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The rave reviews would not stop.
"Excellent 4.2!"
"I can't believe it's February!"
"Looks like the Gorge!
"It's like Hatteras!"
"A perfect day!"
The last session of the shortest month was a great one according to all who partook!
Those duly shredding included Joe Nat, Frank, Artie, Pav, Bruce, Robert. Send more names and add them I shall!
(Photo of Joe inbound by Artie.)
I missed it, but few others did. 4.2-4.7 at Webbies, with two snow squalls to heighten the interest. No repeats from Friday's Sebonac event...Frank was at Nappy, I took a day off from the cold, and Christian was in Hatteras with his Opti-sailing daughter.
The Webbies crew included the Wolf, Chimply Lord Scotworth the Earl of Kielt, the Art of Windsurfing, Joe Nat, Rob, Frank Strobel, "new guy Cyrus", Bruce Feldman and possibly others.
(Top: Scott says it's picking up! Bottom: If the Wolf is sailing, why aren't you? Why wasn't I? Photos by Artie.)
On arrival the guestimate was 4.7 and a midsized board. By the time Frank and I had rigged the sand blowing down the beach suggested 4.2. I grabbed my smallest board (77) and launched.
One run later I was back on the beach to add downhaul. That worked, until Frank launched and the holes arrived. 4.7? 5.3? 4.2? Quit complaining...it's a sunny day in February and we're sailing! Christian joined on a 5.3.
It was up and down (stop complaining!) but I for one was grateful to be in the straps, to jump, to jibe (the water was COLD). I managed to duck jibe onto some swell, finding myself surfing down a mini wave switchstance...total luck but I'll take it! Gratitude for fun on the water in winter.
During a break in the action Christian showed me his latest technique for stashing emergency line. A decade ago we both used to tape line behind our harness bars...after Christian had to rerig a sail floating outside the Bowl. Over the ensuing decade we both stopped, but after Christian's boom failure last month he is now carrying line again. I must join him stat. Back to the sesh...
In the end a shlog on the 77, with a number of slow waterstarts in the icewater convinced me that I'd had enough fun. Also my lips couldn't form words any more so I went home, grateful.
When I think about winter and water time (when I don't have tickets to fly to Bonaire) I worry. What if there are no good days? Silly me. Just because it's freezing cold and miserable doesn't mean there's no fun to be had! A review of Peconic Puffin articles from past Februarys offers up a catalog of sessions at Sebonac, Meschutt, the Bowl etc, and a fair amount of wave SUPping (by paddle and by sail). This Friday already shows some promise...otherwise I will simply bide my time and mind the Long Island Rule of 100:
Air temperature + Water temperature + Wind Speed = 100 or higher.
Or be like Arctic Artie* and get a bit more technical, and windsurf when:
Air temperature + Water temperature + Wind Speed + Weeks since last session + 5 (if it's sunny) = 100 or higher.
* I don't know that The Art actually applies this formula, fine geek though he may be. But he sure as sugar sails like he does!
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