Windsurfing » The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog (21 unread)

Trick Or Treat!

Fetched: October 31st, 2008, 8:25pm CET by Michael

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...
Ice Needles at Sebonac

Fetched: October 30th, 2008, 6:56am CET by Michael

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...
Some More Photos from that Bowl Session

Fetched: October 29th, 2008, 6:35pm CET by Michael

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...
Good Times At The Bowl

Fetched: October 28th, 2008, 12:37am CET by Michael

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...
The Windsurfing Song

Fetched: October 25th, 2008, 10:01am CEST by Michael

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.
Iron Pier in North Wind

Fetched: October 25th, 2008, 10:01am CEST by Michael

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...
Attempt at Road L

Fetched: October 25th, 2008, 10:01am CEST by Michael

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...
A Question of Wave Etiquette

Fetched: October 21st, 2008, 7:29am CEST by Michael

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...
What A Difference A Day Makes

Fetched: October 21st, 2008, 7:29am CEST by Michael

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...
The Wind Was Up and Down, But Who Is Complaining?

Fetched: October 21st, 2008, 7:29am CEST by Michael

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...
Cross Your Fingers For A Twenty+ Knot Weekend

Fetched: October 17th, 2008, 7:18pm CEST by Michael

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...
Pooping Puffin Politics

Fetched: October 16th, 2008, 9:07am CEST by Michael

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...
Dare We To Dream...of a Windy Saturday?

Fetched: October 15th, 2008, 5:40am CEST by Michael

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.
Freestyle Video "Stacked "...They Keep Getting Better

Fetched: October 14th, 2008, 8:37am CEST by Michael

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...
A Good, Quick Video Look at The Bowl

Fetched: October 11th, 2008, 5:02pm CEST by Michael

"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.)
Good Time On A Mellow Wave (video)

Fetched: October 10th, 2008, 9:17am CEST by Michael

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.)
Point and Shoot? Try Shred and Shoot!

Fetched: October 8th, 2008, 10:11am CEST by Michael

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.
It’s Peconic Jeff In A Landslide…

Fetched: October 7th, 2008, 11:31am CEST by Michael

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.
The Cupsogue Wave Machine Turns On

Fetched: October 7th, 2008, 11:31am CEST by Michael

"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?)
The Swap Meet Is This Saturday 10/4 (reminder)

Fetched: October 2nd, 2008, 4:45am CEST by Michael

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.
Poll: Name The Windsurfer Formerly Known As Peconic Jeff

Fetched: October 2nd, 2008, 4:45am CEST by Michael

Online Surveys & Market Research

"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.)