The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Saturday Wind Fest: Be there at 9, ready for Rabbit Starts!

Mike Burns thinks it could blow big.   I'm not trying to jinx it!  I'm just sayin' that's what Mike is sayin'. 

MC Thom Hering thinks we may need jet ski rabbit starts.   Say what?   If the wind is from the east then racers will a-gather on the water (as opposed to the rabbit beach starts we've had in festivals past for the southerlies) and get started by a passing jet ski.  

Both Mike and MC Thom say it's important that participants be there by 9AM to register, get numbers (remember to bring duct tape to put numbers on your sails) and kick off the competition.

It's going to be exciting!

The 2011 East Coast Windsurfing Festival is this Saturday-Sunday at Heckscher State Park.   The following is a list of "important stuff to bring" taken from the event web site, as written by reigning King of the East Mike Burns himself:

"- Money -  There is a charge of 8 bucks to get into the park at the toll booth.

-Weed fin - The beginning of June is when those weeds decide to start appearing.  Sometimes you can get by without one, but it could just make the difference.

-Sun Block - I forgot mine last year and got burnt to a crisp. 

-Food and Drink - There is nowhere in the park to buy food or beverages so bring what you’ll need for the day

-Toilet Paper -  There I said it.  The bathrooms at the boat ramp will be open but you never know if they’ll have what you need when you really need it. -Duct tape - it has a million uses so you might as well bring some.  Whether you need to put numbers on your sail, protect your body parts from getting blisters from the tons of sailing you’ll be doing, you might just need some duct tape.

- Your family and friends - everyone else’s will be there, so bring yours along too."

See you there!

(photo of jet ski rabbit start borrowed from Continent Seven, where it was credited to Biancotto.)

 

Mr. Angulo's East Coast Windfest Workout

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.  So I'm told.   Former PWA champion Josh Angulo knows first-hand, though, and he's losing sleep over his upcoming battle with Long Island's Mike Burns,  two time East Coast Windsurfing Festival crown-wearer (or plaque wearer.  Plaque carrier?)  Some heavy heads and hands there.

Anyways Angulo is up against some stiff competition, and we asked His Wavelyness about it:

Peconic Puffin:  "You’re probably aware that event co-organizer Mike Burns has won the King of the East Crown two out of three times since the event’s debut.  Assuming that the scoring isn’t rigged (which I wouldn’t assume) do you think you stand a chance?"

Josh Angulo:  "I'm actually gonna do a few push-ups and jumping jacks before my heat with Mike... I'm gonna pull out all the stops. I'm coming in all guns blazing for Mike " Da King" Burns. He's actually folklore worldwide. Only Robby Naish, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Antoine Albeau and Mike Burns have held so many consecutive titles. So although I want to give it my all it will be a big ask."

I'm gonna try some push-ups and jumping jacks too.  Anything I can do to get an edge!

General East Coast Windsurfing Festival update:   Make sure you're there by 9am to register.   The plan is for the first event to start at 10, so figure a 9:45 skippers meeting, so you'll want to be fully rigged by 9:30.  That's the word from JamMaster Thom Hering and Lord Burns Themselves.

Fear this, and tremblingly obey. 

(Top:  Mike Burns looks back at the splash his crown made when it fell off whilst throwing a crazy-ass move.  Bottom:  The author demonstrates his reverse pushup technique underwater during 2010's freestyle competition.  Photos courtesy Bill Doutney.)

Josh Angulo Is Ready for the East Coast Windsurfing Festival

He is coming.

Windsurfing legend Josh Angulo (who WON Cabo Verde...that’s more rad than the Bowl, homes!) is bringing his mightiness to Heckscher this weekend for the 2011 East Coast Windsurfing Festival.   We at the Peconic Puffin say “Wow!”  Stoked, we are.  Fools, too, but not so foolish as to pass an opportunity to ask Mr. Angulo, who recently moved to Massachusetts to be closer to Long Island (we imagine) which Festival  competition (racing or freestyle) he was more excited about bringing his PWA Wavesailing Champion awesomeness to?    Thus spake Josh:

“Can I put in a few disclaimers now........ I am a very below average below amateur level freestyle sailor and Mike Burns said he's putting me in the "expert" division, which I don't really qualify for.   The racing I'm fired up for assuming we get 11-12 knots...below that my pumping skills are pretty bad.”

Yeah yeah.  Josh really isn’t that good.  Look for him to finish sandwiched in between Peconic Jeff and myself.  Yeah.   Mr. Angulo went on with the nice talk:

“I'm really thankful for  the open arms  reception I've been getting in the whole east coast watersports scene and I hope I'm able to give back some of my  " Aloha" from Hawaii and "morabeza" from Cabo Verde. From what I've seen and experienced thus far the East Coast already has plenty of both.” 

Just wait until he finds himself between George Marr and Pete Roesch!

(The fourth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival takes place this weekend at Heckscher Park.   Sign up now,  join the fun, sail with friends and welcome Josh Angulo to Long Island! Angulo photo courtesy PWA/John Carter)

A May Without Windsurfing

My windsurfing gear is bone dry.

I've been sailing since 1992, which makes this my 20th season.  The only year I didn't get any water time in May was 2002, but that was on account of having rotator cuff surgery the month before.   This year lack of conditions has been my bugaboo.  Yeah if I'd driven 50 miles to Heckscher I could have scored some water time, but that wasn't in the cards.   So my callouses are nearly gone, and the East Coast Windsurfing Festival is just two weeks away. I'm gonna get my tail kicked! 

Thank the water gods for SUP (decent sesh with Scott, the Wolf, Jeff and Steve on Saturday.  In the top photo Scott questions my manlyness, querying my use of hood whilst the rest of the gang paddled hatless.  In the bottom photo, having explained that I was using the hood as a sunburn protectorant, I try to catch what clearly isn't a wave.   Pix courtesy Jeff.)

It's Time To Sign Up for the East Coast Windsurfing Festival

It's time!  His lordship Mike Burns (Festival organizer AND Reigning King of the East) has decreed that the hour to declare our intentions has arrived*.  So get thee to the East Coast Windsurfing Festival's registration page, or just email King Burns directly with the following information:

Thy name (all of it).

Thy mailing address.

Thy email address.

Thy age (I myself lie)

Thy intentions to participate in freestyle, racing, or both.

The fourth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival takes place June 11-12 at Heckscher State Park on Long Island.

Get it on, bang a gong, get on.

*While the hour has arrived, a sufficiency of other hours are also available to sign up.  However it's more fun if you sign up early, as web pages listing the names of the happy competitors shall soon be displayed to the people.

(Photo: Mike Burns doing something cool at Heckscher. Image stolen from East Coast Windsurfing Festival web site.)

East Coast Windsurfing Festival IV…Save the Date!

It’s Baaaack…the fourth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival!  Two time King of the East freestyle champion Mike Burns sez “mark your calendars for June 11th and 12th and expect the usual big turnout with lots of action and fun.”   We’re talkin’ Heckscher, y’all.  There will be freestyle, there will be racing, there will be a great time had by all.  

Save the date.

(Don't know what you've been missing?  Or perhaps you want to relive the thrill of victory and the agony of being beaten by Pete?  Here's The Peconic Puffin's coverage of the last three festivals.    The official web site will be updated soon.   Photo from one of last year's races by Bill Doutney.)

Loose Ends to the East Coast Windsurfing Festival

I would be remiss (as I so often am) if I did not get these last few bits and pieces out:

1.   Junior Division Results:  Total, complete, and utter domination by one Devon Roesch.   That would be Devon Son of Pete.   I once had "Must Defeat Pete" writ large on the deck of my Superlight before a competition in an attempt to inspire my own success (didn't work.)   Might I try "Confound Those Speedy Roeschs"?

2.  Relay Race Team Results:

Position - Team -   Race results

1.)  Team Natali - 2nd & 1st

2.)  Team Roesch - 1 & 3

3.)  Team Veith - 4 & 2

4.)  Team Marr - 3 & 4

5.)  tie - Team Yannick & Giordano

The rosters for the teams are not available.  Suffice it to say that I sailed for a fifth place team.

3.  Spencer Buckets:

Jill Marr Superstar (coordinator of Neat Prizes and Trophies along with MC Thom) presented Spencer Buckets to top competitors.   This is as great and as useful a windsurfing prize as anyone could want (in my addled opinion)...if you've never used a Spencer Bucket, you don't know what you're missing.  Stand in it to change out of your wetsuit.   Use it as a catchall for wet messy things.  Rig your board's fins and footstraps on top of it.  Flip it and sit on it.  It has hundreds of uses! (well half a dozen).   I asked King of the East Mike Burns to put his through its paces and provide the Peconic Puffin feedback on how well it meets his pro freestyling needs.

4.  The Eternal Battle Between George and Pete:

George came in second and Pete in third in the races this year.   They came in fourth and fifth the year before.  The year before that Pete won the whole enchilada/spencer bucket/etc.   Anytime you get on the water with Pete and George it's like being a witness to battles from Greek mythology.  Kind of.   Also the odds are you'll end up behind them (I beat Pete once, but he was injured.)

5.  Unsung Heroes

A lot of people help make these events happen.  Besides MC Thom and King Mike and Jill Marr Superstar, there is Chrissy Burns keeping it real on the judging stand.  Bill Doutney capturing it all for posterity.   There are others whose names I don't know, but the safety boat and jet ski (and their operators) as well as the Parks department made it all possible as well.  Big thanks to them, and to those whose contributions I may be ignorant of, but am thankful for nevertheless.

6.  What's Next?

Me I'm hoping for a return of the Fall Regatta.   The Second Annual East Coast Fall Windsurfing Regatta has a nice ring to it!

Boneheaded Moves and Good Times at Heckscher

I can screw up anything.  Yet I somehow managed to have a good time at the windsurfing festival last weekend, despite the following:

-blanking out on the port/starboard rule 45 seconds after MC Thom reminded everyone about it, and ramming Peconic Jeff, who looked at me incredulously as I turned into him (maybe that’s what motivated him to trounce me in the freestyle competition.)

-forgetting just about everything during my second freestyle heat (“Dude, remember to breathe,” King of the East Mike Burns said to me.  You’d think I could remember that…)

-forgetting my BOARD Saturday night at the end of the first day’s festivities (thank you Joe Natalie for rescuing it and packing it as carefully as if it was his.)

-forgetting to post the Junior Division results and relay race results afterwards.   Will get them up as soon as possible.   Pete Roesch already reminded me that his son Devon won the Junior class…I’ve spent my Long Island windsurfing race career trailing behind Pete, and now I can look forward to additional humiliation in the wake of his son.

One thing I did right was to skip the board toss (ANOTHER thing Peconic Jeff  won.   I don’t think I can be his friend anymore…dude let me win something!)  Last year I managed the shortest toss of the event (spiking the nose) so I wisely let this opportunity for failure pass me by.   And I had nothing to do with the hole that was punched in Kurt's beautiful new race board (not that it stopped him from winning.)  And I managed to meet Hudson River Windsurfing blogger Ian, and Dan Perelmen of NY Windsurfing MeetUp and Joanne who just bought her first windsurfing board and lots of other great people.   And I got to match race with Ted Bretter (who I only beat because one of us had a weed fin.)   Good times!

Now I look forward to the Fall Regatta.   Boy will I screw that up!

(Top:  My kind of freestyle, captured by Bill Doutney.  Bottom.  Even Buddha Mike's Buddha couldn't get me right.  This particular Enlightened One is rendered from potassium theldspar, and is just a teense radioactive, according to Carver Jamieson.)

Return of the King and the Crowning of New Champs: The East Coast Windsurfing Festival

"You're going to have so much to write about" at least half a dozen people said to me.  And it's true, but between trying to catch my breath, getting my butt kicked, and the fantastic three ring circus that was the third annual ECWF, for now here's just the top line:

-Kurt Veith could not be stopped on the race course, even when competitors tried to sink his board.

-Deniz fended off challenges in both racing and freestyle to be the queen of the Ladies competition.

-Peconic Jeff save the best for last, and blew the doors off of some strong competitors (and me) to win the Men's Amateur Freestyle

-Mike Burns, the first King of the East, pulled out all the stops to regain the throne.  All Hail Mike!

Complete Event Results:

Men's Racing (7.5 limited)

1.  Kurt Veith

2.  George Marr

3.  Pete Roesch

4.  Joe Giordano

5.  Joe Natalie

6.  Alex Hering

7.  Scott Yanuck

8.  Michael Alex

9.  George Pav

10.  Jim Manta

11.  Jake Agoos

12.  Jeff Schultz

13.  Andrew Cebula

14.  Ira Holzman

15.  Rich Simons

16.  Ted Bretter

17.  Ryan Whitehead

18.  Pete Ashman

19.  Devon Roesch

20.  Ian Berger

21.  Art Spangel

22.  Phil McPhilly

23.  Valdas

24.  Jeff Tannenbaum

25.  Mike Jamieson

26.  Dan Perelman

27.  Scott Lynch

28  George Kellner

29.  Wes Yland

30.  Jeremy Grosvenor

31.  Joe Rocco

Open Class Racing

1.  Bart Kornas

2.  Steve

3.  Chris Dohan

Women's Racing

1.  Deniz Kalaycioglu

2.  Jill Marr

3.  Jeanne Baumann

4.  Christina Clement

5.  Marianne

6.  Liz Kline

7.  Alison Dunton

Women's Freestyle Finals

1.  Deniz Kalaycioglu

2.  Jeanne Baumann

3.  Jill Marr

Men's Amateur Freestyle Finals

1.  Jeff Schultz (Yeah boy!!!!)

2.  George Pav

3.  Jake Agoos

4.  Michael Alex

Men's Pro Freestyle Finals

1.  Mike Burns

2.  Kurt Veith

3.  Chris Elderedge

There will be more to come, including in-depth looks at the board toss, relay races, spencer buckets, and the eternal battle between Pete and George.

(Photos by the mighty Bill Doutney.  Misspelled names to be corrected ASAP...please let me know if I have you or someone you know wrong!)

Windsurfing On The Wife's Birthday

Where will I be on my wife's birthday?  

At the East Coast Windsurfing Festival.

I'd better win something.

(The forecast is up for Saturday!)

Number Thy Sails, Pack Thee A Lunch. Arrrrr...

These be details for the East Coast Windsurfing Festival a-comin this Saturday.  Some nitty gritty that thee best be payin' attention to, lest yet be findin' yoursel' at the bottom of Davy Jones' locker (which at Heckscher is admittedly not that far down.  Still...)

1.  Be thee on time enough to number thy sails proper like!   The event starts at 9:30.  Get there before so you have time to affix thy assigned number to thy sails.  Don't be thinkin' you'll pick your number afore the fest and show up prenumbered.  No!   Master of Numbers MC Jill might let you pick your number when you register, but if thy be thinkin' about being #1, 11, 111, 1111, or 11111 they better get thy arse there at dawn.

2.  There will be duct tape available, but if thee'd bring thine own for sail numbering it will help speed things up.  'nuff said.

3.  Pack thee a lunch!  Twer no vendors at the ECWF in years past, and taint likely there be any there this year.   So pack thy vittles and pack thy drink.   There are bathrooms in the vicinity.

(Numbered sails are what thee best be having if thee wants to race or freestyle or both.  Be thee prepared. Photo by Doutney.   Arrrrr....)

Notice of Event: East Coast Windsurfing Festival, June 12-13

Thus spake the venerable MC Tommy Hering:

Notice of Event: 

 East Coast Windsurfing Festival

Summer 2010

Date:                                                 June 12 and 13, 2010

Venue:                                     Heckscher State Park, Field 7

Registration/check in:                        Starts at 9:30 am both days

Suggested contribution:            $20

Start time:                                    First event; 11 am both days, depending on wind

End Time:                                    We will try to have events wrapped up by 4 pm both days

Note: Event end time will depend on the wind and the committee reserves the right to extend the event past 4pm as well as “Call” the event due to lack of wind.

Sail Numbers: All sails participating in events must be clearly marked with numbers (duct tape is acceptable), and should be at least 12 inches in length. The committee will provide duck tape if needed. If you do not have a sail number, one will be assigned at the registration check-in.   Freestylers may have special numbers assigned.

Events:

Windsurf Racing

- The main event, with multiple races is scheduled for Saturday, and possible Sunday, depending on how the racers feel.  If conditions are not conducive to sailing on Sat, we may decide as a group to postpone events until Sunday, June 13.  

  There will be several Race Divisions (all starting together but scored separately), including:

  -  Open Division - no limits re board or sails.  This will include RSX and Formula, and any boards with a sail > 7.5.

  -  7.5 Division - limited only to sails that do not exceed 7.5, and no formula gear.  Intended for the casual racer, this will likely be the largest fleet and main event.

Depending on participation, we may also post scores for: 

-        Women’s Division
 - Juniors Div  - (17 & under)
 - Masters  (50 yrs and over)
 - Heavyweights - (Actual weight category TBD)

The overall Champion will be in the largest fleet, which is likely to be the 7.5 Div.

Race courses will vary, and may include:

    - Windward/Leewards

    - Triangles

    - Slalom

    - Relays 

 

Starts may include:

    - Timed countdown starts

-  LeMans beach starts

-  Rabbit Start

Other potential events at the Regatta: 

SUP Races

- If enough people bring paddles and are willing, we'll run some SUP races along the beach.   SUP boards are preferred, but Longboards can used as well.

 

Windsurf Relay Races

-        Relay teams will be assigned at the event and team relay races will be run.

-         

 

King of the East - Freestyle Competition:

There will be 2 Divisions, Amateur and Pro, with Heats for each that will be assigned.

Heats and format will be announced on days of events, which are expected to be Sat & Sunday, depending on wind.

The winner of the Freestyle Pro Division will be named the 2010 King of the East.

 

 

Event Location:   

Heckscher State Park, Field 7

 

For more information

Please email [email protected] or [email protected]

Other links for more information:

ecwindfest.com

peconicpuffin.com

On facebook, ecwindfest (group) J

- the LI Windsurf Yahoo group
- iWindsurf.com’s forums,
- the windsurfing newsgroup.

For questions or confirmation of the venue selected you can call the 

Regatta Hotline:  631-988-4816

Registration:   

Send an email to: [email protected] and let us know you're in.  

Indicate which Division you plan to sail.  

The East Coast Windsurfing Festival is an open event; windsurfers of all ages and levels are encouraged to attend and participate.

 

 

There Will be an Open Class (and a 7.5 Class) at the Windsurfing Festival

Some people love their formula gear, some people need big sails to plane, and some people have 8.0's instead of 7.5's, and when you add all those people together, the powers that be say "let them race at the East Coast Windsurfing Festival!"    Here are the class rules:

If you race with a sail 7.5 or smaller, you will be counted in the 7.5 class.

If you race with a sail 7.6 or larger, you will be counted in the Open class.

The Peconic Puffin will also publish the combined results as one big list, for the nya nya nya-nya nya factor when 7.5 class sailors finish ahead of Open sailors.     (Just for typing that I'll probably come in last!)

Dave Kashy shall get his wish.

Trophy Intrigue and Goodies to Win at the East Coast Windsurfing Festival

Races, freestyle heats, board tosses, RELAY RACES fer cryin’ out loud…there will be so many ways to compete at the festival (June 12-13 at Heckscher Park.)   But what’s it all for?

“It’s for very cool trophies,” says event MC Tommy “The Horn” Hering,  “in fact the coolest ever in the history of the event.

The ECWF Org committee commissioned the legendary ‘Jerry the Carver’ to whip up some unique and collectible windsurf trophies.  True keepsakes!”

 Those sound like some pretty cool trophies to me.   But when I think of unique and collectible Long Island windsurfing trophies, my mind recalls the hand-painted pumpkins from the 2009 Fall Regatta.   They were the handiwork of Festival scorekeeper Jill Marr, who passed on creating this year’s prizes because the organizers wanted…you know…trophies…instead of gourds.

"Keepsake shmeepsake, I am an artiste and I only work in pumpkin,” Jill told The Peconic Puffin.  “If my pumpkins are no longer good enough for you I spit seeds in your general direction.    But hey what do I need to do to win one of the hot new trophies?"

You need to compete well, Jill!   For the Jerry the Carver trophies, as well as some mysterious objets du shred that are rumoured to be in play.    The relay races will apparently involve some unusual batons, and there is talk of uber-prizes, prizes within prizes…all kinds of stuff.   It boggles the mind (mine is easily boggled).

“Don’t be boggled,” MC Thom told me.   “The competition is for trophies, sure, but the event is for maximum fun.” I nodded in agreement, but secretly I was thinking about pumpkins.   And the third annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival.

(Top:  Jimi Sobeck pastes the racing competition in the 2009 ECWF.   Bottom:  Pumpkins make nice trophies.   Race photo by Bill Doutney, pumpkin photo by the editor.)

Is Your Name In Lights For The East Coast Windsurfing Festival? It Should Be!

With less than three weeks until the East Coast Windsurfing Festival I would think you would be signed up by now.   But I don't see your name (unless I do, in which case reading this post is a complete waste of your time...go make a list of what you will pack for lunch for the event instead.)   So sign up, and let Mike Burns know whether you're coming to race, get tricksy, or both (I'm in for both.)    Compete in freestyle if you've got a few moves.   Race if you can tack and jibe (or waterstart and uphaul!)  Whatever you do, come sail with us.  And get your name on the list:  We've got guys and gals competing from A-Z (as soon as we get a Zorba and a Quint.)

The 2010 East Coast Windsurfing Festival is June 12-13th at Heckscher.  Check out the event website for details (and the list o' names...get in there!)