The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Six Years Ago By Comparison...

...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.

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!)

Thermalnuclear South Jamesport

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.)

Circle Beach

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)

A Perfect Day at Hart's Cove

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!)

 

 

 

Swap Meet!

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!

April Fools on the Water

Webbies was sweet.  Solid 4.7 or 4.2, neck high water, smooth with the occasional easy ramp.  T’was me, Scott, Cyrus, Dilay and pilot Frank hogging it to ourselves.   Scott lead me across to the other side, at which point I turned around and A:  saw nothing through the rain and fog, and B:  Even if I had this was only my second session at Webbys so I had no idea where the launch was.  “Wait for me!” I told Lord Scotworth, who laughed then launched back.   In less than I minute I spotted Frank’s red sail in the distance and so had my bearings.

P.S.  Such a better session than my last (which was my first in a third of a year.)  I almost remember how to jibe!

Meanwhile...

“Well I would drive 500 miles…” said Artie, who wanted the same conditions, sans drysuit.  In Avon OBX he was, also catching some big wind too and wants us all to know he's wearing summer booties!  Get it Artie!

(Video:  Me chasing the Earl of Kielt, Frank heading outbound)

Breaking the (Almost) Ice at SJ

I haven't gone through an entire winter without a session since 1996.   It had been four months since my last sesh (at Meschutt).   FINALLY the windsurfing gods said "okay it won't be ideal but there will be wind and people to share it with" so I ended up at South Jamesport with Scott, Artie, Christian, Dilay, Eric and Cyrus.  4.7 on ESE...not ideal but nobody except The Art of Windsurfing wanted to drive to Orient (I was intimidated, having not sailed in ages).

The tide was not ideal...mid to high with the bay flooding on the Easterly to begin with, so there was plenty of unorganized chop to greet my rusty ass.  Prime kooking conditions!

I launched, and sailed maybe five hundred yards out feeling unbalanced and off, then blew a jibe and came in to assess.  First thing I noticed was I was still wearing my wool rigging gloves, which now weighed about two pounds each with all the water they'd absorbed!   Back to the van to swap out for WINDSURFING gloves, then run #2.   Still unbalanced and inefficient, managed an ugly dry jibe, then on the way in all of a sudden everthing clicked in place.  It clicked in place more than I wanted it to...I was flying lit through a smooth section faster than this rusty old guy was ready for...but I made it back.   On the beach Lord Scotworth and I discussed arm fatigue.   I noticed that my mouth was having trouble forming words...42 degrees air with no sun and some rain...I went back to the van to warm up.   While I'm in the van Cyrus showed up, wearing flip flops.   Me I need something heavier than a drysuit but Cyrus is rigged for summer!

Took a couple more runs then called it a day.  I was struggling and cold, but happy I'd gotten back on the board.  Each run was better than the preceding one, so perhaps next sesh I'll sail like someone who windsurfs!

Winter Missed (by me)

For the entire winter a session had evaded me.  Scott too...between life schedules, cold temperatures and lack of wind, while many of us had gotten little, the Earl of Kielt and I had got none.

Then Sunday Sebonac Inlet beckoned.   Cold (36-40) but sunny and windy.    I had obligations, but Scott made it on the Last Day of Winter!   T'was Scott, Frank, George and Artie with 4.7 the sail call (Artie says Frank was on a 4.5 but this sounds unlikely.  Frank is mas macho.)   The Peconic Puffin salutes them all.

For myself it's been twenty years since I missed getting at least one winter day in.  I whiffed!  Oh well...bring on Spring!

 

 

Where is my first winter session?

It's March.  I haven't sailed since November.   The last time I went this long between sessions was 2006!   Bad luck, bad scheduling, bad winter for me!

Skunks and Puffins

The forecast seemed so promising.

Scott and I were at South Jamesport, willing the tiny whitecaps to become bigger whitecaps.  Didn't happen.  Some nice people installed a beach cleaning station (baskets to pick up garbage, a can to dump it in.).  I took a run with it, returning with a soda bottle, a plastic bag, and a couple pieces of paper.

On the phone George reported a breeze on the ocean but unfavorable water conditions.   Artie called with a promising theory of sunlight and wind shifts and a hope of wind at Sebonac Inlet, so off most of us went (George stayed by the ocean awaiting a wind report.)

At Sebonac it was more of the same.   Tiny whitecaps.  Good 7.0 conditions, argh.    A puffin flew by!   Then three more!  Not quite windsurfing but still pleasing to this editor.  (If siting puffins is your thing, Sebonac has been the best spot over the years.)   Cyrus (also spotted at SJ) showed up...he'd never sailed Sebonac.   Dilay arrived too.   I gave up (wife and house guest at home) but Dilay and Cyrus went for it, and got going for a brief while.

George wisely passed.

(Top:  The new clean-the-beach station.  Middle:  Dilay will not be dinied.   Bottom:  Cyrus' maiden voyage at Sebonac.  Sailing photos by Artie.)

 

West Meadow Fridge Session

Me I was on a plane flying from Europe to JFK.  We flew in straight east, so I knew it was still blowing straight west.  But catching it in the first frigid sesh of the year were George Pav, Artie, Chris, Rob and Steve...maybe others in 38 degrees (my cutoff is 40 unless there's blazing sun!)  We honor their bravery, and envy the sesh (it was still well within the Long Island Rule of 100). 

(Photo courtesy Ken the Kiter.  Reporting by Artie.)

 

Meschutt at High Tide is Just Fine

A sunny windy Sunday?  Yes please!    So what that the tide was high when the wind came.  Meschutt’s classic inside ramps may not have been there, but there was fun to be had outside, and some high speed sailing to boot.  With a slight wind hole near shore (5.7 inside, 4.7 outside) good times were shared by Chris, Frank, Dilay, Bruce, Artie, and your editor.  

I hadn’t sailed in six weeks, and just three sessions ago I was in a shorty, and as rust never sleeps, I sucked LOL.  Forgot the threading pattern for downhaul (Chris helped me out) and it took awhile to remember jibing.  Still much fun!

(Top:  Chasing Artie.  Bottom:  Bruce sets the rail...pic courtesy The Art of Windsurfing.)