The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Have you posted a comment but been ignored by the Puffin?

Hi,

In the last week I've heard from a couple people noting that their comments on the Peconic Puffin have not been appearing of late.  They've wondered if they've been blocked by the editorial staff here, or our lawyers, or bottle washers, or even the fin sanding team.

The answer is no, no, no, no, and we don't know what's going on.

On rare occasions I won't approve a comment, but I usually contact the commenter directly to explain why.  So if you've been shut out, I encourage you to try again.   Meanwhile I'll monkey around with the digital thingamabobs to see if that helps.

Cheers!

Recycled Windsurfing Board

I love creative use of unsailable windsurfing gear, largely because I'd like to do something with the pile of crap in my barn.  

The latest bit to cross Peconic Puffin radar comes from one of the tribe (the flock?)...Fast Eddie works most of a longboard into his outdoor shower.   Me I'd add an adjustable height soap dish to the mast track.

(Photo swiped from Eddie's FB page).

King Jibe

Robby Naish shows us how it's done.  As seen on World of Windsurf on Facebook, photo credit Erik Aeder Photography.

Salt Water: The Cure for Anything

“The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” 

-Isak Dinesen

as seen posted by a friend on Facebook.

The Seven Second Rule

Tuesday morning I'm STILL store from paddling on Sunday.  The waves were often head high or higher (not the one in the photo...it's head high 'cause I'm bending over duh) but the interval was short.  Seven seconds max...pound pound pound.  The first time I got out I had to take five minutes to give my arms a chance to recover.   The one decent wave I caught (photo)...getting back out again was another pound fest.  There wasn't a channel (really Scott...everyone agreed!) it was just punishment.  And/or I suck.  Christian and Jeff did better.

I am not going out again when the interval is that short.  Unless there's a serious channel back out.  

Time to ice the shoulder.

(Photo by Jeff Schultz)

Bonaire Documentary Coming to West Nyack and Long Island

Thandi is way cool.  Jon Sassone is almost as cool (and a fantastic windsurfer.  Thandi sails too, but Jon is crazy good.  But cool as Thandi...?)   Cooler still (and we're in a heat wave) are the upcoming screenings of Children of the Wind, the movie about the birth of windsurfing in Bonaire (the cradle of 21st century freestyle, and one of the great windsurfing vacation destinations.)  

Here are the deets:

There's a screening hosted by Jon on Long Island, Tuesday August 6th at Huntington Arts Centre in Huntington, NY at 7:30 link- http://www.tugg.com/events/4770

Thandi is also hosting a screening in Upstate NY Aug. 08, 2013 West Nyack, NY, 8:00pm at AMC Loews Palisades Center 21 link -http://www.tugg.com/events/4857

Must-see windsurfing movie!

Boarding Down/Why Is There a Kite On My Head?

Sally likes sailing the FSW 77.   This is great news!

The love of my life (Sally, not the board...the board is great...actually I love that board too, a lot, and don't every imagine myself with another...I'm just saying I'm in love with that board...)

SALLY not the board has been working towards planing out of a jibe for a couple years now, and has been making good progress.  This weekend (back to back sessions late Friday and Saturday) saw her switch her board of choice from the JP FSW 93 to the Fanatic FSW 77.  Great news, because the love of my life is only 77 liters (the board,) the wife...well she weighs practically nothing, and the 93 is too bouncy for her at jibing speed, IMHO.   So now she's sailing the 5.3 on the 77, which I think bodes (rhymes with boards) well.

Speaking of boding down, Friday (me on the 6.2) the wind came up towards the end, and got to switch from the 109 to the 99.  Saturday (when Sally and I were joined by Eileen and some locals) I started on the 109 (hello carve 360s in the straps, more upwind 360 failure, the occasional backwinded jibe and backwinded jibe attempt nose stuff), but then as the wind came up I grabbed Sally's 5.3 (politely) and sailed it on the 99, then on her old 93 FSW.  Could have put it on the 77 by the end of the sesh, as what I really needed was a 4.7.  Most wind I've had at Mecox in ages.

Perhaps for others too.   Immediately after switching to the 5.3/93 combo, I was standing at the launch facing the beach when a large orange blob appeared on my right shoulder.  I turned to find 12 meters of kite coming towards my face.  Stepping to the side to not get entangled, I looked for the jerk who was landing his kite on my head, but he/she was not to be seen.  Instead I saw control lines and bar sans controller dragging behind, coming into the beach.

Shit.

Told Sally and Eileen I was going out to look for the kiter, took a run, saw nothing, and after jibing saw flashing lights at the launch.   A boater had called the unattended kite in to the authorities.  Authorities (the Bay Constable, who got there pretty darn fast) ultimately concluded the kite had been blown off the beach at the Cut, and crossed the bay unattended.

I would not want to sail into those lines and get tangled mid bay.  No thank you.

(Photo:  Sally smiles for her final launch on the 93, before getting sporty with the 77.)

 

Summer Hours, Summer Sesh? Friday Alert

Friday 5PMish the forecast is flirting with SW 20's.   Wouldn't it be nice?   I'll be keeping an eye on predictions and planning my day around it (a sure formula for a jinx.)  Perhaps not.  Perhaps We Will Be Lucky!

The Wind-Crazed Wife

I am the principal windsurfer in our family.  This is the conventional wisdom:  Michael always wants to sail, Sally wants to sail sometimes, when it fits in her schedule, when it's sunny and warm.

Last week Sally went mad for windsurfing.

It started Thursday afternoon at Mecox.  She and I and Eileen and Jaime were on the water (me 6.2, Sally 5.3, Eileen had only brought a 6.6 so she was lit, I don't know Jaime's gear) in sunny warm SWesterly.  Sally working on her jibes (good entry speed but reverts to pivot jibe posture).  Fun while the wind lasted.  As we derigged, the first symptom appeared.

"Is it going to be windy tomorrow?  Is it?"

Me:  Maybe.  It's thermal season.

"Let's come earlier tomorrow!"

Me:  Let's see if it's going to blow first.

Friday morning I don't tell Sally the forecast fast enough, so she downloads the iWindsurf app (useless...bookmark the forecast page instead).  The forecast looks iffy for the afternoon, but Sally wants to go.  We go.  6.2 again (me on the 99 Skate) Sally on the 5.3.  More good times.   Sally chats up a kiter who tells her it was windier earlier.  I don't believe this but it doesn't matter.  We have to come earlier tomorrow!

At home, Sally instagrams a picture of her board on the beach.   We look at the callouses on her hand, which are simultaneously bad (and my fault) and are getting her stoked for more windsurfing.

Saturday morning: "Show me the forecast (she likes the iWindsurf color bars)!"   I tell her it's not going to happen. And it doesn't, but every time a tree moves she says we should go to Mecox.   On Sunday she calls me from her exercise class "is it windy?"

Driving back to the city Sunday afternoon we pass a flag that's fluttering.  Sally is in anguish.   I tell her I've heard from the guys...it's not planable...but she remains stressed.  She's missing wind.

My wife is a windsurfing addict.