Back in his sailboat racing days, Christian once crewed on a around-the-world race. I assume that means he sailed around Cape Horn, that legendary stretch of sea at the bottom of Chile known as a sailors graveyard. From Sailing World: "Cape Horn has long been the most iconic landmark in the minds of sailors, and sailing around the Horn is a huge challenge."
Closer to puffinly windchimpdom is another horn that windsurfers have been known to round: The jetty tip leading into Shinnecock Inlet. A number of windsurfers have come into trouble near the inlet opening (usually the wind has died, and or swirling currents make waterstarting a challenge) and an incoming tide has pulled them in, only to spit them out a few minutes later in Shinnecock Bay. Happened to Frank a few weeks ago, and heck, if Frank can be dragged in, who among us is not inlet bait?
The day started as a questionable Bowl sesh. It was 5ish meter sails and big boards (me on the JP 109 with a 5.4) doing a lot of gagging and some planing. Why bother? Clean sets of 3-4 foot waves, that's why! Frank, Christian and I were first on it, followed by Bill Nightingale and later John Nat (despite the lack of perfect conditions). Young Jon Ford and the Wolf both looked and demured.
But some of us were out there enjoying the gusts and lulls. I came in to guzzle some water, took my eye off the ocean for 30 seconds, and then Lo a sail was missing.
"Your friend is in the inlet" a woman yelled to me. I looked. Christian was not just in the inlet, he was flying through. I guestimated his speed at five knots (Christian later said "at least!"*) I jumped into the van and drove to the traditional spot to pull guys out (the parking lot on the northwest corner of the inlet. Christian attempted the usual tactic of sailing into the bay, jibing and coming in amongst the rocks, but the current was so strong that he could not get near. Then he was REALLY drifting downcurrent to the west when I realized "no, he's going that way on purpose trying to find a spot he can get in at" so back into the van, then down the road, and a few hundred yards west we managed to connect, wading through a field of beach nettles. While it was a longer drive, the spots to the west make getting the gear out of the water and up to the road more manageable.
*Christian says shooting through the inlet is an exciting and invigorating experience. "Quite the ride!" he proclaimed. After initial press reports appeared he added "I see it as a bucket list thing like seeing the pyramids or running with the bulls. Still surprised at how quickly it happened. More wind and waves pleaseā¦"
Can't believe how quickly it happened. One missed waterstart and I was on the way through. Sometimes gaining some distance upwind doesn't pay off!
Posted by: Christian | May 31, 2017 at 07:26 AM