The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

The Swap is On...right now!

(word from the shop): The swap is on at Hampton Watersports, but it's taking place in the back shed as rain is expected. People have been dropping off gear for two weeks so there's plenty to pick from. The gear will not be laid out on the ground. Swap is on!

swap meet postponed, ABK still on

The Swap Meet has been postponed one week due to weather. It will now be held Saturday September 30th. Additional info when it's available.

Word is Andy Brandt's clinics will go on as scheduled. Nothing stops ABK!

Excellent Foot Straps

Check out the new foot straps on my beloved 109, which desperately needed them.   From Fanatic, they are black on black (tres stylish) comfortable and easy to adjust.    It's been awhile since I've upgraded foot straps on a board (I "upgrade" when the existing straps fall apart LOL) but these are so good I might consider swapping out on my other boards.   They are recommended in this rare equipment review!

Lee Side Sailing

A well-behaved hurricane for us windfolk!  Sufficiently off shore to not threaten our homes, sufficiently windable that we had two days of quality wind time.   Grazie!

Friday was the warmup sesh…a mix of windsurfers and wing sailors on foils at Cold Spring…five meters was the sail call.  Like a fool I left immediately before it filled in (“Mike where did you go?  Switch turned on!  Jibatorium! Etc texted Artie later.)

Saturday Meschutt was the call, with building winds all day as well as the crowd (Scott Frank Christian Artie Connecticut Chris John Nat Christian #2 windsurfers wingers Jimi Jam and a friend on a kite.)  I arrived having forgotten my 5.4 when everyone was sailing 5 somethings.   Rigged a 4.7 and planned on a big board, but by the time I was rigged the wind called for the 93, and after half an hour it called for the 77.  Rock and roll!   The outside swell was generous with jibing spots early, and my first set of runs had me leave the water with dry hair.  Lord Scotworth testified similarly.

Soon Scott tailwalked in and pronounced he needed to rig 4.2.    I’m usually on what Scott is on so I took a short spin in the still building winds, and agreed.  I could hold on to the 4.7, but life would be nicer trimmed a half meter.  

So I rerigged.

The outside had become a mess but life was still exciting, and Scott proclaimed that he could barely hold down his 4.2.  It was 3.7 on the outside, he said!

Thing was, he wasn’t on his 4.2.  He had come in on his 4.7, derigged, then taken the 4.7 back out of the bag and rigged it again, thinking it was his 4.2. 

“I didn’t notice how wet it was” he said later.

Well I was happy on my little sail, but soon enough found myself on the beach talking to Christian about how strong the wind was and how tired we were becoming.

Me:  “I find myself thinking ‘will I be able to swim back if I lose it all?’”

Christian:   “I have the same thoughts.”

I took the proverbial One More Run (actually four) and then got off the water with my ass intact.  Great day!

(Top:   Getting around at Cold Spring.  Bottom:  Lee's wave action was awesome...no windsurfing there!   Photos courtesy Jeff Schultz)

Swap Meet Coming 9/23!

Swap Meet and sale at Hampton Watersports Saturday September 23rd. From the shop:

 

"Sept 23. Buy or sell New, used and closeout Foil, Wingfoil, Kite, surf and Windsurf gear.

Sellers - please drop your used gear now thru 10 am 9/23

Buyers - Come by and check it out . Note: Anyone looking for anything specific, please let us know before hand. We can shop for you if needed."

https://hamptonwatersports.com/

Winds from Lee?

Hurricane Lee looks to stay safely away from local waters, though the beaches might take a pounding (what else is new?)

Right now Friday is showing some northerly potential.  Fingers crossed for good times!   Much of the wind chimp/puffin collective is talking Gardiners Bay, though if GB gets huge some of us (me at least) may retreat to East Landing, home of beautiful fat swell half the size of Gardiners' giants!