Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The Longest Wave

Last month, my friends and I were fortunate enough to be invited and attend the World Premier of “The Longest Wave”. This was a documentary about Robby Naish.



To my friends and I, Robby was, is, and will always be “The King”. Though he is a few years younger than we are. For us he defined the sport of Windsurfing. 

We watched him win his first World Championship when he was 13! 
We  remember the time he won another Championship and missed the awards ceremony. The waves were so good he went back out to go wave sailing instead of accept his award. We watched as Robby mentored new talent, and reinvented what is was to be a waterman, over and over again. One of my friends named his son after him. This is how intertwined our lives are with his.

We are first generation Windsurfers. Most of us started in the 70’ or 80’s. The water is our life.

I miss the concept of movies like this. As a kid there would always be a surf movie or ski movie event. Everyone getting together. It’s just different… a social event.  So much more of an experience that watching it on my TV.

But this was not the usual surf porn we have become accustomed to. This was a real documentary. If I had to guess, at least 75% of the audience were not windsurfers. They literally had no idea that they were in the presence of a legend. The movie explained that Robby Naish is the worlds greatest Waterman. Has been for the last 30 plus years. He has excelled at everything he has ever done. Surfing, Windsurfing, Kiting, SUP’ing, and now Foiling. He created and purchased leading edge companies supporting all of the above. But I kind of think that was lost on two thirds of the audience.

The movie focused on the fact that he was having to learn how to go from a god, to someone like the rest of us. His first real injuries, divorce, business problems. It was heart wrenching for me to watch. In the post movies Q & A, it was painful to listen to people asking him questions like ”when you’re on a wave, whats your mantra?”. What’s your Mantra? This guy has so clearly never surfed.

Nobody can ever take away the influence and inspiration that Robby Naish has gifted to me. I built my life around trying to be the best waterman I could be. 

We were part of the so called “alternative sports” movement. No rules, no keeping score.
It’s ironic that the sports we turned to, specifically to avoid keeping score, are now competitive sports. Skateboarding, surfing, free skiing, snowboarding, oh yea and windsurfing. 


We play organized sports. But for me…competition can take the fun out of sport. I like to play. I don’t care if I win.  Remember when playing sports was just for fun? I do. I still do. I’m a terrible surfer. But I come out of the water with a big smile after every session.




Friday, September 20, 2019

I'll be there. Hope you can too.

http://libeach.blogspot.com/2019/08/gilgo-beach-clean-up-saturday-september.html

Gilgo Beach Clean Up
Saturday, September 21st 9:00 AM
 
For this years NYS Beach Clean Up

Saturday, September 21st  
(rain-date, Sunday the 22nd. ) 
Start time is 9:00.

Gilgo Beach Cleanup!

We will meet in the parking lot by the tunnel entrance. 
We will have a table set up, and can really use your help.
Free parking. We will supply gloves, Trash Bags, Pencils and recording sheets. You provide the muscle. Bring a friend, or two or ten!

As we have for close to two a decades, 
LIBAG, The Long Island Beach Access Group, LIBAG.ORG
The Long Island Windsurfers Group, 
The American Littoral Society, https://www.littoralsociety.org
And the Town of Babylon, http://www.townofbabylon.com 
will team up for the 
Gilgo Beach, Saturday, September 21st 9:00 AM 

Every year tens of thousands of volunteers remove and collect data on tons of debris from hundreds of miles of shorelines across New York State as part of our annual NY State Beach Cleanup. 

Why New York State Beach Cleanup is different than other cleanups:
While the activities on the day of the cleanup are important and receive much positive publicity, the compilation, analysis and dissemination of the data collected have an even greater impact. This cleanup is unique in that volunteers fill out data cards about what they remove. This data is summarized for individual sites and all data cards are sent to The Ocean Conservancy for analysis. The resultant studies produce strategies to combat marine pollution and help inform policy makers, the media and the public about solutions to the problem.

So please join us Gilgo Beach, Saturday, September 21st 9:00 AM 
 at Gilgo Beach for our largest Beach Cleanup of the season.

We at LIBAG want to thank you in advance for all your help.

We hope to see you there.




Sunday, September 8, 2019

I’m not sure how to say this nicely.

I’m not sure how to say this nicely. 
I appreciate your concern.  But you worry about you, and I’ll worry about me.




If you surf and/or windsurf on Long Island you understand. You have been following storms and weather patterns long before App’s and websites like Surfline, Magic Seaweed, iwindsurf, or live stream beach cam’s ever existed.

If you have been a waterman as long as I have, you remember reading the raw feed from buoy’s, listening to your NOAA weather radio, and interpreting pressure changes on your barometer. You know what an isobar is. You understand the difference between a wind or wave created by a synoptic front or a simple thermal. You have been tracking storms, fronts, wave hight, and swell periods long before the weather channel existed.  

So while I understand your concern. Your need to cater to the lowest common denominator… Your need to inundate the news with warnings about how I am putting first responders lives at risk.

I fully understand the difference between a storm like Sandy that made landfall; and one like Dorian, or Bob or any of the other phenomenon that most of you have no fucking clue about.


Please enjoy some of the best of the current weather we are enjoying.







MOCEAN. A film by Chris Bryan from Chris Bryan on Vimeo.



POSTSCRIPT: Sadly the OBX in this case Buxton did not fair so well.





Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Save the date! September 21st. It's time for another Beach Clean Up!

http://libeach.blogspot.com/2019/08/gilgo-beach-clean-up-saturday-september.html


Gilgo Beach Clean Up
Saturday, September 21st 9:00 AM
Please mark your calendars, and save the date

Hey folks.
It’s that time of year again.
Please join 
For this years NYS Beach Clean Up

Saturday, September 21st  
(rain-date, Sunday the 22nd. ) 
Start time is 9:00.

Gilgo Beach Cleanup!

We will meet in the parking lot by the tunnel entrance. 
We will have a table set up, and can really use your help.
Free parking. We will supply gloves, Trash Bags, Pencils and recording sheets. You provide the muscle. Bring a friend, or two or ten!

As we have for close to two a decades, 
LIBAG, The Long Island Beach Access Group, LIBAG.ORG
The Long Island Windsurfers Group, 
The American Littoral Society, https://www.littoralsociety.org
And the Town of Babylon, http://www.townofbabylon.com 
will team up for the 
Gilgo Beach, Saturday, September 21st 9:00 AM 

Every year tens of thousands of volunteers remove and collect data on tons of debris from hundreds of miles of shorelines across New York State as part of our annual NY State Beach Cleanup. 

Why New York State Beach Cleanup is different than other cleanups:
While the activities on the day of the cleanup are important and receive much positive publicity, the compilation, analysis and dissemination of the data collected have an even greater impact. This cleanup is unique in that volunteers fill out data cards about what they remove. This data is summarized for individual sites and all data cards are sent to The Ocean Conservancy for analysis. The resultant studies produce strategies to combat marine pollution and help inform policy makers, the media and the public about solutions to the problem.

So please join us Gilgo Beach, Saturday, September 21st 9:00 AM 
 at Gilgo Beach for our largest Beach Cleanup of the season.

We at LIBAG want to thank you in advance for all your help.

We hope to see you there.


If you are unable to help us at Gilgo, we encourage you to participate at one of the many Statewide cleanup’s scheduled for that day. http://www.nysbeachcleanup.org


Monday, June 24, 2019

US Windsurfing

Courtesy of US Windsurfing

https://uswindsurfing.org/2019/06/where-the-wild-things-are/



Where the Wild Things Are!



Sunday, May 12, 2019

I like the idea of an electric outboard.

I like the idea of an electric outboard. 
The biggest problem though, is battery storage. The larger Torqeedo Cruise 2.0, or an Elco  is expensive. They work as well as an old two stroke. But, because they rely on standard 12 volt technology, they only really work if you stay at a slip and can plug in to recharge every night. Or if you have a very robust Solar, or wind powered generator. I'm on a mooring. But, come on Elco! https://www.elcomotoryachts.com they have been building electric yachts since the 1920's!

I like the idea of just keeping it onboard for an emergency, and never having to put it in the water until I need it. But the light travel 1003 model is really only appropriate if you ONLY use an engine in no wind. It's really meant for a boat half the weight of my CD26. (Torqeedo recommends it for boats up to 3,000 pounds. Segue displaces 5,300. And I really can’t find a source to determine my boats actual weight.)

I had an old Johnson sail master 2 stroke for over 20 years. [ I miss it] Since then, I've been through 2 of the "New Merc" four stroke 4HP and 6HP pieces of crap outboards in the last 7 years. My current 6HP Merc hasn't started when I've needed it in two years. It's 3 years old. The new 4 strokes are heavier than the old 2 strokes,[well over 100 - 150 pounds], the corrosion due to electrolysis is out of control, and being stuck permanently in an outboard well, means they are always fouled. I hate them. 

As a day sailor, I have to keep my water tank in the bow of the boat full just to balance out the boat. Otherwise she hobby horses to windward, and won't point without the extra weight forward.
But I'm a day sailor. I'd be happy with a light electric motor. I'd just keep my water tank empty.

So my choice was spend two grand on another 100 pound + 4hp 4 stroke, or spend the two grand on a Torqeedo and get it over with.

After talking with the tech guys at both West Marine and Torqeedo, I feel much better about my purchase.

Since I'll only really will be using it in no wind, we don't expect any lack of power problems.
Since the engine is electric, much like an electric car...the torque is more like that of a 4 hp gas motor. I found my 4hp Merc to pushed Segue around just fine, especially when you figure that the old outboards were  usually fouled, and the propeller looked more like a barnacle covered disk, than a prop.

As a daysailer, I will no longer need to fill my forward water tank to balance out the boat's trim, and the outboard will live safely in the lazaret or down below. This also means no electrolysis worries. [I hope].

Honestly, the only issue I see is my waterline might move, and I'll have a little more freeboard. Or the catastrophic failure of something that needs an outboard. Though after 50+ years of sailing...I can't imagine any situation that I couldn't jurry rig or kedge out of.





I do keep an old SUP Stand Up Paddleboard paddle on board. And it's adjustable, carbon, with an angled blade, and light. Fully extended it's about 6 3/4 feet tall. So I can paddle from the stern, standing on the lazarette. And I keep a light Danforth anchor in the Lazarett in case I need to kedge out of something.

So…Next: What have I learned about The Torqueedo.
  1. Buy the storage bags. They are about $250, but the 1003  feels delicate , I was worried about transport and storage. The shaft and tiller control unit with GPS, magnetic safety fit in one nicely padded travel bag. Even though the unit is light: it is awkward, and feels like I could easily damage it.  I plan to leave it on the boat. Unless I use it. Then, I like the bag for taking it on the launch, so I can freshwater clean it after each use.There is a separate bag just for the battery, and your charger brick. It only weighs 20 pounds. [the whole thing is only 30 something pounds! ] But that's perfect for me. My deep cycle battery is like 80 pounds and while I can keep it topped off with a solar panel, I'd hate to have to drag that thing back and forth all season.
  2.  Does it work? Yes. In light to no wind it pushes my 5300 pounds at about 3 1/2 to 4 knotsThis is fine for my purposes. But you're NOT going to fly at hull speed [6 1/2 knots].
  • Full throttle is 4.5 knots, but only 30 minutes battery life.  
  • 3/4 throttle was 4.0 knots.  
  • 1/2 throttle is a decent 3 to 3.5 knots. And now… you have about an hours battery life.  
  • I have the ability to buy an upgraded high capacity Lithium Ion with 2 hours battery life at 1/2 throttle. But the guys at tech support told me to wait a year, since they will drop in price, and increase in capacity considerably next few years.

2020 Update: This winter, 2019/2020 Torqueedo offered me an upgrade to a new battery. I jumped at the chance. I charged it once in February.

I used the engine for about 1/2 hour when I moved the boat from it's winter slip to it's summer mooring. I used it again for 1/2 hour when the wind died on me in April. It is now September, and the battery still has a 70% charge on it.

The 1003 is sold as a 3.5 horse power equivalent , but due to an electric motors superior low end torque it feels like 4.5 HP at least. And I am using it for a boat twice the recommended weight and displacement.

People say they are expensive.. Really? I payed $2,000 for mine. With the battery upgrade I have over two hours battery life. It's light, so no hurting my back any more. No pulling it every other month to scrape the barnacles, clean out the impeller, repaint, and re-install. 
After two seasons of use, my long shaft Torqueedo still looks and performs as it did when it was brand new.
What's that worth to you?

Downside: 
  1. The damn LCD display is too small, and too hard to see, especially in direct sunlight. I down-loaded the phone app, but have not tried it. Also I'm not to sure about charging it. It came out of the box fully charged at 100% my first ride took it down to about 65%. I know "they say" charging these newer batteries with out running them down does not shorten its battery life...but I have read complaints that it does.
  2. Who designed the connection plugs? They must be oriented properly. And it is difficult to see if they are, as the plugs are tiny, and the little knub that shows the orientation is way too small. I think I can partially solve this with a white Sharpe. 
  3. I don’t understand why…but you need to shoot a little WD-40 every single time you connect the cables from the battery and the controller.  Just trust me on this.
  4. The connection cables, after three months of use, are still my biggest complaint. They are just a pain in the ass.
Otherwise...I am very happy. But will probably buy a second battery as backup next season. 
2020 Update: I upgraded to the higher capacity battery instead.

Here is a little video from First day where I really used the electric outboard. I have to admit that it was so nice and light to take out of the bags and put it in the well. Just as easy to uninstall and pack it away.

Plus, I actually was giggling at the fact I was cruising around the bay under power . It was so cool.


Wednesday, May 1, 2019

soon 2020 release date

So I've re-powered my sailboat to an electric outboard.
When I purchased my last van I attempted to buy an electric van, but the cost was prohibitively expensive. $150,000 for a Chevy.

But this is coming out next year. I wonder how much?



There have been a few after-market conversions...but boy they are expensive.



This one is by far my favorite.



Soon

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

This is taking longer than I thought



So I haven’t had the time to address any off Segue’s issues yet this year. I’ve been busy.

I have been working too hard the last few Springs, and missed being in the OBX.

This year has been a little rough on me . So I decided to go anyway.

Since the drive is long and I want Lauralee to come out to the beach with me more often I had some work to do?

Basically I was given a list. My beautiful bride of 30 years plus, would like…
1- To have a spot for her purse that she can reach from the front seat.
2- A place to carry our bikes, in case it’s not windy
3- a place to put garbage that she can reach without being a contortionist
4- some room to put a bag or two of her own
5- a place to put a beach chair
6- and an umbrella


See even when I had the giant extended E350, I always managed to fill it to the brim with gear. My gear. When I downsized to the Nissan my daily commute was more comfortable. But I have less space. So I the toys took precedence, and not the comforts of home.


She was loaded right up to the back of the front seats.
I tried to address this by switching all my boards to Tri Fins Freestyle wave boards. No race gear, slalom, or foils. Only three windsurfers. And I only carry one surfboard now. Plus my current rack system was crushing my sails. And I didn’t want that.


So here is how I started


 First job was tearing everything out
 Now where do I put all this stuff?




 It starts with a plan of sorts.

I wanted to keep the carpeting in. and not do a complete tear out. I don't think this is going to be a 150,000 mile surf van like the last one was.




So I lay down some vinyl.                              Tear apart the old racks





And build some new ones. 



 Build and paint a platform.                                












You build a base to anchor everything to


 You figure out how to attach it to the seat mounts. Add the racks

You try and make everything fit. And it doesn't. So you curse a lot.




 You spend a lot of time wishing you had actual plans.










Fit and refit.






                            Then all of a sudden it looks like you knew what you were doing...


                          Finally. The boards fit! The booms...the masts!


I think there is room for a purse.
 Now I'm still trying to get the huge drawer to slide properly. So I may just use baskets for awhile.
THE OBX AWAITS!


So now that I'm done, what next?

This