The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

The Worst Spring Ever

The Worst Spring Ever.   Scott says so.  April sans Sebonac?  WHAT?

My foot straps have never been dryer.  The last time I went for this long a stretch without sailing was 1995.

Spring Dreaming of a Wing Foil Clinic? ABK is Coming!

Yeah its been quite cold.  Scott and I have been holding out for 40 degrees plus (but not Arctic Artie!)  Nevertheless plans can be made for warmer weather.  For those who would wing, Andy Brandt and ABK comes to the area June 1, 2, 19, 20, and 23 for wingfoil clinics hosted by Hampton Watersports!

Arctic Artie Getting it Done

I used to be the guy pushing the limits of cold weather sailing...I remember a day Peconic Jeff and I set out to not leave until our sails were iced up during a Mecox session.   But I haven't managed a winter session yet this season, and we're 1/3 through!   Leave it to Artie to hit it last Sunday at Meschutt, where he reports his 5.4 was fine for about six minutes before it iced up.   That's the way you do it!

(Photo by The Art of Windsurfing)

Windsurfing with a Fitbit

Windsurf with a Fitbit?   I was curious...how much exercise am I actually getting on the water?   But I was also fearful of destroying the thing...we all know that a "waterproof" device is often no match for a few falls off a windsurfer making 25 knots!

On Sunday I thought my drysuit might make it possible.  And it did!

I put it on for an hour of sailing at Sebonac...4.2 bump and jump, no light sailing, but well covered by the drysuit sleeve.   What would it say?  What would it think I was doing?  Would I wreck it? 

There was nothing to worry about.   I'll probably take it out again for the next session.  "Sport"!

Returning to Sebonac

The line of shredmobiles on Sunday was stretching far back up the road.   “When was the last time you saw so many windsurfers” asked Aurelio?

It had been awhile!   Particularly at Sebonac, which is usually our most sailed launch, but in 2023 for me at least this was sesh #1. So welcome!

Saturday it started blowing at high tide with WNW that made the usual inside a teeth-chattering mogul field, but to the west sailing towards Meschutt the swell was fine and the windsurfing good!

Sunday we caught the low tide perfectly, featuring small but nicely spaced rollers towards the point. The sand bar was in full effect!

Both days started out on 4.7, then on to 4.2

For the back-to-back days with 4.2-4.7 average sail size we saw Aurelio and Chris, John Nat, Joe Nat (back on the water!) with Shelley, George Pav, Frank, Jan & Bruce, Scotto, Jon Ford and a few others, mostly windsurfing but with the occasional winger.

Scott says next weekend looks good already!  

Avoid Injury When Downhauling

In the words of an OG Puffin named Dave in 1993, “don’t do that, do that!”   More specifically, use a downhaul tool of some kind when attaching or releasing your downhaul, lest your hand be injured, as happened recently to The Art of Windsurfing.   At the request of the editors, Artie is here to tell his cautionary tale.  We urge all Puffins to learn from his error and heed his wisdom!

“When Mike asked me to write about my recent windsurfing hand injury episode and its impact on my sailing, my patients, and my work, I thought, “Why in the world would I wanna tell the windsurfing community about my stupidity?” But Mike very simply stated, “Easily half of the Puffin’s traffic comes from people searching answers,” and that actually made sense to me.

On Sunday September 24, most of the human population were probably hunkered down indoors with nasty, windy, rainy weather provided by a lingering tropical storm Ophelia. I on the other hand, with about 12 other wind-addicted souls, ventured out onto the Long Island Sound via Crab Meadow Beach in Northport for a killer wind and wave-filled 2+ hour session. Honestly, the rest is a fantastic blur of down-the-line jibes on chest to head-high waves, huge starboard jumps on the tack out, and enormous swell to jibe on way outside (remember this was day three of Ophelia and with that fetch on the Sound from the east, the swell was just enormous!).

   And that was basically it: a somewhat eventful, but eventless day for me, outside of a buddy of mine, Bruce who tore his hamstring muscle jumping one of the aforementioned chest to head-high waves. Another story for another time. So, back to my truck I go and begin to de-rig my sail. The way I’ve de-rigged my sail for the past 25+ years or more. First, I wrap the outhaul line from the boom around my right hand while holding boom with my left hand, and pull with a LOT of force to release the outhaul line on the boom cleat. Then, I proceed to either hold the base of the mast extension with my left hand, or secure my foot against the mast extension, while wrapping the downhaul line around my right hand (again), and yank the (you know what) out of the line to free it from the mast extension cleat. And viola, easy-peasy. But this time, something was different, something went wrong. I felt a sharp pinch-like pain in my right hand, my working hand, thought nothing of it, strapped my board on the rack, tossed the rest of my gear in the pick-up bed, and drove the 50 minute drive home.

      
Less than two days later my hand swelled up like a catcher’s glove, and despite trying to “work through it” in my office, I found that was not happening and proceeded to have my receptionist call future patients to re-schedule them 1-2 weeks out. I’m an Endodontist, a root canal specialist, which requires intricate, detail fine finger movement…of my right hand; my working hand. This is a problem…a huge problem. I think it’s time I have an orthopedic surgeon take a look to find out just exactly what’s going on here. Turns out, I tore several carpal ligaments on the dorsal side of my hand and now have to immobilize my hand for the next 6 weeks in a hand splint, give or take a couple of weeks. Oh yeah, and by the way, no windsurfing or any physical activity requiring my right hand either; including work. Period. Not cool. Financially, emotionally, and windsurfingly speaking. Especially with the fall/winter season approaching.

So, was there a lesson learned? Absolutely. Could this have been avoided? Sure enough. Do the vast majority of us do this with the outhaul and downhaul line? I think we do. Will I approach rigging and de-rigging a little differently and use the proper rigging tool when I get my hand back? You betcha. Cause it just ain’t worth this stupid injury that’s for damn sure."

P.S.   If you are on the beach far from your chosen tool you can use this trick to make your uni a downhaul tool.  

(Photos:   Top:  Don't do that!   Middle:  Do that!   Bottom:  Alternative downhaul tool...$3 PVC tube with built in bend, sold at Home Depot.  Do that too if you like!   Photos by Artie.)     

 

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!

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes

"Who replaces foot straps" I used to wonder.   During my first 15 years of windsurfing I was a weekend sailor from May-October, and with a good job I tended to replace my boards every five years or so.  I never came close to sailing any of those boards enough to put serious wear on a foot strap.   I'd look at the straps displayed on the wall at Windsurfing Hamptons and wonder about the people who bought them.

That was then.   Now I sail year 'round, and the newest of my boards is eleven years old.   My wonderful JP 109 is NINETEEN years old!  I don't know how many sets of straps have been on it, but the current three are mismatched, one is broken and a second is ready to give up the ghost.   Now my foot strap inserts are starting to fail!   I love the board...nobody makes anything like it anymore (super early planing freestyle but it carves and jibes tight!) so I'll be restrapping it and figuring out the inserts.    I might try using a cable tie as a shim, perhaps accompanied by a wooden toothpick.

 

"Who replaces foot straps" I used to wonder.   During my first 15 years of windsurfing I was a weekend sailor from May-October, and with a good job I tended to replace my boards every five years or so.  I never came close to sailing any of those boards enough to put serious wear on a foot strap.   I'd look at the straps displayed on the wall at Windsurfing Hamptons and wonder about the people who bought them.

That was then.   Now I sail year 'round, and the newest of my boards is eleven years old.   My wonderful JP 109 is NINETEEN years old!  I don't know how many sets of straps have been on it, but the current three are mismatched, one is broken and a second is ready to give up the ghost.   Now my foot strap inserts are starting to fail!   I love the board...nobody makes anything like it anymore (super early planing freestyle but it carves and jibes tight!) so I'll be restrapping it and figuring out the inserts.    I might try using a cable tie as a shim, perhaps accompanied by a wooden toothpick.

An Hour of Wind

An hour is much much better than none.   Particularly when the water is warm and there's a crowd to sail with!

South Jamesport saw me and The Art of Windsurfing on finned boards, with Joe Bruce James and Rob on wind foils (I think I'm mistaken there...one other sailor was on a windsurfing board but I forget who.  Someone correct me please!)   I was on a 5.4, Art on a 5.8 perhaps, and the foilers on four meter stuff with the wind a little more South than usual for SJ.    

I would have had more than an hour but I pulled a footstrap out of the board...the inserts on my 109JP are worn out after 19 years!  Switched to holes I don't normally use and managed some duck jibes and even a hoss tack (attempt) before the Big Hole arrived and we all limped in.

I'm still grateful for the session.  More soon please!

Mecoxing with Massimo

15 years ago I used to sail with Massimo all the time.  If there was wind we were on it, particularly if conditions were good at Mecox.  But then Mass went golf crazy, and always seemed to have a tee time when the wind was blowing.   It was ridiculous.  I explained the cardinal rule of windsurfing:  When it's windy, you sail...but to no avail.   

Then a few years ago he declared his intention to come back to the water.  There have been FEW sessions (lack of wind, golf, family) but Friday we finally caught a little at the Yacht Club.  Six meters, jibing in the gusts...it wasn't much but it was something, and Mass proclaimed that his appetite had been whetted (see what I did there?)

Now if I can just get him to South Jamesport...

(Massimo and van.  Lets get those boards wet!)