As the glow from last weekend is just beginning to wear off, I have three things on my mind. The first is to thank and share the names of the key people who made the event happen. So thank you:
Mike Burns: Organizer, and King of the East!
Thom Hering: Organizer, and King of the Mic.
Sonny: Official Timekeeper.
Joe Natalie: Race Commitee, and generous provider of the safety boat.
Jill Marr: Official Scorekeeper.
Bill Doutney: Official Photographer.
Warren Anderson (of Bestway Tools) donated the custom screwdrivers.
Dan Lefkowitz provided flags, racing marks and ground tackle.
Ocean Air provided the GPS units and demo sails.
Lee Owens designed the logo and trophies.
Joe and Dave at the Parks department for their support.
Everyone who showed up to participate in the event. Windsurfers are great people, and the sport attracts great people.

I was particularly in awe of all the folks who had never raced in their lives, who didn't really know how to go about it, but then proceeded to race. Again and again and again. It made me grin like an idiot (okay, more like an idiot.
The second thing on my mind in the 2009 East Coast Windsurfing Festival. I'm told it's going to happen, and that it's going to be bigger an better than this year's, yet with all the charm and fun of our inaugural.
If you have ideas for what would be great to add or change, please leave your thoughts here (or tell His Lordship Mike Burns King of the East, or Thom, if you know them.)
The third item is figuring out how to beat Pete!
(Here are two bonus thoughts for you: People did very well in the racing with 20+ year old longboards! So if you have such a thing in your garage (I literally dug mine out from beneath a brushpile) dust it off and get it into halfway decent shape. Also note that there is "vintage longboard racing" scheduled for August on the Great Peconic...contact Windsurfing Hamptons for details.

The other bonus thought is to note the observation made by George Marr (current front page star of New England Windsurfing Journal, and husband of Queen of the East Jill Marr) before the freestyle "sports" finals: All the competitors were graduates of
ABK freestyle clinics. Freestyle is easier than it looks, and a lot of fun, and ABK makes it easy to learn. There will be an ABK Freestyle clinic this September (9/19-21) out at Napeague...come check it out. There is also a "regular" ABK clinic the week before which will include some freestyle instruction.)
(Photos by Bill Doutney)
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