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Fetched: May 23rd, 2013, 7:24am CEST by Michael
Joe's Beach at Heckscher took too much damage for an event to be possible next month. Here's the word from Mike Burns: "Hello to all the East Coast Windsurfing Festival racers, freestylers, paddlers, tossers, spectators, formula guys, schloggers, crashers, splashers,...
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Fetched: May 21st, 2013, 12:14am CEST by Michael
Christian emailed me at 8AM: Nice little waves at Ponquogue...he and Jeff were going in to SUPsurf. I got there at 9 to find those two + the Wolf enjoying a generous smattering of thigh high waves. "Snack waves," the...
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Fetched: May 16th, 2013, 9:18am CEST by Michael
I love Cape Hatteras, and so I go every year. Except I've missed the last three years. I must correct this. Ever correct though are the Reef Warriors, who thrash water and rum with equal fervor. The video above is...
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Fetched: May 11th, 2013, 9:55am CEST by Michael
The swap is on Saturday. The weather might look marginal, but the goods are meant to get wet. Water sports! Begins 9AM. Contact Hampton Watersports for details 631-283-9463 (283-WIND)
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Fetched: May 9th, 2013, 4:32pm CEST by Michael
Andy Brandt and his merry crew of instructors are coming to Tiana next week (May 17-19) for three days of magnificent windsurfing instruction and fun. It's coming down to crunch time, meaning if you sign up now (and wait until...
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Fetched: April 29th, 2013, 2:51pm CEST by Michael
Damage from Hurricane Sandy (and delays in getting Federal funding to repair Heckscher Park) rule out Field 7 (Joe's Beach) for the sixth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival. The organizers need an idea for an alternate site, and right now...
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Fetched: April 27th, 2013, 11:04pm CEST by Michael
As seen on World of Windsurf on Facebook.
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Fetched: April 25th, 2013, 10:54am CEST by Michael
I missed it Monday. But Jeff and Scott did not. Peconic Jeff reports: "Sweet session this afternoon at Ponquogue! Scott & I full powered on 4.7, 3-6' waves, sunny, perfectly sideshore, big airs and one frontside wave ride with 4...
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Fetched: April 23rd, 2013, 12:21pm CEST by Michael
"Oh, Tiana!" Scott sings, though he's usually waxing lyrical about the ocean launch. But the user friendly and convenient Tiana Bay launch will be the site of ABK Boardsports windsurfing clinics this year, May 17-19. Tiana has many advantages for...
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Fetched: April 19th, 2013, 8:25pm CEST by Michael
This is sad. A dead humpback whale washed ashore at Triton. A good-looking whale. Photo by the Wolf.
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Fetched: April 19th, 2013, 8:25pm CEST by Michael
Windsurfers, SUPpers (what, you don't have one yet?), watermen, sell me your gear. Whether 'tis nobler to hang from a boom or dangle from a kite, it's time to part ways with old stuff and buy slightly newer stuff that...
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Fetched: April 13th, 2013, 1:59am CEST by Michael
While on a windsurfing vacation in Aruba in 1997 I first heard about "the Bonaire kids", a collection of young (and very young) locals one island over who were windsurfing on antiquated gear, many of whom were fantastic windsurfers, and...
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Fetched: April 10th, 2013, 6:57pm CEST by Michael
Roll cloud. That's what Jeff says it is, and he should know, being a meteorologist. We'd ask him more about meteors, but as an editorial matter we see more roll clouds while windsurfing than meteors. Photo by the Wolf.
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Fetched: April 9th, 2013, 2:27am CEST by Michael
Don't even read this. There is a sliver of good in it, but as a water weekend, this last one stunk. Saturday morning it was blowing NW 4.7, but by the time Christian, Peconic Jeff and I got on the...
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Fetched: April 9th, 2013, 2:27am CEST by Michael
emailed to Peconic Jeff, the Wolf, Scott and the greater Wind Chimp/Puffin collective: Sat: NW winds 15 to 20 kt...becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Gusts up to 25 kt early. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Sun:...
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Fetched: April 9th, 2013, 2:27am CEST by Michael
Back in February we reported on Sally's new wetsuit. One of the quotes that ended up on the cutting room floor when she got the thing was "see you in the straps" (quoting the great Dana Miller). Well, here she...
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Fetched: April 1st, 2013, 1:02pm CEST by Michael
April Fools for windsurfing? More visionary design work by U2U2U2.
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As seen in the iWindsurf forum. The wonderful and twisted gear art of "U2U2U2". (Used with permission of the madman. The interpretation of the artist's intent is purely that of the Peconic Puffin's Arts editor.)
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Fetched: March 25th, 2013, 10:21pm CET by Michael
As each of us pulled up to the end of Sebonac Inlet Road, we said the same thing. The Wolf: Look at that! Frank: Look at this! Peconic Jeff: Yeah, look at that! Christian: Look at that! Fisherman: Look at...
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Me: I will be out. Recovering from a cold, but haven't sailed in a month! Christian: Just after midday to let it warm up? Forecast was for it to build over afternoon. Me: Chimply Lord Scotworth (the Earl of Kielt)...
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Christian and Peconic Jeff are talking about hitting it tomorrow. Yeah it's going to be cold, but I haven't sailed in a month! Let us remember Long Island's version of the windsurfing 100 rule: Air temperature + Water temperature +...
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We just received this from Bowsprite, the mad and wonderful nautical illustrator of New York Harbor. "Puffin in da house! But of course this trippy groovy piece will make me think of you!" she writes. So here it is. Thanks...
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Relaxing in our Bonaire bungalow after yet another day of fine sailing, Sally was excited about windsurfing. She has a love/not love relationship with the sport, but right then she was glowing. "It's like going dancing," she said. "You may...
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Fetched: March 7th, 2013, 10:15pm CET by Michael
To be in Manhattan yesterday and hear the wind howling...'twas agony. Then the text from Lord Scotworth: "Going to the Bowl. Wolf. Fisherman. Me." More agony. Also jealousy and envy. I asked Scott to file a report afterwards (for the...
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Fetched: March 4th, 2013, 12:49am CET by Michael
Here at the Puffin we get a lot of direct email asking for recommendations regarding Bonaire this and Bonaire that. I'm hoping to refer everyone to one post based on our trip from a week ago, so here are some...
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There's no such thing as guaranteed wind. Doesn't matter what a meteorologist tells you...all you need to do is ask a group of windsurfers who have flown great distances to get to Sure Wind...the skunk stories come out, or at...
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“Did you see my ____?" “Did you see mine?” Such was what could be heard in the air at Lac Bay in Bonaire, and not because we were staying at a former nudist colony, where everyone saw your ___ if...
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Sally and I will be going to Bonaire in the not too distant future, to windsurf with some friends. Amongst those friends will be Lily and Dana, Napeague shredettes whose wetsuits Sally has long admired. A couple years ago Sally...
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Recently in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfers forum Mike Burns made reference to looping an F2 Sunset Slalom. This is ridiculous. The F2 Sunset Slalom is best suited to intermediate windsurfers, getting them comfortable planing in the footstraps and perhaps...
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Sailing with the Wolf and Scott usually means that you're in location perfect for the wind and tides. A 5 degree difference in direction will change the launch call for these guys. So imagine my surprise when I arrived at...
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It's that time of the year when the Peconic Puffin staff usually proclaims envy, jealousy, antipathy, perfidiosity...you name it...at Bill Barber and John Hulse, who wisely spend the winters windsurfing and kiting and surfing in Puerto Rico. But in 2013...
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I just watched this on Frank's blog, and wanted to share it. Hurricane Sandy's aftermath, as seen by surfers. This is not a surfing video.
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Killer whale chases boat. Orca come to eat your motor! The photo is real, and one of a series. As seen in Marlin.
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For years I've posted my windsurfing New Year's Resolutions in The Peconic Puffin. A list of ambitions and goals, accompanied by a look back at how I'd done with the previous year's resolutions. Then in 2011 I got the dumb...
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In 2011 it was hard to beat the McCall's holiday card. Taking advantage of the hurricane of the year (Irene) Greg and Cecilia managed an excellent SUP family photo (SUPing down the street in front of their home.) The Peconic...
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Let us quote Bill Barber, who took a break from nine straight days of sailing, surfing and kiting in Puerto Rico to send this message to Puffin HQ: "Feliz Navidad to da Puffin nation and all windchimps!" Couldn't have said...
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I've never seen so much sand blow at Sebonac before. Still, when the sail recommendations were 3.7-4.2 I rigged the 4.0. Took off, caught one blessed jump, then came back to the sandstorm to add downhaul and outhaul on account...
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As a SUP Bozo, I was greatly entertained a few years ago when Bill Barber showed up with his "no SUP Bozo" sticker pictured (above left.) Bill is amusing in his grumpiness (aren't we all?) and besides, it's a funny...
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I hadn't been in the ocean since October 1. So the first time I fell off the board, wobbling like a newbie on flat water, the smell of salt water and sunblock going up my nose...it made me happy. Peconic...
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The mighty Mike Burns posted on Facebook Saturday, noting that the solid WNW blow was going to make the day the first windsurfing day for lots of Long Islanders since Sandy. Count me in! Scott was cackling in the text-message-sphere...
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Wed NE winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt...increasing to 30 to 35 kt with gusts up to 60 kt in the afternoon. Seas 4 to 7 ft. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.
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I didn't get a single run out of this thing. On Facebook last week I posted "Old Plan: Catch spectacular windsurfing conditions. New Plan: Board up house. While the house didn't need boarding up (the storm surge stopped rising 1"...
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There was way too much work to do at our house this weekend to think about catching Sunday's winds. We are flood zone fodder! Everything that could be carried upstairs is upstairs, everything we couldn't carry upstairs we raised as...
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The prospects of windsurfing a storm like Sandy gets everyone excited. I was glad to read a post from Billy T in the Long Island windsurfing bulletin board, that I've excerpted: "Depending on the direction, and the force of the...
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(it's been so quiet here, I know. Did catch a 6.2 session a week ago at Mecox with Bill...shoulda been at Tiana but a flat tire held me back.) Meanwhile: Sunday NE 25? Let it be!
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On Saturday Sally and I sailed a couples sesh at Mecox. Sally called it a day first and shot this vid of me kicking the JP Freestyle 109 up to 30 (said my GPS). 30 isn't particularly fast, but on...
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As seen on Chris Pressler's FB page, photo attributed to Jibe's Beach Club in Viet Nam.
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Or should it be George Pav digging? Don't worry, I won't write that I dig this photo (though I do, which is why I'm concocting a post around it.) This was taken by Jeff Schultz at the helipad a week...
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Relive (or check out) last month's outstanding Mattituck session through fresh eyes, as digital magazine LI Sail reports on the big southerly blow and the twenty or so lucky ones who caught it on the North Fork. Check out Tomas...
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It had been a solid year since I windsurfed in the ocean. Arm injuries over the winter and lack of conditions this Spring/Summer...if it weren’t for SUP I’d have forgotten what ocean swell and surf were like. But finally we...
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SUPsurfing on Saturday, windsurfing on Sunday. Again. The ol' M-F work thing will be just fine if the weekends keep going like this. Saturday at the Helipad the 4-foot sets kept coming and coming. Christian, Jeff, and the Wolf as...
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I was tricked into SUP surfing. Peconic Jeff put me on a board with a paddle three years, when the ocean was serving up day after day of clean, well-defined sets, color by numbers waves...all of a sudden there was...
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I can barely raise my arms to the keyboard. I'm out of windsurfing and SUPsurfing shape, having suffered through a windless waveless hell of a season (until last Saturday glorious Saturday). So all I'm going to share now is Saturday:...
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Windsurfing swap meet. Kiteboarding swap meet (if you must). Stand up paddling swap meet. Swap swap swap. This Saturday September 15th at Hampton Watersports. Now that the wind is back (thank you!) you need more gear! Sell your existing stuff...
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Long Island windsurfers get plenty of 25 knot days with 80 degree air temperatures. In the Caribbean. Saturday's shredfest at Mattituck (Yacht Club launch) featured crazy good conditions, which: 1. We were owed, after a terrible summer for windsurfing, 2....
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Looking good for this afternoon (if you stick your head out the window you can already faintly hear Chimply Lord Scotworth the Earl of Kielt shouting "it's pickin' UP!") Long Island forecast from iWindsurf. I am hoping to see people...
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There are changes regarding the scheduled ABK Windsurfing Clinics on Long Island. 1. The September 21-13 clinic at Napeague has been cancelled, except for those people who have been directly contacted by Andy Brandt (in other words, you know who...
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All you need is current and rubber. Idaho river surfing!
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I've put the Trans-Channel Death Paddle behind me (and hopefully so has Ted) having now discovered the joys (or comparitive sanity) of parking at Shinnecock East and walking for five minutes to get to Flys. Joined Christian, his friend Michael,...
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Regular readers of The Peconic Puffin may be familiar with the dim view I take of launching at the Bowl, then paddling across Shinnecock Inlet for the privilege of SUP surfing at Flys (see The Trans-Channel Death Paddle. A few...
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Sally had not been in the footstraps since our Bonaire trip. Sure she's worked on her nonplaning skills, tacking and jibing in the creek, but she was wanting some proper planing action. Finally we got some. T'was only 90 minutes...
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Okay, not really. Bt this thing is going in the watahs of New Joisey, no kidding! Extra Extra read all about it! (Photo courtesy of NJ Fish and Wildlife)
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Alec and Jack (my nephews in Oregon) hanging out with the Great Puffin of Portland (or so I shall refer to him.) Alec is a seagull man himself, so I'm glad to see him accepting other seabirds, as Jack's t-shirt...
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For the foreseeable future I'm one of very few windsurfers I know who gets a hurricane named after them. No Jeff, John, Scott, Fisherman, or the Wolf. My bro Alberto in the Canary Islands gets some love, and my wife...
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John Kerry, dressed to windsurf and or kiteboard. Circa 2002 in Puerto Rico, according to James, who sent a link to the photo while commenting on the Romney Dressage post. James wrote "Kitesurfers & windsurfers, republicans & democrats, dogs &...
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How would you like to see a shark like this while you're windsurfing? How about when you're waterstarting? Makes a man want to uphaul. Thresher sharks are beautiful. But that doesn't mean I want to see one in situ. (As...
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This fine photo of a tufted puffin is by Chris Dodds. Peconic Jeff spotted it.
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Fetched: August 9th, 2012, 11:46am CEST by Michael
In February The Peconic Puffin reported to you about the Reef Warriors of the great white north, windsurfers of Lake Erie (say it the way Brian Talma would, mon) and their rum cult of sacred imbibations. This summer a fine...
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Fetched: August 8th, 2012, 3:54am CEST by Michael
John Kerry took a beating in his presidential bid over being a windsurfer. Of course the leader of the opposing campaign allowed himself to be called "turd blossom" in public, so hopes for dignity...what were we thinking would be said...
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Fetched: August 8th, 2012, 3:54am CEST by Michael
It's about time! Yet we are thankful. A half dozen windsurfers brushed off the cobwebs to see if the Yacht Club was still the place to windsurf summer southerlies. I found OG Puffin Eileen (who 21 summers ago used to...
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Fetched: August 4th, 2012, 2:30am CEST by Michael
Thus Spake NOAA: Sun S winds 5 to 10 kt...increasing to 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. A chance of showers and tstms in the afternoon with vsby...
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Fetched: August 2nd, 2012, 3:31pm CEST by Michael
Maddy and Zac in Portland.
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Fetched: July 31st, 2012, 5:51pm CEST by Michael
No wind or waves for me this weekend. Friday there were six footers at Flys, caught by Jon Jeff Eric et. al (me at work). Saturday I was unmoved by the tale, but Sunday I was walking out the door...
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Fetched: July 27th, 2012, 4:05pm CEST by Michael
As seen on a New York City cab. Harness? Lines? I guess it's all about abs and scent.
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Fetched: July 27th, 2012, 4:05pm CEST by Michael
Shark Week is coming on the Discovery Channel (25th anniversary!) and it's as good a thing to think about as the wind I'm missing today (of course it blows mid-week!) There's a whole bunch of good shark videos and more...
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Fetched: July 24th, 2012, 11:52pm CEST by Michael
Ah, Ponquoguing. Before the windless hell of 2011 it meant wavesailing in the playful surf of Ponquogue. During the windless hell of 2011, however, it meant SUPsurfing at Ponquogue, which involves both beachbound and westbound (ie headed to New York...
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Fetched: July 20th, 2012, 1:46am CEST by Michael
Scott wrote the Puffin: "sat. 15-20 gusts to 25 yahoooo!!!oh yeah east wind ocean sesh!" I'm afraid to believe it's even possible. Between shoulder problems and lack of conditions I haven't had a proper ocean session since September. Haven't caught...
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Fetched: July 20th, 2012, 1:46am CEST by Michael
Meet the Fanatic All-Wave. 9'2" of all kinds of fun. It's Sally's flatwater SUP board, my wave SUP, and a fine nonplaning freestyle windsurfing board for both of us. I used to freestyle on a Bic Techno (153 liters)...the All-Wave...
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Fetched: July 11th, 2012, 6:34am CEST by Michael
"The best wave is found at Flys," say the Wise. And they drive there in their 4WD Flymobiles. The never-to-be-deterred Peconic Jeff elects to drive his 2WD to the Bowl, park, paddle out, and hustle across the Shinnecock Inlet channel...
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Fetched: July 5th, 2012, 1:31am CEST by Michael
This is a whole lotta board to wind up, and without footstraps to boot! Here's the article from Continent Seven.
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Fetched: July 3rd, 2012, 2:26pm CEST by Michael
I haven't windsurfed in ages. Haven't sailed a full day since April. So when Peconic Jeff catches a midweek sesh as he did last week, I need to hear all about it. Shredding vicariously, if you will. Jeff said: "Caught...
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Fetched: June 25th, 2012, 4:48pm CEST by Michael
Break your outhaul, and you can retie it in a minute. Break your downhaul, it will take several minutes of fuss but you'll be able to sail back to shore. Break your inhaul, whaddayagonnadu? Unhook your uphaul and lash the...
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Fetched: June 19th, 2012, 6:15am CEST by Michael
SUP surfing in the waves used to be the happy answer to the question “what do we do when the wind isn’t blowing?” We’d drive to any one of a half dozen breaks (Tiana, Road L, the Cut, Old Town,...
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Fetched: June 14th, 2012, 6:12pm CEST by Michael
Feels like I haven't had a proper wavesailing session for years. Here's Andy McKinney of Wind-NC doing his thing down OBX-way. I must get back to Hatteras somehow. Photo by Keith McCulloch, swiped from Wind-NC's Facebook page.
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Fetched: June 14th, 2012, 3:26am CEST by Michael
...Sunday June 18th at Cold Spring Beach (end of Cold Spring Road on the Great Peconic in Southampton), and Saturday June 23rd as well. The 18th will feature boards by Starboard, and the 23rd on Naish. Hampton Watersports is putting...
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Fetched: June 12th, 2012, 9:13pm CEST by Michael
I can’t believe I didn’t go. The forecast looked nonexistent, the drive was long, so despite my having enjoyed great days at ECWF past when the winds were light, I decided not to go. This was the wrong answer. Plenty...
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Fetched: June 8th, 2012, 1:25pm CEST by Michael
Multi-crowned king Mike Burns (who doubles as the event organizer) asks the following question: "Wouldn't it be nice to officially be the ultimate windsurf champion on the East Coast? Since we're not going to run an official freestyle "Pro Division"...
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Fetched: June 6th, 2012, 3:45pm CEST by Michael
Thus spake racing MC DJ Thommy Thom: We plan to again have Relay Races! We would also like to have SUP races, particularly if the wind is not honking. People: bring down All your boards, for sailing, for paddling, for...
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Fetched: June 5th, 2012, 12:17am CEST by Michael
A classic windsurfing weekend. Saturday morning Christian and I met at the Bowl despite Scott's IM cackling about "IT'S OVER!!!!" Waves were four feet, the wind looked about 5.8, so we rigged and chatted. Oops. This is sometimes called CD...
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Fetched: June 2nd, 2012, 4:44am CEST by Michael
This morning NOAA says : Small Craft Advisory in effect from 6 PM EDT this evening through Saturday afternoon Sat Se winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Showers...mainly in the...
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Fetched: May 25th, 2012, 3:55pm CEST by Michael
Apparently I missed quite the session at Ditch Plains...head high+ SUP sailing with P-Jeff, Jon Ford and Andy Brandt. When the wind died Jeff grabbed his paddle and went out for one too many more. Read all about it. Truth...
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Fetched: May 24th, 2012, 7:20pm CEST by Michael
The forecast is not pretty. Classic jinx...I've bought some new equipment, therefore there are no waves or wind. Waves knee to waist choppy crapola, and the wind...oy. In the history of this blog I don't think I've written "oy" before....
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Fetched: May 19th, 2012, 2:09am CEST by Michael
You can just imagine the agony. Sun sets on Sunday, THEN it starts to blow. I'm hoping it comes early. (Thus spake NOAA: Sat E winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 1 ft or less. Sat Night Se winds 5...
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Fetched: May 17th, 2012, 10:21pm CEST by Michael
ABK windsurfing clinic at Napeague is almost sold out. Yes ABK's website and Facebook said it was sold out, but a small window of opportunity has opened. Jump! To the poor slobs who miss the chance, we say Sign Up...
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Fetched: May 12th, 2012, 8:55am CEST by Michael
This is the weekend I'd like to have:
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Fetched: May 10th, 2012, 6:11pm CEST by Michael
What are those Olympic people thinking (a proposal to replace windsurfing with kite stringing)? Support your sport's Olympic status and sign the petition. Please.
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Fetched: May 10th, 2012, 6:11pm CEST by Michael
You gotta go if you need windsurfing equipment (or need to get rid of some). Kiting and SUP too. Here are the Peconic Puffin's top tips for the Spring Edition of Hampton Watersports' swap meet: 1. If you want to...
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Fetched: May 8th, 2012, 7:08am CEST by Michael
Twas a weekend of modest conditions east of the Helipad. I caught some with the Wolf and Jeff on Saturday, and on Sunday Christian took my place. My dinged elbow is still holding me back...I can not push or pull...
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Fetched: May 5th, 2012, 4:51am CEST by Michael
Thus spake NOAA: Sat: NE winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming E with gusts up to 20 kt in the afternoon. What say ye, men of wind and waves? Ponquogue?
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Fetched: May 1st, 2012, 5:18am CEST by Michael
We race. We freestyle. We SUP. The good times they do roll. The fifth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival takes place June 9-10 at Joe's Beach in Heckscher State Park on Long Island. His Highness The King of the East...
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Fetched: April 25th, 2012, 4:27am CEST by Michael
Wrist to shoulder. This is a week after being hit in the lower tricep by the 11'4". Still hurts, but didn't stop me from getting a half dozen waves on Sunday. (It did stop me from getting the other half...
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Fetched: April 18th, 2012, 12:20pm CEST by Michael
The plan was to SUP for about 90 minutes at the Heliport launch, then handle some work. Joining George Pav, Jon Ford and the Wolf I caught all of two waves (about ten minutes of water time) when on my...
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Fetched: April 17th, 2012, 1:32am CEST by Michael
The wave forecast was middling (maybe we'd get some knee high) but enough of wanted to get out that a search for waves was called. I checked Flying Point whilst Peconic Jeff (Atlantic Jeff on these days) cruised the Hampton...
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Fetched: April 15th, 2012, 4:54am CEST by Michael
"if it blows please call me i will go anywhere" Thus spake Chimply Lord Scotworth, the Earl of Kielt. Wind Chimp, Puffin, a Man Who Would Shred, he like the rest of us clings to the increasingly distant hope that...
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Fetched: April 11th, 2012, 11:13pm CEST by Michael
You need more gear. Or newer gear. Or different gear. Maybe (I can't believe I'm saying this) you have too much gear, and need to sell some of it to someone else. Nah. Okay, but maybe you have perfectly good...
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Fetched: April 11th, 2012, 11:13pm CEST by Michael
After an hour of a full powered ripfest at Sebonac (sail sizes 3.7-4.2, the reef serving up fine ramps) Peconic Jeff headed for shore with face a-troubled. We all joined him and gathered round. "I broke the nose," he said,...
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Fetched: April 6th, 2012, 9:43pm CEST by Michael
Christian Charles has made a movie. It’s got my wife Sally pacing (“I’m so tense”) and me very, very, happy I am married. Dating can get you killed (or worse)! It's called Happy and Bleeding. Dori is searching for true...
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Fetched: April 5th, 2012, 12:45am CEST by Michael
Christian Charles has made a movie. It’s got my wife Sally pacing (“I’m so tense”) and me very, very, happy I am married. Dating can get you killed (or worse)! It's called Happy and Bleeding. Dori is searching for true...
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Fetched: April 3rd, 2012, 12:49am CEST by Michael
I had to do gardening (code for "my shoulder is still iffy") but a SUP sesh was had at Cupsogue. Jeff emailed me: "Jon, Christian and I found an outer bar well to the east of the Cupsogue pavilion. Rides...
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Fetched: March 29th, 2012, 11:44am CEST by Michael
"Big shift in beach and sandbars, waves aren't showing up so well. The amount of sand on the beach at the Bowl is huge, biggest we've seen. Then the shoreline from Ponquogue to Quogue runs straight with hardly any points."...
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Fetched: March 28th, 2012, 1:45am CEST by Michael
I missed it, but Peconic Jeff, Dr. Pain, Scott and the Wolf reveled in 4.2 conditions. Jeff reports that CD came by to do paperwork. You have to know CD to understand. (Top: Air Wolf. Bottom: The return of Jonathan,...
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Fetched: March 26th, 2012, 5:18pm CEST by Michael
My friend Mass has a new home on the bay. He wants to be able to sail at a moment's notice should a whitecap present itself, so he has rigged. Can you say "nice quiver"?
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Our New York apartment's elevator ID number is Pi to four decimal points (if you imagine a decimal point inserted.) I've been waiting almost a year to share this fact. But 3.14 is here! Shoulder problems clearly have left me...
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Fetched: March 7th, 2012, 5:44pm CET by Michael
With only two weeks left to the winter, medoubts that the iceboards will be seen out east this season. Bellport and Mecox are not going to freeze over... ("SCREECH!!!" I hear varied disembodied friends and poltergeists shreiking. "What the heck...
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Fetched: March 5th, 2012, 5:54pm CET by Michael
With the bulk of the Puffin/Wind Chimp community up north snowboarding at CD's place (wish I coulda made it!) I have no tales of derring-do (or doofus do) of my own to share. So thank you Bill Nightingale for sending...
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Fetched: March 3rd, 2012, 10:55pm CET by Michael
Dennis likes my taste in alternative music (alternative for windsurfing videos) and a lot of people apparently never saw these when they first ran (new windsurfers?) so here is more.
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Fetched: March 1st, 2012, 10:03pm CET by Michael
They start messing with the fireworks around 2:30. As seen on windsurfatlanta.org
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The flowstyle genius Caesar Finies was not putting on his daily magic shows last week in Bonaire. When I asked around I heard he’d hurt himself recently and so was on the mend. Our loss, but okay. Then on Friday...
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I am back, baby. After being unable to windsurf since October I managed four 2-hour sessions in Lac Bay: The previously reported 7.3 day, an 8.0 day (I haven’t sailed a rig that big in ten years), a 6.6, and...
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Sitting on the beach looking out on the water and along the shoreline, I thought "there's a whole lotta Long Island windsurfers here!" There's George Pav sailing backwinded. Chrissy Burns just threw a sail body 360. God knows what Mike...
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Who: Andy Brandt and his merry band of windsurfing instructors. Where: Lazy Point @ Napeague, on the water and on the beach When: May 18th-20th, 2012. Any questions? Of course you have questions, and there's nobody better than Andy, Brendan,...
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I saw this in an iWindsurf forum, posted by the mighty Jerry Evans (maker of both the Clew View and East Coast Windsurfing Festival trophies) who tells me he found it on Facebook. In any event I think there's a...
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A Polish windsurfing site picked up our "Reasons to Date a Windsurfer" Valentine's post, and added a photo of a young lady with a sail, as well as a link back to the Peconic Puffin. We received LOTS of traffic...
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Ladies, are you still searching for that special someone? Consider looking amongst the windsurfers: 10. The ratio of men to women is 4 to 1. 9. They can talk about something besides football. 8. They don’t smell too bad because...
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Conditions were nothing to speak of...knee to waist high waves without much left or right to them. Was it cold? Air 35, Water 42, but it had been 22 weeks since my last SUP sesh, so: 36 + 41 +...
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I don't just miss windsurfing. I equally miss paddle surfing. My favorite watersport videographer (and master of how-to-jibe) Dasher recently put this up on Youtube. Enjoy. P.S. If you keep a portion of your awareness on the water in the...
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"Stained Glass Shredding, Rusalka Wind Sculpture"? How about "More cool windsurfing stuff from Ron"? About a week ago I posted some photos of great looking old boards on Ron's deck, and afterwards Ron ("noshuzbluz" on the iWindsurf forum) turned me...
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Last we ran a piece about windsurfing's 100 Rule, Long Island Style, in which the traditional temperature guideline of: Air temperature + Water temperature = 100 or higher, or it's too cold to sail, while the rule for many Long...
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This is just too good not to share. When I stumbled over the Lake Erie wave sailing video earlier this week it lead me to the web site of the Reef Warriors tribe. They dwell upon Lake Irie (mon). They...
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Every year on February 2nd, Peconic Puffins emerge from their burrow and consider their shadows. If there's a shadow, what does it mean? Should I visit Bill and Hulse in Puerto Rico? Take the wife to Bonaire? Check the seals...
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I've recently learned about the Legend of the Reef Warriors, a small but mighty tribe who can conjure such magic as wavesailing in the midwest. I am still studying the legend, greatly stoked by the following video that a Warrior...
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Windsurfing "100 degree rule" as practiced on Long Island: Air temperature + Water temperature + Wind Speed = 100 or higher. Some Long lslanders like to get a bit more technical, and windsurf when: Air temperature + Water temperature +...
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Windsurfing bear video. That's what I said. Berni sails a JP one handed, loops off of waves, and has the one handed (one pawed?) thing down. (First spotted on Average Joe Windsurf Blog.)
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A recent thread about an old board (and what to do with it) in the iWindsurf forums turned into a discussion of old boards as displayable art. "Noshuzbluz" Ron displays some beauties on his patio. In the second photo I...
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The Wolf continued to dominate the media spotlight over weekend, following his dramatic rescue at New Suffolk last week. “I hope the Giants win so this nonstop Wolf coverage calms down,” Jeff Slecta said to me yesterday (the Giants won...
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One of my favorite windsurfing bloggers (and the Peconic Puffin's #1 commenter from Malta) Bunty calls this a "really good Neil Pryde video" and I agree. Philip Koester is in it, which means you're going to see monster jumps (and...
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Ted Bretter has been telling me for months about an old Windsport article that did a thorough job of explaining how to derig at sea. He told me that it once got him out of quite a jam. “You’ve got...
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It was 25 gusting to 45 with 5-7 foot swell in the North Race mogul field, water temp 40 degrees with swirling currents on Friday the 13th. What could go wrong? Scott, Frank and John vanderWolf had been tearing it...
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"20 knots - 80degrees - small surf - 9.5kite & surfboard & 3 guys out-small craft ad. today & tomorrow-c'mon down boys-no rubber necessary-peace-bb" This is not a real invite to join Bill in Puerto Rico. Bill's purpose is to...
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Feel the sweetness. Feel the urgency: Today E winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt...becoming SW 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt this afternoon.
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What is the wave etiquette in this situation? Women and children first? As seen on The Horse's Mouth.
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The Wolf returned to the water a few days ago, sufficiently recovered from a dinged knee. Peconic Jeff noted that this event took place on the auspicious day of a Wolf Moon. I asked Jeff (who knows about moons) when...
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Not a lot of water time for me in the last six months. I’ve been suffering from a bicep/elbow/semi-mysterious upper arm affliction that has not responded to rest or physical therapy. My long-time orthopedist (who has been getting me back...
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(the following is a guest report by Peconic Jeff filed last week:) "Scott, Jon & I showed up at Tiana around noon to perfectly side-shore 25-35 mph winds and sand a-blowin'. With plenty of wind on the beach, we figured...
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The editors and staff of the Peconic Puffin wish you a Merry Christmas! The image is from a favorite Christmas card, which says "original design by Roz Davis". We thank Roz every year (Thanks Roz!)
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Windsurfing Magazine was my bible when I started. It was 1992, and the magazine was loaded with equipment reviews, technical info (you haven't lived until you've read a Ken Winner technical piece), instruction, the whole shebang. EVERYTHING was in there....
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This should cause Peconic Jeff to bug out. Wave clouds...hell yeah! Spotted on Facebook in a post by Ely, this image was taken in Alabama a day or two ago. From the Cloud Appreciation Society: "The breaking waveforms of Kelvin-Helmholtz...
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This made my morning. Windsurfing friends Cecilia and Greg were home in Connecticut when Hurricane Irene came through. While they found the winds overly strong for sailing, the flooded streets seemed just fine for some family stand-up paddling. OG Puffins...
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This clip of Arthur Pollet (French/Brazilian, PWA Freestyle competitor) getting stuck is making the rounds. ABK's Andy Brandt told me years ago that many freestyle moves were invented out of other moves going wrong (ie donkey jibe to escape a...
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Even SUPping would be fine (hell yes it would be fine) though a nice 5.3 day with friendly shoulder-high waves at the Bowl would be particularly fine. Photo swiped from the always impressive watersport Santa collection at Le Horse's Mouth.
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For five years awhile back the wife and I went to Aruba at least once per year (all the way back to when she was "the girlfriend") and had a lot of good times and good friends there. When I...
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(warning: if you're looking for a serious blog post...even a semi serious post, this ain't the day to be on the Peconic Puffin.) Rumors were flying on the Internet. Apparently unlocked by the SUP Cartwheel post, word was that the...
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Another video from Dasher, He Who Taught Me To Jibe. Recently while windsurfing in Turkey Dasher played with his GoPro and slow motion software and served this up.
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You’re out on the water and a line breaks. Inhaul, outhaul, downhaul, uphaul, harness line…something you need snaps. You’ll be happier if you’re carrying a piece or two of downhaul line to put yourself back together. In twenty years of...
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I have too much time on my hands (on account of my lingering arm issues). What do I do with the time (besides my wife's bidding?) I enjoy this fine report from Michigan Windsurfing as they pursue the elusive SUP...
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Thanks to NC Board Rider for suggesting this in a recent Comment
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This just in from Dasher in Florida: The Jupiter Fall Classic. Check out the move at 1:46...this is new to me. There's a bit more trickery later in the video too. Of course the general waveriding is nice to watch...
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Today I found myself thinking about wearing my helmet. When I attempt loops (and that's all I do...attempt them) I don't like the extra weight of the helmet on my head as I get whipped around like a rag doll....
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Peconic Jeff put me on to The Mighty Sven, a puffin in Happy Feet Two (penguin movie...been there done that. Would do it again, too...penguins and movies go together!) Sven is said to be "a tufted puffin passing himself off...
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I need a few new T-shirts. My once mighty collection of wind and water-related T-shirts was assembled 8-15 years ago, and it’s gone from “new and great” to “nicely worn in and great” to “old classics and great” and then...
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Decision tree for the employment of WD-40 and duct tape in a waterside environment. Adapted after theft from Lord Tillerman's Proper Course.
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I was good for two minutes before my recently healed torn bicep tendon began protesting. 4.5 at Sebonac, and I won't say I didn't enjoy those two minutes, but my arm she is not yet ready. Today I return to...
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Robby Naish, the King. Any questions? (Who else would the Peconic Puffin rock on 11-11-11? This most excellent photo borrowed from Jerome Houyvet at windsurfgallery.com...check it out for many more stunning windsurfing photos.)
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No kidding. Stretching a little, though: My physical therapist Jill (treating me for a lame wing) wants me to try windsurfing for an hour and then report back on the experience. Perhaps something like: "I got decent air on port,...
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My first windsurfing guru (and He Who Taught Me To Jibe) Dasher has been telling me about a super-easy to use sail for SUP windsurfing. Check this out: 1. The sail rolls up on the mast (no mast/luff sleeve threading)....
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A nice channel for getting out, don't you think? I was checking out various Google Maps images to see if anyone is sailing spots I know (a few years ago the usual suspects and I were caught rigging at Meschutt,...
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One jump too many at Meschutt last weekend. Ain't no contest between me and CD (never is). I have a little tear in my elbow, CD has a ginormous tear in his leg. Damn. ("Damn" because CD is really hurt,...
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It was practically November, but Rocktober Racing got raced! I missed the entire thing, wheezing at home with a wicked cold, arm in a sling with a dinged tendon, I got to read the email about it and piece together...
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It was practically November, but Rocktober Racing got raced! I missed the entire thing, wheezing at home with a wicked cold, arm in a sling with a dinged tendon, I got to read the email about it and piece together...
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I'm sidelined with an injury, but representatives of the Eastern Long Island Wind Chimp Association (and Brotherhood of Puffinry) caught big winds this weekend. Here is Peconic Jeff's report on Saturday at Napeague: "Blown off the water! 3.2-3.7 range. It...
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Here's the word from Pete Roesch: It looks like we will have some NW winds Sunday. Race is ON!!!!! Where: West Neck Beach in Huntington on West Neck Rd When: Sunday 10/30/11 sign in at 9:30am skippers meeting at 10:30...
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...may I have one please? I'm officially half way through the forecasted healing period for my stupid bicep tear, and of course it's windy and wavy and my mind is filled with imagined sessions missed. I would gratefully take any...
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Knees bent, hips in, head outside the turn, carving rail engaged...Dasher would be proud (Andy B too). My last session (before the current hiatus to heal a torn tendon) featured some lit-to-overpowered jibing on the flat waters of Noyack Bay,...
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I cannot windsurf on account of my dinged wing. So of course now there is the wind! Somebody has to be the wind sacrifice, and these days it is me. Jeff writes: "We scored a nuke 4.2/77L session today at...
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“You have a partial tear of the biceps tendon,” said my orthopedist. I paused, waiting for what that meant. Surgery? Amputation? Should I get my affairs in order? “Two weeks in a sling, ice, and Advil” he finished. Outstanding, relative...
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There are a lot of big white teeth on The Horse's Mouth this week, and they aren't saying "Hello Wilbur". No they're not De be shark teeth. Joe's got a SUP paddler hanging with a Great White (includes video), a...
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“Will you shut up?” the Wolf asked Scott. Scott was pestering him to get on the water. We were at New Suffolk, where it was blowing 4.7 and build to 4.2 (“3.7!” the Wolf declared.) It was setting up classically,...
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"This is a sure bet its gonna blow sat.& possibly sun! ooooooohh tiana!" Oh man is he trying to jinx it? Geez. Scott's enthusiasm is infectious, though, and I haven't been on the water in a month. If it blows...
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Pete says we lost the safety boat, so competition Saturday is off, despite the outstanding forecast for Saturday (W 20-25 gusting to 30.) If it blows true West or WNW, try Sebonac Inlet out east. If it blows WSW Tiana...
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I haven't been there in a year and a half, but a part of me is always in Cape Hatteras. I love the place, perhaps even more so because it's such primo hurricane bait. I'm also mindful of Clay Feeter's...
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(click on the link and start playing Led Zep’s Whole Lotta Love. Once it starts, begin reading below.) (turn up the volume, too. Okay, ready? Start reading!) It's time for Rocktober Racing! Pete is ready to pull the trigger, which...
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(click on the link and start playing Led Zep’s Whole Lotta Love. Once it starts, begin reading below.) (turn up the volume, too. Okay, ready? Start reading!) It's time for Rocktober Racing! Pete is ready to pull the trigger, which...
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A fine bronze sign now adorns the viewing stand at Joe's Beach in Heckscher State Park, part of the Long Island windsurfing community's continuing efforts to memorialize Joe Rocco, "the mayor of Heckscher". Last month at a memorial ceremony in...
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I've met some windsurfers who've said they think stand up paddling would be boring after awhile. I point out to them that not only are they more nimble than canoes and kayaks on flat water, but they're loads of fun...
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These days any time I see a link promising a windsurfer getting prodigious altitude, it seem to bring me to a photo of Phillip Köster. A few years ago I posted a clip ("Phillip Koester Gets Hospital Air") that blew...
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Oh man. A lot has happened since the last time I checked in Windsport Magazine's PWA Fantasy Windsurfing pool. Back then I ruled Long Island! Now I need floss to get seaweed and sand out from between my teeth. Let's...
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Christian arrived at the Bowl around high tide. Scott had already been sailing for a few hours (and I for one) but we were mostly waiting for the tide to go out and the waves to come. “I have 90...
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To the windsurfer who would be a better windsurfer: If you're assuming that you're going to take one of the upcoming ABK Boardsports windsurfing clinics at Napeague 9/23-25 and 9/30-10/2, you'd best be registered already, as they're currently showing only...
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Notice of a Scheme to Race: Given the popularity of the races at June’s East Coast Windsurfing Festival, and the great time that was had at the 2009 East Coast Fall Regatta, Pete Roesch (who always does well in these...
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Flying Shark! Must-Have Toy
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Year to year, storm to storm, many of our breaks on eastern Long Island move. It used to be that from Flying Point you'd look east to Clark Bar, the Cut and other waves. But now head west a few...
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The forecast this morning for manana: E winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Chance of showers. "Chance of showers" is the real tease. Rare is the day it's good at the...
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It's that time. The wind is returning (fingers crossed) as are the waves. If you need new gear it's time to clear out your old. If you need newer gear it's time to pick up somebody else's stuff. Windsurfing, stand...
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I'd love to know what the music is.
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About one hundred people gathered before the water and under the sun to remember Joe Rocco, who died windsurfing Hurricane Irene last Sunday. For 45 minutes we all talked with each other, sharing stories, speculating on what could have happened...
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"Heckscher State Park, field seven" never rolled off the tongue particularly well. Now it has a much better name: Joe's Beach. Ask any of Joe Rocco's friends and they'll tell you how to get there. Or look it up on...
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Joe Rocco, "the Mayor of Heckscher" died windsurfing Hurricane Irene on Sunday. To meet Joe once was to have a great new windsurfing friend, generous with information, stoke, spirit, you name it. The new article in Newsday begins "Joseph Rocco,...
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I am just sick. Joe Rocco died while windsurfing off of Shirley in the bay yesterday. If you know Joe (and most people know him better than I do) then you know this is particularly wrong. Here's what Newsday has:...
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We had no electricity (and won’t for days) and no cell service. We’d taken the boards off the windows and moved furniture and carpets back downstairs. I’d cut and/or moved a reasonable portion of the downed tree limbs. It was...
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Our house is in a designated flood zone. A big nor'easter at high tide will put salt water in our back yard. So I was not surprised when the Fire Department came down the road yesterday telling people there was...
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I just got the word from Jon Ford: Saturday afternoon there could be some good windsurfing. Okay! I hope I've finished my chores (boarding up the house, preparing to evacuate etc) by then.
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"Be careful what you wish for," Bill said in a recent comment about Hurricane Irene. I pointed out that I'd specified 22 knots and waves 6-8 feet. The last time I checked the forecast, however, "they" were calling for 50...
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In the 1990's the Peconic Puffin was a three page weekly newsletter, published May-October, which recounted the windsurfing exploits of a crew of windsurfers and their friends ("the Puffins"). One feature in the newsletter was "Puffin Poetry," essentially the quote...
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The floor just danced beneath my feet for a few seconds...a nice orderly back and forth. The Twitterverse confirmed that loads of other people felt it too. My question is: Will we get any good waves out of it?
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People are talking. On Facebook Peconic Jeff and Chachi are going on about wave heights (and preemptive tree trimming). Here at Peconic Puffin World Headquarters Scott is admonishing the staff to save it up for Sunday. Me, I'm thinking about...
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Fetched: August 9th, 2011, 1:43am CEST by Michael
The shore break was nasty. Three foot crunchers coming six seconds apart in on-side-on winds. Scott and I stood with our gear (big boards, him with a 5.7 me with my mighty 6.2) waiting for the slightest pause in the...
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Fetched: August 6th, 2011, 10:01am CEST by Michael
Emily is standing us up (bitch)…what’s a Puffin to do? Look for love elsewhere: The Coastal Marine Fantasy for Saturday includes the number “20” as of press time. Maybe I’ll take the Mrs. Over to Mecox and get a little...
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Fetched: August 4th, 2011, 9:41am CEST by Michael
...and I'd respect his privacy if he hadn't sent out a group e-mail. But Tropical Storm Emily is out there, and Jeff is eyeing the wavecast for early next week. Me, I'll believe it when the Wolf calls saying "it's...
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Fetched: August 1st, 2011, 11:12am CEST by Michael
Christian was on an 8.0 and a big freeride board. I had rigged seven meters worth of stickers atop my freestyle 109, and Jeff was managing to plane in the gusts on his 4.7 and SUP board. The only thing...
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Fetched: July 26th, 2011, 2:15pm CEST by Michael
Oh Happy Day! For a year and a half I've been downhauling with a backup tool...a cleat screwed to a bit of broom handle...drill a hole for your line and there you go...but I've been beating myself up for losing...
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Fetched: July 26th, 2011, 4:04am CEST by Michael
While I nurse my arm and dream about catching a sesh locally, Robby is doing...what else...the amazing. At least it's Robby!
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Fetched: July 19th, 2011, 5:15pm CEST by Michael
Mike Burns throws a shuv it for Peconic Jeff at Heckscher last week. That's Jeff's story, at least. I think Jeff popped up out of nowhere and this is Mike's evasive maneuver to avoid dinging that beautiful board! If I'm...
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Fetched: July 18th, 2011, 2:10pm CEST by Michael
The right bicep has been bothering me for weeks, but there's been little or no wind, so why worry? Why save myself? Stupid stupid stupid. It's been me with wheelbarrows full of gravel, carrying dozens of bags of topsoil, doing...
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Fetched: July 15th, 2011, 3:33pm CEST by Michael
Early sesh alone, Starboard ramps and warm water, Much better now for work.
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Fetched: July 13th, 2011, 3:04pm CEST by Michael
I sold The Millenium Puffin yesterday. She's a Bic Techno 283, purchased in 2000 on the advice of Andy Brandt. I've raced it, free rode it, freestyled both planing and not on it everywhere from the Cape Cod-Cape Hatteras corridor...
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Fetched: July 5th, 2011, 3:04pm CEST by Michael
4:45 PM. The phone rings. I answer, and hear a wind-starved lunatic: “Do you see tree branches moving” Peconic Jeff asks? “I’m gonna rig.” I am also a wind-starved lunatic. “I’m working until 5. Are there whitecaps?” I mentally map...
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Fetched: July 3rd, 2011, 8:41pm CEST by Michael
The new Cooper Beach Cam is much more useful than the old periodic snapshot model. Now if there was only some swell to admire! Peconic Jeff points out that because it's a Flash application you can't watch on an iPhone...
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Fetched: June 28th, 2011, 11:55am CEST by Michael
Straight up: Since an okay day at the Bowl on April 18th, I’ve had two count ‘em two days of planing windsurfing. Ridiculosa. If it weren’t for stand up paddling I’d have no reason to own a wetsuit. Sunday I...
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Fetched: June 19th, 2011, 2:47am CEST by Michael
Today we celebrate the birthday of Scott (Lord Scotworth, Earl of Kielt). He reaches a very special milestone. We at the Peconic Puffin wish him all the best, and wish for ourselves that when we reach his age we can...
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Fetched: June 15th, 2011, 4:56pm CEST by Michael
One of the many thrills at last weekend's East Coast Windsurfing Festival was the chance to see a PWA champion sail. We saw Josh Angulo's mindblowing speed in the races, we saw a Very Large Loop...it was a treat! But...
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Fetched: June 14th, 2011, 4:11pm CEST by Michael
The winds were light and off-shore for day two...yeah boy! Racemaster Tom set up a modified course. I thought “I could do well on this course if I had a longboard,” but I’d left my Superlight home like an idiot....
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Fetched: June 13th, 2011, 8:56pm CEST by Michael
(A semi-coherent description of the events of day one of of the festival may be found here. Tomorrow a second helping of scattered recollections and thoughts, focused on day two may be found on the Peconic Puffin as well. Here...
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Fetched: June 13th, 2011, 2:57pm CEST by Michael
Where to begin? Here’s an early report on Saturday. (early? I know...) 70+ competitors turned out (including former PWA champion and new east coast windsurfer Josh Angulo) for 18-24 easterlies at Long Island’s Heckscher State Park, where the racing was...
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Fetched: June 9th, 2011, 12:20pm CEST by Michael
Mike Burns thinks it could blow big. I'm not trying to jinx it! I'm just sayin' that's what Mike is sayin'. MC Thom Hering thinks we may need jet ski rabbit starts. Say what? If the wind is from the...
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Fetched: June 8th, 2011, 12:26pm CEST by Michael
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. So I'm told. Former PWA champion Josh Angulo knows first-hand, though, and he's losing sleep over his upcoming battle with Long Island's Mike Burns, two time East Coast Windsurfing Festival crown-wearer (or...
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Fetched: June 8th, 2011, 12:26pm CEST by Michael
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. So I'm told. Former PWA champion Josh Angulo knows first-hand, though, and he's losing sleep over his upcoming battle with Long Island's Mike Burns, two time East Coast Windsurfing Festival crown-wearer (or...
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Fetched: June 7th, 2011, 1:50pm CEST by Michael
There was a big shark sighting at Cupsogue last week. Big as in big sharks (18 feet), big as in widely reported, as of course nothing kicks off the summer season like sharks (see Jaws.) So...sharks at the Cup? Scott...
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Fetched: June 7th, 2011, 7:50am CEST by Michael
He is coming. Windsurfing legend Josh Angulo (who WON Cabo Verde...that’s more rad than the Bowl, homes!) is bringing his mightiness to Heckscher this weekend for the 2011 East Coast Windsurfing Festival. We at the Peconic Puffin say “Wow!” Stoked,...
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Fetched: June 6th, 2011, 9:14am CEST by Michael
Thursday was just the ticket, and then some. After a windsurfingless May ("you missed the one good day," Jon said. "This is a SUP blog," nagged Horse Joe) I found myself driving down Sebonac Inlet road watching sand blow across...
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Fetched: June 2nd, 2011, 1:29am CEST by Michael
My windsurfing gear is bone dry. I've been sailing since 1992, which makes this my 20th season. The only year I didn't get any water time in May was 2002, but that was on account of having rotator cuff surgery...
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Fetched: May 26th, 2011, 4:41pm CEST by Michael
Item: A clammer found himself in a jam in Old Fort Pond when, lost in the fog, his waders filled with water. Yelling for help, he attracted the attention of stand up paddler Christine Brennan, who heard him from shore,...
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Fetched: May 19th, 2011, 4:08pm CEST by Michael
That's right. Oh yeah. PWA wave champion (and your basic windsurfing legend) Josh Angulo will be on the water with you (or at least with me, and everyone else who is coming to the fourth annual ECWF). I don't know...
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Fetched: May 17th, 2011, 5:07pm CEST by Michael
...is less than four weeks away! The fourth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival takes place June 11-12th at Heckscher State Park. If you've been to the festival before but haven't yet signed up (by emailing his lordship King of the...
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Fetched: May 17th, 2011, 5:07pm CEST by Michael
ABK's May windsurfing clinic at Napeague has been cancelled due to weak pre-registration numbers. Once the cancellation was announced, ABK masterblaster Andy Brandt says he heard from lots of people saying "Hey wait...I was planning on coming...if my friends and...
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Fetched: May 14th, 2011, 12:06am CEST by Michael
Kai Lenny, ladies and gentlepuffins! Thank you Pete Roesch for posting this in the Yahoo group.
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Fetched: May 11th, 2011, 7:00pm CEST by Michael
Windsurfing, kiteboarding, stand up paddling...it'll all be getting swapped Saturday at Hampton Watersports, 9pm - 4pm. Buy, sell, shmooze! This is what the store's website says: Buy or sell used Standup paddleboarding, Surfing, Kiteboarding and Windsurfing gear. Buying: Closeouts available,...
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Fetched: May 8th, 2011, 8:19pm CEST by Michael
You could plane on a shortboard with a 5.8 (Peconic Jeff did) but the main event was a stand up paddling circumnavigation of Ram Island in Bullhead Bay with Dave Kalama. Thanks to Jon and Hampton Watersports for putting this...
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Fetched: May 5th, 2011, 9:03pm CEST by Michael
As mentioned previously, the mighty Hawaiian waterman comes to Eastern LI to impart wisdom and soforth. If you are strictly a windsurfer, I ask you what do you do during windless patches of summer? Check it out at Hampton Watersports.
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Fetched: May 2nd, 2011, 8:57pm CEST by Michael
by Herbie Hind, as seen on Facebook.
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Fetched: May 2nd, 2011, 3:05pm CEST by Michael
“Where’s Schultz?” Scott asked as he surveyed the scene (“Schultz” is Peconic Jeff.) “Jon says he’s the wave sacrifice,” I replied. It was a rare no-Jeff session, but the stately 5-7 footers that rolled in wide, clean, and well-spaced at...
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Fetched: May 2nd, 2011, 3:05pm CEST by Michael
“Where’s Schultz?” Scott asked as he surveyed the scene (“Schultz” is Peconic Jeff.) “Jon says he’s the wave sacrifice,” I replied. It was a rare no-Jeff session, but the stately 5-7 footers that rolled in wide, clean, and well-spaced at...
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Fetched: April 29th, 2011, 3:01pm CEST by Michael
He's done it. Chachi posted in the Long Island Windsurfing Group that Rich scored his first vulcan at Heckscher recently, which "took me almost 3 years and well over a thousand attempts." Rich was looking good and close last fall...
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Fetched: April 26th, 2011, 8:22pm CEST by Michael
Saturday at the Bowl…the guys were already on the water when I arrived (Bill Jeff Frank Scott and the Wolf in the 4.7 zone, Hulse on a kite) looking moderately powered. My gut said “5.3”, and as I launched everyone...
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Fetched: April 21st, 2011, 8:09am CEST by Michael
It's time! His lordship Mike Burns (Festival organizer AND Reigning King of the East) has decreed that the hour to declare our intentions has arrived*. So get thee to the East Coast Windsurfing Festival's registration page, or just email King...
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Fetched: April 21st, 2011, 8:09am CEST by Michael
Legendary waterman Dave Kalama comes to Long Island on Thursday May 5th for some instructional paddling on beautiful Bullhead Bay (behind Sebonac Inlet). Hampton Watersports Impresario Jon Ford tells the Peconic Puffin "The plan is to get all interested people...
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Fetched: April 19th, 2011, 8:32pm CEST by Michael
Legendary waterman Dave Kalama comes to Long Island on Thursday May 5th for some instructional paddling on beautiful Bullhead Bay (behind Sebonac Inlet). Hampton Watersports Impresario Jon Ford tells the Peconic Puffin "The plan is to get all interested people...
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Fetched: April 18th, 2011, 12:17pm CEST by Michael
Plug a USB cable into the back of my head and download this image: Dr. Pain coming down an 8’ plus wave face straight at me, staring into my eyes and vibing “DO NOT CHANGE COURSE!” (I didn’t, he sail/surfed...
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Fetched: April 15th, 2011, 1:51pm CEST by Michael
Wind: E winds 15 to 20 kt...becoming se 20 to 25 kt in the afternoon Tide: Low tide 12:08 hum baby hum baby humbabyhumbabyhumbaby... (Since this post many of the usual suspects have been cackling with anticipation. Scott is excited...
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Fetched: April 15th, 2011, 6:35am CEST by Michael
I was the last to arrive at the Bowl for the early morning session. Bill, Jon, Scott, Frank and the Wolf were already sailing, and Fisherman was rigging a 5.2. I took a quick look at the action (everybody was...
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Fetched: April 15th, 2011, 6:35am CEST by Michael
“Rate your pain right now on a scale of zero to ten,” said the physical therapist. “Right now I have no pain at all. But if I go like this (I demonstrate going like this) it hurts.” “When do you...
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Fetched: April 12th, 2011, 12:27pm CEST by Michael
RIFF, the Reykjavik International Film Festival, is Iceland's number one film event. They say they are, so it could be true. Certainly they're the tops with us at the Peconic Puffin, because RIFF's grand prize is... The Golden Puffin! How...
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Fetched: April 11th, 2011, 1:48pm CEST by Michael
I hadn't SUP'ed in over four months. "Desperation session!" Jeff said encouragingly. Christian was already on the water, and as I trailed Jeff down to the beach I gave myself a pep talk. It was okay if I didn't catch...
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Fetched: April 4th, 2011, 8:51pm CEST by Michael
I've had the good fortune to meet Neil Young several times over the years. Have had some good conversations with him, too, though I had no idea that I should have brought up windsurfing. Dang! I've never heard of Neil...
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Fetched: April 2nd, 2011, 9:42am CEST by Michael
From the talented stone carver Michael Jamieson (known in these parts as the talented windsurfer Buddha Mike) comes Hari Hara, also known as Shankaranarayana. Buddha Mike tells us "he is a combination of the Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu from...
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Fetched: March 28th, 2011, 4:08pm CEST by Michael
Peconic Jeff has the eye. When he puts a camera between that eye (I think it's his right one) and water sport stuff, I'm always a fan of the result. Here are two recent Puffin pleasers...Snow Board (self explanatory) and...
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No boards or sails here. Sometimes puffining takes me to strange places. This young lady is named Rhiannon, and was a member of a puffin club (a penguin may have been involved as well.) In addition to puffins she blogs...
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Ely of the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfers Forum recently posted the following loop video (who he credits to his friend Darryl in Maui). Describing itself as a Loop DVD trailer, it's a loose, fun collection of loops and loop drills...plus...
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There was no wind in the forecast. "I was drinking coffee, looked at the wind readings, and when it said '23' I said 'that's gotta be wrong'" said the Wolf as he derigged. Frank had promised his family he'd be...
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Late April of last year we had a nuking sesh (sails 3.7-4.2 at Sebonac Inlet) caught by Scott, Jon, Bill, Bruce, CD, the Wolf, Peconic Jeff and your editor. Today some photos from that session materialized, taken by Tom Boyle....
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T'was ten years ago in Aruba when I was out snapping photos of my wife windsurfing when Andy Brandt sailed by. Even back before freestyle windsurfing became the cool new thing, Andy simply could not sail in a straightforward manner...
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Fetched: March 14th, 2011, 12:44pm CET by Michael
I’d sent an email to a bunch of guys Sunday morning, listening to the wind in the trees. An hour later I heard from Christian: “Deboned gathering as I'm sure you know by now.” Had Christian been filleted, and everybody...
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Having been married for well over a decade, I am well trained to “put away my toys”. But I remember what it was like to have a boom in my living room. And guitars used to hang from the walls!...
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Fetched: March 10th, 2011, 10:46pm CET by Michael
I was standing on the beach, facing the eastern wind with my mouth wide open. I wanted to eat the air, so good did it taste. It was cold, but clean…immaculate…and it reminded me of a pristine Carribean breeze. Carribean...
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Fetched: March 9th, 2011, 6:28pm CET by Michael
(Two people...see the comments...have expressed doubt that it's Robby Naish in the photo. My world is shaken...I've seen this thing before and been told that it's Robby, but examing the original art with a magnifying glass (and blowing it up...
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Fetched: March 4th, 2011, 7:07pm CET by Michael
It’s Baaaack…the fourth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival! Two time King of the East freestyle champion Mike Burns sez “mark your calendars for June 11th and 12th and expect the usual big turnout with lots of action and fun.” We’re...
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Fetched: March 4th, 2011, 7:07pm CET by Michael
If you’re not in or following Windsport Magazine’s Fantasy Windsurfing league (like fantasy baseball, working from the Professional Windsurfing Association results) then you’re missing the fun. But you’re probably happy not to be crushed by me, as I rule! To...
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Fetched: March 4th, 2011, 7:07pm CET by Michael
How much fun does it this look like? And low impact, too! Thanks Mark Paine for the tip.
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Fetched: March 2nd, 2011, 5:34am CET by Michael
The sail call was 2.7 to 3.0, but we didn’t own anything that small. So instead Scott, Jeff, the Wolf and I got blown apart on 3.2-3.7 rigs. When Scott (wind tester this day) told me he’d had his rig...
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Thus spake NOAA: S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt late this morning...then becoming SW 25 to 30 kt with occasional gusts up to 50 kt this afternoon. The place to be could be Mattituck,...
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The Wolf and Scott look for sand blowing on the beach before they rig. How does this look, gentlemen? This fine photo was taken by Janis Markopoulos for her husband George's blog Live to Sail at his session last Saturday...
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The actual inlet at Sebonac Inlet connects Bullhead Bay to the Great Peconic Bay. Driving to Saturday’s session I saw that Bullhead was still largely frozen over. The water may be liquid at the inlet, but it was going to...
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Woke up to the sweet sound of 30 knot gusts. Looked out the window...in the distance the Little Peconic was covered in whitecaps...good! Looked closer...the creek was covered in ice...not so good! Looked closest...the thermometer read 19 degrees...not good at...
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NOAA is calling for big time westerlies: Sat: W winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. I'm thinking about rigging the 3.4 and my smallest fin, strapping on a helmet and...
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I hadn’t windsurfed or SUPed in over a month, and I’ve been whining. So when last weekend’s forecast foretold wind and thawing temperatures, I sent the following email to my brethren, crying for aquatic companionship: "I have not had a...
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Ladies, are you still searching for that special someone? Consider looking amongst the windsurfers: 10. The ratio of men to women is 4 to 1. 9. They can talk about something besides football. 8. They don’t smell too bad because...
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It's the third time we've done this, and it gets weirder every year. The gathering of so many water bloggers in an ancient watering hole created a metafactual vortex that left me adrift in uncertainty and doubt. But it was...
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Saturday and Sunday's forecasts call for SW 20-25 in the afternoons. Air temps around 40 degrees. To quote Scott: "oooohhhh tiana!!!!!!!" Let it be so. I haven't been on the water in a month. I am a fraud. Meanwhile some...
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I’ve been hearing about them for years, but it looks like this year you can actually buy a hydrofoil windsurfer. AHD is introducing the AFS 1. Check out the massive vent in the nose! And the Xtra-cool looking foil! It...
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The forecast called for huge westerlies yesterday. I couldn't get there but new Scott was going ("Starting to nuke!" he texted.) The meters showed more and more (and more) wind, and Scott's post-nuker email painted the picture at Sebonac: "Just...
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A SUP surfer named Chuck Patterson shot this last summer at San Onofre in San Diego. It’s your basic “stick a gopro camera in the water and enjoy footage of great white sharks circling you” deal. I would have bugged...
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Just a day ago, the Saturday forecast called for 20 from the east...with rain! That spells wavesailing at the bowl, homeslice! Peconic Jeff texted me with the same thought. There's nothing like a bowlful of Bowl to set me right....
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Just a day ago, the Saturday forecast called for 20 from the east...with rain! That spells wavesailing at the bowl, homeslice! Peconic Jeff texted me with the same thought. There's nothing like a bowlful of Bowl to set me right....
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I first posted this about a year ago, but took it down at the request of the creators of the DVD from which it had been stripped (the Peconic Puffin had no part of that!) Now it's back on youtube,...
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Perhaps you've never been interested in the doings of the Professional Windsurfing Association. How about if you can win a new board, and you get to PICK the board (from Starboard's wares)? Sounds better, yes? Sounds pretty great even if...
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What a bust. What a disappointment. Januarys used to be good! Who can forget the craziest launch on the east end? The secret mission to Robins Island? Great times in January! It's true I missed a session at the Bowl...
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Jaws is insane to begin with. How about at night? Love the lights! That's Mark Visser...check out his web site for more information.
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I missed it, of course...layed flat by a cold. Better to be pummeled by a wave! Here's the scene at Old Town, photos by Jeff (Jon goes right, the Wolf goes left):
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Should we stock up on wine or screwdrivers? Map adapted from Peter Woodbury's, as posted on Facebook.
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Can we add something about warmth? Last time I stood waterside the air temp was 7 degrees! If we can just get the air into the 30's, add a little sun and wind (or waves) and I'll be back on...
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Turnagain Arm in Alaska is already known by cognescenti to offer some unusual (and extreme) windsurfing conditions. The difference between high tide and low tide can be as great as 30 feet (!), producing what they call a tidal bore....
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The yoga class was about to begin. I was sitting, calm, balanced, emptying my mind, ready for 90 minutes of great yoga, when the thought exploded in my head: "You missed a session at the Bowl!" CD had texted me...
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Those guys at Hot Sails have a sense of humor. This is not, as I first suspected, a photo from the 80's (check out the board. As seen on Just Messin' Around.
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I thoroughly enjoyed the wave sailing video posted here last week (that's why I posted it) "An Ocean State of Mind" shot in Rhode Island, but at least one chap complained that the sailing wasn't really up to snuff (I'd...
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Surfboard craftsman and waterman Rotorhead sent the alert: "AKC Welcomes Three New Breeds The American Kennel Club is pleased to announce that three new breeds became eligible for AKC registration on January 1, 2011, bringing the totally number of registered...
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Surfboard craftsman and waterman Rotorhead sent the alert: "AKC Welcomes Three New Breeds The American Kennel Club is pleased to announce that three new breeds became eligible for AKC registration on January 1, 2011, bringing the totally number of registered...
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Bill and John do not rig in ice and snow. No. Every year as fall turns into winter, these guys head down to Puerto Rico for wind and waves. And right now they're scoring big time. Of the head-high conditions...
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"An Ocean State of Mind" shot at Matunuck Beach and other Rhode Island spots, created by Silent Ink Productions is helping me survive wave withdrawel. As Scott would say, "I WANT!" An Ocean State of Mind from Silent Ink. Productions...
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(to the tune of “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by the Clash:) "We rig in ice, we rig in snow, We windsurf when it’s really cold, Icy sails can give you trouble, Wind chill makes the cold seem...
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Andy Brandt and ABK Boardsports return to Long Island this year to make us all (you is "us" if you take a clinic) better windsurfers, friends, lovers, spouses, and citizens, as well as reducing our carbon footprints. If you're not...
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"The unaimed arrow never misses." That bit of new-age babble can be found on a postcard of otherwise pretty cool sayings called "Maui Rules" that's glued to the roof of my van (best rule: "Speak softly and wear a loud...
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This is not a windsurfing post. I apologize in advance if this complete departure from wind and wave annoys you (if you suspect it might, it probably will...quick go to Continent Seven and check out some great windsurfing media.) This...
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When it comes to winter windsurfing, the community of lunatics I sail with is about as stoked as any out there. I just stumbled over a photo collection of these windsurfers in Norway, who appear to be true brothers and...
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Five of us sat in Scott’s pickup, eyeing the conditions from the Meschutt parking lot. Every time there was a lull Scott whined that it was dead. Every time there was a gust Jon Ford said it looked like 4.2....
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I first saw the jump sequence in Robby Naish's R.I.P. video back in the 90's. I thought then (and still think now) "that's all I want to be able to do. That's all I ask for." A humble wish. Yeah....
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My favorite Christmas card, naturally, which says "original design by Roz Davis". Thanks again Roz!
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There's an eight year old out there who knows the recipe for the secret food of Christmas reindeer. "I feed the reindeers sparkles—sparkles and oatmeal," Jory Atkins says. "Sparkles help them fly and oatmeal gives them something to eat." I...
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What say ye, John Cleese? Thank you Mark Paine for hooking me up.
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Weather.com (the Weather Channel online) says there's a chance of a nor'easter hitting Peconica on Sunday. They're also calling for highs of 37 degrees on Sunday. My usual cutoff these days is 38 degrees, but it's been over a week...
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It was the Bowl, of course. Bowl=rain. Scott was there early…I was contemplating coffee in bed at 8AM when I got the text. And he called Bill even earlier! But Sally was sick in bed, so I did the Good...
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Thus speaks NOAA: Se winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt Air temps forecasted for the balmy mid 40's. Low tides are before dawn and after sunset, so methinks an early sesh in the morning. What...
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Recently while socializing with some non-windsurfing friends named Catherine and Anthony, the question of how I stayed warm while winter windsurfing came up, and I explained about drysuits, how they worked, and how we could actually be hot in our...
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I’m thinking about polarities today. About a beautiful warm wave session in the rain, and a fine bump session, freezing under a brilliant sun. And about the correct tightness of certain fastenings. Twelve sails were on the water Wednesday morning...
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Previously in The Peconic Puffin we have lavished praise on the new Windsurfing Movie. Now Puffin Jace Panebianco says "hey check out the trailer" and so we do. Enjoy: The Windsurfing Movie II Official Trailer from Poor Boyz Productions on...
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We caught big winds twice over the Thanksgiving holidays. Okay the first day was the Wednesday preceding, but we’re counting it…an early morning nuker at Meschutt. After a few false starts on 5.3’s and 4.5’s we finally got dialed in…me...
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The view from Jeff...from the beach, and on the water...from last Saturday's Tiana session. Most unusual part: Jeff includes having his gear knocked away (and The Swim). He is a True Puffin!
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I was whining like a bad Cabernet… “I hate Iron Pier. I’m having no fun at all! They looked at me with scorn and derision. “I can never get comfortable here. I’m going to Sebonac Inlet.” Scott had had enough...
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In the beginning, a friend invited me to try windsurfing. I uphauled a sail, went forward a few feet, and then fell. But it was Good, so I wanted more. I was invited to join a share house full of...
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The waves may have only been waist high and mushy, but what they lacked in size was more than made up for by friendly, playful, sunny conditions that had everyone on the water grinning like kids. Even the bluefish had...
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ABK Boardsports instructor Brendon Quinn took quite a fine set of photos at last weekend's ABK clinic. I've pulled a few of some freestylers from Brendon's Facebook page...check the link for a lot more! (Clockwise from the top: Vulcan George,...
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After a year of SUP surfing I thought I’d have more of a clue when it came to proper wave sailing, but there I was at Ditch, mystified. Certainly I’m better on the waves than I was a year ago...
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I had to drop out of the clinic this weekend after starting on Friday, but I did get to see enough and sail almost enough to know that it was an outstanding clinic, though overly windy for beginners. I was...
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I’m not big on taking medicine for every little problem, but sometimes we need fixing. I caught a hellacious case of poison ivy on my forearms that has kept me off the water for a week, but the steroid treatment...
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I've been on the water maybe three times in the last month. Scott drove the point home with "even c.d. is getting more time on the water than you now!" Not that I begrudge CD. Lord Chimpleton misses many sessions,...
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I've been sidelined by a freakin' plant. I was wearing gloves for protection, but only a short sleeve shirt as I did some work in a questionable corner of our backyard, so now I sport the classic pattern of "lower...
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I was once in an ABK clinic in Deleware in which Andy Brandt put a finless board and rig in some shoreside "magic mud" and proceeded to teach nonplaning freestyle in the slurry. It was pretty cool, if you are...
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What to rig what to rig what to rig? Folks were in a tizzy at the Bowl on Friday. Anticipating Igor’s waves and the forecast of solid winds, there was a decent turnout at the Bowl. Peconic Jeff (who seems...
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Nag nag nag. Come buy my used stuff (and other people's) or sell me your great used stuff (or other people) Saturday at Hampton Watersports. Windsurfing equipment, kiteboarding equipment, stand up paddle equipment...come bring it, come buy it. And don't...
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Boy did we not get crazy winds. But I did break a board. When a true gale or tropical storm or hurricane comes into the area, we always head for a spot on the inner bays to make sailing as...
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Let me begin all serious and stuff: I do not want my house, or anyone else's house, to get blown down. Or to have a tree blown onto it, or onto anyone who lives in a house or likes houses....
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Rainbows highlighted beauties like these as they rolled through Tiana last Sunday. And Jeff Schultz (carrying not one but TWO cameras with him as we SUPped in overhead waves) snapped away. He's got stills and video from the day on...
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I’ve just completed my first year of SUP surfing. I celebrated by catching a weekend of waves at Tiana with Steve (OG Puffin), who was himself catching his own first SUP waves. Sunday was my 44th day in the waves...
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Windsurfing, kiteboarding, stand up paddling...all are having a swap meet at Long Island's Hampton Watersports on Saturday September 18th. Even if you don't need to buy or sell, swap meets are fun...you meet people you haven't seen in awhile, and...
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Drysuits, rigging in slush, cold hands, ice cream headaches...they are all coming. And they're all good, as the windsurfing is outstanding in winter. But if you're a sissy who whines about wearing gloves, who doesn't want to buy a 5/3...
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"Monday is the windiest day of the week," Andy Brandt tells his windsurfing students. In case you felt that it was just you who was being persecuted by the wind gods, this pearl of windsuffering is presented to let you...
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This just in from windsurfing guru and ABK-meister Andy Brandt: The dates for the second of two September ABK windsurfing clinics at Napeague...the "freestyle" clinic (a regular ABK clinic that adds a special freestyle group for advanced windsurfers interested in...
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That was fast. Less than 24 hours after the wind prayer post the Peconic Bays started to whitecap. Then the Wolf called from South Jamesport, where he was rigging a 5.2. Drop what you’re doing…it’s time to sail (if you...
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It has been more than a calendar month since I've hooked in or slid my feet into the footstraps. Yes I've had a few nonplaning sessions (I do love the light wind freestyle) but I'm worried that I've forgotten how...
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About a week ago I noted that I was drydocked until I repaired a nose ding to my Naish SUP board. Thanks to tips from everyone from Rotorhead at Island Dreams Surf Design to the local Stand Up Paddle surf...
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It started out as my best wave ride of the day. It ended with my nearly taking Peconic Jeff's head off. It all began when Peter and I caught a nice head-high wave on the outer sand bar. Jeff was...
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Scott is overpowered on a 5.7 (Jeff and the Wolf were on 5.2's) this day at the flattest spot I've ever sailed: the north sand bar of Robins Island. When the wind is just right (SSW I think...one of the...
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Where to begin? Every day was different, but they were all special. Friday at Road L the waves were 6-8 feet, with a few heavyweight 9 footers rolling through. They stood tall in the offshore breeze, and the crew (Adam,...
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Fetched: August 8th, 2010, 11:29am CEST by Michael
Jeff caught a lot of birthday waves today, actually! Following yesterday's fantastic 5-8 foot wave day at Road L (which claimed one of Jeff's cameras) today was a playground of knee to chest high swell. Way to the back of...
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Fetched: August 5th, 2010, 11:49am CEST by Michael
There is now a webcam at Napeague (courtesy of Luke’s Kiteboarding) and what a webcam it is: Not only does it bring a live video stream, but the user can control the camera, which features tilt, pan, and zoom features....
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Fetched: August 4th, 2010, 5:35pm CEST by Michael
When I first heard Robby Naish say of SUP surfing "Stand up paddling makes crappy waves fun" I had no idea what he meant. I've long since learned the joys of catching small waves, or waves that aren't particularly well...
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Fetched: August 2nd, 2010, 5:56pm CEST by Michael
...and I do some sanding and painting. Maybe on the painting...if the surf is up and all the board needs is paint, the paint will wait. July used to be better for wind. Now all I do is SUP (poor...
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Fetched: July 30th, 2010, 6:39pm CEST by Michael
After starting a discussion about the turbo tunnel fin in the Aussie windsurfing forum Seabreeze some people posted shots of these fins. The tubed windsurfing fins and split fins are taken from finmaker Deboichet's website. I don't know the provenance...
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Fetched: July 30th, 2010, 6:39pm CEST by Michael
I was out practicing light wind freestyle in Davis Creek Sunday when I thought I saw the top of a windsurfing sail over the dunes towards the Little Peconic Bay. It would peak in and out between the dune but...
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Fetched: July 30th, 2010, 6:39pm CEST by Michael
This skeg was spotted by Jeff out at Montauk a few days ago. It’s called the Turbo Tunnel Fin, and there are surfers who say the thing does many wonderful things…helps maintain speed through turns, improves nose riding, provides lots...
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Fetched: July 26th, 2010, 6:38pm CEST by Michael
Don't fault yourself if you missed Peconic Jeff's blog entry about his mighty SUP wavesailing session...he is, um, sparing in his blogging activity (better to check out his excellent photo site, but even there the offerings have been thin lately)....
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Fetched: July 23rd, 2010, 2:44pm CEST by Michael
I'm grooving on this photo. That's OBX Bill of the mighty Bill's OBX Beach Life blog, bending it most interestingly while throwing a goiter. Bill tells the Puffin "Yea, the mast is in the soup, and I believe the mast/sail...
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Fetched: July 23rd, 2010, 2:44pm CEST by Michael
Tonight on USA, if you should turn on the dippy "Royal Pains" (which follows the exploits of a doctor serving the uber-rich in in the Hamptons) you can catch some of the Long Island fleet in the background (catch a...
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Fetched: July 21st, 2010, 2:37pm CEST by Michael
When last I reported from the SUP surfing front (my front, anyways) I could be heard whining mightily about what a bad time I was having, the amount of skin missing from my body, and various bits of property and...
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Fetched: July 17th, 2010, 8:40am CEST by Michael
Waves tied the knot above in my leash line in all of 20 seconds while I floundered in a riptide at the Cut. That is a lot of threading and twisting for a twelve foot line...pretty cool marlinspike, methinks! Photo...
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Fetched: July 15th, 2010, 2:31pm CEST by Michael
Racer Ted recently posed the question in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfers Group if this Spring was especially poor for wind, or if this is what we get in New York (Ted's a recent arrival from Chi-town.) More specifically, Ted...
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Fetched: July 14th, 2010, 1:27am CEST by Michael
"C'mon, it was a great day!" Not for me. "You're glad you were here!" Nope. "Every day in the water is a good day!" I don't know about that. The truth is I did in fact have a good time...
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Fetched: July 13th, 2010, 4:45am CEST by Michael
Ladies love their new shoes. My wife Sally grabbed some brand new Pro Limit booties (the "Global Series") fresh from the windsurfing store and took them for their maiden stompage at Napeague last Sunday, as a gang of us (Lili,...
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Fetched: July 13th, 2010, 4:45am CEST by Michael
Jon Ford of Hampton Watersports struggling to have a half-decent time in the waves at Tiana. Hey if you're reading this Sunday morning come meet us at Tiana...we're headed there for more of the same right now... (Photo swiped from...
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Fetched: July 11th, 2010, 9:29am CEST by Michael
Sunday's forecast for wind may stink, but if you take the uni off your SUP board and grab a paddle, outstanding surfing may await you. Swell Info is calling for clean, shoulder high and bigger. My fingers are crossed. (Photo...
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Fetched: July 11th, 2010, 9:29am CEST by Michael
Stonecarver Michael Jamieson is exploring new ways to combine windsurfing and stone. "Sunset Sesh" is ink on polished rainbow sandstone, with a limestone frame. See how the grain in the stone looks like water, sky, clouds, and an island? Sweet....
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Fetched: July 11th, 2010, 9:29am CEST by Michael
That's a beauty (the poster). That's a beauty (the event). Both the Notice of Race and the registration form can be found on the web site. Event organizer Nevin Sayre wants you to know the following: "1/ Racing for the...
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Fetched: July 6th, 2010, 5:31pm CEST by Michael
When air temps are above 90. a scoop of ice cream placed on the head of a windsurfer can provide a number of beneficent effects: -the cooling and refreshing effects encourage precise rigging of the sail you were going to...
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Fetched: July 2nd, 2010, 5:33pm CEST by Michael
Pitch? Yaw? Roll? Surge? It's the stuff of fuselages, hulls, and even our boards (I think only boards pearl, but that's another story.) Anyhow it's come to pass that the greatest illustrator in the waterblog universe (better even than James)...the...
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Fetched: July 1st, 2010, 7:03am CEST by Michael
Check out this clip that was posted on The Beach Telegraph. Yeah it's a formula fin, but if it's bending like this, you know more humble skegs are giving it up to a lesser degree. I had been a flex...
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Fetched: June 30th, 2010, 5:51am CEST by Michael
Mike Burns just makes me sick. He’s cruel and merciless and drives me nuts. Okay he’s one of the ten nicest guys on the planet, but still… This latest I Hate Mike Burns bender started when I read on his...
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Fetched: June 28th, 2010, 8:17pm CEST by Michael
I had several titles for this post, most of which deal with how the intersection of a friendly wave and human foolishness can result in a ding. Let's try them all! 1. Three Men and a Wave. Surfing etiquette exists,...
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Fetched: June 28th, 2010, 8:17pm CEST by Michael
I was so excited about the top photo when I opened it. Then I opened the next shot. (Photographer Remy McFadden lamented that I didn't have this sequence when I ran the "When the fall is all you have..." post.)
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Fetched: June 26th, 2010, 5:42am CEST by Michael
This photo of me (taken by Bill Doutney at the end of a freestyle heat at the East Coast Windsurfing Festival) has proven to be quite popular. That is satisfying, because I work on my falls. "If you can't stick...
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Fetched: June 22nd, 2010, 9:44am CEST by Michael
I have an article in the current issue of Windsurfing Magazine about the decline of the once wonderful online windsurfing forum known as rec.windsurfing, or "the windsurfing newsgroup" or "wreckdot" as it was affectionately called by sailors. During its peak...
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Fetched: June 21st, 2010, 9:31pm CEST by Michael
Tentative dates for the second annual East Coast Fall Windsurfing Regatta have been announced. Racemaster Tom Hering commented thusly in the Peconic Puffin: We were thinking of holding it 1 day on Columbus Day weekend, 10/9 or 10/10, depending on...
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Fetched: June 19th, 2010, 9:08pm CEST by Michael
I would be remiss (as I so often am) if I did not get these last few bits and pieces out: 1. Junior Division Results: Total, complete, and utter domination by one Devon Roesch. That would be Devon Son of...
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Fetched: June 18th, 2010, 9:38am CEST by Michael
It was so very Southampton: A seaplane approached the beach at Towd Point Thursday morning as a red jeep drove down to the water to meet it. I launched nearby on a 6.2 (lit) but jibed just a few hundred...
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Fetched: June 16th, 2010, 10:23pm CEST by Michael
(and if you're able to catch dawn patrol on Thursday, the surf forecast is good first thing in the AM!) Hampton Watersports has a SUP demo on for this Saturday. If you have any interest in stand up paddling but...
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Fetched: June 16th, 2010, 2:32am CEST by Michael
I can screw up anything. Yet I somehow managed to have a good time at the windsurfing festival last weekend, despite the following: -blanking out on the port/starboard rule 45 seconds after MC Thom reminded everyone about it, and ramming...
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Fetched: June 14th, 2010, 2:33pm CEST by Michael
"You're going to have so much to write about" at least half a dozen people said to me. And it's true, but between trying to catch my breath, getting my butt kicked, and the fantastic three ring circus that was...
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Fetched: June 11th, 2010, 7:44pm CEST by Michael
Where will I be on my wife's birthday? At the East Coast Windsurfing Festival. I'd better win something. (The forecast is up for Saturday!)
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Fetched: June 10th, 2010, 6:43am CEST by Michael
If you windsurf on Long Island, you already know Mike. Or maybe you've seen him on the water in Hatteras. If you haven't, and particularly if you haven't but are coming to this weekend's East Coast Windsurfing Festival to compete...
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Fetched: June 10th, 2010, 6:43am CEST by Michael
These be details for the East Coast Windsurfing Festival a-comin this Saturday. Some nitty gritty that thee best be payin' attention to, lest yet be findin' yoursel' at the bottom of Davy Jones' locker (which at Heckscher is admittedly not...
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Fetched: June 7th, 2010, 11:07am CEST by Michael
Thus spake the venerable MC Tommy Hering: Notice of Event: East Coast Windsurfing Festival Summer 2010 Date: June 12 and 13, 2010 Venue: Heckscher State Park, Field 7 Registration/check in: Starts at 9:30 am both days Suggested contribution: $20 Start...
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Fetched: June 6th, 2010, 1:22am CEST by Michael
Sometimes its wavy, sometimes it's flat, and sometimes the swell just doesn't want to play ball. Earlier this week the swell was weird at Cryder. Waves would pop up, start to jack, then sit back down, move left or right...
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Fetched: June 3rd, 2010, 8:24pm CEST by Michael
The Wolf said "Don't make me come to Mecox...I don't like the flat water" so I let him go to New Suffolk (to sail the flat water) while I joined Eileen at Mecox. Mecox, which was frickin' perfect. I arrived...
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Fetched: June 3rd, 2010, 8:24pm CEST by Michael
Some people love their formula gear, some people need big sails to plane, and some people have 8.0's instead of 7.5's, and when you add all those people together, the powers that be say "let them race at the East...
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Fetched: June 3rd, 2010, 1:49am CEST by Michael
Races, freestyle heats, board tosses, RELAY RACES fer cryin’ out loud…there will be so many ways to compete at the festival (June 12-13 at Heckscher Park.) But what’s it all for? “It’s for very cool trophies,” says event MC Tommy...
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Fetched: June 1st, 2010, 8:08pm CEST by Michael
After some time away from it, I always forget how enjoyable it is to windsurf on Mecox Bay. Shallow, enclosed, tame...if you just want to hook in, lean back and relax, this is the place. Want to work on your...
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Fetched: June 1st, 2010, 8:08pm CEST by Michael
Oh Frustration! I did get to sail with the wife on Saturday (post to come) but today, a glorious hot, sunny and breezy Monday, we were foiled. I was, anyway. Looking out on the Peconic Bays there were SE driven...
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Fetched: May 27th, 2010, 10:30pm CEST by Michael
What do you do when the ocean is so gnarly that you can’t get out? If it’s windy we sail the inner bays. If it’s not windy, we SUP surf the waves that come through an inlet. I had never...
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Fetched: May 26th, 2010, 8:47pm CEST by Michael
With less than three weeks until the East Coast Windsurfing Festival I would think you would be signed up by now. But I don't see your name (unless I do, in which case reading this post is a complete waste...
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Fetched: May 24th, 2010, 10:28am CEST by Michael
There wasn’t much of a breeze on Saturday but I wanted to sail, so I drove out to Napeague, where I knew the ABK clinic would inspire me. If you’ve never done an ABK windsurfing clinic, they’ve got hundreds of...
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Fetched: May 22nd, 2010, 10:19am CEST by Michael
When I started outfitting my windsurfing van back in 2003 one of the first ideas I poached was the Spencer Bucket. I met Spencer at a Dasher Windsurfing Clinic in May of ’03, and I was immediately drawn to his...
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Fetched: May 20th, 2010, 9:04am CEST by Michael
We often joke about how it’s always raining at our Bowl sessions (that’s what the requisite ENE-ESE winds usually arrive with,) but I will confess to being less than totally enthusiastic about rigging and suiting up in cold rain for...
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Fetched: May 17th, 2010, 6:40pm CEST by Michael
The marine forecast said: "NW winds 10 to 15 kt with near shore gusts around 25 kt." I've never seen "near shore gusts" in a forecast before. Googling the term provided no help, nor did Peconic Jeff (who wasn’t available...
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Fetched: May 14th, 2010, 6:54am CEST by Michael
All in all it was a good day: No wind forecast, no waves neither, but their was waist to shoulder high swell at Cryder where Jon Ford and I went to SUP. In the bright sun and near 70’s air...
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Fetched: May 8th, 2010, 3:52am CEST by Michael
I just HAD to get on the water. It had only been a week since my last sesh, true, but other guys were getting some pretty much every day, and I will be denied the water this weekend for reasons...
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Fetched: May 4th, 2010, 8:12am CEST by Michael
I'm going to miss it, but you shouldn't if you need to buy or sell gear. And by "gear" we mean windsurfing equipment, kiteboarding equipment, stand up paddling equipment...things to get wet on. Saturday March 8th at Long Island's Hampton...
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Fetched: May 4th, 2010, 5:17am CEST by Michael
We barely finished rumorizing about it when King of the East emeritus Mike Burns confirmed the great days! They are indeed June 12-13th at Heckscher Park. So go to the East Coast Windsurfing Festival web site right now to get...
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Fetched: May 1st, 2010, 7:01am CEST by Michael
"Windsurfing in the future will be exactly like windsurfing right now, only much, much better." (Response to a question posed by The Tillerman. Apologies and thanks to Laurie Anderson, from whom I swiped the answer.)
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Fetched: April 30th, 2010, 4:44pm CEST by Michael
I missed the big winds Wednesday, but the bay lit up again shortly after noon at Sebonac Inlet, and a crew was soon on it, sailing 3.7-4.2 (excepting a short misguided period when we rigged larger sails during the first...
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Fetched: April 27th, 2010, 12:23pm CEST by Michael
This is just a rumor. The Peconic Puffin is repeating because, well, it’s fun to repeat unsubstantiated hearsay. What’s the worst that can happen…you’ll tell us we were wrong? Thus would we reply: “DUH!” So be that as it may...
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Fetched: April 27th, 2010, 12:23pm CEST by Michael
Good times of late, and the touch of boom and paddle to bare hands. A morning session Friday on the Little Peconic, Christian and I sailing from Towd Point. 6.2, big boards, sunny and, well…nice. Nothing special, just your basic...
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Fetched: April 22nd, 2010, 1:29pm CEST by Michael
Mid-island windsurfer/Surfrider activist/the first guy I ever saw carve a jibe Frank Messina forwards this information about a call for volunteers to help fight erosion at Gilgo, which took a pounding from storms earlier this year. If you can make...
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Fetched: April 20th, 2010, 12:53am CEST by Michael
It began with comedy: Jeff Schultz arrived sans drysuit, and upon heading back home to get it a series of riffs on Hogans Heros’ Sgt Schultz erupted: “I know NUTTING!” John Hulse was engaged in an in-depth phone conversation with...
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Fetched: April 16th, 2010, 4:22am CEST by Michael
Second question first: EVERYTHING jinxes the wind. Still, somewhere else there is probably someone saying "but the forecast says 'rain' so I'm not going...still too cold" to counter the blog jinx, so I'll get to sail. I hope. But where?...
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Fetched: April 15th, 2010, 7:32am CEST by Michael
Mine took five weeks. I post this because I found precious little information when I sought it for myself. Lots of "time will tell" and "it depends on the severity of your ding, your overall health, physical therapy and RICE...
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Fetched: April 15th, 2010, 7:32am CEST by Michael
Traffic has been way up on the Puffin since last Saturday (between the wind and the weather, last weekend seems to have woken up a lot of windsurfers) so I thought it was a good time to list some dates....
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Fetched: April 12th, 2010, 7:36am CEST by Michael
It was sunny, windy warm (the air at least) and a Saturday, and anyone who could walk (and rig) seemed to show up at Sebonac Inlet, many for their first session of the year. Many feared it would not come...
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Fetched: April 10th, 2010, 2:31pm CEST by Michael
During a casual conversation in mixed company about strange sailing tech I mentioned flappers (properly known as anti-ventilation skirts, those semi-silly plastic tongues that allowed raceboard designers to chop off the tails.) This immediately sparked the imagination of Bonnie Queen...
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Fetched: April 10th, 2010, 2:31pm CEST by Michael
What...you think he used his feet? This is stand up paddling, I say!
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Fetched: April 6th, 2010, 5:02pm CEST by Michael
As we get drier and drier...waiting for conditions...we can dream.
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Fetched: April 5th, 2010, 8:16am CEST by Michael
It's April, it's 60-something degrees out, and I'm thinking I might rig a 5.5 and work on lightwind freestyle next weekend (yeah the water will be cold but I haven't shredded in ages...need to get the old boom in my...
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Fetched: April 4th, 2010, 6:11pm CEST by Michael
If you're not one of the ten or so people who read the Peconic Puffin in the '90's, this is one big "what the heck?" Well that's just how it's going to be! The creature above ("pre-smushed" says Cindy) is...
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Fetched: April 3rd, 2010, 3:07pm CEST by Michael
I don't remember my last good sesh, and my skin is itchy from being dry for so long. Check out this photo (BWA/John Carter, as found on The Beach Telegraph)... I want to be there. Reminds me of Long Island's...
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What do you think? I think it's odd and compelling. Props to Will in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfers Group for pointing it out.
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There was an opportunity to windsurf this morning, but I had to pass. My thigh was smashed mightily by my SUP board when I got rolled in a closeout (See "I'm Going to Have The Biggest Bruise") and in the...
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Fetched: March 24th, 2010, 11:13am CET by Michael
So many things I like are connected to this video: First of all, it's a beautiful bit of wavesailing (love that) on SUP boards (want to do that) in a video by Dasher (He Who Taught Me To Jibe, and...
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Look at that fine photo! That's Scott at last week's blown out session at South Jamesport, as photographed by Peconic Jeff. So not only is Scott the latest in the crew to grab the front page of a newspaper (I...
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Thank goodness for Spring, and good riddance to this particularl winter. It was the weakest winter for windsurfing in memory (my memory, at least.) I went back and checked my sailing logs for a three year comparison: Winter ’07-’08: 20...
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Weekend Wahine and unusual surfing photos are two of the trademarks of the eclectic waterblog The Horse's Mouth. For years I've been availing myself of the wonderful photos and pithy captions delivered by Horse Joe...exclusively by Horse Joe, until now....
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With apologies to everyone.
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“It’s a bagful of crazy out there,” Christian said. And that was when it was still possible to sail! The day had started auspiciously enough...I ran into Alec Baldwin at Starbucks early Saturday morning. "I gotta go windsurfing...what the heck...
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As in "change your clocks already!" Daylight Savings Time is upon us...we lose an hour of sleep so that we may catch afterwork sunset sessions. (Scott points the way. Photo by Peconic Jeff.)
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Thus speaks NOAA: Sat E winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Could mean the Bowl, could mean somewhere on the Peconic Bays. What say ye, windpeople?
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Fetched: March 9th, 2010, 8:36pm CET by Michael
Scott wants video from last week's SUP sessions. Jeff has it, but it takes time to "wade through" three days of footage. Me I'd just grab the first thing that looks good and throw it up here. Scott is impatient....
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Fetched: March 8th, 2010, 8:20am CET by Michael
I learned an important lesson yesterday about riding waves. I knew it before, but yesterday I had it tattooed on my leg: Do not stay on an overhead wave that is about to close out on you, no matter how...
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Fetched: March 5th, 2010, 6:01pm CET by Michael
After my recent discovery of the wisdom and comfort provided by earplugs when being rolled in sub-40 degree surf, six weeks went by before my return to standup surfing. I managed to forget to plug ‘em up before yesterday’s SUP...
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Fetched: March 4th, 2010, 12:48am CET by Michael
If only it was a countdown. And what’s the difference between winter and spring for a windsurfer in these parts, anyway? It’s still drysuit or heavy wetsuit season until June. There’s no ice sailing, it’s true, but the inner bay...
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None of us had windsurfed in waves since December. Sweet long lefts were breaking 4-6 feet at the Bowl (with the occasional meaty seven-footer rolling through to really catch your attention) in side off winds. The Wolf was out first,...
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Two recent discoveries in the windsurfing blogosphere that I’ve been meaning to shout out have really caught my eye of late. And that was before the posts of naked women windsurfing and (kinda) kiteboarding: Just Messin’ Around features a dramatic...
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It looked windy at Sebonac Inlet on Sunday, but when we launched on 5.2’s and big boards, not much happened. At first it was Scott and I shlogging ¾ time and planing the rest, then Jeff and the Wolf joined...
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Another sweet day at Sebonac Inlet. Remarkably steady winds for the most part (sail sizes began at 4.7-5.2, building to 4.2-4.5 by days end) with the sun warming up our drysuits, decent ramps at the sand bar, and the special...
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That is a navigational chart of the Marshall Islands, showing "directions & interactions of the ocean swells as they pass through." For real. I learned this from Bonnie Queen of the Kayak Bloggers, who has a post about the chart...
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I was digging through some boxes of old magazines that I've saved over the years, when I found the February 1981 issue of Life. I'd saved it for its John Lennon photo essay (this was two months after Lennon had...
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What is it about Mavericks that makes it so especially intimidating? When I see photos of Jaws going off I think "wow!" When I see photos of Mavericks my stomach tightens and I think "that doesn't seem like a very...
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I’m back, baby. Seven weeks and one day after my last windsurfing session and over three weeks since SUPsurfing, I had my triumphant return. Me on a 5.3, the Wolf (who else) fully powered on a 4.7. It felt so...
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Ladies, are you still searching for that special someone? Consider looking amongst the windsurfers: 10. The ratio of men to women is 4 to 1. 9. They can talk about something besides football. 8. They don’t smell too bad because...
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Proper Course, the blog of a Laser sailboat sailor whose nom de splash is Tillerman does occasionally invite other bloggers to write on a specified topic. He’s doing this now, with the topic being “Worst Sailing Innovation Ever”. I had...
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I’ve spoken to quite a few windsurfers since the terrible news about Stephen Schafer, the kite surfer in Florida. There’s probably nobody who’s ever sailed the ocean who hasn’t had The Fear at one time or another when a waterstart...
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This is what we came up with one summer night after a day of windsurfing: Pour several bottles of beer into old fiberglass one-piece masts, then carefully tip the mast to pour the beer into your mouth. Repeat. Beginners should...
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All sorts of press are hassling a groundhog named Phil today. Word is if sees his shadow when he emerges from his burrow today (February 2nd) there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he doesn’t it portends...
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A Winter Windsurfing Prayer
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Twas nearly a year ago that about a dozen bloggers interested in all manner of watercraft convened for introductions, conversation and beer at the venerable Ear Bar in downtown New York City. Last Friday night a subset of that bash...
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When Peconic Jeff sent me this photo I was blown away. What did he do…bring a cinematographer with him? The light was amazing at Ponquogue as the sun got low that day, and this photo captures the color perfectly. The...
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I have now officially gone a month without windsurfing. It’s been three years since that last happened (Feb 06). If you are not part of the Long Island lunatic cold water fringe (of which there are many) this may not...
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I’d heard of Swimmers Ear, Surfers Ear, whatever ear…some problem with too much cold water in your ears. It never happened to me windsurfing in winter…maybe a few drops would get beneath my hood but it never seemed like a...
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We scored a solid SUP session yesterday. The other guys had been scoring them all week, but I’d been in the city so yesterday’s 4-6 footers at Ponquogue were a big treat. T’was me, Peconic Jeff and Jon Ford (Scott...
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It must not be "search engine optimized" or whatever, but I've never come across the Minardi Beach Cam in my searches for an eye on the water. But back on Monday when a few of us were wondering if the...
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I've previously mentioned that the iPhone's 99 cent Wind Meter App is about as accurate as some $70+ hand held windmeters (though you don't want to get your iPhone wet.) The creators of the app are now proud to announce...
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I can’t believe we didn’t windsurf yesterday, but that’s how it went. It was blowing about 25 from due North, and the plan was to sail Meschutt. I hadn’t even left yet when Scott called: “The Wolf says Meschutt is...
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Some wind and swell may be headed our way. Maybe light wind wavesailing or SUP Sunday (low tide 3:30) and perhaps Dawn Patrol for Monday AM's NE 25? I'm probably suffering from a case of Ambitiounous Unreasonablus, compounded by a...
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Haiti and the Haitians are in a world of hurt. I fantasize about being a doctor and joining Doctors Without Borders, or flying a helicopter for the Red Cross, or doing some other heroic thing to help. But those aren't...
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Peconic Jeff has the eye. He points the camera and out pop photos like this. That's Scott and the Wolf, with their Maui sails at Iron Pier picking up the blue of the Long Island Sound. Very nice. From a...
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It's been a bleak January so far. And looking forward, the forecast calls for light winds, subfreezing temperatures, and flat surf conditions. By this time last year I’d scored three count’em three wavesailing sessions. The same for the year before....
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Another year, another set of goals: Better wave riding. Catching the waves (more), bottom turns (on the wave, not in the flats), cutbacks (with some velocity from better bottom turns). That goes for SUPing as well as windsurfing. Jumps…more attempts...
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As previously discussed here, I've been taking a razor blade to my Neil Pryde FreeSurf harness, cutting away apparently useless (and certainly annoying) flaps, straps and tabs in an effort to make the harness more user-friendly. The original harness appeared...
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This was the way to start the new year. Oh yes. I hadn’t even had time to write up my list of things I want to do in 2010 before I was doing one: catching some fine waves on the...
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Did I make it sound like the 2009 water year was over yesterday? I thought it was, but then the Wolf called. There were teeny weeny waves at Tiana. The forecast was for decent waves the next day (today) but...
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I'd been hoping for one more session this year, but I was (happily) landlocked with relatives these last few days and it ain't blowin' today. 84 sessions it is (was) and here are a few moments from my last session,...
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We missed you, CD. More importantly, you missed “it”…a classic Bowl session, and without rain! What happened to this, bro: "Sick puppies you have lost the true meaning of ChrisMasT thats Chris rigging up his mast with a 4.2 SAT...
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To everyone I sailed with this year, To everyone I paddled with this year, To anyone who wasted five minutes of their time on this blog, from Puffins to Wind Chimps, from the guys in Hatteras to Napeague ABK'ers, from...
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Or maybe the Bowl. One of them, please. Even Scott is optimistic ("oh yes a balmy 40 degrees" he says, but he longs to howl the cry of the wind chimp: "itspickinUUUUPPPPP!") The editorial board of the Peconic Puffin is...
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Were we unlucky or just gurlymen? I don't know, but we didn't get out today, and that is le bummer. Jeff and I encouraged each other throughout the day (mostly by questioning the other's manhood at times of thermal capitulation)...
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Even by the standards of the...um...most enthusiastic of us (I was gonna say crazy) it's a bit cold out. But a blizzard AND WIND are coming at the same time, which could make for some tasty photos. Also, at this...
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When my DaKine Thermoform bit the dust a few months ago, my good friend and OG Puffin Steve gave me his waist harness. He’s a seat harness man, but found himself harnessless in Bonaire and bought the best thing he...
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Man I have been hearing from all quarters about the No SUP Bozo sticker post. There are SUP'ers who are offended. Kayakers who are hoping the sticker means SUP'ers will take some of the heat formerly directed at surf kayakers....
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No way would I want any piece of that thing. It is magnificent, and I have much respect for the people who surf Mavericks. This photo is from a collection on Facebook by Frank Quirarte. The album of photos (taken...
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I hadn't sailed the Pier since January (nor had the rest of the crew, though a few of the guys caught a sesh there last week.) It's not my favorite spot...for West wind I prefer Sebonac Inlet, and for NW...
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Big Bill Barber showed up at the last Sebonac Inlet windsurfing session sporting this "No SUP Bozo" sticker on his pickup truck. I make it a point to agree with Bill on everything at all times, so given that I...
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Last week Peconic Jeff and I went down past the Flying Point side of Mecox Bay to check out the surf at the Cut... the Cut so named because Mecox Bay is only an actual bay when the barrier beach...
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Missing a weekend session is terrible. Ridiculous. Bring the ridicule! Yes I had to go to the wedding of a good friend, but still...it was blowing 4.7 at Meschutt, and I missed the previous day at Iron Pier. Who am...
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Peconic Jeff managed to get out through the shorebreak, but it looked to the Wolf and I like it was damn near impossible at Old Town Beach. After watching Jeff catch an excellent ride on a seven foot wave, I...
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"Reveals"...sounds like we took a course in marketeering. Okay how about Andy Brandt just "told" the editors when he was planning to stop by with his merry crew of ABK windsurfing instructors, whip out the fairy dust and make us...
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A description of how the thing works is not convincing: You hold the iPhone into the wind, and the windmeter app determines the wind speed by the noise picked up by the microphone. How the heck can that be accurate?...
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At last Friday's session at Sebonac Inlet I had a conversation with Sam about heavy wetsuits and winter windsurfing. When I mentioned that I found a heavy wetsuit to be sufficient in the ocean even when the bays demanded a...
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You know it’s windy when John Hulse is windsurfing instead of kiting. The day before perhaps wasn't enough (4.2-3.7 the call) but Saturday was strictly three meter sailing at Sebonac Inlet, and when the reef revealed itself under sunny skies...
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This blog is going to feature some Stand Up Paddle surfing posts. It’s a windsurfing blog, but my pursuit of wavesailing lead me to take the recommendation of Jon, Fisherman, Jeff and the Wolf and try SUPing in the ocean,...
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The Bowl lost quite a bit of sand last week, making the prospect of launching and landing there a bit less appealing. We'll have to grab a few sessions there to see if the waves have been affected (hey maybe...
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The Long Island Press (my first employer...I had a paper route with them a zillion years ago) is running a "best of Long Island" survey, and in the Sports category Windsurfing Hamptons is a nominee under "extreme sports". As it's...
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Yea, though Jon Ford put a mighty hurt on his wrist last month and is not expected to be windsurfing until the Spring, SUP surfing in six foot waves is apparently not on the "thou shalt not" list. And so...
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One must save the term "nuking" for those days when it's really over the top. Thursday at North Sea Road had been 4.0 conditions, Friday was windier. Nuking. I started with my smallest sail (3.4) and board (77 liters) and...
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Blowing about 27 at North Sea Road…Jeff on a 4.2, me on a 4.0, taking long reaches out to the fast current between the launch and Robins Island, because that’s where the current are serving up 4-5 foot standing waves...
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Got any "personal days" available for the taking? If not, keep your fingers crossed for Saturday. Thus spake NOAA: Today NE winds 20 to 25 kt. Occasional gusts up to 35 kt this afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Fri...
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Jon Ford never seems to get hurt. Big Bill just got back from an injury, Scott dings himself on occasion, Jan is walking with a crutch, the Wolf had an arm thing, Jeff usually has a complaint, and I'm on...
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It should have been me at dawn patrol at Meschutt, but a broken sump pump delayed me (I am a master at swapping in fresh sump pumps…ours breaks every three years like clockwork.) So by the time I arrived and...
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Jill Marr posted this in Facebook...I like it...I like any loop tutorial that appears to be low impact! It also blends nicely with Andy Brandt/ABK's loop lecture. This clip was excerpted from the DVD "Seven Sons of Freestyle" and was...
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I’ve been trying to get Steve to sail the ocean with me for a couple of years now. Back in the Original Puffin days (circa 1993) Steve tried his hand at Long Island wave sailing, shortly after which he coined...
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It was blowing from the south and forecasted to build…”North Fork here we come!” I thought. I called the Wolf. “Scott and I are here at Mattituck, and it looks good” he said. “Mattituck it is,” I replied. Forty minutes...
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It was just me and the Wolf...Scott couldn’t make it, Jeff couldn’t make it, Jon Ford couldn’t make it, John "he only sails when it's perfect" Natalie took a look and passed etc…nobody but the Wolf and I got to...
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NOAA says: Today E winds 15 to 20 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt late. Sat S winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Sun W winds 15 to 20 kt...diminishing to 10 to 15 kt...
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We went through a long stretch of not much to look at here at Peconic Puffin World Headquarters, largely due to Peconic Jeff not having a camera. He's lensed up once again, and while perusing Jeff's excellent Flickr collection I...
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"Yo, what's that Buddha doing over there?" "Dude, that's Buddha Mike's Buddha," came a reply. "Geez, that's a frickin' piece of art!" Such was the conversation in the rigging area of the Long Island Fall Regatta. Time was when a...
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Friday the spot was Gardiners Bay. Scott, Frank, and the Wolf were out early on 4.7’s, and were soon joined by Peconic Jeff, Jon Ford, Jan and Bruce, Fisherman and myself. For some reason I rigged 5.3 (would have been...
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If you sail anywhere near Long Island I'm just telling you what you already know: Fri NE winds 25 to 30 kt. Sat NE winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Sun NE winds 20 to...
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(Thanks to Standup Journal's Steve West and Clay Feeter for finding and forwarding this.)
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She's the co-organizer, the scorekeeper, half of the race committee, the creator of pumpkin trophies, and a competitor from last Saturday's races. Jill Marr (aka Jam Master Jill, Jill Marr Superstar, and Mrs. George Marr) sent the Puffin a list...
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Sorry Frank...we've all been the wind sacrifice, and today it was you. First it was the Wolf and I at Sebonac Inlet...on again, off again wind (5.2/5.3 on bigger boards). Then Frank arrived, caught some of the on/off wind, and...
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First of all, let's talk about you (if you were at the race): Photographer Jimmy Rivera took many more photos than could be used on the blog, but you should still get to see them (and Jimmy has generously made...
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Boy did we score. Conditions were just about perfect for the 2009 East Coast Fall Windsurfing Regatta, with 26 competitors lit on sails from the mid fives to some seven meter plus rigs, on boards ranging from full on slalom...
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The East Coast Windsurfing Regatta takes place at West Neck Beach! Here's the schedule, from Jam Master Jill: 9am registration 10am skippers meeting 10:30 first race Yay! fun! (That's not a typo...fun is in fact on the schedule.) Bring duct...
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I've heard that windsurfing racing is a gear battle. But I've done better than okay riding an ant-infested, pre-footstrap era, 50-pound white plank, so later for that! Yet the forecast (currently NW 20-25) for tomorrow's East Coast Fall Regatta (probably...
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My blogging friend Adam has been presenting "Song for Friday" as a weekly feature since before I even dreamed of blogging. Tis a venerable thing, but lately Adam has been short on inspiration (he needs a beer, he tells me)...
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Yes this is Long Island and we know things change, but looking ahead to Saturday's racing, NOAA gives us great reason for optimism: Sat NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Stay tuned for updates...the...
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The forecasts for Saturday's windsurfing races have us looking at either Steers Beach or West Neck so far, with the current forecast of 15-20 knots! Yes that will change several times between now and then, but let's enjoy this moment!...
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Notice of Event: 2009 East Coast Windsurfing Fall Regatta Date: 10/10 (Columbus Day Weekend) Events: Windsurf Racing - The main event, with multiple races is scheduled for Saturday. If conditions are not conducive to sailing, we may decide as a...
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You were teased…you were warned: The East Coast Fall Windsurfing Regatta takes place Saturday, October 10, with a “rain date” (rain won’t stop us, but lightning or no wind might) of Sunday October 11th.) There will be fun races, there...
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Students at ABK windsurfing clinics are broken up into small groups of sailors at similar skill levels…groups like “first time windsurfers,” “sailed a half dozen times,” “working on harness/footstraps,” “working on jibing” etc. For ten years now they've also offered...
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For all the talk about friction between windsurfers and kiters, it’s always seemed to me more like a good-natured rivalry than anything else. Yeah Trip Forman rocked some boats with “windsurfing has been cancelled” (to which Dana Miller responded with...
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Yes it was raining, but it was a sweet warm summery rain from the Southeast, and whitecaps were abundant, so Andy Brandt decreed that we should start the day on the water, picking up where we’d left off Saturday evening....
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The accusations flew. “You ruined me!” George accused Pete. “You Vulcan like a starfish!” Pete hurled back. It got ugly fast at Friday’s ABK clinic. Okay not really, as Pete and George are good friends and were having a great...
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I’m only a few steps above clueless (Fisherman says I “doodle around”) but there are some excellent primers out there for the aspiring or novice wave sailor. How do I know they’re excellent? When I do my best to do...
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Mayhaps you've noticed the paucity of functioning webcams... (editor's note: we slapped him. Take two:) Long Island webcams have been on the fritz lately...the Gilgo Cam was off, with a note of "bandwidth exceeded" for explanation, the Cooper Beach cam...
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‘Tis the month of the Buddha maker. Take a look at page 10 of Windsurfing Magazine, or page 96 of WindSport, and behold the wind buddhas of Michael Jamieson. Yes, THAT Michael Jamieson, the stonemason windsurfer known to show up...
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Dateline: Napeague. Andy Brandt was about to demonstrate to me how to hit the back of a piece of chop to initiate a forward loop. I watched as he beared off and prepared to pop off of…off of what? There...
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Windsurfing, Italian style! Gotta love the cigarette...just a puff before catching some waves. As seen on the Maui windsurfing blog windorwithout.
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Saturday was the day of rest for those lucky few who managed to sail the tremendous conditions Wednesday through Friday. I never even managed a blog post about Wednesday at Gardiners Bay (but Mike Burns was right next door at...
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Did I leave it at Napeague last week? I don't know, but as much as one can be distraught about the loss of a $6, 18 year old tool, I am. If you've seen/found my old clam cleat (notable for...
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The entire session was fantastic, but for about ninety minutes on Thursday, conditions at the Bowl were bigger and better than anyone had ever seen there. The sets of clean 10-12 foot waves rolling in to the deepest part of...
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Frank Messina warned me that this would be addictive. A week after Peconic Jeff got me up, on, and through my first wave stand-up paddle surfing, I was eager for more. Last Saturday morning the wave forecast (of which I...
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“There’s still sand on my boom,” proclaimed the Wolf, as he came up the beach after several runs in, out, through and on the waves. The guys on the beach laughed, but it was that kind of day at Ponquogue…everything...
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My friend Greg (a regular at Napeague) called me one day in June. Greg: “Dude, a windsurfing friend of mine just bought a house right up the road from you!” Me: Outstanding! Bill and I have spoken a few times...
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I probably shouldn't have said "du jour" for a Spanish windsurfing event, but I'm not confident about using "del dia" or "por el dia" etc. In any event check out the web site for the Formula Windsurfing Festival in Santa...
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It was only a matter of time before he did this. Mike Burns, the king hell/ bull goose/ heap-topping/ 2008 King of the East/Long Island Lord of Freestyle has gone bloggy. Pure Windsurfing is Long Island windsurfing blog #5.5 (counting...
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Loving wavesailing as I do, being not very good at it as I am, and not getting lots of conditions in which to improve which is my lot, SUPing in the waves has been on my mind. When it comes...
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My inbox is flooded with messages of panic and outrage. Many are asking "where are you going to sail?" or "what are your plans" because SURELY, someone has got to have figured out how to sail in the long-promised hurricane!...
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Somewhere at this moment the wind chimps are huddled, and Scott sits waiting to utter his war cry: "it'spickinUP!" Danny, bring the wind. Track Danny on NOAA's website.
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September 12th at Jon's shop (Windsurfing Hamptons to the uninitiated) is Long Island's fall swap meet. Windy season is coming, so you know you need smaller gear. Fall racing is coming, so you know you need bigger gear. Aw, the...
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If you don’t windsurf but would like to learn how, this is the place to be. If you used to windsurf, stopped, and would like to join the resurgence of windsurfing on Long Island, this is the place to do...
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We go no windsurfing, much less wavesailing, on eastern LI out of Hurricane Bill. Bill was "le big disappointmente" as people who fake their French (like me) might say. On Sunday I went to the beach at Flying Point with...
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With all the anticipation of Hurricane Bill and getting some epic wavesailing in, we started Friday with messy swell on the beach due to the onshore blow. So the call was the very tame location of South Jamesport. “I’m not...
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It's Friday morning and the wind is starting to rustle in the trees. OBX Bill reports head high swell down Hatteras way, but the beaches here aren't seeing much yet. How much wind will we get? And where are we...
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Lookey here at the latest (as of post time) NOAA forecast for Bill's winds. Long Island is now solidly in the 10-20% likelyhood of rock 'n roll, with Napeague getting close to the 20-30% zone. Hot diggity dog I am...
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NOAA just increased the likelyhood of Eastern Long Island receiving tropical storm-strength winds (that's 39+ mph, 34+ knots, Beaufort level seven, a "near gale") from 5% to 10%. In hopes of Bill being beneficent for boardsailors, here's my wish list...
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What is it that makes August so horrifying? Is it that everyone else finds Long Island waters to be primo about now? So many people enjoying swimming, waterskiing, jetskiing, boating etc without the slightest idea of how terrible the conditions...
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Look at all the zeros on the iWindsurf observation map. That sucketh. I haven't been in the footstraps for two weeks (since South Jamesport's storm-abbreviated session) and I really could use a session! This might call for drastic measures. I...
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It's been over a week since I've sailed. I've lost my center. But Michael Jamieson, windsurfing sculptor of transcendental beings and gods, offers us this rendition of balance, of jibe chi, of board trim through the jibe: I'm always my...
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Fetched: August 9th, 2009, 2:51am CEST by Michael
The Peconic Puffin is packing its umbrage and taking it somewhere! We take great umbrage at the New England Windsurfing Journal’s August 2009 issue, which characterizes the East Coast Windsurfing Festival’s longboard fleet as having been pulled out of various...
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Fetched: August 4th, 2009, 9:36am CEST by Michael
An inventive new video of Caesar Finies' freestyle "flowstyle" windsurfing brilliance, courtesy Eduardo Loedel. Enjoy, then go out and try yourself!
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Fetched: August 4th, 2009, 9:36am CEST by Michael
Friday afternoon at South Jamesport…warm and very windy. Scott, Bill Barber, the Wolf and I had been sailing about an hour on 5.2’s/5.3’s (the Wolf should have been on his trusty 4.7 but he didn’t have it with him…who expected...
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Fetched: August 1st, 2009, 7:57pm CEST by Michael
To whom should our wind prayers be addressed? I stumbled upon a blog post by John Rutledge in which he discusses potential patron saints for windsurfing (he notes that ice skaters have a patron saint, and I ask you What...
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Fetched: July 29th, 2009, 4:54am CEST by Michael
It's called "Occasional Windsurfing on Long Island". It's the latest in a long line (four, I think) of Long Island windsurfing blogs. Peconic Windsurfer came first, then The Peconic Puffin, then Drysuit2, and now Occasional. Its creator Antonio promises "a...
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Fetched: July 27th, 2009, 12:18pm CEST by Michael
I thought it had been a private moment, getting eaten by the wave, but it turns out Jeff saw the whole thing. CD says “do yourself a favor and read Jeff’s great summary” and he’s right…you should! Jeff described the...
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Fetched: July 24th, 2009, 11:58pm CEST by Michael
I went straight for the advil when I got back to the van. I was sore everywhere. “Whipped” was the word Scott used. That sounded about right. Please sir may I have another? The wind was steady and fine (most...
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Fetched: July 23rd, 2009, 1:19am CEST by Michael
Who doesn't remember their first ocean session? That's Ethan Doutney at the Bowl last month, discovering the added dimensions that swell and current bring to waterstarting. We've all been there, Ethan (and will be again!) This excellent photo is by...
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Fetched: July 21st, 2009, 1:15am CEST by Michael
Dana Miller is: A. The guy responsible for the “Cancel this, kiteboy” and “if it were easy they’d call it kiteboarding” bumper stickers, B. The galactically stoked windsurfer whose writing and photography have graced New England Windsurfing Journal and Wind...
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Fetched: July 17th, 2009, 5:21pm CEST by Michael
Lately the internal windsurfing conversation in my head has been dissing bump and jump sailing in favor of flatwater. It seems that after a decade of dreaming of ramps, followed by two years of getting them, I was ready to...
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Fetched: July 15th, 2009, 6:55pm CEST by Michael
A large basking shark (is there any other kind?) has been making appearances on the south shore of Long Island over the last few weeks. It was photographed while it cruised by some local surfers at Ponquogue a few weeks...
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Fetched: July 14th, 2009, 5:14pm CEST by Michael
"I'm on a Low Budget..." -The Kinks At some point in the future I'm going to get a stand up paddle board and join the SUP crowd. But not soon. In the meantime I've been wondering about the 12-foot board...
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Fetched: July 13th, 2009, 6:11pm CEST by Michael
Steve had every right to clobber me. He whacked me in the hand with his mast when his helitack came undone. You may ask why he’s throwing a helitack so close to another windsurfer. The answer is the other windsurfer...
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Fetched: July 13th, 2009, 6:11pm CEST by Michael
Jeff beat me to it. It's number one on my list of 2009 Windsurfing but I still haven't sailed Democrat Point yet. Nevermind me, though, and check out Peconic Jeff's post on his first session at this storied Long Island...
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Fetched: July 10th, 2009, 4:18am CEST by Michael
7.0 balanced, Warm water sprays on my legs, Peconic summer.
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Fetched: July 8th, 2009, 3:44pm CEST by Michael
After all the fun at the East Coast Windsurfing Festival, you know you couldn’t wait a year for the next Long Island event. And you won’t! Racing, freestyle, and stand-up paddling events are all planned for the East Coast Windsurfing...
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Fetched: July 8th, 2009, 2:16am CEST by Michael
I had to see it to believe it. My original best windsurfing buddy (and OG Peconic Puffin) Steve gifted me these over the weekend. "Mast high waves are no problem for the windsurfer with fresh breath!" They are strong (as...
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Fetched: July 7th, 2009, 2:20pm CEST by Michael
Just a few years ago Massimo was my partner in crime on the water. We sailed together seemingly every weekend. Massimo is in fact the guy who unintentionally pushed me into winter windsurfing, when he called one Thanksgiving day to...
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Fetched: July 4th, 2009, 8:43am CEST by Michael
To celebrate the anniversary of the founding fathers sticking to King George, I present the mighty Laurie Anderson's thoughts on the Star Spangled Banner, as well as "the B-side" of our national anthem, Yankee Doodle.
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Fetched: July 1st, 2009, 8:57pm CEST by Michael
Years ago my friend Steve had some experiences getting wiped out in the impact zone. He later dubbed the generic experience of being tumbled, bounced, thrashed, and subsequently thrown on the beach “the twelve-hundred dollar wheel” which was his ballparking...
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Fetched: June 29th, 2009, 7:32pm CEST by Michael
After my recent shark experience I thought it was a particularly good time to inspect my unis. I’ve always been pretty good about eyeballing them and giving them a bend to see if any cracks or rot are visible, but...
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Fetched: June 23rd, 2009, 9:21am CEST by Michael
Seventeen-plus years of windsurfing and I’d never seen a shark. I never wanted to see a shark, but if I did my preference was to see a fin perhaps 100 yards in the distance, swimming parallel to shore, oblivious of...
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Fetched: June 22nd, 2009, 9:33pm CEST by Michael
There was a gale warning issued for today. Oftentimes on Eastern Long Island, Scott tells us that a gale warning means we get nothing. (Yeah we oftentimes get gales, too, but you gotta admit that when they’re calling for 30...
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Fetched: June 22nd, 2009, 2:32am CEST by Michael
Where is today's promised wind? (Across Long Island, windsurfers sit poised to pounce on the promised NNE, whilst the view from iWindsurf keeps us at bay.)
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Fetched: June 20th, 2009, 9:35pm CEST by Michael
What a day! About an hour into it I thought I knew what I would write about, but then stuff just kept happening... A Tale of Two Masts The wind was up and down and light at the outset…Scott and...
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Fetched: June 16th, 2009, 3:30pm CEST by Michael
That looks pretty good to me. I'll take a dozen, thank you! (Photo snagged from Lost in Hatteras.)
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Fetched: June 15th, 2009, 9:26pm CEST by Michael
I am so very lucky. In my hands is the finest rig I’ve ever touched…a beautiful new Maui Sails 6.2 Global, held in shape by matching zillion percent carbon hardware. Light as a feather, perfectly balanced, born to play in...
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Fetched: June 15th, 2009, 9:26pm CEST by Michael
(Long Island transplant-to-the-Gorge freestyler Jon "Chachi" Sassone wrote the following description of last Friday's pre-East Coast Windsurfing Festival freestyle expression session. Like a fool I let it sit in my In-box for days without reading it. Now I wish I'd...
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Fetched: June 12th, 2009, 2:36pm CEST by Michael
If you missed it and wished you were there, If you were there and wished you competed, If you competed and wished you’d done better, You will have your chance! The 2009 East Coast Windsurfing Festival was such a success...
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Fetched: June 12th, 2009, 2:36pm CEST by Michael
The second day of the East Coast Windsurfing Festival began with no wind. To pass the time until the breeze arrived, soon to be 2009 King of the East Caesar Finies gave an on-shore 101 instructional clinic on a few...
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Fetched: June 9th, 2009, 7:22am CEST by Michael
The second day of the East Coast Windsurfing Festival began with no wind. To pass the time until the breeze arrived, soon to be 2009 King of the East Caesar Finies gave an on-shore 101 instructional clinic on a few...
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Fetched: June 9th, 2009, 12:56am CEST by Michael
There were hundreds of stories at the East Coast Windsurfing Festival beyond the extraordinary pro freestyle competition (complete results of amateur and pro competition can be found here.) Every participant I saw was having fun, giving it there all (sailing,...
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Fetched: June 8th, 2009, 10:52am CEST by Michael
The second annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival was another smash success. Caesar Finies, the “flowstyle” freestyle magician of Bonaire defeated defending King of the East Mike Burns for the freestyle crown. Local young gun (and future Olympic hopeful) Jimi Sobeck...
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Fetched: June 7th, 2009, 5:32pm CEST by Michael
Your editor is too tired, bruised and bulldozed by the competition to come up with a real mid-event report, so please take what little I’ve got: 1. The pro freestyle competition is dazzling! Caesar Finies, hero of a thousand youtube...
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Fetched: June 6th, 2009, 5:38pm CEST by Michael
(from the Mighty George Marr as posted in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfers Group:) " The Heckscher pros sailed the flats since there was not much wind at the launch. So I was the only witness to the expression session....
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Fetched: June 6th, 2009, 10:31am CEST by Michael
This morning's quandary: What should I do? A- Practice for the East Coast Windsurfing Festival? Or B- Play in the waves at Ponquogue. In the spirit of the East Coast Windsurfing Festival, I chose B. I windsurf for fun, look...
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Fetched: June 4th, 2009, 2:30pm CEST by Michael
This just in: The pros wanna get it on ASAP, and ASAP is Friday. This also in: Windsport Magazine is sponsoring it! So: Come to Heckscher State Park on Friday at noon, and see (or join if you're hardcore) the...
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Fetched: June 4th, 2009, 2:30pm CEST by Michael
The pros from Bonaire have already arrived and are practicing, including mighty Caesar. A Facebook page was just set up to further the cause. A weed fin is never a bad idea for Heckscher (the Boy Scouts say "Be Prepared"!)...
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Fetched: June 2nd, 2009, 11:52am CEST by Michael
We looked out over whitecaps brightly reflecting the sun in the 20ish breeze at South Jamesport. A fine June day for a little windsurfing. “It looks cold,” said the Wolf. “January at Iron Pier is cold,” I replied. The Wolf...
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Fetched: June 1st, 2009, 6:54pm CEST by Michael
“A surprisingly awesome day at Mecox” said Peconic Jeff on Saturday. We’d driven to the Yacht Club on the off-chance that some marginal planing thermal winds would present themselves…otherwise we’d practice nonplaning freestyle for the upcoming windsurfing festival. But Mecox...
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Fetched: June 1st, 2009, 6:54pm CEST by Michael
Starring/Produced/Directed by the defending King of the East, here is a taste of what Mike Burns will be bringing to the East Coast Windsurfing Festival next Saturday. I'm heading out to practice with Peconic Jeff right now!
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Fetched: May 30th, 2009, 3:59pm CEST by Michael
The races, the freestyle, the fun and the folly are practically upon us (the East Coast Windsurfing Festival is June 6-7 at Hecksher Park) so if you haven't registered yet, go to information page and take care of business. The...
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Fetched: May 28th, 2009, 8:20pm CEST by Michael
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. (Photo taken in San Francisco by...and swiped from...The Horse's Mouth.)
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Fetched: May 27th, 2009, 11:54am CEST by Michael
It was a picture perfect day. Warm and friendly waves 5-7 feet rolled invitingly under the sun at Ponquogue, the wind was fine (the Wolf on a 4.7, CD, Jimi Sobeck and I on 5.3's, and Jon Ford on a...
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Fetched: May 25th, 2009, 7:25pm CEST by Michael
There was no wind in the forecast for early Saturday. Yet three people caught it at Ponquogue…how did this happen? -Jon Ford checks the forecast at midnight. -The Wolf wakes up at 5AM. -CD runs his dog on the beach...
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Fetched: May 25th, 2009, 12:16am CEST by Michael
Thursday’s session at Mecox was a warm bucket of water, poured gently over the head. Just two years ago Mecox was my most-sailed launch. Whether working on freestyle with Jeff, jibing with Sally, or just joining local friends for fun...
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Fetched: May 22nd, 2009, 4:25pm CEST by Michael
Readers may have noticed that we had one of the big cheeses in windsurfing editorial on Long Island last week. In a post about a Napeague sesh we noted that the mighty Pete DeKay was on hand and on the...
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Fetched: May 20th, 2009, 4:35pm CEST by Michael
(In part one of his guide on reading the tea leaves of Hecksher, Mike Burns shared his experience and wisdom in forecasting when Hecksher will be windy. Here in part two Mike deciphers the iWindsurf wind meters and translates their...
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Fetched: May 19th, 2009, 6:54am CEST by Michael
As the most popular and most consistent (in the summer) windsurfing location on Long Island (not to mention the venue for the East Coast Windsurfing Festival) Hecksher is a spot you ought to know. Perhaps nobody is more familiar with...
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Fetched: May 19th, 2009, 6:54am CEST by Michael
The wind was up before dawn but supposed to die early, so I passed on the drive to Napeague in favor of nearer-by Meschutt. (Also I’m still fairly trashed from Thursday’s adventures in Vulcan attempts, and figured that if I...
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Fetched: May 19th, 2009, 6:54am CEST by Michael
I love old gear. This is one of the things that draws me to swap meets...I think of all the adventures each board and sail and fin screw has seen. While I usually upgrade my gear once a piece is...
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Fetched: May 19th, 2009, 6:54am CEST by Michael
Spocks. Vulcans Clew-first switchstance assaults on the Romulan empire. That’s what the ABK crew (in town a day early in preparation for their clinic) were throwing. I was just going to fool around with carving freestyle and leave the extraterrestrial...
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Fetched: May 13th, 2009, 10:14pm CEST by Michael
What’s up with that? We got Chachi, King Mike, Caesar, Terminator Pete, and the Marr’s (Superstar and Stoke). We got Tiger and Peconic Jeff and Upwind Mike. We’ve even got people without nicknames. But we ain’t got you. This makes...
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Fetched: May 13th, 2009, 10:14pm CEST by Michael
Not certifiable, as several of my regular readers are (okay fine me for the third-rate cliche attempt at humor) but Certified! Let's try again: Want to spread the windsurfing love? Become a US Sailing Certified Windsurfing Instructor. The Oyster Bay...
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Fetched: May 11th, 2009, 9:32pm CEST by Michael
I’ve never seen parking become an issue at Sebonac Inlet before, but yesterday’s turnout meant some people had a bit of a walk with their gear. The place was packed. A sunny Sunday session with a forecast that only got...
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Fetched: May 10th, 2009, 6:40pm CEST by Michael
That's what I've been hearing, from everybody from Jill Marr Superstar to some east end sailors. So far the forecast is bringing it for Mama, with a Gale Watch in effect for Sunday, and west winds 25-30 being forecasted. If...
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Fetched: May 10th, 2009, 6:40pm CEST by Michael
“I’m getting worked,” Frank said as he brought his gear up the beach at Ponquogue. But I was only half paying attention as I’d arrived late and wanted to get out on the water ASAP. I’ve been pining for a...
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Fetched: May 6th, 2009, 12:09pm CEST by Michael
She's ready to hook in. (Another masterpiece ready to shred, by stonecarving windsurfer Michael Jamieson, who first caught my attention at an ABK clinic when he arrived with windsurfing gear, a beach chair for comfortable note taking, and the Buddha....
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Fetched: May 6th, 2009, 12:09pm CEST by Michael
ABK’s Andy Brandt and his merry men are coming a week from this Friday to make you (and more importantly, me) a better windsurfer. Andy says “every day sailing is a great sailing” but your days could be even greater...
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Fetched: May 3rd, 2009, 2:55pm CEST by Michael
The Wolf was on the water right away, planing off of the New Suffolk beach on a 5.2 and eighty something liter board. Shortly afterwards I was out on a 5.5 and Hulse was kiting the jibatorium behind the sand...
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Fetched: May 1st, 2009, 6:54am CEST by Michael
Fresh from losing my OBX wave virginity I was hot to get back on the water, but there were no wind/wave combos to be found Wednesday morning. “Why don’t you sail at Canadian Hole?” suggested Andy. Canadian Hole. Probably the...
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Fetched: April 29th, 2009, 3:34pm CEST by Michael
The waves were small and there wasn’t a lot of wind, but I finally scored my first ocean session in Hatteras. I’ve been pestering my Outer Banks blogging buddies OBX Bill and Andy of Lost in Hatteras since I arrived...
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Fetched: April 28th, 2009, 5:30pm CEST by Michael
I needed a Hatteras fix, a window of opportunity opened, and an Andy Alert* promised afternoons of sweet thermals in warm waters. I hemmed and hawed for a few hours, then threw a sleeping bag in the van and headed...
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Fetched: April 27th, 2009, 10:57am CEST by Michael
Danny MacAskill absolutely blows my mind with this performance, which is in turns mind-bogglingly insane and yet graceful and restrained. There's great economy of motion as he does the frickin' impossible on his bike. It's set to The Funeral by...
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Fetched: April 26th, 2009, 7:46pm CEST by Michael
You know the drill: Drop your stuff off at Windsurfing Hamptons between now and 9AM on the morning of the swap, then marvel as other windsurfers find good use for the gear you're done using, OR Check out all the...
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Fetched: April 25th, 2009, 2:47am CEST by Michael
The Wolf: “Do I want to rig my 4.7?” Me: “There’s no wind in the forecast anytime soon. We should sail until our arms fall off.” It’s rare that I have a good idea. Mostly I just follow the crew...
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Fetched: April 22nd, 2009, 8:26pm CEST by Michael
How often do I have something good to say about iWindsurf? Not often enough. But over the last few months some new meters have been showing up on iWindsurf's Long Island observations map (they call it "Southeast NY" that are...
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Fetched: April 22nd, 2009, 8:26pm CEST by Michael
Anyone who sailed a boat before they windsurfed has had the experience of feeling they've whittled down sailing to its essence: Just you, the sail, and a bit that floats. It's bold. The very first time I tried getting on...
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Fetched: April 22nd, 2009, 11:20am CEST by Michael
The perfecto forecast for Ponquogue (ENE building to 30) turned out a nice morning crowd. I took a 4.5 out into shoulder-high waves with Frank, the Wolf, Jon Ford, Bruce, Radek, Bill, Scott, and John Hulse. George Pav stopped by...
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Fetched: April 21st, 2009, 11:02am CEST by Michael
The master of jawdropping lightwind freestyle magic, Bonaire's Caesar Finies, will be competing at the second annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival at Hecksher State Park, June 6-7. The bar has just been raised Big Time! Of course Long Island counters...
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Fetched: April 18th, 2009, 3:15am CEST by Michael
"They were forecasting upper twenties, but we’re stuck with lower teens, Yeah they were forecasting upper twenties, but we’re skunked with lower teens, I didn’t think I’d need a big sail, I just don’t know what it means. Michael said...
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Fetched: April 16th, 2009, 6:43pm CEST by Michael
I woke up very early to join the gang in a much-anticipated morning session. But we couldn't decide on where to sail. The list of places that were "it" went like this: Demo* Ponquogue The Bowl Gardiners Bay Shinnecock Road...
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Fetched: April 15th, 2009, 2:15pm CEST by Michael
Sunday morning the thermometer said 36 degrees. It's April, boys and girls...what's up with 36 degrees? It mattered because it was blowing again, and as it was Easter sunday, any sessions to be had were going to have to be...
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Fetched: April 14th, 2009, 1:13pm CEST by Michael
This is an awful story. Most of what's here comes from forum posts and emails from Long Island windsurfers in Hatteras (including Peconic Jeff and Mike Burns) along with posts in some kitesurfing forums that tell this story: Saturday afternoon...
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Fetched: April 13th, 2009, 6:28am CEST by Michael
It was high tide flowing out with onshore (NNW) winds...anything but ideal for Meschutt, but we needed to sail. It was high tide with onshore winds AND it was cold and rainy, but we really needed to sail, or at...
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Fetched: April 11th, 2009, 6:41am CEST by Michael
I love a good windsurfing poster...check out this one or this one or this one. I think the Saylorville Dam Jam poster is my favorite. Or was, until the artist Lauren Nassetta hit it out of the park with this...
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Fetched: April 8th, 2009, 9:49pm CEST by Michael
I am embarresed to say I never thought of this. 99% of you probably have, but for those few of you as blind to obvious ideas as I am, I want to share a neat little item I found in...
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Fetched: April 7th, 2009, 5:44pm CEST by Michael
Like a repeat of Friday's session, things were looking light upon arrival at the Bowl. Unlike Friday's session, there was enough wind to have nonstop fun for an hour or so. Fisherman and Sir Wolf on 5.8's, with me doing...
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Fetched: April 7th, 2009, 5:44pm CEST by Michael
I have previously written about Mattituck Inlet...the Long Island Sound windsurfing venue with tasty waves on WNW winds (that's the good part) with the most hazardous launch conditions I've ever seen or heard of (the bad part.) On Saturday the...
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Fetched: April 6th, 2009, 12:18am CEST by Michael
The forecast had held such promise. But when I arrived at the Bowl I found Johns VanderWolf and Ford scowling at the fog and apparently light winds, while in the next vehicle CD was on the phone. We also had...
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Fetched: April 3rd, 2009, 2:11am CEST by Michael
I just did a quickie post about the dolphin/human surf scene in Cape Hatteras. Earlier today I got an email from Bowsprite (the mad genius also responsible for half of Henry's Obsession) with a link to an orca livening up...
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Fetched: April 3rd, 2009, 2:11am CEST by Michael
I've been looking for an excuse to link to Lost In Hatteras Andy's post about surfing with dolphins, which is one of the best stories I've read in the windoblogosphere lately. Go read his tale of "Stu and the Local...
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Fetched: April 1st, 2009, 1:37pm CEST by Michael
There’s a fence blocking Sebonac Inlet road a few hundred yards before the launch…portions of the road are washed out or otherwise below the standards of the town roadmeister. Not that we care. To clear the fence one can thread...
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Fetched: March 31st, 2009, 11:32am CEST by Michael
I love sailing at Ponquogue. I wish we sailed there all the time. The gang likes to restrict Ponquogue to E, ESE, SE, and ENE winds (though we once had a fine time on WSW...more of that please!) I'd like...
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Fetched: March 31st, 2009, 11:32am CEST by Michael
Good news: iWindsurf is forecasting the wind for Long Island again. Those antimasters of communication resumed what this year is being called "Human Meteorologist Forecast Daily Briefing" sometime in the last few days. Not that they send an email out...
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Fetched: March 29th, 2009, 10:10pm CEST by Michael
Good news: iWindsurf is forecasting the wind for Long Island again. Those antimasters of communication resumed what this year is being called "Human Meteorologist Forecast Daily Briefing" sometime in the last few days. Not that they send an email out...
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The second annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival (June 6-7, 2009 at Hecksher State Park) now has its own web site! Check out www.ECwindfest.com and sign up to join us in racing and freestyle competition. Don't worry about whether or not...
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It began as an "I just gotta sail" sesh...January air temps, maybe enough wind to sail, and high tide at Meschutt. It began with just me and the Wolf. Then in came the sun, out went the tide, and up...
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That I've missed a few windy days has only exacerbated my windsurfing fantasies. Peconic Jeff's flirtations with back loops now have me wanting to stick my first one...and the big-ticket item....the Forward Loop...is also on my mind. OBX Bill cracked...
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People have been windsurfing all over Long Island this week. Folks are getting ocean time, people are tearing it up on the bays, but not me. No. Haven't been on the water in ages. I used to windsurf. The blog...
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Fetched: March 19th, 2009, 11:35am CET by Michael
Two weeks in a row I've missed a wave sesh that the other guys caught. Last week Peconic Jeff and the Wolf caught it, and now I hear from CD and Jon that the gang caught it good yesterday. Damn...
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Check this guy out: He's at the end of a 50-foot railride through the sand on his way to some wavesailing. I love that. That is style. And I'm pretty sure he's having a whole lot of fun (even though...
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Let's get the bad numbers out of the way ASAP. They are fives and tens...this weekend's forecast: Sat: SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Sun: S winds around 5 kt. Surely we deserve better than that! Now some good numbers,...
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It sure looks that way. There's always plenty to complain about when it comes to iWindsurf...forecast models listed in seemingly random order*, taking the winter off, lack of meters where they're needed, high price etc. Hey remember when they were...
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It's in there at 2:06. "There" is Samba, the new windsurfing video clip by Andre Paskowski. Shot in Brazil at Jericoacoara and starring his usual cast of characters (Gollito Estredo, Marcilio Browne and himself) there is plenty of quality close-up...
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It was supposed to be four of us. But I got hung up in the city and Jonathan was under the weather, so the beautiful conditions at Ponquogue were left to Peconic Jeff and the Wolf alone. Jon drove down...
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Fetched: March 9th, 2009, 10:20pm CET by Michael
To work on freestyle windsurfing is to fall a lot. “It’s a water sport,” instructor Jason Voss said in my first ABK clinic, “your goal is not to stay dry.” But as the water gets colder, falling is less and...
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Fetched: March 9th, 2009, 10:20pm CET by Michael
There isn't enough good windsurfing art. A good poster always brightens my day...here is the logo for the Nebraska Windsurfing Association. Nebraska is home of what's said to be one of the coolest windsurfing events in the country...the Toucan in...
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Fetched: March 6th, 2009, 5:07am CET by Michael
Bonaire’s Taty Frans (ranked 7th in the world) and former Olympian Constantin “Patun” Sargoza are going to windsurf from Bonaire to Curacao on March 8th as part of a fundraiser to help support a stricken local hero. Ann Phelan tells...
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Fetched: March 4th, 2009, 11:05am CET by Michael
It’s been two months since the gang’s had an ocean session. That snowy wavy day in early January held so much promise.Or so it seemed. It’s goshdarn MARCH and we’re still waiting for our next date with the Atlantic. That’s...
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Fetched: March 2nd, 2009, 7:51pm CET by Michael
New to me, anyway. The Friday call was Mattituck (on the bay, not the madmen-only Sound launch.) Usually we sail from the Mattituck Yacht Club (on South winds 5.0 or stronger only) but today the choice was Veterans Memorial Park...
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Fetched: March 1st, 2009, 10:44am CET by Michael
A sailboat blogger named Adam (Messing About In Boats) and I transcended Web 2.0 or whatever a few months ago and had a few beers. We gabbed mightily about our blogs, and speculated on the true nature of some other...
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I highly doubt it, but I got a scare when Billy T (who I met on the ice at Bellport last month) posted in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfing Group that shifting sands had wrecked the break at Democrat Point,...
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Zeros. Actual Zeros. This is not 25 knots. It's windsuffering.Argh ack boo hiss. I'd been looking forward to watching the Oscars feeling pleasantly spent. Growl.(Long Island wind(less) snapshot courtesy iWindsurf.)
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You want windsurfing instruction? You want ABK. The dates of ABK Boardsports' 2009 instructional tour have been announced, and the Peconic Puffin is happy to tell the world that a new specialty group for advanced students has been added, and...
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When I hear "upstate New York lake sailing" I'm thinking I should bring my longboard. Some guys in Rochester straightened me out with this photo. Rock n' Roll!(Thanks to Doug from Rochester Windsports for sending the photo. Photographer Mark Robertson,...
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I couldn't make the session. Not even at Meschutt, which in my opinion is heavily underrated for NW winds and for which I am always advocating as our next launch. Johns Ford and Vanderwolf, along with Frank B and Peconic...
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I finally pogoed a mast. It was at the Pier two weeks ago. I'd never seen the phenomenon before...mast pointing towards beach in the shore break, a wave catches the board and while raising it shoves the mast tip down...
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Ladies, are you still searching for that special someone? Consider looking amongst the windsurfers: 10. The ratio of men to women is 4 to 1. 9. They can talk about something besides football. 8. They don’t smell too bad because...
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Usually when planning a session at Sebonac Inlet (primo in west winds) you aim to arrive at mid tide ebbing, when the reef goes off and the wind against tide ramps are stellar. But that wasn't the concern today."We gotta...
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Thu: W winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. That's according to the Coastal Marine Forecast. Some other models have it blowing more SW.
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That's a fine shot of Bill Barber, flying his trademark Gorge Animal in a one-handed jump on some recent gnarly day. Worthy of a magazine cover, it turns out. CD had a copy of the magazine, which he showed me,...
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It promised to be a great day in February, with 25mph winds and 50 degrees forecasted. But by the time it was done, six of nine windsurfers were rejected, discouraged, turned away, left dry or otherwise unable to enjoy any...
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The forecast as of Saturday evening:NW winds 20 to 25 kt. Occasional gusts up to 35 kt in the afternoon.With air temps in the mid 40's! To quote Scott from an email earlier today, "I need it bad!" So repeat...
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There's a viral/ponzi/don't you have something better to do with your time?/bloggy thing going around where someone tags you ("tag"=calls you out in a post) and you're supposed to find the fourth photo from the fourth foulder from the fourth...
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Coming soon to a mailbox or newsstand near you: The April issue of Windsurfing Magazine, featuring their "Winter Rocks!" coverage of what windsurfers on Long Island have known for some time: there's some great windsurfing to be had when there's...
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So what do you do? 1. Are you calm cool nature guy, who says "did you see the distinctive pattern to its fin and how it spun in the air? That's a spinner shark...not dangerous to man."2. Freak out and...
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"Take a picture! Take a picture!" I implored Peconic Jeff. All my teeth were where they belonged and the pain wasn't bad, so my focus was on getting a good photo for the blog.Jeff snapped a few photos. He wasn’t...
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Eva Hollman..."The Board Lady," the legendary west coast repair magician famous globally for the great repair advice she's given in online forums like rec.windsurfing, recently mentioned in that forum that she was going to retire. We here at the Puffin...
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The Wolf caught an ice session last week at Bellport. "Great conditions," he told The Peconic Puffin. Your editor has only ice-windsurfed once (two years ago at Cold Spring Pond) where he got to try out the Wolf's ice yacht,...
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Water temp 42, air temp 36 (and forecast to fall throughout the day) for a "100 rule" score of 78. But I hadn't sailed in two weeks, so when the phone rang and it was the Wolf I couldn't say...
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A windsurfer gets some in upstate New York. Titled "Bill braves 'the break', Da Club" posted by Rochesterwindsports08 on Flickr. I envy this guy.
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President Barack Obama.
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I think windsurfing or surfing with dolphins would be thrilling. Sharing the waves with an orca I'm not up for, however. I'll take a pass. I'll watch. The fellow in the photo chose to stay out. "There was no way...
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Every winter I have the "yes I really windsurf when it's this cold" conversation about fifty times with the people I come across in daily life. I explain that with a drysuit and all the accessories that it's just as...
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How do you like that shot? Google Maps close up of Meschutt (on the Great Peconic...best sailed on NW from mid-tide down) was discovered by Peconic Jeff, whose blog post even spotted my van amidst the boards and sails. We...
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Peconic Jeff recently bought a contraption that looks like a cross between a Terminator hand and the alien that jumps on your face in the Alien movies. It's a camera mount that holds on like hell to whatever it grabs....
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Scott (who I'd say is the least risk-averse of the Puffin regulars, or how about I use the shorthand: "crazy") sent this wingsuit flying video. It is undoubtedly one of the wildest things I've ever seen. Extreme? Abso-flocking-lutely. I am...
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I bring my drysuit indoors after every session, but will often leave gloves/booties/hood in the van. Last week I was having a bit of trouble getting my left foot into its booty…was my foot somehow less slippery today? Finally my...
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Some time ago the Wolf had told me Mattituck Inlet on the Long Island Sound had great wavesailing when conditions were right. I asked “then why do we never go there” and he said launching at the inlet was insane....
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Just like sand, snow comes off in the water. Unlike sand, it melts easily too.When snow sticks to a black mast, it's cold out!Photo at Ponquogue by Peconic Jeff.
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And yesterday it was CD and Fisherman. Which seems unfair because they were both behaving so well...The call for the NW blow was Iron Pier. Frank, Scott, Peconic Jeff and the Wolf caught some 4.7 action early, but by the...
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Straight up:Sail Demo.Sail Hatteras (ocean side).Jumps (better control and height on port, any jumps at all on starboard.)More sessions with my wife.Improve on freestyle.Here’s a quick look at how I did on last year’s resolutions:1. Learn to ride waves. Success!...
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And yesterday it was CD and Fisherman. Which seems unfair because they were both behaving so well...The call for the NW blow was Iron Pier. Frank, Scott, Peconic Jeff and the Wolf caught some 4.7 action early, but by the...
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There was a perfect moment yesterday when I was riding a wave while snowflakes brushed my face. I thought “how often do these things happen at the same time?”The day was full of unusualness. Even though it was blowing SW,...
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I'd been out of town for a week, visiting relatives. My Blackberry spoke of sessions missed back home, including a rare winter visit by Andy Brandt and a fog wavesailing session at the Cup So I didn't care what it...
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There’s a “pick your best blog post” writing assignment floating around a bit of the sailing blogosphere in which the Peconic Puffin is a participant. (Not that I think any of my stuff is actually GOOD, but some of it...
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If you want a graven image to worship (or just to dress up your back yard) Michael Jamieson is your man. Of this stony creation Mike says "Please find my nomination for this year's Long Island windfest luck charm. It...
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"Reindeer? We don't need no stinkin' reindeer! Though if Dasher came by he could help us with our jibes..." (Puffin Santas by Paula Lucia at Heron Cove Art. Jibe assistance from Dasher at Sideoff Video. Merry Christmas from The Peconic...
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Word is they wound this puppy up to 61 knots, but couldn't quite hold it down. No points were awarded for the dismount. Originally spotted on Sailing Anarchy. Photo credit Gilles Martin-Raget/Hydroptere.
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Apparently we've been having too much fun for Mother Nature, so she shut us down for her holiday weekend. Friday's forecast had seemed promising, but we never rigged. Surely Sunday wouldn't disappoint! The Bowl was the call, and there was...
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The forecast for Friday was outstanding...a fine day at Ponquogue seemed certain, but between late arriving wind and terrible visibility, it didn't happen. I left early, but Peconic Jeff toughed it out with the Wolf. Later I heard from Jeff:...
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It’s back! Following up on the success of the 2008 festival, the organizers are thrilled to announce the second annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival, taking place June 6-7, 2009 at New York’s Heckscher State Park in East Islip, Long Island....
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When is a session a session? And did I have a session on Monday at Cupsogue?Time on the water? Check.Time in the water? Check Check Check.I did no wave riding. Several waves rode me. And so on.It had been shaping...
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How long is your longboard?Originally spotted on James' blog.
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"Gonna take you higher!" -Sly StoneFriday's high tide is going to be very high. Here comes the proxigean tide! The moon is going to be exceptionally close to the earth (like 220K miles...about as many miles as Andy Brandt puts...
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Satellites detect increased emissions of the desire to play hookey. (from Weather Underground's Marine Forecast for Long Island.)
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I am the Last Windsurfer On Long Island to sail West Meadow. What was I waiting for? Perhaps less of a thrashing!Got there around 12:30, saw George Marr and Pete Roesch on the water, and George Pav and Jean in...
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This morning we sailed Cupsogue. The day's theme seemed to be me vs. the water. You know how that works out. At least it was an educational experience for this budding wave sailor. What did I learn today?I learned what...
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It turns out that this monster is in southwest Australia, and is called "The Right". I'm intrigued and fearful of the wall of water that seems to ride on top of the wave. This photo is from Riptide, found in...
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Straight from Mordor, this beast looks. The wave was called at 41 feet. At an undisclosed location in Australia, surfer Kirby Brown ultimately wiped out and tore up his shoulder in the wash. Can you imagine windsurfing that wave?Story and...
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"We're at Ponquogue, the waves are beautiful and I'm rigging a 5.2. Where are you?" (Jeff on the phone)."I'm an idiot...I'll be there in 30 minutes." (Me.)With a forecast of east winds we all had Ponquogue on the brain. And...
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First the long drive to Cupsogue. I always have to be talked into Cupsogue. If Peconic Jeff is calling, his technique is to detail precise information about the wind and waves and tide, enhanced by on-scene reports he somehow always...
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You've seen it all before...except for the move starting at 1:14.Thanks to the mighty Caesar Finies for the video!
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Yeah it was cold. Very cold. So what? We haven't had a great day at Sebonac in ages!Frank B, the Wolf and I shared the bay with the first puffins of the season, on sails from 4.2-4.6, and we were...
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Small Craft Advisory = We advise you to sail We have a fine small craft advisory for Saturday...game on!(inspired by a post on Talkin' Sh** About A Pretty Sunset)
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Lost In Hatteras’ Andy’s post in iWindsurf:“My year to date windsurf log stands at 154 sessions, with almost 70 rest days attributable to travel/injury/flu/etc. Combo the sailing with surfing and SUPing, and there's been something fun to do virtually every...
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Driving down Pier Ave, still several blocks from Iron Pier Park I could see explosions of spray twenty feet in the air as the Long Island Sound came into view. Jeff had told me on the phone that he was...
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The Mattituck Yacht Club launch on the Great Peconic needs a lot of wind to work (such is the wisdom of the Wolf and company) but when it blows very hard from the south, then it is the place to...
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Jill Marr’s account of her day at West Meadow last weekend is the most spirited tale of windsurfing I’ve read in awhile. Originally posted in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfers Group, it got me howling, and Jill has graciously allowed...
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It had nothing to do with windsurfing. But to be in New York City the night of Election Day...to hear the sound of the city when Barack Obama was declared the next President of the United States...it was so overwhelming...
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In a previous post I went on about how spending $2 more on downhaul line makes a ridiculous difference in how easy any sail will rig and tune. No less than the ghost of Chuck Berry (posting as JB Goode...
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I know Dan Weiss (Northeast somethingorother for US Windsurfing) from back in the early days of the windsurfing newsgroup (probably the first windsurfing thing on the Internet.) Anyhow these days he is indeed with US Windsurfing, and he has asked...
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To: JeffFrom: MichaelSubject: re Cupsogue Sun MorningVery nice day! I was on 5.5 and 5.0 (most of the day 5.0) the Wolf 5.2 & 4.7. Also there Scott, CD and Jon Ford. One other sailor that I didn't know was...
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Imagine you're sailing across a bay. The water is fairly flat, so you sail along casually...or you would except for the spot of the bay where 3 foot high waves come barreling through in sets...from straight downwind! They don't appear...
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Witness Peconic Jeff's finest video work to date: "Bowl Wave Sailing, October 25th, 2008." Featuring videography by Jeff's brother Keith, still imagery by Bill Doutney, all set to "Bro Hymn" by Pennywise. I've been raving about this session for at...
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It's one o'clock in the morning in New York City...two hours since Barack Obama was declared President-elect. Near Union Square the noise level of people celebrating dwarfs midnight on New Year's Eve. People are cheering, cars are honking, and this...
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Puffins for change.(Photo: The rear bumper of the editor's shredmobile.)
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Ash Nicol works a wave while a whale goes for big air. From Aerotech's web site.
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Good Halloween treats for a Peconic Puffin:Sand Eels20 knots of windHarness lines.And for a trick:a worn-out downhaul. DOH! The staff of The Peconic Puffin wants you to have a Happy Halloween! Don't eat too much candy (or sand eels.)(photo by...
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It was otherwise a good little session:93 liters and a 5.5,93 liters and a 5.0,77 liters and a 5.0Frank had noted that he'd seen a few snowflakes earlier, and I thought I'd seen some too. But an hour or so...
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I'm still jazzed about last Saturday's great sesh at the Bowl. The wind was howling today, but as I couldn't get away to sail I contented myself spending time looking at more photos of the great day. Here are a...
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It was my favorite session of the year. Sunny and warm southeast winds and well-mannered waves combined for as sweet a day at the Bowl as I've ever had, and it being a Saturday we had quite the crowd, with...
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Brace yourself for Windsurfing, by The Surfers. A windsurfing song, kind of. First spotted on Nayra Alonso's blog, this tune makes The NOAA Song sound downright catchy.
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Iron Pier in north wind is (or was today) less than ideal. Here are some scintillating details from the session:Van der Wolf, Bill, Scott, Jon Ford and I hit the Pier to see if it would be anywhere near as...
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Jon Ford, on the phone from Road L: "I might rig a 5.2."Twenty minutes later I arrived, as had the Wolf. The wind had died, but between the golden late afternoon sun, great cloud formations and a rainbow, it was...
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Inspired by Joe The Horse, borrowing from an honest man, and as an avid student of wave etiquette tips, I am not clear what should be done in the situation photographed above. If I was on a windsurfing board I'm...
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On Saturday Napeague Bay belonged to the kiters. A few sails were on the water that weren't headed for Gardiners on that 5.5 day, but on the whole Napeague was a giant tangle of string.Sunday was for the windsurfers. EVERYBODY...
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There were weeds in Napeague too, but it was our first windy day in two weeks. Frank, Scott, the Wolf and I were out in Gardiners with 5.2-5.5 being the sweet spot. Tomorrow should be the big day, though, with...
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Let the Long Island Coastal Marine Forecast be true! Where will we sail? If it's NE most likely Gardiners Bay via Napeague, or North Sea Road. NW would mean Meschutt or Iron Pier. Or perhaps somewhere else. Just please let...
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The Peconic Puffin has been receiving a steady stream of email urging us to address the Canadian Pooping Puffin political commercial "scandal" which targets Stephane Dion, a liberal. I have resisted, because in Puffin algebra, the pooping puffin commercial is...
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Thus says Long Island's Coastal Marine Fantasy: Sat N winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt.Let it be so.
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A windsurfer sails along. Smooth as silk, he ducks the sail into the wind and brings it back up, so he's now planing backwinded, calm, cool and collected. Then he throws a loop.Whatever the name of this move is, whatever...
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"What's the Bowl" is one of the questions I'm most often asked about eastern Long Island windsurfing locations. I've blathered about the place a dozen times, but I think an excellent quick view is afforded by Peconic Jeff's
new video on his blog.* As the camera pans to the right of the Shinnecock Inlet, the Bowl is well introduced and a quick bit of wave sailing is there to watch. Also enjoy the excellent guitar riff that introduces The Wolf as he drives up. The Wolf likes good electric guitar, and probably should always arrive accompanied by theme music.
(* A view "is afforded"? Obviously we're off our game today.)
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Jon Ford makes it look easy at Cupsogue. Even I (a nearly skill-free novice wavesailor) managed to pull off my first "rights".
(I'll give you one guess as to who "Peconic Windsurfer" is.)
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When it comes to windsurfing photography, using a camera while actually windsurfing is one of the great challenges. Many of us have succeeded in the odd shot of a friend framed by our mast or boom, but beyond that, working a camera with any degree of control is elusive. It eludes me, anyway (which is why I leave my camera in the van and let Jeff shoot!)
One guy who has been making it work for years, however, is Dana Miller. I've been enjoying his on-the-water work for years in Wind Tracks and NEWJ. How does this guy ride a wave AND take photos? I recently stumbled upon the photo here (from American Windsurfer) which speaks volumes...mugging for the camera mid-chophop, while photographing the photographer. Think of the control required...he is good.
I'm getting stoked to try some new shots on the water just thinking about it.
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The voting is done, the suggestions are in, and let it be proclaimed from the sand dunes: Jeff is Peconic again! With windsurfers voting from all over the U.S. and around the world (even from Austria, Turkey and Malta came the calls for P-Jeff, while Portugal cast the lone “Jumpin’ Jeff” vote) 60% of you supported Peconic Jeff. Robert felt that keeping things old-school was best, whilst The Mighty Larry Hoff opined that the brand equity in “Peconic Jeff” should not be squandered. Don Spalding drew the connection to an ancient nut tree, and Michael “the "Buddha-maker” Jamieson pointed out that Prince went back to being called Prince. Still, some 17% of you wanted a different name, so let us note some of the better ones, including:
Jill Marr Superstar’s Zephr-Jefphyr,
Jon Sasson’s suggestion that TWFKAPJ adopt a Prince-like symbol for a name
Rich Simons’ “Jeff-O de Gecko”
Still, “Peconic Jeff” is not carved in stone (yet…we are talking with Buddha Maker Mike) which leaves us to consider the possibly sage advice of “Guru”, aka The Meddlesome Andy Brandt. Andy suggests that we wait and see if Jeff’s sailing suggests a new handle. Perhaps “Slippy Jeff” or “Spinny Jeff” might work…in any event Andy says let’s “wait and see”.
Andy can get his own blog to wait and see. Here at the Puffin, every day posting is a great day posting. And never mind that Jeff’s girlfriend hurls accusations (“this whole thing is just Puffin propaganda” to “add legitimacy” to the site’s unbaked nicknaming. To her we respond with the venerable bloggers’ defense: “Yeah, so?”)
And what of P-Jeff himself? Jeff tells the Puffin: ""I am humbled by the will of the people (despite dubious journalistic
tactics), and will continue to spread the Peconic stoke far and wide.
Please come join us on your next windy day off (may there be many!).
There are at least 14 Peconic Bay launches (see LI Windsurfing Map),
which include delicious bump-n-jump, flatwater heavens, beautiful
scenery and wildlife (including Atlantic Puffins), all of which I'll
try to capture in photo and video (no luck with the Atlantic Puffins,
they're too damn fast!)"
Jeff does "Peconic" proud, and Peconic he is! Thanks to everyone who voted, and in particular to those who chimed in. Extra credit must go to Andy for starting all the trouble, and to Jeff for not bonking me with a reactor bar for carrying this on so long.
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"You should thank me for not splitting your skull in half," said Fisherman.
Seemed reasonable.
"Thank you for not splitting my skull in half!" I said.
I had fallen on the way out through the waves at Cupsogue, and Fisherman and another sailor were negotiating a wave together, fast approaching this fallen Puffin. With so many windsurfers taking advantage of the waves extra vigilance was required. I wear a white helmet to emphasize the presence of my bobbing noggin for just this purpose.
It was sunny and windy (4.2-4.7 for most of us) at Westhampton's Cupsogue beach, with well formed waist to shoulder-high waves rolling along in the southwest blow. Presumably this is why we were graced with the sailing presence of John Natalie,(him of the jump at the top of the post) of whom several have said "only sails when it perfect."
And it was perfect, or at least very, very nice. CD had such a sweet wave later in the afternoon that he surfed himself well down the beach for a walk back. "He's having such a good time that he doesn't care," said the Wolf as we watched him. Chris confirmed this when he returned ("I didn't care if I had to walk back...I wasn't getting off that wave!") He also waxed poetic on the beauty of Cupsogue and loving a life that included such a day.
So yeah, it was a pretty good day. Also soaking it up were Jan and Bruce, TWFKAPJ (Jeff), and Jon Ford.
TWFKAPJeff took a nice set of photos (in addition to those that I've swiped for use here) and some video as well. Check out this clip to get a sense of riding the inside waves at Cupsogue.
(Photos by Jeff. Top: John Natalie enjoying the perfection. Bottom: Did I mention how beautiful Cupsogue is?)
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There will be lots of gear at Windsurfing Hamptons besides my Naish 85 liter wave board ($150 with bag and three fins) and Fiberspar 430 SDM mast ($150 with case.) In the words of Jonathan "Let's Sail!" Ford:
"Buy and/or sell used Windsurfing, Kiteboarding, Surfing and Stand up paddleboard gear.
Loads of closeout '08 gear avail at huge savings.
Sellers: Your used gear must be to the shop no later than 9am Saturday."
Windsurfing/Kiteboarding Hamptons is located at
1688 County Road 39
Southampton, New York 11968
(631) 283-9463
www.w-surf.com.
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"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
-Willie Don Shakespeare
The time has come. Will he be Plain Old Jeff? Jumpin' Jeff? Will he remain Peconic? Will you suggest a better name? (Sorry Andy B,, but "Larry Hoff Jr" has been rejected in order to avoid confusion with The Mighty Larry Hoff.)
TWFKAPJ's fate (or at least his nickname) is in your hands.
(Wondering what in the Sam Hill is going on? Read all about it.)
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I can't wait to get back into the waves.
(photo by A Jeff To Be Named Later)
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His blog is back! Jeff (known to readers of the Peconic Puffin as Peconic Jeff) was the original Long Island windsurfing blogger. A thoughtful fellow of few words (unlike the thoughtless blabfest perpetrated here) he doesn't update Windsurfing the East End very often, instead letting us know what he's been up to by his excellent photos on his Flickr page. But now in a burst of typing P-Jeff is filling us in on recent adventures like taking up SUPing, the ABK clinic, and recovering from the malaise induced by our windless summer. Peconic Jeff is making noise!
Or is he? Is he Peconic Jeff? In recent weeks the irksome meddling of a windsurfing instructor whom I will not name (Andy Brandt) has thrown a wrench into the Puffinworks, suggesting that I should stop referring to Peconic Jeff as Peconic Jeff. In the ensuing brouhaha Jeff has been seen declaring (both in person and online) that he doesn't mind being called Peconic Jeff.
He doesn't mind.
I don't think that's really sufficient. Does he have any idea how many people out there want to be called Peconic Jeff but can't because he is Peconic Jeff? Wannabee P-Jeffs are lined up outside the Peconic Puffin offices every morning, whom we politely but firmly turn away.
But Jeff himself, he doesn't mind being called Peconic Jeff.
So here's what we're going to do. In the coming weeks we're going to have a poll to rename Jeff. He may end up as Plain Old Jeff, he may return as Peconic Jeff, or maybe we'll start calling him Jeffune Lord of Tides. Keep an eye out for the poll, and feel free to suggest new names for Jeff that will be included in the poll. In the meantime he'll be A Jeff To Be Named Later.
In the meantime, be sure to check out AJTBNL's Windsurfing the East End and his recent photos from The Bowl and South Jamesport sessions.
(Photo: A Jeff To Be Named Later on Peconic waters.)
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Heavy weather is going to delay the Windsurfing Hamptons swap meet for one week. Word from Jonathan Ford:
"Due to the current nor'easter, we have decided to reschedule the swap for a week. The Swap will take place at the shop on October 4th from 9-4. Lets hope for sunny skies and warm temps. Looking forward to seeing everyone then.
Enjoy the current high winds - ride safe."
For details, call Windsurfing Hamptons at 631-283-9463...they're also at http://www.w-surf.com
I'll bet someone could have used my 85 liter Naish yesterday!
$150 with bag and three fins (430 Fiberspar SDM mast also $150).
Hopefully we'll sail tomorrow. I'm toasted from yesterday.
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While Graham Ezzy was tearing it up at Demo (read about it in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfing Group) everybody who could manage it further east was tearing it up at The Bowl.
The sail range was 4.7 to 5.2, with head-high waves (bigger further out by the buoy) rolling up big and clean in the morning. Me (the wave newbie) managed my best bottom turns/cutbacks ever on one wave…which was good because I didn’t do very well on most of the others (though one did very well with me...“paid your dues” said Scott.) Sail a little torn, and me spitting sand, but I’d take a session like this any day.
It got messy after a few hours as the tide changed, and the crowd packed up to move to South Jamesport. I was getting laughed at on my 5.0 (‘cause it was much windier) but that’s what I rigged…should have gone with something smaller.
My arms are burnt to a crisp. In the joyous crowd today: Frank, Radek, Jan, Bruce, Scott, the Wolf, Jeff, Fisherman, Bill, John H, George Pav, Joe, and about four more guys I don't know (yet).
(photos by Jeff: Top: We play. Middle: All I see is white. Bottom: The Wolf likes his waves clean. For more photos from this session, check out Jeff's Flickr page.)
(To find the Bowl, South Jamesport, and 50+ other launches, check out the Long Island Windsurfing Map.)
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I've wanted to windsurf at Ditch Plains in Montauk ever since I first heard the name. "Ditch Plains" put me in mind of vast stretches of water with conditions so gnarly that ditching one's gear was a standard survival move (I should probably learn the actual origin of the name.) Anyhow for years I've wanted to check out Ditch Plains, which is famous for surfing (Surfline describes it as "
Mecca. The most consistent wave on Long Island".)
But when Jonathan Ford called and said "we sail at Ditch Plains" I had to think it over. It would be an hour's drive each way, and I'd only be able to sail for an hour given other obligations. All that driving for an hour at Ditch Plains? "I'm on my way!"
It was Jon Ford, Radek and myself with the sails (me on a 6.2), playing with the waves further out and keeping our distance from the surfers closer to shore. The waves were gentle and long, about shoulder high, and made Ponquogue seem chaotic and challenging by comparison. Given my lack of waveriding skill, the relative ease of catching the Ditch Plains wave was greatly enjoyed. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be on a bigger day.
The Wolf and Scott arrived as I was wrapping up. The wind was dropping a bit, and I suspect they put sails on their SUP boards to play with the swell.
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At my first ABK clinic I was wrestling with tacking and jibing. A few clinics later (if sixteen is a few) I’m now pulling off clew first fin first piledrivers, anklebiters, and the whatchamacallit jibe. But I still remember when a planing duck jibe seemed the unattainable fantasy.
Nobody learns windsurfing slower than I. I am no longer (well, rarely) the worst windsurfer in the world, but one thing I’ve figured out is that lesson help, great lessons help a lot, and ABK clinics are the best thing going out there. (I am not sponsored by ABK, though yesterday they let me have a second sandwich with lunch.)
This past weekend’s windsurfing clinic at Napeague was a blast to watch, much less be in. From the adults and kids (we hate the kids…they learn so frickin’ fast) working on the basics all the way up to the freestylers, there was a whole lot of learnin’ going on. Friday (and Saturday AM) had the good wind, but as the photos show we were all working on the water Sunday as well.
The worst things that happened were a broken down car and a stubbed toe, but these were more than offset by all the tacking, jibing, chacho anklebiting etc.
I can’t wait to do it all again. ABK returns to Long Island in May 2009, but more drastic measures may need to be taken.
(Photos by Jeff…
Top: Happy Campers.
Second: The Mighty Larry Hoff goes Gecko.
Third: Una. Una learning to windsurf spells nothing but trouble. It’s bad enough that her mom aspires to be the fastest windsurfer on the island, but the little one has world domination on the brain. When she gets into the footstraps I’m taking up golf.
Fourth: Alex (can’t go home) Hering, The Mighty Larry Hoff, and a windsurfer to be knicknamed later sharing too little water during Sunday’s expression session.
Fifth: The editor is a grinning idiot.
Check out more clinic photos by Jeff on his Flickr page.)
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ABK's Andy Brandt (practitioner and teacher of mad freestyle windsurfing) likes to throw sails around on simulators when the local wind and water aren't prime. Practice practice practice!
Anyhow below is a clip of him working on anklebiters, matrixes, and the odd bit of sail-chi. He says it's his current favorite video of himself. The music drives me nuts, but I like watching him throw the sail!
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There's no reason for any windsurfer to not go to a swap meet.
1. There's no such thing as having too much gear.
2. There's an excellent chance that it's time for you to upgrade some of your gear, and so sell the stuff that has served you well to someone who can use it (for a reasonable price).
3. It's an opportunity to meet windsurfers you don't know, and see what the ones you do know look like in street clothes.
So come to Windsurfing Hamptons this Saturday, September 27th 9-4pm to (in the words of Jonathan "Let's Sail!" Ford:)
"Buy and/or sell used Windsurfing, Kiteboarding, Surfing and Stand up paddleboard gear.
Loads of closeout '08 gear avail at huge savings.
Sellers: Your used gear must be to the shop no later than 9am Saturday."
Come buy my Naish wave board...85 liters, 2002 vintage, rather bump and jumpy for a waveboard, and featured in many Peconic Puffin (mis)adventures. $150 takes it with bag and two fins. I've got a Fiberspar 430 mast too...
Windsurfing / Kiteboarding Hamptons is located at
1688 County Road 39
Southampton, New York 11968
(631) 283-9463
[w-surf.com].
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"I don't know any of the terms, except for "shove it".
-a beginner windsurfer discussing his windsurfing knowledge at an
ABK clinic.
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High on a hill sits the Tillerman. The Tillerman is the “granddaddy of sailing bloggers.” That’s saying a lot, because when it comes to wind powered watercraft blogs, sailboating blogs are way bigger than windsurfing blogs. They’re the big dogs. And the Tillerman is the big cheese.
(I asked the Peconic Puffin art department for an illustration of an enormous piece of cheese, surrounded by large dogs, at whose feet were little windsurfing bloggers banging away at their computers. As of press time the art has not yet arrived.)
Anyway, high on a hill sits the Tillerman. The Peconic Puffin is grateful to the Tillerman, not simply because he does not squash us like a blug, but because in his magnanimity he has listed the Puffin in the latest of his annual lists of worthy blogs.
Sometimes from his hill the Tillerman hands down assignments. The Puffin has never to our recollection actually turned one in, but as we’re entering the home stretch of 2008 it seems like a good time to appease the granddaddy on his hill. We aspire to his 2009 list, and though our worthiness is in doubt, we can still suck up and fawn with the best of them.
Thus asks the Tillerman: “What innovation, new idea, or invention has been most significant for the sport of sailing or has contributed most to your enjoyment of it?” He even offered up some suggestions. To play it safe (and because I agree with it) I’m going with:
“Mr. Darby's idea for using a handheld sail mounted on a universal joint to steer a sailing craft.”
I hereby give the Tillerman (and y’all) three reasons why it (the component that allows windsurfing to be) most contributed to my enjoyment of sailing:
Reason #1: Apartment dwellers can own a windsurfer, and store it in their tiny homes. I was thirteen when I first sailed in a Sunfish. I was instantly enthralled by sailing, but no small boat was going to be kept in the apartment we lived in, and even though I grew up near the water, there was no place for me to store a boat that I could afford. A zillion years later, my parents actually let me stash a board in my bedroom. Windsurfing allows me to sail.
Reason #2: In windsurfing, the sailor is part of the craft. We are part of the
rigging. The sail transmits its power to the boat through three
points: Mr. Darby’s beloved universal joint, and the windsurfer’s two
legs. The board can not sail without us…not for a second. The sailing
magic passes through us.
Reason #3: Windsurfing is affordable. Nobody ever says that a windsurfing board is a hole in the water into which money is thrown.
Here ends my humble offering to the Tillerman on the hill. Other sailing stuff considered as the greatest (including such venerable items as marinetex, the figure-eight knot, and beer) can be read about on the Tillerman’s blog.
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"Don't ram me! Don't ram me!"
-Scott, making fun of me on the water just hours after my collision post.
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Two days in a row of wind…we’re not in shape for this. After the Windless Summer of 2008 (with three sailable days in the last eight weeks!) this morning’s Sebonac session following yesterday’s southerly had a few regulars suffering from soft hands.
It took me a long time (way too long, longer even than Scott who said he waited too long) to realize that I needed to put on gloves. Only when I saw that both Jeff and Scott had gloves on did the dull gong that is my head ring with the appropriate realization.
I don’t wear gloves. I am too much the macho for gloves. Except today with my hands like tender pink paws.
(Jonathan Ford inbound. Photo by Peconic Jeff.)
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I did not crash into Bob today. However my board did. As I jumped off of it half a second before the crash, does that still count?
I think it does. Damn. Okay, I did crash into Bob today. I was in the middle of a wide jibe…I had looked behind me before initiating the turn, but obviously I did not look thoroughly, because a few seconds later I was about to ram Bob. I couldn’t turn and couldn’t stop. Letting go seemed like a way to hit the guy with 20 pounds of gear as opposed to 20 + 165. Nobody was hurt and nothing got damaged. I think we were lucky.
It was a fine day at Napeague otherwise. Sailing alongside the ABK clinic on a 6.2, while Peconic Jeff worked on vulcans, Robert started nailing waterstarts, Jill Marr tackled duck jibes…just a bay full of windsurfers getting better.
Except me. Knucklehead outside the clinic, I should have been in it so someone could slap me upside the head and say LOOK ALL THE WAY BEHIND YOU BEFORE YOU JIBE.
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"On Aug. 10 1994 I windsurfed the Hudson river and got a view of the Manhattan skyline that no windsurfer - or anybody else - will ever see
again."
-Peter Bogucki, editor and publisher of the New England Windsurfing Journal.
(Photo by Peter Bogucki, from the NEWJ issue published following the September 11th attacks.)
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I never get to see the cool stuff.
Just this last Sunday we had a warning that waterspouts might materialize whilst the east end crew were tearing it up at The Bowl. Didn't see any, though. Now we learn that yesterday at Hecksher a waterspout came through about one third of the way across the bay ("Awesome but it killed the wind!" said John Sasson in the Yahoo LI Windsurfing Group.) Mike Burns says "it was so sweet because we
actually saw it form. The water just started lifting in a spiral and
did make it all the way up to the clouds from the front. The back side of the front
looked like the eye wall of a hurricane. Really cool stuff."
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Top five questions I hear regarding ABK windsurfing clinics:
Q1: How good do I have to be to take the clinic?
A1: Ideally you've never windsurfed a day in your life, and so will learn the right way from the start. Barring that, people who have tried windsurfing a few times and been frustrated are ideal. After that, anyone from folks working on basic tacks and jibes, through people who want to loop are best suited.
Q2: Wouldn't I be happier with a few private lessons?
A2: Private lessons are great! But a group setting has three major advantages: Watching other windsurfers try to learn the same stuff you're working on, you gain insight. The struggle with windsurfing's challenges are a lot more fun when shared, and you'll make new friends of similar ability with whom you can sail with and practice in the future. Also, Andy Brandt and his team are probably the best windsurfing instructors in the country ("don't forget Bonaire" Andy says!)
Q3: Wouldn't I be happier spending the money on a new sail?
A3: No. (I learned this lesson the hard way, believe me...for years spending my money on better equipment rather than better skills.) Ask any ABK graduate about the value for the money.
Q4: What if there isn't enough wind...won't I be wasting my time and money?
A4: No. ABK has an enormous amount of technique to teach (both onshore on windsurfing simulators, as well as on the water) that requires almost no wind. Whatever the weather is (barring tornados and hurricanes) there will be a full clinic's worth of stuff to learn. Ask any ABK graduate about this.
Q5: Will a harness make my butt look big?
A5: No. Your butt will look fantastic planing across Napeague Bay!
So pick your weekend and sign up now, joining Andy Brandt and company either for this coming Friday-Sunday as well as September 19-21 (which will feature a separate group for freestyle students.) The editor will be skulking around...please don't throw things at him.
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We waited all day. The forecast said Tropical Storm Hannah would arrive "later in the afternoon." Windstarved and bitter, some of us began to fear that the wind would never come, or come after dark. Then at 4:30, Jon Ford and the Wolf decided that while there was still no wind, by the time we got to The Bowl and rigged the storm should arrive.
It did, and we hit it hard! Scott, Bill, Jimi, Eric, Bruce, Fisherman, Peconic Jeff, Jon, the Wolf and your editor were on the water fast and furious, getting our first wave day since who knows (May?) and working it for every second we could. Pouring rain? Who cares!
The early call was 5.8's and bigger boards, but as Hannah moved further in there was rerigging and reboarding (by the time it was too dark to sail 4.7 was way too much wing.) The waves got as big as overhead, and the jump ramps were sweet and verticle.
What stuck out to me (besides how utterly fantastic it felt to be windsurfing in primo conditions) was how everybody was on the water all the time. With the exception of two moments (when the wind came up ten knots in ten seconds, and during a brief spell of blinding rain) we were all on the water at once. Between the impending darkness and trying to make up for the windless summer there wasn't a second to waste.
All in all it was a great session that ended way too soon. Let the fall windy season begin!
(Top photo: Running with the waves at The Bowl.
Bottom photo: Fisherman, Scott, Bruce and The Wolf during a squall. Photos by Peconic Jeff.)
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While we were having our great time with Hannah, the National Weather Service put out this message:
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY
700 PM EDT SAT SEP 6 2008
* SPECIAL MARINE WARNING FOR...
WATERS FROM MONTAUK POINT NY TO SANDY HOOK NJ FROM 20 TO 40 NM...
SANDY HOOK NJ TO FIRE ISLAND INLET NY OUT 20 NM...
FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO MORICHES INLET NY OUT 20 NM...
* UNTIL 730 PM EDT...
* AT 655 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
RAIN BANDS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WATERSPOUTS 14 NM WEST OF BUOY
44025...MOVING NORTH AT 25 KT.
THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE SUDDEN WATERSPOUTS. WATERSPOUTS CAN EASILY
OVERTURN BOATS AND CREATE LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SEAS. SEEK SAFE HARBOR
IMMEDIATELY.
I'm glad we didn't get waterspouted. It would have been cool to see one, though.
(Bulletin and post title courtesy Peconic Jeff.)
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Tomorrow begins (hopefully) the Weekend of Hannah. All day today posts were going back and forth about tomorrow...I even ran into the Wolf at a deli (during which I was tutored on how much East we'd need in order to sail the ocean instead of the bays) with full focus on Saturday. But then late in the day whitecaps were spotted on the Peconic. I called Peconic Jeff, and the rush to South Jamesport was on.
It wasn't much (caught about an hour of 6.2 sailing...in the gusts) but if you have forgotten how good it feels to get into the footstraps and plane after a long time without, I am here to tell you it was magnificent. I howled with joy. I was laughing at myself for how stupidly happy I was just to sail in a straight line for half a minute. Not a good session by usual standards, but to a man emerging from the desert, the first sip of water is exceptionally sweet.
I love windsurfing.
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Let us pray.
(The latest forecast is
here.)
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August 2008: Worst Windsurfing Weather in 16 years (that's as long as I've tracked it) on Long Island. Number of planing days available to me in Peconica: Zero. Frickin' NONE. While it's possible that there was an hour here or there where if I'd been in the right place in the right time I might have been able to hook in for a minute, this August was a complete bust. My van is bone dry. The Wolf never called to tell me to head to Sebonac or South Jamesport or Ponquogue or whereever. Nothing.
"I need wind really baaaaaad."
-Scott, commenting in the Peconic Puffin.
Me too, bro! Scott's biggest sail is a 5.8...I KNOW he didn't get out if I couldn't catch a ride on my 7.0 (we sail the same sized gear.)
August is usually a weak month for windsurfing, but we got out h dozen times last year, including some wave sailing at blessed Ponquogue. There appears to be a real forecast for wind this coming weekend, but Peconic Jeff has reminded me that they lie...
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Yeah, I said it. The cool guys refer to it as the B2BBB3. Even cooler guys (and ABK graduates) call it the Siamese. That's Andy Brandt throwing the B2BBB3/Siamese...he'll be teaching this madness (and lots more freestyle windsurfing besides) during the second week of ABK clinics on Long Island out at Napeague September 19-21 ("regular" windsurfing instruction also goes on this week.) Or catch up with Andy and the funk mob the Friday-Sunday before for a windsurfing instruction extravaganza (WIEX). I know the missus and I will be checking it ALL out. (CiAo!)
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He's baaaaaaack...
Most of the time James successfully passes amongst us appearing as a talented but garden variety young scientist and windsurfer. He has a blog in which he chronicles his adventures with windsurfing, the pursuit of a doctoral degree, and his dad.
But there is a Mr. Hyde to his would-be Dr. Jeckle, who sometimes emerges on a windless night with mad ravings about windsurfing minutia and detail that would drive Aristotle to drink. I last chronicled the monster when it appeared in January, but the time has returned to restate the horrible truth: James is crazier than I am.
Behold "Types of Windsurfing Racing" in which Crazy James bombards us with hundreds (or a dozen, give or take) charts, photos, diagrams, and his unique original artwork. A man who has to register his spreadsheets as lethal weapons, James reasserts himself as the bull goose windsurfing nerd blogger. I'm proud to link to him.
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"Lies, Damn Lies, and Wind Forecasts!"
-Peconic Jeff, quoting Mark Twain* in regards to NOAA and iWindsurf failing to call today's 20 knot blow.
(*The coining of the original phrase is attributed to
Disraeli, who talked about lies, damn lies, and statistics. Twain (a Mississippi waterman) had to declare the night before whether he was going windsurfing or riverboating, and was often peeved when burned by the Farmers Almanac.)
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Kevin Kearney, the Florida kite surfer who damn near was killed before a video camera when he was
lofted and slammed into a wall by Tropical Storm Fay, is now recovering at home after a stay in the hospital. While the principal injuries accrued (which about a third of newspapers mistakenly reported as a windsurfing accident) include a broken back (in four places,) rib, and ankle, he also got conked in the head. Evidence for the conking comes from Kearney himself, who told ER doctors that they had grabbed the wrong guy...nothing untoward had happened to him when he kitesurfed Fay…he had a good sesh, then went out to dinner, and then went home.
When presented with a mirror and X-rays, Kearney was unmoved. “Wasn’t me, dude.” Kearney’s mom says his memory may have been skewed when he hit his head,
according to the Miami Herald. (I wonder if he’s seen the
video clip yet.)
The Herald has no additional information, as the family has apparently cut a deal with Inside Edition and is no longer talking to reporters who don’t pay them. In any event, word is that Kearney is on his feet and walking, and that is a good thing.
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WKRG.com Video
Trying to kite in Tropical Storm Fay in Fort Lauderdale, this kitesurfer nearly dies when he's slammed into a building. Imagine windsurfing full speed into a brick wall.
Kites can not be depowered like a windsurfing sail. Kitesurfing is a fine sport, but it is not as safe as windsurfing.
(Video courtesy WKRG. Here's a link to the Miami Herald report about the accident. Kevin Kearny is listed in critical condition.)
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The forecast for our Long Island waters:
Today
W
winds 5 to 10 kt.
Tonight
N winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt.
Wed
N winds 5 to 10 kt
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I haven't played with nonplaning freestyle since the East Coast Windsurfing Festival, but on Saturday I decided that I was going to flip a sail whether there was wind or not, and got out into Davis Creek, imagining myself to be the mighty Caesar Finies.
The video above is an encore presentation of a clip I shot last November in Bonaire.
P.S. Number of emails I've received from Peconic Jeff since the last time we had planing conditions, identifying potential good days that have failed to appear? Five. It's not Jeff's fault...we're just all desperate.
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Anybody who has ever seen me derig has probably noticed that I wipe down my boards with a towel after each session. "That's love!" I've heard more than a few people comment. I reply that I'm not pampering the boards, but that I'm trying to keep the inside of my van from becoming a mildewed rust bucket. The one thing you can't really dry are the footstraps...those absorbent little puppies resist my efforts (I give them a squeeze with a towel anyway.)
I've been fortunate in that over the last few years I've been able to get on the water almost any time it's been windy. Consequently I've always had at least one wet set of footstraps in the van for well over a year. Until now. My gear is bone dry...even the footstraps.
(Photo: "We wanna come out and play!" cries my gear.)
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Excerpt from a recent post by Amy in the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfing Forum:
"As I begrudgingly marched into the west wind yesterday past two fields of our home beach of Hecksher, I was brutally attacked by green flies. I was berating myself for getting myself in this position and having to drive my car down to meet my rig. But today I have a new opinion of the whole experience. I don't think of it as so much of a walk of shame, more like a stride of pride. It made me happy to know that I was walking the painful footsteps of all the greats of today."
Damn right, Amy! "The Stride of Pride" is good. I've heard it referred to as The Walk of Pride as well. In order to take that walk, you must get with board and sail and push yourself beyond your capabilities. We've all been there. Many of us will be there again, if we don't play it safe.
The Walk of Pride, the Stride of Pride...maybe there are some other worthy names for it out there.
Whatever we call the walk, it still begins at Bozo Beach. It helps us maintain our sense of humor...
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Fetched: August 9th, 2008, 4:32am CEST by Michael
If you've been looking forward to the vintage racing event announced by Windsurfing Hamptons for this coming Sunday (I was!) well...we're gonna wait a bit longer. The date is being moved to early September...specifics tba by Jon Ford (and by the Puffin just as soon as we have them.)
If you've never participated in one of these races, you should. They are ridiculously fun given the details (everybody sails on the oldest board they can find, no matter how light the wind, and races/cruises/shlogs around a short course.) Just joining the crowd on the water is a good time!
(Photo: My high-performance ride for the junk fleet: Mistral Superlight, minted in 1983)
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Fetched: August 9th, 2008, 4:32am CEST by Michael
A reader (Marcos) suggested this clip, featuring a tremendous jump (starting at 1:04) by Philip Koester at the PWA event in Pozo. Thanks for the tip Marcos!
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Fetched: August 7th, 2008, 7:17am CEST by Michael
"I'm a good jumper. On a windsurfer, I mean. I can't dunk a basketball or do anything like that."
-Robby Naish
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Fetched: August 5th, 2008, 9:28pm CEST by Michael
"It is written:
'If we rely upon mother Tara sincerely and with strong faith, she will protect us from all obstacles and fulfill all our wishes. Since she is a wisdom Buddha , and since she is a manifestation of the completely purified wind element, Tara is able to help us very quickly.'
I hope, been carving a lot lately . Even brought out the vulcan simulator and surfed the lawn as my wife calls it. Possibly a little wind up here tomorrow, better days are coming."
(Photo, blog post, and carved Tara herself courtesy Mike Jamieson, who when he says he's been "carving a lot lately" he ain't talking jibes. Check out more of his brilliant work here. Meanwhile let us see if Tara can put some wind on the water!)
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Fetched: August 5th, 2008, 12:49am CEST by Michael
Mayhaps you've heard of Eva The Board Lady, the legendary west coast board repair guru. A recent addition to her site is this simple and straightforward sailing simulator...a giant lazy susan for your board, made with plywood and golf balls. Eva says that the speed with which the thing spins is adjustable, so presumably it can be made forgiving for beginners whilst set wide open for working on Spock 945's.
I think I'm going to try my hand at making one of these.
(Photo: the guts of the turning mechanism. Image swiped from Eva's web site. While you're there also be sure to check out Disasterpiece Theater for some neat before-and-after repairs.)
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Fetched: August 5th, 2008, 12:49am CEST by Michael
Worse, it's wasted on this guy. I've never met him, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't deserve to have it so good.
If the wind lightens up, he'll have to rig a 5.7. Me, I'm staring at the Little Peconic. It's a sheet of glass.
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Fetched: August 1st, 2008, 2:22pm CEST by Michael
There's no doubt about it: Ain't much wind this summer. At first I suspected that it might be all in my head (the water is always windier somewhere/sometime else) but then I checked my sailing logs. Here's the comparison of days with planing conditions in the Peconic region since June first (my biggest gear...JP 109 "Calamity Too" and a 7.0):
2007 25 days
2008: 9 days
That's what I call skunkage. Stinkage. Profound suckiness.
It's definitely a summer thing. As of May 1, 2007 and 2008 happened to have the exact same number of sailable days. May was slightly better last year, but then 2008 tanked.
I am bitter. My gear is dry.
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Fetched: July 28th, 2008, 8:45pm CEST by Michael
A few days ago I caught a session with Peconic Jeff and crew...I noticed during an energetic crossing from Robins Island to Mattituck that Jeff seemed to be having trouble staying with the pack. Scott wisely guessed that Jeff was probably running his way-small freestyle fin. I went to confirm this, but learned otherwise. P-Jeff was still recovering from a recent Sunday shredfest (a shredfest your editor missed.) Now it's true that we haven't been doing very much sailing of late, and so our windsurfing muscles may not be in tip-top condition, but still! "Jeff," I said..."you are a gurlyman!"
The next day I found myself unusually sore...a lot of muscles were telling me that I needed to take it easy. Apparently I also suffered from Lack Of Windsurfing Related Atrophy (LOWRA to the orthopaedic community.)
I am a gurlyman.
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Fetched: July 28th, 2008, 8:45pm CEST by Michael
We had some full throttle storm cells today. How do you rig? Your biggest sail for shlogging, or your smallest for smackdown overpowered?
(wind readings from Shinnecock Inlet via iwindsurf.)
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Fetched: July 25th, 2008, 4:18am CEST by Michael
"Mattituck stinks, usually," the Wolf said, as Scott, Bill, Peconic Jeff and I took a break on this fine and windy day. "But if it's South-South East, with an outgoing tide and a full moon and at over 20 knots, then it can be good." My one previous Mattituck session was during such an earth/tide/wind convergence, so Mattituck stinking was news to me.
Today we eeked out a good few hours. Sails were 5.0-5.5, and I actually managed to sail my 77 liter Fanatic "Candy 77" (last sailed in drysuit conditions in May). My bone dry board took one look at me as I was choosing between bathing suit and shorty and said "are you sure it's windy enough for me? Doesn't feel like there's a nor'easter anywhere near!" "Don't worry about it...the warm water won't crack you," I replied. "And without winter booties your footstraps won't be so tight."
I launched and didn't get more than a jibe or two in before Scott headed off towards Robins Island. He, Jeff and I crossed (Bill hadn't arrived yet, and the Wolf was otherwise engaged.) Landing on a rock-strewn beach, we guessed at the distance we'd crossed while Jeff tried to coax the answer out of his GPS unit (a map later determined it was four miles on the nose.) The reach back was plenty exciting as the wind and ramps came up.
We got back in time to take a few runs in blinding rain (always fun) before the rain and wind finally petered out. Fingers are crossed for a Sunday session...
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Fetched: July 25th, 2008, 4:18am CEST by Michael
A personal day. A mental health day. A "be kind to your sinkers" day. Don't you deserve it? Just be sure to work very hard on Friday to compensate.
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Fetched: July 23rd, 2008, 10:40am CEST by Michael
(I missed it on Sunday...family obligations had me on dry land. But Peconic Jeff caught it.)
|
"oh man, hate to say it, but you missed a big one
yesterday at New Suffolk - winds well into the 20's, cloudless skies,
warm water/air - the only part that didn't line up was the tide, since
it was outgoing for most of the afternoon. Jon Ford had sent Jimi
Sobeck, Adam and some other young guns to Mattituck Yacht Club, but the
Wolf sniffed out higher winds further East at New Suffolk. Bill Barber
was the other sailor in attendance -- he was driving behind me on New
Suffolk Ave, and said I hit the gas when I got to that house with the
windmill where you can see all the whitecaps on the bay... no doubt!
I started with 5.9 and JP 93 (Bill on 5.8 and Wolf 5.2),
but we were mostly fully to waay-over-powered, so I rigged down to 5.2
and was fully juiced for speed runs and the occasional jump. The other
guys stayed with their setup, but took more breaks, and ended up
leaving early. According to my GPS, I sailed 51 miles (is that even
right??) over 4.5 hours. At the very end, the tide had finally turned,
so I got a couple moderately sized jumps, but it would have been much
better had the tide turned earlier." |
The next day Jeff was all about the new callouses on his hands...how stoked he was to be fried from sailing. He's merciless.
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Fetched: July 23rd, 2008, 10:40am CEST by Michael
Me: Losing my mind for weeks due to little or no wind.
My wife: She has a new harness, she learned to jibe last fall, but WHERE are the warm summer Long Island winds she's been promised? The along came Saturday, with warm winds and an invitation to visit some good friends at Napeague.
We were in the van pronto.
Met up with Lili and Wilson and hit the water (me on a 6.2, Sally on a 5.5, L&W on similar.) It was beautiful...Napeague at its Napeague-iest...super flat water and smooth winds with nary a gust or lull (yeah I said "nary"...you wanna do something about it?) and the water was practically drinkable*.
We had a great time. Sally hit two jibes (her first non-Caribbean jibes) and I made a spectacular mess of some flip jibes and even hit a backwinded jibe or two. Lili and Wilson were looking good too, and before you know it the time had come to get off the water, admire a spectacular sunset with a glass of wine, and sit down to The Feast:
Scallop sashimi with olive oil and Hawaiian salt (ask Lili...it's red and it's fantastic)
Grilled Salmon
Some crazy good seaweed salad.
Washed down by fine white wine.
It was just about as good as it gets. I'll take Saturdays like this one any time! Big thanks to Lili and Wilson, and to their small but formidable daughters who tried to pinch the skin off of your editor with clam shells.)
*(I love the thermal magnet that is Hecksher, but if I've got to take a swig of sailing water Napeague is my brew.)
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Fetched: July 19th, 2008, 12:59am CEST by Michael
Talking about longboards reminded me of when I though shortboards were exotic. I spotted this old thing in an online forum recently. It's a Seatrend 9'4" squashtail, circa 1990...the exact make and model of my first shortboard. It was a wonderous high-performance thing, that replaced my first ever board, a longboard (transitional, really, a hideous Bic Salsa that I named The Leaking Iron Sow.) The Seatrend's name was name was Sparkle Baka Guy (Baka Guy from the Shonen Knife song, and someone's girlfriend added "Sparkle".)
It dissappoints me that more people don't name their windsurfing boards>/a>. The original Peconic Puffins did, Dasher's crew in Aruba did, but these days the only practioners I'm aware of besides myself are the Clew First crew. I'll have to do an updated Names of the Fleet piece soon...
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Fetched: July 17th, 2008, 9:00pm CEST by Michael
Three reasons I love my old longboard:
1. Cruising in eight knots with speed and grace is fun in wind-starved times.
2. It let me compete in the East Coast Windsurfing Festival races.
3. It's fun to freestyle on.
Three reasons to love a new longboard:
1. Lake sailing.
2. Destination windsurfing (can't beat the centerboard and planing/nonplaning performance to get where you need to go.
3. Konas are gorgeous.
So let's say you lay your hands on a longboard...where can you go to obsess on what to do with it? Currently I'm loving The Longboard Windsurfing Knowledge Base. In particular, I like the freestyle articles by pierrec45 (who occasionally comments here on the Peconic Puffin.)
Windsurfing...it's not just about shortboards anymore.
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Fetched: July 16th, 2008, 10:17pm CEST by Michael
If you enjoy maps, check out
this web site, which creates overlays of navigational maps with Google Earth. Grab the sliders to adjust how much map versus Earth you see, and to fade the labels in and out. The map here looks at the waters (the North Race) between New Suffolk and Robins Island...site of
mad jibefests and the
near demise of Peconic Jeff and your editor.
(Map website found on
Messing About In Sailboats.)
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Fetched: July 15th, 2008, 9:28pm CEST by Michael
What do I mean when I say I'm overpowered?
If I'm windsurfing on smaller gear in high winds, I probably mean that
there's so much power in the sail that I can't manage it. I lack the
skill to stop the universe from exploding when I'm sailing a 4.0 in 35
knots. Better men (and the Moreno twins) may be able to hold it down, but I can
not.
If I'm on mid-sized or larger gear (anything from the promiscuous 5.5 on up) I don't say I'm overpowered until the sail's aerodynamics start to break down. You can feel and hear the thing cease to be a wing providing lift as it becomes a tortured and abused shape in a gale. A sudden increase in speed and power that, knot for knot, would scare me off of a given high-wind sail is, on bigger gear...exciting!
If gusts hitting the sail makes the rig feel like a punching bag, I'll opt for lots more downhaul to let the sail spill the bursts of power. If the challenge is keeping the board on the water, I'll swap in a smaller fin (or even a smaller board.) But if I'm afraid to bear off into a jibe or try a jump, it's usually time to rig down.
(I can't remember the last time I was overpowered. We're in a wind deee-rought on Long Island!)
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Fetched: July 10th, 2008, 6:57pm CEST by Michael
Dana Miller has it pretty good...he's out in Pistol River, where at this very minute the forecast is:
N GALES 35 KT. WIND WAVES 8 TO 10 FT.
It goes on that way for the rest of the week.
But that's not what this post is about. It's about some fine stickers that Mr. Miller has cooked up, in response to some kite stickers that were making the rounds a year ago courtesy of Trip Forman (major kiting proponent, button pusher, and a fine windsurfer, though you don't want to share a go-kart track with the man.)
According to an article in this month's New England Windsurfing Journal, the stickers are obtainable from the Avon Sail House in Hatteras (or find Margaret and Olaf when they set up their summer shop in the Gorge) or you can mail a dollar per sticker to Dana at POB6111, Pistol River, OR 97444 and he'll take care of you directly.
(photos courtesy Dana)
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Fetched: July 10th, 2008, 6:57pm CEST by Michael
If you missed the Long Island premiere of The Windsurfing Movie, you have another chance to see it on a big screen. The masterwork of Johnny DeCesare and old-school Peconic Puffin Jace Panebianco will be screened Friday, July 11th at the East End Seaport Museum in Greenport at 7:00pm. Admission is $3 (free for members of the Seaport Society.) So be there or be square...Friday July 7th!
If you can't make the Greenport screening, you may want to consider jetting out to Hollywood to catch The WIndsurfing Movie as part of the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival on July 15th. Admission is free, which will help defray the cost of your flight west. If you'll already be in Tinseltown, then you're golden!
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Fetched: July 8th, 2008, 3:16pm CEST by Michael
Sometimes praying for wind doesn't work. In my experience, praying for wind rarely works, in fact! So how to become okay with light winds, or the absence of wind altogether? Where might I turn for spiritual guidance? Should I put on a robe?
Michael Jamieson's example comes to mind. Here is a man who brings a personal Buddha on location to the launch (don't even ask if his harness lines are balanced.) When not sailing, he meditates on freestyle fin choice (the adorning fin in this photo is courtesy Tonky Frans. Hey Mike Burns...whadayathink?
(Michael Jamieson is also the sculptor...check out more of his work at jamiesonstoneworks.com.
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Fetched: July 6th, 2008, 4:24am CEST by Michael
My cell phone rang.
"Hello Michael, how are you today?"
I was excited, because the forecast called for a windy afternoon, and the trees were beginning to rustle. But who was this stranger on the phone? I asked.
"It's The Wolf."
"The Wolf?" Did I know a Wolf? Are the telemarketers now calling cellphones? Am I Little Red Riding Hood? Then a memory began to piece itself together in my head. A long, long time ago, when it used to blow strong on Long Island, I windsurfed with a guy named The Wolf. This was probably that guy, calling because we were going to have wind!
"I'm good! Where are we sailing?"
By and by it all got sorted out, and New Suffolk was the call. New Suffolk with the split personality--always sailed in S-SSW wind, turn right during incoming tide for bump and jump, turn left for the sweet jibatorium behind the Robins Island sand bar. The tide was wrong for jumping, so we'd be playing in the super flat waters.
I got there and barely recognized the Wolf...he was in a bathing suit and t-shirt. Where was his drysuit? Then a second guy said Hi. I was catching on, and so photoshopped him in my head with a heavy wetsuit. It was Scott! Another face from the past...
Soon we launched...5.8 was the call (me lit on a 6.2, Scott struggling on a 5.2, da Wolf was just right.) By and by Peconic Jeff showed up (we'd sailed Hecksher the day before so I recognized him straight off) but yet another windsurfer appeared, and called out to me as he planed by. It was Seth, former Windsurfing Hamptons employee who'd gone to the dark side ten years ago...I hadn't seen him since. He had brought a windsurfing board and sail with him through the time portal.
With the window to the past wide open and letting in a heck of a breeze (time to rig down) everyone was tearing it up behind the sand bar. While the outside of the jibatorium is flatter than Napeague or Hatteras or Bonaire (pick your well know flat spot) the run and turn right along the bar is the flattest, fastest water I've ever sailed. The big boys in France should ditch the Ditch and go for the speed record here!
Anyhow the fun move is to charge the sand bar, then bear off on a broad reach about six feet from the sand. I always do this behind Scott, who is:
a. knowledgable about the spot, and
b. crazy
to determine just how close I can get to the sand. When you jibe at the end of the run (it's only about a 3/4 turn from the broad reach) you have so much speed and the water is so perfectly flat that you just rocket out of the turn. It's a beautiful thing, as addictive as ice cream, and so there was a ring of about eight windsurfers (Jonathan Ford and Jimi Sobeck from the present has arrived by now) tearing around at breakneck speed in one mad circle, again and again and again x500.
The sailing was so easy that there never seemed a reason to take a break, however after 1500 jibes some of us (me) noted that our hands were falling off. I had to pick up Mrs. Puffin anyway, and the Wolf also headed in to give his paws a rest, when all of a sudden the wind shut off, and the remainder of the mad circle had to shlog or swim back to shore. It was strange wind behaviour, but I have no doubt that the nearby time portal was messing with the isobars.
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Fetched: July 4th, 2008, 5:58am CEST by Michael
Before I complain about the weeds at Hecksher, let me say Thank All Wind Gods for a place that blows in the summer. It's been almost two months since I sailed something smaller than 6.2, so the fully powered 5.0 conditions yesterday were a delight. Thanks for the wind, thanks for the air, thanks for the warm water.
That being said, let's talk a bit about the weeds. I've never seen weeds slam the brakes on people sailing weed fins the way I did last night. I've never been so weeded down myself at times while sailing a weed fin (True Ames Surfgrass). It seemed like every now and then they'd just tie themselves in knots around the fin...I was hearing sounds from behind my board that I'd never heard before.
Nothing a good jump or tack didn't cure, though. I'd go back in a minute, though I'm hoping for some east end action today.
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Fetched: July 3rd, 2008, 6:28am CEST by Michael
The Olympic training waters in China are less than ideal. The story of this mess is all over the media, but when it comes to marine biology and windsurfing I always turn to
James' blog.
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Fetched: July 1st, 2008, 2:08pm CEST by Michael
The day began with the following comment, emailed from Peconic Jeff:
"Moohoowahaha!"
There were a few other words, arranged in complete sentences, but it was all exposition to support the declaration of "Moohoowahaha". The forecast of planing winds after a month-long drought did this to P-Jeff. I whined back that I suspected that there would never be decent wind again, ever, and that I had sold all of my windsurfing equipment in disgust.
But I was lying, and plans were layed to sail at Peconic Jeff's formerly secret spot, the Red Cedar Point Jibatorium and Trickery Studio. (The bad news about this spot is there's no legal way to access the launch...you must cross the Great Peconic from South Jamesport or find some other way onto the water and then sail to Red Cedar. Jeff and I may not have done that, exactly...)
Anyhow we shared the super-flat waters with a pair of well-mannered kiters, and had all sorts of fun. In the video clip below I can be seen screwing up backwinded jibes and carve 360's (smooth camera work and title graphic by Jeff), whilst Jeff can be seen (barely, thanks to my unsteady hand) hitting a nifty donkey jibe.
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Fetched: June 30th, 2008, 9:10pm CEST by Michael
I've heard quite a few Long Island windsurfers rave about the
wavesailing at Democrat Point, or “Demo”, on the western tip of Fire
Island. But every time I hear talk about Demo, invariably there's
also a story about someone getting into a jam...if the wind drops or
your gear breaks, word is that the currents will take you to Portugal.
I asked about this in the Long Island Windsurfing Forum, where (along with encouragement to try sailing Demo) I was told that I needed to read the story of "mikedabaker".
I read it.
Wow. It is as vivid a description of a windsurfer in trouble on
the water as I have ever read. I asked Michael “mikedabaker” Vitti if
I could run his story in this blog, just to share it with a few more
people. Mike graciously said yes, so here it is.
(Note: People I've spoken with who know Mike have stressed to me
that he's an exceptionally fit athlete and surfer. In other words, a
less fit and wave-savvy windsurfer might not have made it.)
Mike's story:
Oct 13, 2004, 2:00PM. I got to the beach and the wind had just
lightened up. I waited. Soon the sun came out and the wind picked up
and the sand was blowing. Ran back to my van and rigged the trusty
4.7 and the 99 liter board.
Decided not to wear the dry suit as my plan was to make this a quickie
session, so I put on my wetsuit. I was kind of tired from doing trail
work the previous morning and sailing all Saturday afternoon but those
waves looked juicy and I wanted a piece of them.
I sailed straight out, making a bee line for the outer sand bar,
jumping all the way. As I approached the impact zone I noticed it
looked really gnarly, and contemplated jibing away from them and
heading for the inside bar at Cedar Beach.
As fate would have it I decided to go for it. Since the wind was
side off the waves were really hollow, and I spotted some really
vertical ramps to send me skyward. These combined with the incredible
speed I was traveling made it seem like I was getting launched into
orbit.
I jibed outside and came into the breaking waves for some down the
line sailing. Caught two good rides then suddenly I fell in trying to
escape the froth of a previously broken wave. I gathered my gear
together to position myself for water starting, then turned to look
into the mouth of a freak rogue hollow wave that was sucking and about
to dump right on me. As I was sucked into the mouth of the beast I
held tight prepared for the mother of all Nantucket sleigh rides.
I had one hand on my foot strap and one hand on the end of my boom
as I went through the rinse cycle. It felt like my arms were about to
get twisted and ripped off so I let go and tumbled along hoping my
board wouldn't get too far away. I popped up and swam for my board as
fast as I could before another wave came to clean me up.
I quickly assumed the water start position and out of the corner of
my eye I saw a slight looseness to the sail and figured oh well, I got
another hole in the sail. “That's good.” I thought, because I was
overpowered anyway, but upon closer inspection I saw the whole panel
was gone. “No big deal,” I thought, I'll just luff/limp back in with
whatever is left of the top and bottom of the sail.
As I tried to waterstart again I noticed something looked really wrong
with this sail. I waited for a lull in the waves constantly breaking
on my head to finally get a good look. Crap! The whole sail was
ripped straight across the top of the boom, including the heavy fabric
seam along the clew edge.
Okay, that sail is useless. I laid the mast on the tail of the
board and started paddling towards shore. 45 minutes later I realize
I'm not making any headway. I'm still in the impact zone and getting
pummeled.
Okay this is a bit more serious than I had thought. Time to get
rid of the sail which was now acting as a sea anchor. Time to take
everything apart in between wave impacts and slip the sail off the
mast. Said a few words to my old faithful friend…"adios amigo" as i
watched the sail head south in the outgoing current.
And speaking of outgoing current, I was not far behind.
I was close to the fishing boat when this all happened, but now I
was pretty far away. I saw a windsurfer sail out to just about where I
was and I gave a wave indicating I was okay and he jibed and headed
away. I kind of figured the Coast Guard was going to be called due to
my predicament.
Now I am out past the outer sand bar, and I quickly put my one piece
mast on top of my board along with my boom, then I climbed on top and
started to paddle more earnestly without stopping as I knew I had to
get in front of the breaking waves so they could help push me towards
shore.
My first attempts at riding the bigger waves in towards shore ended in
complete failure as my gear and I were tossed about. Trying to belly
ride my board with the one-piece mast and boom on those huge waves you
see out by the buoys was a ridiculous attempt in futility.
Numerous times I was separated from my gear and eventually I told
my mast and boom goodbye. But every time I got rid of them they would
float back to me like scared little kittens wanting to come back on
board. “All right, I'll take you along for a little while but if you
start to screw things up for me...your outta here!”
As I drifted along I never saw land getting any closer. I was only
able to stay in the outside sand bar's breaking waves. As I neared the
second buoy…a red one…I decided to tell my mast and boom to get the
hell out of here. I just couldn't ride the waves in with that mast
hanging to one side as it would always turn me to the side and I'd roll
sideways and capsize.
But they always floated back to me...get the hell outta here! I
gave in as I was adding up the replacement costs. But I vowed to ditch
them if I was still swimming past sunset. I had my eye on the Fire
Island lighthouse and was glad to have that beacon to guide me in when
it got dark.
Finally I learned how to ride the waves in and adjust for the mast
hanging off the end of my board. Now I had my sights set on demo.
Paddling a little more seriously with head down and deep strokes, I
tried to get close enough to catch a big outside set to push me in
closer.
I'm close now as I could see the jetty. Suddenly I felt the ocean
falling beneath me and looked behind me to see the mother of all waves
about to break behind me. I quickly shimmied my weight to the back of
the board to prevent pearling and felt a rush of white water crash upon
my back. I had a death grip on the rails of my board because if I lost
the board out here I would be pulled out to sea again with no
floatation and that would be really bad.
It was quite a ride in, bouncing along with the white water and
steering myself from a wipe out. Soon the wave flattened out and I
schooched forward to drive the nose of the board down the face of the
wave so I could keep this ride going. Now I'm heading straight for the
rocks of the jetty but I'm not going to let this wave go. I'll smash
right into the rocks if I have to.
The wave reformed and I steered the rig to the left but the waved
jacked and dumped me off. I surfaced after going through the turmoil
and my gear was gone. The current was pulling me out and I'm swimming
towards shore hoping for another wave to push me in. I turned around
and saw another big one behind me. I was able to swim fast enough to
catch it and body surf in, finally touching the sand but only getting
sucked out for another tumble. One more wave pushed me in and I happily
was finally walking on sand. I ran down the beach and gathered up my
gear, then looked back at Overlook. I saw a boat coming out of the
inlet with flashing lights and figured it was the Coast Guard. I knew I
needed to contact them to call off the search so I ran down to a
fisherman and asked him if he had a cell phone to call the Coast Guard
and call off a search for me. "Where did you come from?" he said "Out
there" I pointed.
They wouldn't call off the search until they verified that I was the
right person they were looking for. After they determined I was the
right person they asked how I was going to get back and I said I guess
I'm walking. They offered to send a car...like I'm going to say no?
I looked over at Overlook again and I saw tons of flashing lights on
the beach....I was like uh oh...this is turning into a big thing.
Next I see a Suffolk police helicopter and another smaller coast guard
boat. I noticed that the Coast Guard cutter first went to the last
place I was seen and traveled the same route I had drifted and was soon
off Demo searching.
Boy these guys know there stuff...I would have thought to look elsewhere due to the current.
Finally I see an ATV and two police vehicles coming down the beach and
I was offered a ride. I apologized for getting everyone involved but
they were glad that I was found alive. It doesn't always work out
that way.
Lessons learned:
-Sail with a buddy
-Use one of the strobe lights that strap to your arm. I had mine in
my van...it works better if you actually wear it. The waves were 6-9
feet and you're not visible without the strobe light.
-Stay
in shape or stay near the shore. That was one long paddle...about two
and a half hours of non stop paddling in addition to the numerous
wipeouts.
-Offshore or sideshore winds will make it difficult or impossible to
swim back. Combine that with an out going current and you have a
deadly combination.
Thanks to Stan and Lou for making the right decision to call the Coast
Guard if I was out for a longer period of time it would be good to have
that back up especially if it were after dark.
I've already started to write a thank you letter to the Suffolk Marine Police and Coast Guard."
*****
(Three years later it's still a vivid memory for Mike. After reading an advance copy of this post he wrote the following:)
" The waves that day were about logo to mast high on the outside.
Water temps were in the low to mid fifties. Air temps were upper
fifties. I made it back to the beach just before sunset.
I was very strongly motivated to reach the beach on my own power,
after I saw the helicopters and coast guard boats. I thought they would
charge me for the rescue! How dumb was that?
Also an interesting side note:
I wore my light weight wet suit so it would make me colder faster
and force me to only have a quickie session...because...I was supposed
to pick up my kids from school and I didn't want to be late! If i was
snug and warm in my drysuit...I wouldn't want to cut my session short.
Because I never showed up to pick up my kids at school...it set off
a whole chain of phone calls, which reached my wife who happened to be
on a business trip....I WAS BUSTED!
Instead of being glad to find out I was still alive...my wife didn't
speak to me for a week! My kids were used to it though cause I've
arrived to pick them up from school late and still in my wetsuit
several times. Once I had to go to the principal's office in my wetsuit
to pick up the kids, who were being entertained by the office staff."
(Aside from being an avid windsurfer and surfer, Michael Vitti is
the president of CLIMB (Concerned Long Island Mountain Bikers) and is
busy building mountain bike trails and a BMX tracks. He helped lobby
successfully to get the first mountain bike trails in New York City parks.
Mike says "These parks had a problem with heroin and crack addicts.
We're changing the predominant use in these parks from one type of
junkie for adrenaline junkies!"
Check out CLIMBonline.org
Mike was once a baker at a health food store, and was known to show up at sessions with muffins to share.)
(photos of Mike on better days courtesy Ely Spivack, and h2omen.com.)
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Fetched: June 29th, 2008, 12:59pm CEST by Michael
Let's see...could that be ME? No, it could not...my hair doesn't look anywhere near as good when wet. That could be Mike Burns at Hecksher, though.
(Photo by Bill Doutney)
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Fetched: June 26th, 2008, 8:25pm CEST by Michael
I met a fellow blogger today. That’s excitement in my book (I need a better book, I know.) Really and truly, though, getting to talk face to face with someone I’ve been trading comments with for months or years is cool.
Windsurfing bloggers are gregarious and make an effort to meet. I’ve connected with OBX Bill and Lost In Hatteras Andy with ease, and had to screw up pretty badly to miss meeting Mac of Water Turtle and Catapulting Aaron. (Drysuit2 Frank and Peconic Jeff I knew pre-blog.)
But the sailboat bloggers are cut from different stuff.
Their blogs are fun to read (they have so many exotic topics to explore…”vang tension”?) but the bloggers themselves like their privacy. The sailboat crowd generally doesn’t let you get too close. They think they’re so damn superior…
So when I received an email from Adam of Messing About in Sailboats it was a pleasant surprise. First we went back and forth about PJ Harvey (for his “Songs for Friday” series) then a bit about work (we’re vaguely in the same field) and then lunch came up (we’re both working in NYC).
So we did it. It was great fun…the best part being all the trash talking we did about The Horse's Mouth Joe and the Tillerman and Frogma Bonnie Bonnie Bonnie…*
(* I would never trash talk Bonnie Bonnie Bonnie. Besides, she’s a kayak and cucumber blogger and is perfectly sociable. Furthermore Joe and Lord Tillerman have been quite generous to the Puffin, so any bad behaviour towards them on my part is inexcusable. It wouldn't be the first time...)
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Fetched: June 26th, 2008, 2:35am CEST by Michael
It's been over three weeks since we've had a good day of wind. There have been a few moments where if you were in the right place at the right time (I was not) you got it for an hour or two, but a righteous session on sails other than our largest is way past due on Long Island.
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Fetched: June 23rd, 2008, 2:56pm CEST by Michael
(to the tune of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way")
"Backside ridin' through the waves you be glidin'
then you jibe, say your fin's okay,
But ya ain't seen nothin' till ya cut back on a MuFin
Then you're sure to be a changin' your ways..."
The MuFin...a wave fin that doesn't look like a wave fin. James has the story.
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Fetched: June 23rd, 2008, 2:56pm CEST by Michael
It had been 16 days since I planed at all. 21 days since both feet were in the footstraps. Hecksher Park is not close (whether I'm in the city or in Peconica) but since it always has the best odds of getting some thermals, I planned to go. Got a call from Peconic Jeff, who was also losing his mind from lack of planing. He wanted to go to Hecksher too, but then the Cable Guys screwed him up and he had to stay home.
Poor bastard.
Anyhow The King of The East said there would be thermals, so to Hecksher I went...where a dozen or so people (including King Mike, Frank, Ira, George Marr and other faces from the festival) were on the water, mostly planing. I had a good time on a 6.2 for a few hours...not ripping, but getting enough jibe and trick attempts in to feel like I'd done some windsurfing.
I'm still parched, but I'm not gonna die of deprivation just yet, and they're calling for some breeze on Sunday...
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Fetched: June 23rd, 2008, 2:56pm CEST by Michael
Nothing fancy...just a day I would love to have right now. Thanks to Chiaying for suggesting the video. Skip the first 30 seconds to get out on the water.
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Fetched: June 19th, 2008, 10:02am CEST by Michael
I worry about gear breaking...in particular anything that would leave me unable to sail back to shore, and expecially anything that might separate me from my board (perhaps you caught my rant about two bolt bases.) I've been fairly lucky in regards to uni breakage (it's only happened to me once...my safety line held, and I didn't trash the deck sailing back to shore) and I inspect my uni's regularly, but after reading a post by Andreas Macke about how he found quite the crack in a tendon, I need to improve my inspection technique.
Check out his story and see for yourself.
(Photo of Andreas' torn UJ swiped from his blog, G-42.)
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Fetched: June 19th, 2008, 10:02am CEST by Michael
No gear? No problem. Get thee to Napeague and hook up with Windsurfing Hamptons' trailer. Here's the word from WH's Jonathan Ford:
Jake is our employee who will always be on the beach
with the trailer, and we'll have other instructors rotating through as necessary.
All new gear in the trailer - boards and sails of all sizes, along
with SUP boards. Instruction as well as gear rental is available for all levels for both windsurfing and stand up paddling. Anyone interested in lessons or rentals will
want to book in advance either through the website or call the shop (631-283-9463). Booking in advance is key to availability, particularly when the forecast is good! Here are the links for renting equipment and booking a lesson.
The Puffin often receives inquiries about where good windsurfing equipment can be had near good sailing waters. This is a primo opportunity for everyone from beginners to jibemasters. Just add wind.
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Fetched: June 19th, 2008, 10:02am CEST by Michael
The Great and Powerful Nevin Sayre (US-9) informs the Puffin of a junior windsurfing event on Cape Caahd, July 16-19. Thus spake Nevin:
"The East Coast Junior Champs will be hosted by the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. This is also a U.S. Sailing Junior Olympic event, and is broken down into Under 19, Under 17, Under 15, and Under 12 age groups. The event is really kicking into high gear with junior windsurfers already registered from as far away as California and Florida. Up and coming junior windsurfers from the East Coast Champs may be eligible for grant funding to the 2009 North American Championships (likely in San Francisco).
July 16 will kick off the action with an optional windsurf/racing clinic to improve your skills. This is a free opportunity to learn from a team of multiple national windsurfing champions. July 17-18 will be the Junior Championship held on beautiful Vineyard Haven Harbor. Vineyard Haven is the breeding ground of such prominent windsurfers as Seth Besse, the Douglas Brothers, Nacy and Platt Johnson, and yours truly. On July 19 there is also a separate Long Distance Race open to all ages and all equipment as part of the Vineyard Cup (www.VineyardCup.com). Junior competition will be held on Techno 293 One Designs with charter boards available on a reservation basis. Per USWA guidelines, there are maximum sail sizes for the different age groups. Limited housing is also available. More information is available at www.vhyc.org.
What’s great about this windsurfing regatta is that all ability levels are welcome. There are kids who’s main goal is to make it around the course for the first time, and other kids who are eager to strut their stuff. We break it down into different divisions and the kids inspire each other. Any one who can make it to the windward mark is qualified. This will likely be the largest group of junior windsurfers in the U.S. in one place at one time, and there is a pioneering spirit that makes it super fun for all the kids. If that's not enough reason to come, we are investing in a dvd of the event to promote junior windsurfing. You could be a staaah!"
(You just know that Nevin is hoping their little shindig goes off as well as Long Island's finest. We wish them well!)
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Fetched: June 19th, 2008, 10:02am CEST by Michael
How high would you say that jump is? Taking a wild guess (and estimating that the mast of the sailor on the water is a 400cm...13 feet) I'm thinking Jonas Ceballos has about 28 feet of air under the tail of his board.
I particularly like the acceleration he achieves about half way through the jump. I suppose the winds pick up once you're in the jet stream.
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Fetched: June 13th, 2008, 5:48am CEST by Michael
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 Nitali: 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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Fetched: June 13th, 2008, 5:48am CEST by Michael
From down under we are presented with this photo of Rick, sporting a harness bra. Then there's the bathing suit. As seen on Windsurfing NSW.
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Fetched: June 13th, 2008, 5:48am CEST by Michael
While racing was the more popular event (with over 45 competitors) the freestyle action was fast and furious and a whole lot of fun! We were stoked to have Phil Soltysiak and crew join us from Canada, though they had to hit the road on Sunday and missed the final competition.
Freestyle Pro Men
1 - Mike Burns (The King of the East)
2 - John Sassone
3 - Larry Hoff
4 - Ed Dehart
5 - Phil Soltysiak
6 - Josh Soltysiak
7 - Tom Soltysiak
8 - Kuba
Freestyle Sport
1 - Kurt Vieth
2 - Michael Alex
3 - George Pav
4 - George Marr
5 - Pete Roesch
6 - Jeff Schultz
7 - Ian Warren
8 - Ira
8 - Rich Simmons
10 - Jill Marr
11 - Tom Dehan
12 - Martin ("this dude took the train to the event and borrowed gear!"-Mike Burns)
13 - Ted Bonner
14 - Mike Jamieson
Women
1 - Jill Marr
Juniors
1 - Alex Hering
2 - Xavier Campos
3 - George Marr III
4 - Katie Pav (owner of a massive duck jibe!)
5 - Doug Marr
(Photos by Bill Doutney. Can we shout out Bill for this closeup of George Marr sailing back to back? I will...yeah Bill!)
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Fetched: June 13th, 2008, 5:48am CEST by Michael
Here are the overall racing results from the East Coast Windsurfing Festival. Note that all racers (guys, gals, youts..."what's a yout?") are combined. Note that Pete Roesch was unstoppable (I even rammed him but still ended up in his wake in that heat!) Note that Bart Kornas is dangerous to crowd near a mark. Note that young Alex Hering smoked an army of adults! And note that we had lots of ties overall (see the duplicate numbers to the left.) On a personal note I'd like to say that the first time I ever raced at an event, I never made it around the course, so mad props to everyone who got out there!
1. Pete (the Eliminator) Roesch
2. Bart Kornas
3. Alex Hering
4. Michael Alex
5. Joe Giordano
6. George Pav
7. Marhn Sszymanski
7. Jim Manta
8. Martin Risner
9. Ian Warren
10. Xavier Campos
10. Dennis Grunbeck
11. Peter Alagha
12. Mike Columbo
13. Kurt Veith
14. Peconic Jeff Schultz
15. Joe Natalie
16. George Marr
17. John Markwalter
18. Kuba
19. Rich Halloway
20. John Sasson
21. Ted Bonner
22. Bluefish Mike
22. Ira
23. Phil Soltsiack
23. Jill Marr
24. Juan Piantino
24. Jesse Waters
24. Tanya
25. Elvin Quezaba
26. Sean Keating
27. Vicki
28. Larry
29. Chip
30. Tom Soltsiak
30. Florian
31. Rich Simmons
31. Robert Mallin
31. Tom Dehan
31. Josh
31. Dean Carbalo
(Photos by Bill Doutney)
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Fetched: June 9th, 2008, 6:52am CEST by Michael
As a storm approached from the south with thunder and lightning crackling, the organizers of the East Coast Windsurfing Festival tried to round everybody up to announce the winners and present trophies. But everybody already knew the big news, which was that Long Island could have a successful windsurfing festival. With 45 people racing and 20 competing in freestyle (with many people participating in both) and a healthy crowd of supporting fans and onlookers, the "totally unofficial" event was a hit. Even with the unseasonably light winds (what happened to the thermals?) there was never a break in the windsurfing action, and everybody had fun on the water and made new friends on the beach.
A full list of all the winners and the complete standings from the first East Coast Windsurfing Festival is coming soon (along with stories and more photos.) For now, here are the top finishers of the event:
Freestyle Pro
1. Mike Burns (The King of the East!)
2. John Sasson
3. Larry Hoff
Freestyle Sport
1. Kurt Veith
2. Michael Alex
3. George Pav
Freestyle Youth
1. Alex Hering
2. Xavier Campos
3. George Marr III
4. Katie Pav
5. Douglas Marr
Racing Unlimited 
1. Pete Roesch
2. Bart Kornas
3. Michael Alex
Women's Racing
1. Jill Marr
Women's Freestyle
1. Jill Marr (you gotta think Jill's pretty pleased with herself!)
Youth Racing
1. Alex Hering
2. Xavier Campos
Rocket Award (Speed)
Bart Kornas
(Photos by Bill Doutney)
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Fetched: June 9th, 2008, 6:52am CEST by Michael
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What do I mean when I say I'm overpowered?
