The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Watersport Gear Sale Saturday

Stuff is on sale Saturday at Hampton Watersports.  Wind, wing, kite, paddle, da works.  The store is marking down all sorts of things you want, and they will be selling used equipment belonging to other waterpeople.

But don't call it a swap meet!

Do you know LL Cool J's song that begins "DON'T CALL IT A SWAP MEET!"

Or something like that.  Anyhow Jonathan isn't calling it a swap meet, though if it walks like a puffin and squawks like a puffin it just might be a weird bird if you get my drift.   I'll be dropping off a near-mint wave 5.0 myself, and looking for deals for moi.

Maybe we'll see each other.

First Attempt at Wing Foiling (with some 5.5 windsurfing on the side)

I had my first taste of wing foiling.   Caught some quality time with Andy Brandt and Jon Ford at Napeague last Thursday...winging is all kinds of new!   Did I get up on the foil?  Three or four times.  Did I STAY up on the foil?   No (not yet).   While catching my breath watched Jon wing jibe, and Andy do all sorts of stuff as usual.

Must try again.   You should too.   Go check out Andy at an ABK clinic.

To remind myself that I can learn these things, I also got some 5.5 windsurfing in.   Sails, fins, longish boards.  Old tech but still fun.

Wing Foil Clinics by ABK

Andy Brandt will be teaching wing foiling at Napeague Thursday May 26th and Friday May 27th.  1-6pm, $300.   Sign up at ABK Boardsports.

 

Swap Meet Long Island!

The week-long formula at Hampton Watersports has been working, and they'll be at it again starting Sunday May 14th.  From the shop:

"May 14 - May 20. Week long swap is back. People loved the fact that they could stop by whenever it was convenient for them. Buy or sell used and closeout Foil, Wingfoil, Kite, surf and Windsurf gear.

Sellers - please drop your used gear now thru 10 am 9/18

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."

I know I'll be checking it out!

 

A New ABK Van? We think not.

Driving south on 95 through blowing snow (state of Delaware, en route to South Carolina, 25 mph gusts) the wife and I spotted this ABK van.  Or van tagged ABK at any rate.  We were in Delaware, state that hosted many clinics by Andy Brandt and company, but we thought "Andy usually likes a nice big sticker."   

I know I know this is silly.  But any time it's blowin', snowin' and a windsurfing reference is available, the Peconic Puffin is interested.

Far better use of your time would be to sign up for one of Andy's clinics...he's teaching windsurfing as well as all manner of foiling these days.  Check out the offerings at ABKBoardsports.com.

(Photo by the editor's wife.)

ABK Clinics for Foiling, Wingfoiling, Windsurfing

Andy Brandt is at it on Long Island.   Here's the latest from ABK:

 

Wingfoil Clinic

September 16 Thursday Napeague Bay 1-6pm $250

 

Expect more WingFoil Clinic dates TBA

 

Windsurfing and Foiling camp

Tiana Bay September 24-26. 3 day Camp $495

 

Go to ABK Boardsports site to sign up!

Foiling Sesh #3

Sally and I headed out to Napeague Saturday, for a post-Covid reunion with Wilson and Lili and family.   They foil out there, and my two previous foiling experiences in 2018 and 2019 were due for an update.   Wilson of course has gotten pretty good in the ensuing years that I've been off-wing, and gave tips that got me flying for up to 20 seconds a stretch (once).  Amazing to be planing (or whatever one calls it...flying?) on a 4.8 sail in what for "finning" would be 7.5 conditions.

Attempted on jibe...didn't come remotely close.

Andy Brandt One Day Foiling and Windsurfing Clinics

Three one-day clinics:

October 10th Foiling only
October 11th Windsurfing
October 12th Windsurfing

Each clinic will be limited to six students. Andy Brandt teaching. Get good while the getting's good!

Register at the ABK web site.

Andy Brandt/ABK Clinic Update

Andy Brandt/ABK mini clinic schedule for the NY/NJ area:   Andy is doing a series of one day clinics, limited to six people per clinic.   Some are windsurfing clinics, the others are foiling only clinics.   Here’s the plan:

June 27 foil clinic, Atlantic City,

June 28 foil clinic, Atlantic City,

July 5 foil clinic, Long Island

July 6 windsurfing clinic, Long Island

July 11 foil clinic, Atlantic City

July 12 foil clinic, Atlantic City

July 25 foil clinic, Long Island

July 26 windsurfing clinic, Long Island

All clinics are limited to six people maximum.   Sign up on ABK’s web site

 

Foil Clinics....ONE DAY...from Andy Brandt/ABK!

You can make time for this.  You know you can!   It's not a classic three-day ABK, or an abbreviated two day.  It's a one day clinic.

On Foiling.   We all have lots to learn about flying over the water and Andy is coming to teach it on Long Island.   From his Facebook page:

All levels - one day Andy Brandt ABK Boardsports foiling clinics. Limited to 6 people. Demo gear available to try from Fanatic and Slingshot.

Try foiling for the first time or improve your foils jibes and tricks.9:00-12:30 lunch break 2:30-6:00

June 6. Long Island NY. Hampton Watersports
July 5 Long Island NY. Hampton Watersports

Clinic cost $200. Sign up on the ABK Boardsports website

ABK Returns to Tiana

Andy Brandt and company will be working their magic at Tiana Bay September 27-29.   Teaching windsurfing at every level and YES FOILING.  Last year the low tides at Tiana interfered with foiling instruction, but this year they are adding shallower foils so they can teach us to fly!    Go to https://www.abkboardsports.com/camps   to register.

(photo courtesy Markus Marschall, borrowed from Andy's Facebook page.)

Napeaguing

On Friday the weekend forecast was dismal…sunny, temps in the mid 80’s, light breezes.  Hell on the water.  Saturday did not renew hope. But then Sunday morning Wilson texted it could be good at Napeague at 2PM.

At 2PM I arrived.

Rigged the 6.2 and off I went.  Wilson, every more 21st century in this Year of the Peague, got on his Slingshot foil board with a 5.6 and soon was flying.  Foiling looks so good, and I'd only ever tried it once.    And after a run on the 6.2 Wilson offered me the foil set up to try.  So off I went.

First of all when the wind is blowing 6.2 for windsurfing, 5.6 is a very powerful sail for foiling.  Secondly if you don't know what you're doing (like me) you find that sheeting out does not do what you want it to do.  It unweights the mast foot, allowing a nice big breach and crash landing.   

Still I had fun.

Returned the foil to Wilson and got back on my Windsurfing Board in time for Lili to come out an join us.   A merry threesome in warm wind and water (except near the inlet to Gardiners, where colder, ocean informed bay water comes in) a good time was had by all, followed by G&T's and bluefish seaweed mayonnaise sandwiches. Perfecto!

OG Puffin Sighting: Jace Panebianco

A blast from Peconic Puffin past!   Ran into Jace Panebianco, who the world knows as director of The Windsurfing Movie, but who old school Puffins know as that great kid who works at the windsurfing shop, circa 1993!   When this thing was a three page printed newsletter Jace was often in it.   In town from Hawaii he's been foiling on the Little Peconic, but I ran into him in the seafood store.   Jace remains very tall...in the pic he is bending down, and I am standing on my toes!  Great to see Jace!

It's About Time For A Swap Meet

You know it is.  You KNOW it is!   Swap meet time, me droogs...Hampton Watersports is throwing the Spring Fling on Saturday May 18th.   Windsurfing swap meet, kiteboarding swap meet, SUP swap meet, surfing swap meet, and are you ready:  foiling swap meet.  

If you're selling used equipment, drop off your gear during the week preceding (or arrive early that Saturday morning).   If you're buying, bring your money.   If you're swapping bring both (it's what I do.) 

If you're looking for sails, it's helpful if you know what size masts you own, and what the minimum and maximum extension lengths of your boom is, to make sure you can rig what you buy.   If you need help evaluating the used offerings or what you need, there will be people there to help.  I will be one of them (apologies in advance!)

Rain or shine, buy or sell used standup paddleboarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding surfing and anything you can slap a foil on gear. There will also be new 2019 equipment to covet and buy.  Specials on leftover 2018 equipment.    If you have questions, call the shop 631-283-9463.  See you there!

2019: The Year of the Peague?

David:  "Happy Year of the Pig!" (which it indeed is, beginning today on Chinese New Year.)

Me:  "Besides bacon, what does it give us to look forward to?"

Jake:  "Summer foiling at Napeague?"

Wilson:  "The Year of the Peague!"

There you have it.