The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Anything you can do, Laird can do better. SUP Freestyle II

Thanks to NC Board Rider for suggesting this in a recent Comment

Wave Freestyle at Jupiter SUP Fall Classic

This just in from Dasher Films in Florida:  The Jupiter Fall Classic.   Check out the move at 1:46...this is new to me.  There's a bit more trickery later in the video too.  Of course the general waveriding is nice to watch on Thanksgiving morning!

Helmets and an Obscure Extreme Sport

Today I found myself thinking about wearing my helmet.  When I attempt loops (and that's all I do...attempt them) I don't like the extra weight of the helmet on my head as I get whipped around like a rag doll.  But put me out in waves or chophopville and I worry extra-much about getting conked.  On goes the helmet.

I think this mouse has made the correct decision.

The Mighty Sven (Gratuitous Puffin Post)

Peconic Jeff put me on to The Mighty Sven, a puffin in Happy Feet Two (penguin movie...been there done that.  Would do it again, too...penguins and movies go together!)  Sven is said to be "a tufted puffin passing himself off as a penguin who can fly."

Passing himself off as a penguin?   I think they've got that backward.   Puffins don't want to be penguins (why would they...penguins don't fly, and who has the better beak?  The soulful eye?)

The Mighty Sven...if you're ever out east come sail with the crew.   Thanks Jeff for spotting a brother Puffin!

 

My Shark Shirt

I need a few new T-shirts.   My once mighty collection of wind and water-related T-shirts was assembled 8-15 years ago, and it’s gone from “new and great” to “nicely worn in and great” to “old classics and great” and then lately “into the rag bag”.    Ravaged by time, as it were.

So imagine my excitement when the fashion editor of the Peconic Puffin was approached by Rapanui, a mega-green pro-nature organic low carbon footprint solar and wind powered (get the picture?) manufacturer of (amongst other things) t shirts.  They’re about being kind to seeds and sustainability and surfing and the oceans, and they reached out to see if we’d be interested in mentioning their wind and wave and critter-friendly products in the blog.   They have a “Save Our Seas” t-shirt (half the profits from it go to the UK’s Marine Conservation Society) so I asked for a review shirt.   Clever me!   Or so I thought.

It’s a shark shirt.  Sharks.  Why’d it have to be sharks?   I dislike sharks.   I’ve never met one I liked. They have a right to exist, certainly, can they please exist far away from me?   No, now I have sharks in my dresser drawer.   Upon closer inspection they’re not really sharks, but the shape of sharks filled with fish and octopi and crabs and rays and seaweed and so forth.   All good stuff I’m happy to windsurf or SUP around.   Therefore okay I like the shirt.  100% organic cotton, hand printed, Fairwear Foundation audited, with an A ecolabel.

And sharks.   They had to be sharks.

Duct Tape, WD 40, and Corona

Decision tree for the employment of WD-40 and duct tape in a waterside environment. Adapted after theft from Lord Tillerman's Proper Course.

My Arm Fails, Everybody Else Has Great Sessions

I was good for two minutes before my recently healed torn bicep tendon began protesting.   4.5 at Sebonac, and I won't say I didn't enjoy those two minutes, but my arm she is not yet ready.  Today I return to the physical therapist to report.    Still, others got to enjoy conditions...Scott and Jeff were there early (the tide wasn't ideal but I badgered them to come join me for the arm test) soon to be joined by Frank, Hulse, Bill, Jan and Bruce.  (Jan and Bruce, first learning of CD's big injury and then finding out why I was leaving so soon, turned to each other and said "we've gotta be careful out there!"

That was Friday.   Saturday the ocean at Tiana beckoned, and while I stuck my fingers in my ears and said "LALALALALALALA" to pretend it wasn't happening, there was a nice wave party.   I haven't been in the ocean in two months, and Jeff writes "there were much bigger waves than I captured in the photographs.  "LALALALALALALA..."

I am the wind and wave sacrifice.

(Photos by Jeff Schultz)

1111...the Greatest Number in Windsurfing

Robby Naish, the King.  Any questions?

(Who else would the Peconic Puffin rock on 11-11-11?  This most excellent photo borrowed from Jerome Houyvet at windsurfgallery.com...check it out for many more stunning windsurfing photos.)

Doctor's Orders: I must windsurf one hour

No kidding.  Stretching a little, though:  My physical therapist Jill (treating me for a lame wing) wants me to try windsurfing for an hour and then report back on the experience.   Perhaps something like:

"I got decent air on port, but had some trouble planing out of jibes."

Maybe that's not what she is interested in.

I'm supposed to take frequent breaks and keep my right arm extended (no pumping, no winding up for jumps.)   My wife thought it would be cool if Jill prescribed a sail size.

Aerotech's SUP Sail: Rig/derig Without Hassle

My first windsurfing guru (and He Who Taught Me To Jibe) Dasher has been telling me about a super-easy to use sail for SUP windsurfing.  Check this out:

1.  The sail rolls up on the mast (no mast/luff sleeve threading).

2.  No downhauling.

3.  The boom folds down against the mast when not in use (no attaching/detaching from mast)

So to rig, you roll the sail out from the mast, raise the boom, tie off the outhaul and go.   How cool is that?  Watch the video to see (and to see the sail on the water).

Rip Current Photo from Space

A nice channel for getting out, don't you think?

I was checking out various Google Maps images to see if anyone is sailing spots I know (a few years ago the usual suspects and I were caught rigging at Meschutt, and as of press time the Google shots of Napeague show two kiters and two windsurfers).  Too much time on my hands, it would seem.  Anyhow my I was caught by this apparent rip current in front of the Bridgehampton Surf Club, about 3/4 mile east of the Cut at Mecox.   We use these things to get out through the break when SUPsurfing (and I'm the worst at spotting them...ask anyone!) but this one I see.

Good for SUP, no joke for a swimmer caught in one.   Here is a link to NOAA's 101 about getting caught in a rip current and what to do (don't swim against the current, swim parallel to shore, don't panic, when you finally get clear of the outpulling water then head back to shore, and wave for help if you need it.)

CD has a torn quadriceps tendon. I'm sure he's still smiling.

One jump too many at Meschutt last weekend.  

Ain't no contest between me and CD (never is).  I have a little tear in my elbow, CD has a ginormous tear in his leg.   Damn.  ("Damn" because CD is really hurt, or "Damn" because I resent CD drawing off sympathy that rightfully belongs to me?  Haven't decided yet...)

Just kidding.    The entire purpose of this post was as an excuse to run a photo of CD (Lord Chimpleton, Chimpus Erectus, "Chris" to his immediate family) with his supremely stoked smile of enthusiasm and stoke.  

CD can always get me to smile...I could be laying exhausted on the beach atop a pile of broken gear, and CD would be all "Mike...Mike...how great is this day?  C'mon...you know you love it!"

Lord Chimpleton, I salute you and wish you a speedy recovery (as long as I"m back on the water first.)

Really though bro, heal fast and well!

(Top photo courtesy CD.  Bottom shot of CD with two good legs by Jeff.  The smile remains the same!)

Rocktober Racing Results

It was practically November, but Rocktober Racing got raced!  It happened Sunday at West Neck, site of the Fall Race in 2009.   I missed the entire thing, wheezing at home with a wicked cold, arm in a sling with a dinged tendon, I got to read the email about it and piece together this post.  First the results (all editorialization is Pete's):

1.  Brook...nice job Gilligan  :)
2.  Florian...we need to get you some glasses :)
3.  Kurt...you beat me by 2 points...next time!
4.  Pete
5.  Ted
6.  Sasha
7.  Joe

Jeanne came in first for the lady's.

There's a story out there that Florian was "taken out" by a motorboat, hence the need for glasses mentioned by Pete.  Scoring was handled by Devon Roesch, Scott Yanuck and Marianne Rantala if I have it right (what are the odds of that?)

Congratulations to all racers on a fine event, and big props to Pete!

(photo by Scott Yanuck.   More of his imagery and videos can be found here.)