The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Wrong Place, Right Time @Mattituck

Sailing with the Wolf and Scott usually means that you're in location perfect for the wind and tides.  A 5 degree difference in direction will change the launch call for these guys.  So imagine my surprise when I arrived at Mattituck to find about ten people windsurfing in the wrong direction.  The wind was southwest (Mattituck is meant for SSW) and so the point to the west was creating a wind line.  Quell horror!   But I'm ahead of myself.  Right before I arrived people were on 4.2's and 3.7's and it was nuking!  Right before I arrived the wind died...big time.   There was half an hour of standing on shore, talking about 6.2's.  "If it was summer we'd be thrilled about these whitecaps" more than one said.  But it was January, everyone was in drysuits, and big wind was what people wanted.

Then the wind returned...not all the way, but to blessed 4.7.  Perfect!  Except that it had been so long since I'd sailed that my van wasn't properly loaded and I didn't have my 4.5.  Unbelievable.  There was no mercy on shore: "Forgot?  You have a WINDSURFING VAN!" said everyone.  And they were right.  I was an embarrasment to windsurfing van owners, a contemptuous failure to those who would like to own a windsurfing van, a pathetic disaster.   Then Christian offered to loan me a 4.7 (he would rig a 5.0 that he also had, for himself.)  Saved!   Christian's sail was perfect, and this pathetic embarrasing contemptuous out of practice kook got a good little session in...who cared if we were in the wrong spot!   Warmish (air) 4.7 windsurfing in January?   That's a win.   Thank you Christian! 

On the water at Mattituck: the Wolf, Scott, Frank, Frank, Joe Natalie, Peconic Jeff, Christian, Jeff Slechta, Jake (visiting from Deleware!) Rich Simons, and one or two people I'm forgetting.

(Photos by Jeff Schultz.)

Baba O'Rico

It's that time of the year when the Peconic Puffin staff usually proclaims envy, jealousy, antipathy, perfidiosity...you name it...at Bill Barber and John Hulse, who wisely spend the winters windsurfing and kiting and surfing in Puerto Rico.   But in 2013 we have mellowed (also we're getting over a bad cold).  So above we will simply note that Bill (sailing) and Dimitri (kiting) are enjoying Shacks a few days ago.   Mr. Bahbah did not get out today, as apparently the big waves were coming in at 20 feet.   Poor Bill.

(Photo of Dmitri and Bill via Susan and Jay).

East Coast Rising

I just watched this on Frank's blog, and wanted to share it.  Hurricane Sandy's aftermath, as seen by surfers.   This is not a surfing video.

We're going to need a bigger boat.

Killer whale chases boat.  Orca come to eat your motor!  The photo is real, and one of a series.  As seen in Marlin.

New Year's Resolutions, 2013

For years I've posted my windsurfing New Year's Resolutions in The Peconic Puffin.  A list of ambitions and goals, accompanied by a look back at how I'd done with the previous year's resolutions.  Then in 2011 I got the dumb idea of having No Resolutions be my New Year's Resolutions.  "The unaimed arrow never misses" I quoted.   Doy.   So what happened?  2011 was a crappy year, I hurt myself late in the year, and never even managed to say a thing about 2012 (le crap deux).   So I sure as heck am ambitioning for '13 (my lucky number):

1.  More ocean sailing, and in new spots.  Regardless of what Sandy did to our usual spots (The Bowl, Ponquogue, Oh Tiana etc) I'd like to try setting sail at places like Flying Point, where the SUP waves have been good but we haven't put windsurfing board to water.

2.  7.5 freestyle.   I bought a light 7.5 to milk the marginal days...now I need a repertoire of tricksyness to go with it.  I'm thinking carve 360s, flip jibes, way slow donkey jibes etc.

3.  Air.   I can't remember the last time I was getting decent air regularly in a session.  Partially that's been conditions, partially injuries, and partially me.  Regardless, I miss the thrill.

4.  Quality SUP.  It's not windsurfing, but it's wavy and wonderful and I want to improve.

5.  SUPsailing.   It IS windsurfing, and I'd like to catch a few wave sessions thus.

6.  Get enough sessions in that Scott and the Wolf don't express surprise when they see me.

7.  Stay healthy.

A windy and wonderful windsurfing new year to you all!