Years ago during a windsurfing trip to Maui, there was a day when the winds blew from the west (highly unusual) as opposed to the tradewind easterlies. Kona Wind, they called it, and it wild and wooly and gusty and all over the place. The great instructor Jason Voss was standing on the beach, and I asked him what size sail I should rig. "It doesn't matter*," he said. "Just grab a sail and go out."
That's about what it was like at South Jamesport yesterday. Well not quite as crazy, but on the question of 3.7, 4.2, 4.7, 5.4, and 5.8 (if you were Jon Ford) it was up and down. Or so it seemed.
"It's not gusts and lulls, it's that there are lanes of different wind strengths" Bruce said. That's what I thought. I'd rigged a 4.2 on Scott's advice, which I later decided was wrong. Of course Scott on his 4.7 was tailwalking often as not. AND gagging! Etc etc. Scott Bruce Jan Jon GeorgePav the Wolf and I went at it, and often were dialed in (for 30 seconds at a time) until the next lane was entered. C'est la wind. Still, it was 80 degrees and we were in shorties on small sails! "This could be it for the summer" Scott said. Let's hope not.
*Back when the Peconic Puffin was a printed weekly newsletter (1993-2003) there was a bit that used to appear on the second page called "Puffin Poetry". Reserved for a great quote or description of a noteworthy moment, it so happens that Jason's sail size comment was the Puffin Poetry item that week. Here is what the page looked like...a glance into past goofiness:
Yeah, we get days like that. It doesn't matter what you rig, you'll be wrong 50% of the time... Makes you question your life choices as you are either getting slammed or bobbing around ankle deep waiting for wind.
But, it's hardly blown here in weeks so I'd rig something and go out anyway. My poor choice this week will be driving an hour on the hope that I get one white cap all afternoon.
Posted by: William | June 19, 2018 at 12:04 PM