Wishing I was Fishing

   

This summer did not really deliver big wind. It was kind of light. When it did happen I found myself sailing bigger gear in the GSB.  And that really aggravates all my aches and pains. One day this Summer I kept running through these big schools of Blues chasing Bunker into bait balls. The last place I like to be is sailing through a Blitz. Bunker and Blues smell, and can attract much larger predators. So during a session this Fall: which was by no means epic… I found myself wishing that I was fishing instead.

That got me thinking about the NY Long Island Fishing Lobbies.
Why? Well because those like me, are often referred to by the LI Fishing lobbies as “surfers posing as dedicated beach anglers”, or not “real fishermen”. They do this in an attempt to discredit any surfcaster who doesn’t agree with them. For the most part it works. Most people have such a need to belong to a group…any group; that they are afraid to speak up. I have witnessed this bullying within the anonymity of an on line posting board. And my wife was first exposed to it this May during a NYS State Parks and Recreation meeting.

This was the meeting when the State announced that it was opening up its Parks to more user groups.

One guy who calls himself Doc. ***. went so far as to write an article about us posers in
'The Fisherman' this April. My favorite part was when this PHD of something I suppose, emphatically called the State of NY “foolish” if they were to allow Kayaks and windsurfers to launch from Sunken Meadow State Park. Perhaps if he had done some research; he would have discovered that these activities have been allowed there for over TEN years! And without one conflict.[I'm pretty sure you need to do research to earn a PHD.]

It’s not just him. At the May 13^th meeting some other “Retired” went on about how it would be nice if he could fly his model airplane at Bethpage State Park. Really? If you were so into model airplanes how did you not know that there is an aerodrome for that specific purpose at Bethpage? 

Next we heard from someone who considers himself an expert on surfer’s behavior. He proceeded to complain about surfers changing out of their wetsuits in public view. He waxed on about the indecency of his kids being exposed to naked surfers.

Now get this… not more than 2 minutes later. Right after the resolution to open up the State Parks to more water sports was PASSED by UNANIMOUS DECISION: his friend “Dump Truck” sitting next to him and his kids, proceeds to call the NYS Parks Board a bunch of scum%@gs! Considering the emotional trauma they have already endured: I can only hope they will not be scarred for life .

All of this shenanigans in an attempt to prove that Fisherman and Surfers don’t mix. [ a rouse to keep some of Long Island’s most beautiful beaches the exclusive domain of a select group of fishermen.] He went so far as to state that fishermen are a danger to surfers. [I appreciate your concern Doc., but Mother Nature has proven to be more of a hazard, then some redneck fisherman tossing bucktails at me in the line up.]

Heck I am more of a hazard to my own safety than a fishhook. And the several times I have been hooked, I’ve been on an empty beach, without a fisherman in sight.

So if I am sitting in my office dreaming of catching a 40 pound striper: Do I have the right to refer to myself as a “Fisherman”

If I am out surfing, windsurfing, or participating in any other waterborne activity, and I have the same thought: I am a “surfer posing as dedicated beach angler”?

This all came about because a good deal of us Fake Fishermen had the audacity to ask the NYS Parks why many of the nicest public beaches in the NYS Parks System are for fishing only? It’s not like there are no other people on Long Island.  In NY, the Fishermen organized in the 50’s. And their brand of “fake environmentalism” convinced those in power to set aside the majority of the States “outer Beaches” exclusively for fishermen and their families. They are some of Long Island’s most beautiful, and remote beaches.

With public beaches disappearing at a record pace:

Everyone, needs to get over themselves and stop practicing localism, including surfers.

It is not 1950 anymore.

Surfcasters need to realize that they don’t own the beach. If they don’t; and fail to build a true coalition of “Watermen”…Someone else with a lot of money will own the beach, and we will all be shit out of luck.

Teahupoo

I am not a good surfer by any stretch of the imagination. But surfing teaches one universal truth…life is measured in seconds. It is those short and tiny moments in life that that define us. That is where we find true joy and beauty.

And if we are lucky enough, we can spend our lives in search of those moments.

BIGGEST TEAHUPOO EVER from UnFuzzy on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/35328567

"This day at Teahupoo- Aug 27th 2011 during the Billabong Pro waiting period is what many are calling the biggest and gnarliest Teahupoo ever ridden. Chris Bryan was fortunate enough to be there working for Billabong on a day that will go down in the history of big wave surfing. The French Navy labeled this day a double code red prohibiting and threatening to arrest anyone that entered the water.
Kelly Slater described the day by saying "witnessing this was a draining feeling being terrified for other people's lives all day long, it's life or death. Letting go of that rope one time can change your life and not many people will ever experience that in their life."
All images where shot by Chris Bryan using the Phantom HD Gold camera. To see more of Chris' work check out his website. WWW.CHRISBRYANFILMS.COM
Music: Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun' by M83.
by Chris Bryan "

Most of the Long Island Crew is getting ready to spend the next few weeks in Bonaire, Nicaragua, or some other choice wind and/or wave location. The rest are enjoying the relatively warm winter.

I’m still trying to work hard at work, and my rehab. Until I am back… I do my best to remember the moments.

Stolen from the Peconic Puffin

 Stolen from the Peconic Puffin

Michael posted up about self rescue. He did this because last week we had both a windsurfer rescued, and the crew of a Commercial fishing boat.
While there has been a lot written on how to salvage your rig and get back to shore...I am a firm believer through personal experience in lose the rig and save your self. Especially in cold water.

The following is stolen from the Puffin. My comments are after.

How To Self Rescue On The Water

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 to find a copy,” Ted’s been saying.

Now after the Wolf’s misadventures on the Peconic (getting separated from his gear during at attempted derig) Ted reminded me again.   So I reached out to Windsport windsurfing magazine and said “Hey, a guy here says 8 years ago you had quite the article about emergency derigging...any chance you can find it and republish it?”   In less than an hour it was on Windsport’s website.
Spend some time checking out (I will be).  It is thorough.  It is Ted tested.  And it could save your gear (or your ass.)
Thank you Windsport! Good idea, Ted!

While I believe the above is accurate. I just don't believe it is appropriate in cold water.

In my experience: It is better to just lose the rig, and stay with the board. Any time I have tied up my rig in a neat little package [especially when you are in big seas] the energy expended trying to save the rig would be better spent rescuing yourself.
1. Stay with the board
2. Kiss that $2,000, mast, boom and sail combo goodbye
3. Paddle to safety, your life is worth more than your gear!
Resources [personal experience]: one hour and a half swim, in the open ocean, Air temp 50's, water 50's.
One hour swim in the sound, air 30's, water 30's.
One two hour swim in a protected bay; air 60's, water high 30's. This was the only time I actually saved my rig. It was difficult. My center of effort was too high and I kept falling of the side of the board in dead flat conditions. I ended up swimming behind my board, and salvaged rig. Not worth it. I was in the early stages of hypothermia, and was having thoughts like "maybe if I take off my PFD I could swim faster". The reason I survived that one was because Mike DaBaker paddled out to me on a longboard. We traded boards and he paddled my gear in the rest of the way.
The other two swims were later in life, and I jettisoned my rig without hesitation both times. All three swims were in a drysuit.

This puts things in perspective

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkNPYGRHBfhY%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&feature=youtu.be&v=kNPYGRHBfhY&gl=US

I tore some tendons and ligaments in October 2010. The cortisone shots [4 of them] worked for about a year. In December 2011 I started PRP therapy. I see the Doc next week; but it looks like we may end up with surgery. Bottom line: in the past, the cortisone shots gave me the relief I needed to continue sailing and healing. I have had more than I can remember, and in more places than I can count. I’m sure my accident this Summer didn’t help. Nothing like being in a coma for a few days. Ever since then, it just seems like I have more aches and pains. In my 50 years, this is the first time I have not been able to rehab an injury, and avoid the knife. So while I was busy feeling sorry for myself, I came across this video of Bethany Hamilton and Alana Blanchard. Kinda’ puts my little problems in perspective.

Rocking The Boat

Since I stopped working in the City five years ago, I often forget that I live so close. I turn my back and look east or south. But Rocking the Boat is right in my back yard.


scenes from a fall semester from rocking the boat on Vimeo.


Find out more about them at http://rockingtheboat.org/media/

Winter on Long Island

Well I may be out of commission; but the Crew is killin' it. Here are a few pic's from my favorite photographer Steve Domjan. Photo's like these, just make me want to heal faster.

While the swell at Da' Meadow doesn't look so large, the wind is absolutely howling.

See Steve's flikr page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/domer2/sets/72157628612756883/with/6591160311/

Fall

It’s been a frustrating Fall and Winter for me. Unusually warm, windy, and plenty of swell. But I am sidelined.

It seems I tore some tendons and ligaments during my accident this summer. The doc’s and I were so worried about the coma, we kind of overlooked my “other’ aches. But in retrospect, if you look at the video’s from July, you can see I was favoring my left side. I guess I was just out to prove that I wasn’t hurt.

So I am resting and doing what I can to mend. But I find it very frustrating.

But until I am back I figured I would show you guys some photos that Ted took at TOBAY in October. Ted came to us from Lake Michigan, and is no stranger to big swell, or cold water sailing. Plus he exudes the type of positivity I wish I had. I honestly don’t think I have ever seen him without a smile on his face.

The sequence is of the infamous “Air George”

NY is a waterman's city

Zep goin' to Cali

Nassau Spill Bill

http://surfridercli.blogspot.com/2011/10/action-alert.html

I don't know about you, but I'd like to know if I was fishing or swimming around in crap.

Iggy

I met Iggy about two months ago at Cedar. He was out on ten year old gear, and just rocken' it. Here he proves yet again that it is the sailor and not the toy.

Minds Wide Open

Minds Wide Open Trailer from Andre Paskowski on Vimeo.

Joe Rocco

A ceremony for Joseph Rocco, will begin at 10 a.m. at Field 7, on Saturday at Heckscher State Park in East Islip for a tribute to the man we called the Mayor of Heckscher. This beach will be referred to as “Joe's Beach," from now on.

Joe died Windsurfing in a tragic accident, last Sunday. Our Hearts go out to his Family and soul mate; Marianne Rantala.

In his 30 years as a fixture in the Long Island Windsurfing community, Joe did more for the sport, and taught more people to Windsurf than anyone I am aware of.

Joe; we know you are carving sweet jibes on your 4.7 while you wait for us.

We ARE All Gonn’a Die!

But if you have half a brain, you knew that already.

And what is really point? It’s not about how you die.

It’s about how you live.

If you lived this last week, on the East Coast: you wouldn’t know that.

America’s new religion is Panic. And oh so many of you have focused your attention on the flickering alter of the short attention span. The technological trinity: of Television, Internet, and PDA’s. Unfortunately, our elected officials have shown the same level of panic that a 3 year old does when a spider crawls on their shoulder for the first time.

First I watched the world yet again, panic as our government attempted to hold the country hostage for the sake of Political Theater. Then an irrelevant company attempted to make itself relevant, by passing judgment on our Government’s fiscal stability. This led the panic lovers to misuse some short term insignificant statistics. So instead of talking about a 2 or 3 percent Market Correction. We were subject to tales of 600 point catastrophes.

Our nation no longer has the ability to put things in perspective. We make long term decisions based of short term information.

Next up:  the National disasters…an earthquake in Virginia. What a surprise; it could be felt all up and down the Appalachian Mountain Chain. Did no one take high school geology? And now we have Irene. “The most terrifying storm I have ever seen from space” was the quote. Does it matter that this astronaut has never witnessed a hurricane from space before? Apparently not. For the last two days we have been bombarded with inaccurate computer models. The evacuation orders have been issued; transit canceled! Enough!

It has been an enlightening week for me.

On Wednesday I ruined my Blackberry. I will admit that it had me frazzled for a day or two. On Thursday I was able to get it to work for a few seconds. I saw 48 text messages. I don’t know who you were. But I can’t; and I am not returning your e-mails. I am free. I am not going to die. I am going to live.

Thursday I windsurfed in Chatham. Chatham is beautiful; the water is clear; the swell was clean. It was great. Right up until the part when I fell and split open my lip. I admit it I was pretty upset.

Yep 50

I was in Chatham to celebrate my parents 50^th Wedding Anniversary. I knew there would be pictures, and I did not want to mess up the photo’s. Turns out I didn’t need stitches. They basically used surgical grade crazy glue.

Mom and Dad

Friday we went fishing. My brother Joe, his son Sam, my cousin Charles, dad and I.  What a glorious morning. We caught and released way too many bluefish. Dad caught the only keeper striped bass. Seems the world was not coming to an end.  I was reminded of how special the day was when we were visited by three humpback whales.

That afternoon Joe, Sam, Lauralee and I kicked back while my Father took the rest of my relatives out for a sail. He must have been exhausted. But elated that at the same time he could share his time with all his family. And that is really what this is all about, isn’t it? Today was able to spend the day trading stories with my Family. Did we care about anything else? What else is there really?

Tomorrow I’ll check the surf to see if it is surfable. I’ll check the wind to see if I can go windsurfing. And next week…I guess I’ll have to get a new Blackberry.

But what really matters? Happy Anniversary; Mom and Dad. 

I guess some people just like to spend money.

Too hot to do anything today. No breeze. No swell. So Here I am surfing the web.



Interesting match up.  Extreme Cats, costing 400,000 Euro vs. stock windsurfing gear costing 3,000 Euro. I sailed the JP Guy Cribb is using, during the Windsurfing Magazine tests this Spring. It was a bit too aggressive for my taste. But not a board that would be difficult for an intermediate to sail.
But I guess some people just like to spend money.

Yacht Club Racing

Let’s be honest. You all know I don’t like racing.

When I was younger, it was a means to an end…I did not have my own boat… so if I raced for someone…I got to go sailing.

And that was tolerable, until…

I learned that if I worked for a boat yard, I could sail all I wanted. {Just not necessarily when I wanted}. You learn a lot about sailing, when you sail many different types of boats, in various stages of disrepair.  And you learn even more, when you are the guy that has to do the repair.

I learned that I liked just sailing. Not crewing for someone else. Just sailing.  Alone if possible. I’m not a team player. I’m not into team building. I’ll take the helm; thank you. No I don’t enjoy running the bow, trimming the sheets and lines to your specifications, and instructions. I don’t like Freezing to death, or baking to a crisp as rail meat.

And I really don’t like being stuck on a sailboat in no wind when the sailing sucks; strictly so we can accumulate points to increase the boats standings.  Or worse yet, being stuck on a boat when it is really windy, and I would be having so much more fun windsurfing.

I don’t need to prove I can move my toy through the rat maze faster than you can.

In certain circumstances, or rare occasions, I can see why people would want to Class Race. It’s about the sailor; not the wallet. I have a lot of respect for Class Racers. I’m still not going to crew for you. But I respect what you do.

However, as my years progress I have been developing a distain for most yacht club racers. This did not start until I joined a Yacht Club myself. Club Racers, most commonly race in a PHRF handicapped division. In most cases they own a boat so tender, that they can’t even sail it. I was going to say; can’t even sail it alone. But that is pretty much obvious; isn’t it.  So many of these guys; yes guys; lack basic seamanship skills: Including sailing.

They motor to and from their moorings. Yell at their crews.  They spend hundreds of thousands each year on sail inventory, and millions on new boats every few years.

I can deal with these type A’s, if they steer clear of me. [NO I will NOT crew for you. You would not want me anyway. I will second guess all your commands, and you can’t depend on me. I will not show up if there is a surf-able swell, the wind is too light, or it’s windy enough for me to windsurf].

I also don’t really mind that you guys devote a whole page or so of the local newspaper on your race results, and exploits frostbiting in the winter. {“Really, you sail in the winter? You must be so cool.”]

What bothers me, and really gets under my skin is that I receive an e-mail just about every week from some ex-athlete, Club Racer trying to Huck Finn me into spending my hard earned free time sitting on a race committee boat. In our bay it is called the Worry Wart.

Huck here, spams my inbox with lectures on how I need to honor our Bay’s historic racing tradition. Because it’s so important that I support our gallant racers by wasting my day baking in the sun keeping score, so he and his buddies can race against each other and re-live their high school glory days.

If it’s so important; then why don’t you keep score? We’re not stupid, and you’re not the cool kid in high school any more. You’re not even the want-to-be-cool kid. We are not responding to your e-mails; because we don’t care, and we have better things to do. You want a score keeper, pep squad; how about cheerleaders? Why don’t you just go hire someone to man the race committee boat? You hired your crew.[Yea half those guys wouldn’t show up either; if it wasn’t for the fact that they work for you, and are looking for a promotion.] Come on it can’t cost as much as that new unobtainium sail quiver you just purchased.

Josh Angulo

I know this is three years old. But when I dream of windsurfing. This is what I dream.

Josh at home from umi pictures on Vimeo.

Random thoughts

I met up with a group of guys I used to windsurf with in the 80's. It made me nostalgic for the old days, when you had one board and one sail. There has even been a lot of discussion on early sailing on iwindsurf.  About one third of them do not windsurf as much as they used to. And these guys where great sailors. So I figured this old clip was appropriate.

Right now my van smells like a mix of air freshener, and  rotting seaweed. Heckscher has been closed to swimming due to high bacteria levels. Of course, I learned this on the local news; AFTER I went sailing there twice this week! http://www.news12.com/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=289012&position=1&news_type=news

[Incidentally the life guard they are interviewing is Chris Goodwin. He just started windsurfing several years ago. After watching us fly across the water from his lifeguard stand, he decided to give it a go. Now after just a few years he can rip with the best of em’. http://youtu.be/fLzXrdjvC_E ]

But back to why my van stinks. Heckscher may be closed to swimming; But not to windsurfing. I guess they have never seen me windsurf; and don’t realize I spend as much time in the water as I spend gliding over it.

This August has been unusual. You usually have to put up with Heckscher’s weeds in June and July due to its famous thermals.It is just the only place it blows during the summer. Unless of course, we get an errant tropical storm. This season however, June and the first half of July were a bust.

You noticed bizarre behavior among windsurfers.  Die hard wave sailors were spotted on 9.0 sails and slalom gear! There were even reports of manicured lawns. Thank god there were some small waves. In unpredictable behavior, since late July, early August; I have been windsurfing twice a week. [one session was even in the ocean]. Plus earlier this week we had big clean swell!. [I missed surfing it, because I was too busy with the dizzying gyrations of the DOW. And I actually was dizzy;{ probably some leftover effects from being in a coma the last week of June}] But it has been so nice to be windsurfing, that I am cool with it.

I’m pretty much cool with everything. I went from accident---to living in nothing flat. I am lucky. Joe, on the other hand; my brother, has been getting beaten up the last few weeks. He was just beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel: now we are screaming wrong light! And wrong tunnel. The cumulative effects of treating his illness are now worse than the illness in the first place. It just plain sucks. Joe is stronger than I. He just deals with whatever is thrown at him. No complaints. No whining. He just get’s it done.

Segue is on the Hard

She hasn’t been on dry land since October of 09. My list of “to-do’s” is enormous. I’ll probably get to  about one tenth of them . I need to…

Let her hull dry out.

Grind and fill any blisters that show up.

Add a 4 inch dark green boot stripe above the waterline.

Acid wash my hull. [done; just not so well]

Wax my hull. [only one coat]

Scrape and clean the teak. [ barely started]

Oil the toe rail.

Varnish the tiller.

Cetol the coamings, hand holds, eyebrow, and mast box.

Add a window to the Genni.

Add a dodger without a front end to use as a Bimini.

Attach a spinnaker bail at the mast head for a gennaker.

And the list goes on and on...

Mother Ocean

demo.7.21.11 from Frank Messina on Vimeo.

 

There have been several times in my life when I was not close to the Ocean. Once or twice I’ve tried to describe to people how much I miss being away from it. How I feel like I am missing a part of me, somehow.

Most; just don’t get it. After all, I don’t live on the Ocean. I live on a Bay; a saltwater bay.  And that helps to keep my OK. Because there is a difference.

I know it sounds unreasonable; But there is a great difference between fresh water and saltwater. And there is an ocean of difference between any other body of water and well… the Ocean.  Yes, I know the Great Lakes are huge. But they are not connected closely enough to the ocean. Their water is fresh.

I just can’t put into words what I mean: how I feel. I’ve tried, and failed too many times. You either are: or you’re not.

Thursday July 21^st was special for a lot of reasons. It was the second warm and windy day we’ve had this week. A rare treat this time of year.  And the tide that afternoon was right for Demo; outgoing all afternoon with a South West breeze.

I was lucky just to be breathing. I was lucky to be on the exact same set up;[6.3, 110ltr board, & and a 9” wave/weed fin] as I was on Sunday. I was grateful to be back in the arms of Mother Ocean.

Heckscher July 17, 2011

heckscher.7.17.11 from Frank Messina on Vimeo.


 We say a lot of things about Heckscher.
We complain about the weeds, the bone jarring chop that will knock the fillings out of your teeth.
It's the Great South Bay; we complain about the water quality, we sometimes refer to it as the "sewer".
The water can smell in the summer. It's not the clear beautiful water we get in the ocean.
There is no wave sailing or windSURFing at Heckscher.

But there is chop. The kind of chop that made Mike Burns and Jon Sassone into world class freestylers.

So why do we still sail there?  It's the thermalls.
It can be a miserable windless, 90 degree day on the island...but if it's gonna' blow,
it will blow at Heckscher.
Enjoy the ride!

I feel like I just woke up

So here we are. It’s the middle of the summer. How did that happen so fast?

I missed those magic weeks this season. The ones where the air is still in the 70’s, the water is in the 60’s, it’s light until 9pm or more, and the water is un-crowded. I love those weeks.

I went straight from 4/3’s and a hood to sweating like a pig. Granted, a great deal of the fault lies with me. If I hadn’t fallen and injured myself, I would likely have been in the water instead of a hospital bed.

So I spent some time on Seque; the warmer water has really contributed to its marine growth. It had choked her engine intake and fouled her bottom, and she has a brown mustache above the waterline. I am not even going to get into how neglected the teak is.

The 4^th of July weekend was a zoo as usual. Some giant tennis sneaker was blaring Alicia Keys’ New York at 500 decibels. The wind was light, so LL and I sailed out of the mooring area, found a nice quiet spot, and I took a nap. [Of course when I woke up I waxed some of the coach roof].  

I guess the silver lining is that it will be Labor Day soon enough, and our access issues wane, as the wind and waves gain in strength. Hopefully my body will gain in strength as well.

I did sail yesterday [shuuuuush; I’m not supposed to, for a few more weeks. But I was pretty bummed that I couldn’t summon the strength to surf this weekend. I went to Heckscher; which is very shallow and flat. It felt great to be back at home, in the water. Where I belong.

Injured again.

It's just a part of life.

As you get older it takes longer each time to come back from injuries. My 50 year old body heals slower than it did, even 10 years ago.
I some respects; because I have more knowledge: I tend not to get hurt as much.
Experience has taught me how far I can push things, before they push back. [Not that I always listen.]

And sometimes...shit just happens. I'm trying to come back. Maybe too soon.
Anyway; I woke up at 5:30 to try and catch the 6:30 swell this morning. [Before the beaches are crowded, and the wind gets on a perfectly beautiful 3 foot swell with an 8 second period.]...

But I am just not ready. My body is still feeling the effects of being locked away for two weeks. I guess this is going to take longer than I thought.

Until then; thank god I have Segue. Sailing doesn't fill me the way surfing or windsurfing the ocean does... but she is a close second. And while I may be pushing the envelope as far as surfing goes...I will surely be able to sail for the rest of my life. And I fully intend to do so.

Summer is here

Had a great Demo session the other night. It was everything that is wonderful about long island. 20 knots, head to logo high waves, crystal clear water, sharks feeding on the plentiful fish, and uncrowded.

The next day the wind switched NW and blew again! But my body is just not as strong as it used to be. So Monday I visit my Orthopedist. Hopefully my aches and pains will turn out to be minor.

Well I'm on my way to the boat. The Genoa needs some stitching.

As far as you guys: enjoy these Vids I found on line.

The Arctic Light from TSO Photography on Vimeo.


The Aurora from TSO Photography on Vimeo.


The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

This guy is awesome! http://vimeo.com/21294655

Sometimes it does pay to be on the late shift.

Sometimes it does pay to be on the late shift.

I meant to leave work early on Friday. It just didn't work out that way.

I sailed Segue Thursday night, so I really wanted to windsurf. Even though the holiday weekend traffic sucked, LL and I decided to go to Heckscher anyway. The worst that could happen is I would go SUP'ing. It took about an hour and a half, But it was nice to catch up with Joe and meet some newer LI Windsurfers. After and hour or so, I was getting sunburned, and everyone was packing it up for the day. Some had already gone home.

Then at 6:25PM it just started. I didn't know how long it would last, or how strong it would be; but it was a thermal! I rigged and was on the water in less than 10 minutes.Ira, Joe, "natureBoy" Ruocco, and myself, caught about an hour or so before it started to fade.
That's all I needed.

the end of the world

Well, it’s the first day after the rapture, or as some as you know it the end of the world.

My knee is still pretty tender. I’m not sure if it is over use, or if I really twisted something up. Meanwhile I have been surfing and sailing. I even launched from MICA one night, thanks to Matt Meyran and the Port Water Taxi. Nothing epic to report; it’s the end of May and I am still in a 5/4. Most of my sessions have been in the rain. Not that that is a bad thing…The alternative would be crowds, lack of access, and mega allergies. Access is going to be a problem this year; the fishermen are in a pissing contest with the surfers, the beach front home owners, the windsurfers, kayakers, SUP’ers, the kiters, and the soccer moms. The surfers are in a pissing contest within themselves. It’s like freaking High school. Everybody thinks they own the beach. I’m just tired.

I think about my brother a lot. Now he has a freaking reason to be tired.

The Windsurfing Magazine issue from the Hatteras board tests came out. Since it was raining, cold, and I was praying to the porcelain god each day. There are no sailing shots of me.  It looks like the second week had some wind and sun, Good for them.

My favorite part of the Magazine is the shoot of Jon S saluting a guy who kept cutting him off during a photo shoot.

It also looks like Josh Angullo will actually be attending the East Coast Windsurfing Fest this June. That’s pretty cool, Mike Burns has been putting this event together for years. We’ve had sailors from as far away as Canada and Bonair: now we will have a World Champion from  Cabo Verde.

It’s a good year for water sports here on the island. The NYS Parks Commission has announced some expanded access, we will have a rock star at the ECWF, and the Quicksilver Pro Surfing competition is expected to draw 400,000 to 600,000 people to Long Beach this Fall. I even here there is a Million dollar purse.

Wind & Water - the Invention of Windsurfing from Joseph Schuster on Vimeo.

Broken rules.

I know my body. It’s only taken me 40 something years; but I’ve pretty much figured out that if I go windsurfing in the Ocean in conditions like we had on Saturday, I need a day off to rest. But just like the 12 year old I am mentally I succumbed to peer pressure and sailed Tanner on Sunday. Believe it or not I was on the exact same rig I used the day before in Logo high waves. But out by the sedges across the bay behind Gilgo the water was only about 1 to 2 feet deep dead flat, and super fast. Great practice for my jibes. But I broke rule number one don’t windsurf two days in a row. Give myself time to heal.

Yesterday [Thursday] afternoon I sailed Nest Neck with Mustang, Rich, Al, and Jeff. Classic outgoing tide, with a gusty North Westerly. No gloves needed!

It was so good that I broke rule number two; don’t sail longer than three hours. As a result my knee and shoulder are so sore, I actually followed rule number one and blew off a great surf this morning with Mustang. Sorry man; I am just too sore, and it’s supposed to be windy again tomorrow on Saturday. Man’s got to know his limitations…
BTW I'm in the green. Photos thanks to BLUEHARBORCAT.

Long day

 Photo's by Steve Domjan

Long day yesterday. I was up at six to get ready for LIBAG’s grass planting with www.savethebeaches.net . they are just another one of the fine organizations that help to stabilize the dunes, and take care of our south shore beaches.
http://libeach.blogspot.com/2011/04/2011-beach-grass-planting.html

While I was there I couldn’t help but notice we were getting sandblasted from the wind at Gilgo. There were a couple of kiters out, but the waves were just relentless, with no space in between them. It did not look fun. And I did not want to sail alone.

I grabbed a quick breakfast, since all I had eaten was a yogurt and a protein shake.

My phone was buzzing incessantly, ”the Bowl, you have to get to the Bowl, it’s going off”. I usually don’t travel out to the east end to windsurf. You can get stuck in killer traffic. But as I was already halfway there…and I knew that a bunch of my western LI guys were out there…I took the plunge.

Wow, it was so worth it. Take a look at Domjan’s Flicker page. Pay special attention to Jeffs Back Loop at the end!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/domer2/sets/72157626388431783/

Does Steve do anything poorly? Great Family Man [ his kids actually like to hang out with him], great Bass player in a band, great photographer, great sailor & Waterman. Sounds like a man crush? Nope he’s just a great friend.

I arrived about 2:30 so a lot of the guys were packing up from sailing all morning.  Scott Y, and I arrived about the same time, so I knew I would have someone to sail with.

Pecconic Jeff Schults was still going strong throwing back loops as he had since that morning. I saw a lot of folks I had not sailed with since the 80’s at Napeague. They had definitely acquired  the necessary skill set for these conditions.

I was out of my league. But I was able to sail none the less. Of course My two hour sail consisted of one or two runs out and back, followed by 5 minutes of standing on the beach trying to catch my breath. For my first real ocean session of the season, I had a great time and didn’t get into trouble. But the talent pool out there makes me realize how far I still have to go. I didn’t feel 100%. But then it occurred to me…,maybe this is my 100% .

Thanks to Mike & Jeff for sounding the alarm, and inviting us all out. And thanks to Steve for taking great photographs, and documenting the day.

2011 Windsurfing Magazine Freeride Tests

Well, I made it through the week. I had my doubts, and nearly canceled my trip; but I am so glad I didn't.
While there was no way I could keep up with the younger, healthier guys...I did my part; and tested as many boards as I could. Ten in all. Some of the veteran testers, and more aerobically inclined where able to test more. But I just couldn't make a judgement in 15 minutes.I needed at least an hour. In some cases more. I was able to tell what I liked, or disliked about the classic 110 ltr Freeride boards almost immediately.

But it took me a half hour in some cases just to learn how to sail the wide, Formula style derivatives the manufacturers had to offer.  It's been a long time since I sailed a two foot dagger fin, and had my footstraps on the rail.

The early part of the week was cold, wet, and off shore, with a frustrating wind shadow; perfect for testing all the light air boards. And the later half was windy 5.5 for me onshore conditions; perfect for testing the smaller volume, Freeride, and Slalom boards.


I could not asked for a better group of sailors to hang out and sail with, [except my local crew of course], and I could not have asked for a better place to heal up from winter.

For more see http://windsurfingmag.com/

Thank you to everyone!

2011 Windsurfing Magazine Board Tests

Life is good. While I am still no where near 100% physically: I am feeling better every day.

Josh Sampiero, from Windsurfing Magazine put together a great event, with a great group of varied people.

We arrived late Sunday, and although it was windy…my neck and shoulder hurt so much, I decided to wait for Monday, and start sailing after a good nights rest. I got to meet John Massman of Isthmus. I’ve been buying from these guys for 15 plus years. It was great to meet him face to face. [sorry you couldn’t be here too Gary]

 

Monday wasn’t that windy. So I pulled out my 10 year old Ezzy Infinity 8.5 and sailed my first Formula Board or two. It took me awhile to adjust, and once I did; I understand the love of planing in dead flat corduroy water, and 12 MPH. But truthfully, it was a lot of work. I think that if I didn’t own a sailboat; I would have one of these early planning machines.

Tuesday, was sunny, warm, and windless; great for healing. I took full advantage of it. The highlight of the day was spending time with Josh Angullo. The guy is a legend; yet he has a way of making everyone around him feel just as important.

Wednesday, was dead off shore gusty 17 to 25+. It was a bit of a pain to slog out and back from the wind line. But once out there, it was just great fun on some of the higher volume Free Rides’.

 

Thursday was also kind of a down day. No sun, but no real wind either. I saw some guys out on huge sails and Formulas pumping like crazy…But I’ll rest up. Friday, and Saturday are forecast to be side on, to on shore at 20-25 MPH! I can’t wait.

Plus the first of the Long Island crew show up tomorrow