Sunday, July 20, 2008

Dear Mike, of the Peconic Puffin,


Dear Mike, of the Peconic Puffin,

As always, you have instigated a flood of memories. After years of longboards my first "shortboard" was a Hi Tech 9'8". I had been borrowing my friends Mistral "Tarifa", but that was still over 10 feet long. I had seen real shortboards [sinkers, we called them] but the light winds of Manhasset Bay made them impractical. "How can they sail upwind with out a dagger board?"

My eyes were opened my first trip to Napeague. While I sailed on a Mistral Equipe, and a borrowed 4.5; I saw custom shortboards with Captain America graphics plaining and carving full speed jybes! I had to have one.

For Mike, I have added a Napeague circa 1988 shot, "the year of the pinhead". I am in the middle. Note that my boom is at least one foot too long for my sail.

5 comments:

PeconicPuffin said...

(sorry for the late response)

When we met I believe you were planing around on an Equipe...it was some long elegant Mistral with what seemed like a ton of technology on the deck (ie beating straps and the adjustable mast track). It was still the first jibe I ever saw!

Napeague in the early days...must have been great.

drysuit2 said...

For Mike, I have added a Napeague circa 1988 shot, "the year of the pinhead". I am in the middle. Note that my boom is at least one foot too long for my sail.

PeconicPuffin said...

I still see that boom arrangement from time to time!

Love the old sails...da colors. Where can I get an orange harness, I wonder?

Anonymous said...

Awesome pic, Frank! Love it!

Ely

drysuit2 said...

The photo is Lauralee's handiwork