(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.
Fun day. Sun makes all the diff
Posted by: live2sail | January 10, 2011 at 08:17 AM
very very true!
Posted by: scott k. | January 10, 2011 at 09:08 AM
Although we have an excuse - our lakes are solid phase - you guys make us midwesterners look like sissies.
Posted by: Brian S | January 10, 2011 at 09:47 AM
Where are your action shots? :)
Posted by: Janis Markopoulos | January 10, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Well Janis, our usual photographers (Peconic Jeff and Remy McFadden) were unavailable, and my wife is in China at the moment, so unlike George I had nobody to shoot!
But hey I'm glad to see you had a transplanted New Yorker to show you how it's done (Go Jake!)
:)
Posted by: Michael | January 10, 2011 at 12:18 PM
Air temp hovering around around 31, water at 40....You guys are crazy. Of course sailing decked out in a space suit helps, but still...
Posted by: Joe | January 10, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Yowza.
Posted by: bonnie | January 10, 2011 at 02:22 PM
my wife rocks dont she?
hehehehe :)
Posted by: gman lives2sail | January 10, 2011 at 02:46 PM
OK, I'm trying to cut back but "Yowza" deserves a couple of exclamation marks.
Yowza!!!
Posted by: bonnie | January 10, 2011 at 04:17 PM
I could learn from you, Bonnie! Okay, lemme try:
I could learn from you, Bonnie.
Not quite the same! Anyhow I must tell you that it was one of those days that didn't feel anywhere near as cold as it was. I mean we had wet faces in dry air gusting in the high 20's, air temp low 30's, and we were sweating.
Vive le drysuit.
Posted by: Michael | January 10, 2011 at 04:21 PM
Totally nuts!If we had those temps here I would find a new sport!
Posted by: Bunty | January 11, 2011 at 01:45 AM
INcredible!!!!!
Posted by: bowsprite | January 18, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Hello, I´m from argentina and I like to contact to ask about what kind of wet suit use in this conditions.
thanks
Alejandro
Posted by: Alejandro Noe | March 14, 2013 at 08:40 PM
Hi Alejandro,
In the winter we're either wearing drysuits or 5/3 wetsuits, with high thick booties, gloves, and hoods.
Posted by: Michael | March 15, 2013 at 08:53 AM
Thanks Michael.
Posted by: Alejandro Noe | March 18, 2013 at 11:25 PM
i stopped wearing dry suits(bare)becase of having to replace neck& wrist seals every year.also because i usually have to find someone to zip me up.i now use a 6/5/4 oneil heat.it has an attached hood,front zip,its as warm as a dry suit& if it rips i dont worry @ filling up with water.no water gets in the heat & it feels like a 4/3 suit!oh yeah its also @150.bucks less than the bare.
Posted by: scott k. | March 19, 2013 at 09:36 AM