The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Festivus Miracle...

...or a gift from Santa.  Artie couldn't decide how this late year session should be attributed, but sail it (or wing it) we did.  The northwest wind had set up a classic Meschutt session complete with color by number ramps, though the wind was up and down.   Scott was on a 4.7, Joe Nat a 5.0, me a 5.4, and Christian a 5.7 we were all good at some point.  Jonathan was on a wing...I don't know what size wing or how they translate, but he was up and foiling.  Christian had a boom tailpiece failure...the good news is that he was fairly close to shore, the bad news was the water is Cold.   He managed to tie his sail's clew to the boom and shlog in without too much drama.

A far from perfect session, though there were jumps and jibes to be had.  Windsurf we must!

(Scott inbound.  Photo by Artie.)

Shark Joke

Lifted from Jerry's Facebook page.

No We Don’t Want to Go To New Suffolk, It’s Fantastic Here!

South Jamesport was exquisite.  But Jonathan wanted to go to New Suffolk.

“Want to go to New Suffolk?” Jon asked.

I didn’t.  SJ was nearly perfect.   4.2 SSW at low tide.   It was WAIST DEEP…very Hatteras…with organized ramps on both tacks.  Hum baby!

4.2 gusting to 3.7 Scott said.  The only reason the sand wasn’t blowing was it had rained in the morning.   Scott, Frank and George Pav (on his triumphant post covid return sesh) were on it first, followed by moi, Jonathan, Artie, and John Nat.

We were on 4.2’s at first.  Jibing in the lulls.   It was so windy that Frank took a break (when have you ever seen Frank take a break?)  Scott was blasting and tailwalking…said his fin was too big.   I hung in there on my 4.2 until I found myself sailing with my back arm fully extended.  Time for the 3.7.   Soon most everyone was in the threes.

Somewhere along the line George (healthy and happy) hit a log with his newly acquired Fanatic Grip.   One of the thruster boxes suffered a minor crack.   How to fix it?  Personal epoxy?  Pete?   I suggested cleaning up the ding and jamming a shim in place of the now nonexistent screw.  We shall see what George does.  (P.S.  George got the board from Jason who we used to sail with.  Jason always had nice boards!)

So now we’re on 3.7s…full tilt boogie on the smooth water, catching air off the ramps, and again having to jibe in the lulls.  Me if I jibe DRY on a 3.7 I’m happy, but in waist deep conditions who cares?  Got a few before I was sheeting out again.  Scott declared it 3.2, and I declared I was tired.   Derigged and left just as John was hitting the water to get his.

(Artie blasting inbound.)

Warm December Winds...

Warm December winds that's right.  Huh?   “It’s 60 degrees now, and in two days it’s going to be snowing” Scott said.   Fine with me as long as it’s windy when it’s 60. A South Jamesport southerly in December? Yes indeed.  Don't believe in climate change?  It's snowing in Hawaii.

4.7 was the call. Scott, the Wolf, me, and Jonathan Ford on a wing responded to said call.   Particularly nice ramps on both tacks with SSW winds…not having the Art of Windsurfing Artie’s jumping skills (por ejemplo) I like when the ramp pre-angles my board for me! (“Hey what about me” Scott asks? Scott is an excellent jumper too!)

The wind was indeed warm and friendly…the water is now cold, though. I was wearing my “B” gloves…gloves with holes that still mostly do the job. I save my A gloves for when it’s extra cold. Speaking of holes, there were some large ones in the wind, and by and by we all shlogged back to shore (add a walk for the Wolf).

4.7 also called one of our brethren who is down with Covid. Maintaining major distance and fully masked, he’d walked down to watch the action. “Good to see you on your feet” I said. “I passed out an hour ago” he replied.  

More recuperation is indicated.

Was yesterday the last sesh of the year? I doubt it, but you can’t count on conditions and calendars lining up in holiday season.