...there I am at South Jamesport, chasing the ever speedy Scott in the distance. In a shorty. Not a DRYSUIT!!! I am ready for summer shortboarding.
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!
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)
"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.
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!)
How long has it been since I sailed? I was wearing a drysuit! But finally after two months of nothing I caught it big with the Earl of Kielt, the Art of Windsurfing, and George.
I arrived at 4 to find people derigging, having been blown off the water or already exhausted. The Wolf had struggled on a 4.2 (“it was 3.6!” he said). I ran into Robert P, who recognized my van and remembered me picking him up at the end of a road in Napeague, saving him a long Walk.
I rigged 4.2 and waited for Scott to arrive…it was too windy for solo sailing despite the 80 degree air and water. We launched as George and then Artie arrived, blasting until a lull sent us in to rig 4.7. A mistake. As soon as we relaunched the wind came back to honking 4.2.
“This is exactly what the forecast said it would do” George said.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” countered Scott.
We sailed overpowered until we were toasted. A fine and well-deserved day!
(Top: Summer jibing, photo courtesy Robert. Bottom: Old guys post shredfest.)
A friend of mine once had a house near this spot, but I forgot about it. Circle Beach on Noyack Bay, for E and NE...not bad!
Saturday had us on 5 and 6 meter sails (Bruce may have rigged a 7). That be Joe Natalie and Shelley, Artie, me, Martin and the aforementioned Bruce.
Good spot for when you don't have the time to get to Napeague!
(Photos by The Art of Windsurfing)
T'was me, Lord vanderWolf and Chimply Lord Scotworth (the Earl of Kielt). Three guys who haven't windsurfed much in a long time. Struggling to remember how. Struggling to revive atrophied muscles. Very much in need of a Good Day.
We got it on Memorial Day.
I arrived to find Scott on his 5.3, lit. The Wolf was putting up a 4.7, and while normally I'd be matching Scott's rig, I needed an easy session and so grabbed my 4.7 and a 93 liter.
It was the right choice. On a beautiful day, sunny, windy and warm (on East Wind...where was the rain?) we were ripping from one end to the other, comfortable and happy. I'd only ever sailed Hart's Cove once before...a great spot for beginners with lots of shallows and relatively tame water. After a few more sessions like this I'd be wanting big ramps and challenges, but this day was perfect for us.
"I declare this day to be the best of the year so far" Scott announced, and we all agreed.
It was a day we all needed.
(The Wolf set's his 4.7 for good times!)
You've been waiting for it. I know I have!
Hampton Watersports will bring it live Saturday May 20th. From the horse's mouth:
"Buy or sell used and closeout Foil, Wingfoil, Kite, Windsurfing and Surfing gear.
Sellers: drop your gear off Monday 5/15 through Saturday 10AM
Buyers: Come check it out! "
The shop says if you're looking for something specific, let them know before hand. They'll help you shop if needed.
See you there!
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