the Wolf).  But it sat there in the front of my mind.  Waves, wind.   I crave a good wave session.  I crave a mediocre wave session!  Please just get me back out there!  Anyhow finally the class began and I was able to suppress thoughts about what I'd missed.

This morning Scott brought the bad news:  "4.7-5.3 from 10-2 low tide & 3-6ft. Fisherman, the Wolf, Frank & myself. CD showed up without gear....and it was 45 degrees!  Very smooth conditions."

In otherwords, my sweet spot.   I'd have rigged the 5.3, listened to the Wolf praise the smoothness, followed Fisherman (who pursues the best waves even if it means Walking Back) listened to Scott's chimp cackle as he scored big outbound air, and ribbed CD for his lack of equipment.  It would have been perfect.

Butt Floss

Those guys at Hot Sails have a sense of humor.  This is not, as I first suspected, a photo from the 80's (check out the board.

As seen on Just Messin' Around.

A Better Wavesailing Video (from Western Australia)?

I thoroughly enjoyed the wave sailing video posted here last week (that's why I posted it) "An Ocean State of Mind" shot in Rhode Island, but at least one chap complained that the sailing wasn't really up to snuff (I'd better not show him footage of my wave performance, which is well below snuff.)   Perhaps this achieves the snuff line:

Scarbs and stuff from Frans den Hartogh on Vimeo.

Bad News from Rotorhead

Surfboard craftsman and waterman Rotorhead sent the alert:
 
"AKC Welcomes Three New Breeds
The American Kennel Club is pleased to announce that three new breeds became eligible for AKC registration on January 1, 2011, bringing the totally number of registered breeds to 170.

(let's skip #1 and get to the point:)

The Norwegian Lundehund is the only AKC-registered breed whose original purpose was puffin hunting."

Puffin hunting?    What the heck?   That seems wrong (though maybe broiled puffin on a hot dog bun with mustard is a treat.)   But back to the Lundehund:

"Today the breed makes a loyal and playful family companion."

Puffins have ALWAYS been loyal and playful.   But my wife and I are thinking about getting a dog, so maybe the Lundehund would be a good choice.

(Puffin on the left:  "You ever seen a Lundehund?"  Puffin on the right:  No, but I saw The Black Swan.  Overhyped!"   Lundhound pack:  "Easy, boys...let's sneak up on 'em slow.")

Bill and John Rig In Rico

Bill and John do not rig in ice and snow.  No.  Every year as fall turns into winter, these guys head down to Puerto Rico for wind and waves.    And right now they're scoring big time.  Of the head-high conditions in the photos Hulse tells us this is "what is left of a 12-15 ft swell 4-5 days prior.  Glad to say we are not in drysuits, as temps are low 80's and the water is 80.   Look as though we have head high conditions and 20mph plus winds for the next 7-10 days.   Stay warm."

"Stay warm."  Gosh gee thanks John.   First of all how about some wind and waves?  Do you actually NEED 15 foot swell?  Cut that in half and send us some.  Also how about just ten degrees of that air and water temp?   If it was ten degrees warmer with head high swell we'd be doing great up here right now!   But NOOOOOOOOO...

Stay warm.  Thanks John.  You too, Bill.

I hate you both.

(photos of the good times in the Carib by John. That's Bill with the sail. Life is unfair.)

A Fine Rhode Island Wavesailing Video

"An Ocean State of Mind" shot at Matunuck Beach and other Rhode Island spots, created by Silent Ink Productions is helping me survive wave withdrawel.  As Scott would say, "I WANT!"

 

An Ocean State of Mind from Silent Ink. Productions on Vimeo.

We Rig In Ice, We Rig In Snow

(to the tune of “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by the Clash:)

"We rig in ice, we rig in snow,

We windsurf when it’s really cold,

Icy sails can give you trouble,

Wind chill makes the cold seem double,

Don’t matter, ‘cause when it blows,

We rig in ice, we rig in snow."

I had been sitting in the house, thinking “I guess it’s too cold for the guys to sail ‘cause nobody is calling or texting me."     Then George of Live to Sail in Delaware posted a photo in Facebook of him and Long Island expat Jake rigging in snow, THEN Scott called to inquire why I wasn’t already at Sebonac, so off I went.

It was our first session of the year (“first windsurfing session” the Wolf corrected me…he and Jonathan already have some SUP time in.)  Air temp hovering around around 31, water at 40, but the sun was so bright that we were all hot in our drysuits.   Frank, Scott and the Wolf were on 4.7ish sails, but Scott counseled me to rig the 5.3, so I stuck it on my 77 liter.    We had fun for a few hours,  then holes in the wind  were all the invitation we needed to call it a sesh.

ABK Windsurfing Clinic Dates for Long Island Announced

Andy Brandt and ABK Boardsports return to Long Island this year to make us all (you is "us" if you take a clinic) better windsurfers, friends, lovers, spouses, and citizens, as well as reducing our carbon footprints.   If you're not a windsurfer yet but would like to be, this is the best possible way to start...ask anyone who has been to an ABK clinic.  Here are the dates:

Fri, May 20 — Sun, May 22

Fri, Sep 16 — Sun, Sep 18 (featuring the exclusive-to-Long Island Racing clinic for advanced sailors.)

Fri, Sep 23 — Sun, Sep 25 (featuring a freestyle only group for advanced sailors.)

Every year we at The Peconic Puffin remind readers to sign up early for the ABK clinics, because they often fill up.  Every year we are pooh poohed.   Last year the editors personally watched while better-windsurfer-wannabees arriving at the last minute were turned away, cash in hand.  Dejected, sad, and not quick to plane, it was an avoidable disappointment.  Don't suffer the same fate!

The complete schedule of ABK clinic dates can be found here.

(Even people who sink can learn to windsurf.  ABKmeister Andy and his team of instructors will teach you how.)

My New Year's Windsurfing Resolution is No Resolutions

"The unaimed arrow never misses."  

That bit of new-age babble can be found on a postcard of otherwise pretty cool sayings called "Maui Rules" that's glued to the roof of my van (best rule: "Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.")  I bring it up because I've decided not to have a list of resolutions for my 2011 windsurfing year.  Or SUPing year for that matter.  For four years I've made resolution lists.  For four years I've been able to check some items off while failing to achieve others.  For four years there has been no corrolation between my efforts and results...it's almost entirely come down to conditions (ie "I'm going to duck tack" doesn't have much of a chance when I sail three flatwater days for the year.)   Conditions, and I'm a slow learner.    So for 2011 I'm not saying anything beyond I'm aiming for a good year.

From Ocean Size by Jane's Addiction:  "I want to be more like the ocean.  No talking, all action."

 

This is not a windsurfing post.  I apologize in advance if this complete departure from wind and wave annoys you (if you suspect it might, it probably will...quick go to Continent Seven and check out some great windsurfing media.)  This here post is about a piece of music I stumbled over (on McPhilly's blog) by the group Rising Appalachia.   Before hitting the Play icon I googled the band's name.   The first description I read (from jukeboxalive.com) began thus:

"Rising Appalachia is a post-apocalyptic sister duo of indie-freak-folk, old-time mountain tunes, fiddle banjo duets, experimental percussion, and piercing vocal harmonies..."

They had me at "post-apocalyptic sister duo of indie-freak-folk".   And I can get David Van Tieghem on your experimental percussion ass!   So here is "Scale Down" by Rising Appalachia:

 

Music is not really out of my lane...I know more about music than I do about windsurfing ("I WOULD HOPE SO!" shout all my windsurfing buddies.)  But this blog is supposed to be about windsurfing and stand up paddle surfing.   I'll get back to that ASAP.  

Way Out Of My Lane: Post-Apocalyptic Indie Freak Folk

This is not a windsurfing post.  I apologize in advance if this complete departure from wind and wave annoys you (if you suspect it might, it probably will...quick go to Continent Seven and check out some great windsurfing media.)  This here post is about a piece of music I stumbled over (on McPhilly's blog) by the group Rising Appalachia.   Before hitting the Play icon I googled the band's name.   The first description I read (from jukeboxalive.com) began thus:

"Rising Appalachia is a post-apocalyptic sister duo of indie-freak-folk, old-time mountain tunes, fiddle banjo duets, experimental percussion, and piercing vocal harmonies..."

They had me at "post-apocalyptic sister duo of indie-freak-folk".   And I can get David Van Tieghem on your experimental percussion ass!   So here is "Scale Down" by Rising Appalachia:

 

Music is not really out of my lane...I know more about music than I do about windsurfing ("I WOULD HOPE SO!" shout all my windsurfing buddies.)  But this blog is supposed to be about windsurfing and stand up paddle surfing.   I'll get back to that ASAP.