The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning

"There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. "

So how do you know someone is in trouble?   We waterpeople need to stay on top of this.  We aren't doing our thing in swimming pools or public beaches with lifeguards keeping an eye on us.  We depend on ourselves and each other.   When someone is down in the water...no matter how good a sailor or surfer we know them to be...we need to be mindful of this.    What are the signs?  All of this from an excellent article on what to look for:

• Head low in the water, mouth at water level
• Head tilted back with mouth open
• Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
• Eyes closed
• Hair over forehead or eyes
• Not using legs—vertical
• Hyperventilating or gasping
• Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
• Trying to roll over on the back
• Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder

Read Slate's article yourself:  Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning.

Best Sustainable Windsurfing Gear You Absolutely Need

It was in 1987 when the landmark Our Common Future was released. In it, the concept of sustainable development was put forth, and defined as follows: "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This means using renewable fuel sources, reducing carbon emissions, protecting environments, and finding other ways to keep the planet's delicate ecosystems thriving and in balance. 

So, you might be thinking, where does a humble windsurfer come into play? Well, for starters, you can heed the suggestions above, including finding other ways to protect the environment, too. One easy way is to use sustainable windsurfing gear. In doing so, you get to enjoy the sport and save the planet in the process.

LiP Watersports Sunglasses

The recently reviewed LiP Watersports Sunglasses are arguably the best of their kind, with both the Typhoon and the Surge delivering in terms of performance. But what makes them sustainable is their durability. This means that if you do get a pair, they will last you a very long time. (Image credit:  LiP)

 

Patagonia’s Yulex Wetsuits 

Sea Maven Magazine's ultimate list of sustainable surf gear notes that traditional neoprene wetsuits are made from oil-based, non-renewable rubber. So they are energy intensive, non-biodegradable, and rarely long-lasting. But the new-age Yulex wetsuits from California-based Patagonia break that mold.

These wetsuits are made from a plant-based rubber called — yes, Yulex — and are flexible and warm — much like rubber-made ones. The difference is that the Yulex wetsuits, aside from costing a little more, are sustainable, extremely durable, and can actually last a very long time. (Image credit:  Pinterest)

Starboard Windsurfing Ecoboards

Starboard has been making top-notch surfboards for what seems like an eternity. Now, they are making exquisite, sustainable eco boards using their Carbon Balsa technology. For a sport so dependent on nature, very little has been done in windsurfing to reduce the environmental cost of its equipment. So, Svein Rasmussen’s company is leading the charge with their Starboard eco-boards through the reduction of plastics and use of environmentally friendly materials. The company is making boards that make use of end grain Balsa, which is one of the world's fastest growing trees, rather than PVCs. Meanwhile, the board's fins are made from renewable materials sourced from castor bean plants. Additionally, Starboard is even planting one mangrove tree for every board they sell. (Image credit:  Pinterest)

Deep Blue Bags by Mafia Bags

These Yves Béhar-designed bags are made from sustainably sourced, upcycled materials such as wetsuits and climbing ropes. They are Sustainable Surf approved, and packed with technical features, like wet and dry pouches, an integrated bottle holder made from repurposed dry suits, and a stash pocket. They even come with a lifetime warranty. Plus, every purchase helps local artisans in San Francisco, while all the proceeds go to ocean health initiatives, notably the Waste to Waves program.  (Image credit:  Pinterest) 

Casio Surf Watches

Surfer Today notes that a surf watch has become very important because it can provide lots of crucial information to windsurfers. 
Surf watches now allow users to check ocean conditions in real-time. This information is vital to windsurfers, with Coral explaining in an article about the impact of technology on sports, how these days it is all about marginal gains. So by using tracking technology, you can provide relevant information that can be used to improve performance. For windsurfers, understanding key details like tidal movements, dawn/sunset times and wind strength can help with performance. One surf watch that comes highly recommended is the Casio’s G-Shock Frogman GF1000 as it has features that monitor direction, altitude/barometric pressure, temperature, tide graphs, and moon phases. Not to mention, it is solar-powered and extremely durable, so it is also sustainable, as it doesn’t require a replacement battery.  (Image credit:  Pinterest)

Windsurfers spend a lot of time being at one with nature, so you must do your part in saving the environment. Using the aforementioned gear is certainly a solid move in the right direction. 

Reason to Hate Mike Burns #512: The Shuv-it Spock

I hate Mike Burns.  The number of things he can do on a windsurfing board that I can't is greater than the number of things I can do with one, period.   These days he's living down in Hatteras (reason to hate him #483) with Chrissy and the kids, and he's recently posted a video of him throwing a Shuv-it Spock, which he describes on Facebook as "one of my favorites. Very technical and difficult to pull off."   Yeah no kidding.   Apparently his new board (a Psycho) is facilitating this.  For me (who still can't hit a duck tack) it's worse than when he learned how to leopard loop. 

One more reason to hate Mike Burns.   He's so good.

(Video:  There he is, doing his thing at a recent session at Canadian Hole.   Catch up with Mike on the water and he'll give you tips on just about anything Windsurfing!)

 

 

 

OG Puffin Sighting: Jace Panebianco

A blast from Peconic Puffin past!   Ran into Jace Panebianco, who the world knows as director of The Windsurfing Movie, but who old school Puffins know as that great kid who works at the windsurfing shop, circa 1993!   When this thing was a three page printed newsletter Jace was often in it.   In town from Hawaii he's been foiling on the Little Peconic, but I ran into him in the seafood store.   Jace remains very tall...in the pic he is bending down, and I am standing on my toes!  Great to see Jace!

Dead Shredmobile

A warm windy three-day weekend, and my van won't START?  Argh!!   The good news is this happened on the way home from Friday's session.   The bad news is that it happened before Saturday and Sunday.   So I sucked it up and hung out with my wife's friends, ignoring the trees, ignoring the texting on my phone ("3.7!" Scott wrote).   So while the Eastern Long Island Wind Chimp Association and Greater Puffindom were out on their smallest boards, I played croquet.

I said it.

This morning comes the word:  My 16 year old van needs a new fuel pump.   Which is in the gas tank.  Oh yeah and the left front ball joint has a lot of play in it...

South Jamesport Gets the Wind

Scott is excited about the parking lot.  "You've never seen such a thing on Long Island".   A one block walk from the South Jamesport launch is a municipal parking area that specifies No Permit Required.  I've never had a North Fork permit and I've sailed at SJ at least twenty times, but Scott says park safe, so I did.

Nice parking lot.

About the wind:  5.4 y'all Friday, 4.2 Saturday!   On Friday t'was me, Scott, Artie, the Wolf, and Fireman Matt.   There was the occasional hole when the wind swung WNW, but mostly we tore it up on our fives.    Your editor missed Saturday (see the next post) but we're waiting for info from Peconic Jeff.

Return to SUP Surfing!

Ridiculously I did not paddlesurf once in 2018.   I SUPsailed in the waves a couple times, but no actual down the line (or attempted DTL) SUP action.  Recently while flatwater paddling I've assumed the surf position just to see what my balance felt like (not very good.)   Then Sunday I was copied on a text from Peconic Jeff (remember him?!) saying he was launching at K-Road.  "I'm on my way!" said me.

There was wind on the water, chop, but still the occasional 3-4 foot set, and while I fell off of half of them I caught a half dozen too!

Photo by Jeff Schultz

Windsurfing Equipment Review:: LiP Watersports Sunglasses

The people at LiP Sunglasses asked The Peconic Puffin if we’d review their watersports sunglasses, and review them we shall.   We all know the deal with such sunglasses…there are two moderate issues and one major issue.   The moderates: How well do they shed water (given that we’re being sprayed with water constantly) and do they fog up?   The Major: How do you avoid losing them in big falls?   Who wants to spend money on pricey eyewear that will get knocked flying in high speed falls? Not me.

Let’s tackle the major issue first: LiP’s solution to keeping the glasses you bought is to have the retainer strap attach to a rubber “retainer necklace” that sits around your neck. Think a big soft “O” ring.   It’s got plenty of give should the glasses get yanked…you’re not going to get choked…but it’s not coming off over your head either.     I’ve sailed with the LiP’s in 4.2 winds and had a couple invigorating falls, one of which lifted them off of my face, but they basically sat on top of my head as the rubber necklace didn’t let the leash go anywhere.     I’ve also sailed with them in 4.7 and 5.4 conditions, but the falls were not as severe.   The 4.2 crashes were the test.

 I think they’ve worked out how to secure sunglasses to a windsurfer or kiter.

LiP has two models, the Typhoon and the Surge.   The Typhoon is their full-on “most advanced watershade on the market” while the Surge is a smaller, lighter pair of glasses at about half the price.   Both the Typhoon and Surge sheeted water beautifully.   Happily I had the Typhoons on when a squall came through…sailing in the rain was no problem…in fact I didn’t realize how bad it was until the other guys I was sailing with commented on sailing with one eye closed and the other squinting!   We’ve all been there LOL.

Neither pair fogged.  

There have been good watersports glasses on the market before, but all of mine ended up in Davy Jones locker one way or another.   LiP appears to have that issue beat.   So if you want to protect your eyes from the sun, and/or shred with impunity in the rain, we recommend them.

(image from LiP's web site.)