drysuit2

Stolen from the Peconic Puffin

2012-01-21T12:09:00.003-05:00

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

2012-01-12T18:13:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-29T08:09:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-26T09:25:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-26T08:06:00.002-05:00

Zep goin' to Cali

2011-11-11T20:46:00.003-05:00

Nassau Spill Bill

2011-10-29T11:22:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-16T09:02:00.001-04:00

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

2011-09-28T20:02:00.001-04:00

Minds Wide Open Trailer from Andre Paskowski on Vimeo.

Joe Rocco

2011-09-01T16:35:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-08-27T22:17:00.001-04:00

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.

2011-08-20T17:23:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-17T19:49:00.002-04:00

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

2011-08-16T21:20:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-12T20:21:00.001-04:00

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

2011-07-23T13:34:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-19T21:43:00.001-04:00

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

2011-07-12T17:46:00.000-04:00

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.

2011-07-09T07:01:00.000-04:00

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

2011-06-04T12:22:00.000-04:00

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.

2011-05-29T09:49:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-22T10:11:00.001-04:00

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.

2011-05-07T14:24:00.002-04:00

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

Broken rules.

2011-04-22T08:34:00.001-04:00

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

2011-04-17T07:53:00.003-04:00

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

2011-04-04T11:18:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-31T15:11:00.001-04:00

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

2011 Windsurfing Magazine Board Tests

2011-03-28T16:25:00.001-04:00

The build up.

LL & I were originally going to drive down Friday. But the best laid plans….you know the rest. I am just starting to heal up from this sinus infection. I have had it on and off for so long now that I haven’t seen the inside of a gym since January. And while I have been able to sneak in some sailing and surfing when I had days that I was feeling better; I have severely slacking off my exercises , or PT for my neck and shoulder. That is a bad thing. If I don’t keep the muscles built up to stabilize my neck and shoulder, I get big pain. And I am now paying, from neglecting the gym.

As such, we decided to delay our departure, to give me an extra day or two to heal, and to get my gear in order.

I did some quick glass work to the RRD. I had no time to paint; so I just put a sticker on it to keep the UV off the repair.

And I really wanted to finish the nose on the Naish and the tail on the JP.

The Naish is a great old school wave board. But it suffered from a “Turkish slipper” nose that was prone to breaking. So I lopped it off and am in the process of re-glassing it. [Still not finished in time]

In the end I want the nose on the Naish to look like this previous nose repair to the JP.

The JP suffered the insult of being run aground onto a sand bar at West Meadow. Even though I have replaced it with the RRD, I still really like the board. I have been laying glass and epoxy down over the wood layer. When I hit the sand bar, the bottom of the board remained intact. However the deck in front of the finbox insert creased and delaminated. I sanded the tail down to the wood and carbon. So far, I have laid two layers of glass on the deck. Next I will wrap the rails with one more layer of glass. She may weight a pound or so more than the original, but she will be just right for those gusty 5.0 days when you want a little bit more floatation.

Most of my repairs are like this one on my Fish. Light, Fast and slightly visable if you know where to look. But they get me back out on the water soon. The JP is the closest to a rebuild I’ve done in awhile.

We arrived yesterday afternoon about four’ish. It was blowing a cold side off shore at our house. The drive down here took its toll and aggravated my shoulder/neck injury, to the point that; [while it was tempting to go sailing after a six hour drive]; I thought better of it.

The group is a great one. Josh Sampiero of Windsurfing Magazine put together a great group of people. Today is rainy, cold and not very windy. I am watching some of the “hard core” sailors plane occasionally on their huge sails and light air Formula gear from my bedroom window. I’m tempted…But I know another day of rest is exactly what my body needs. Just to be down here is what my soul needs.

The winter Crew.

2011-03-20T08:48:00.002-04:00

I love sailing, surfing, and just generally being in or on the water in the winter.

We have no access problems,[other than the occasional driving through a blizzard, or navigating the ice] most beaches are not being used. So we basically have free rein over all of them.

Occasionally you will meet up with an overzealous Authority; they usually come around and realize that we aren’t hurting anyone, and are not a danger to our selves.

Then there are the conditions: during the summer we have to rely on your basic South Westerly thermal. They tend to blow on the south shore from 3:00 till 7:00 in the afternoon. There are some spots on the Island where it blows 5.0, but the spots close to me tend to blow7.0.

In the winter we are blessed with fronts all the time. Warm fronts bring 4.5 westerlies, or 5.0 southerlies. If there are tropical storm systems spinning around the Atlantic, we get big clean surfable saves to play with. If the system gets to close…then we have VAS Victory At Sea condition, so we will sail on one of the many bays or sounds.

One of my favorite winds is the Northwesterly; usually associated with a Cold Front; Northwesterlies can blow as hard as 3.5. They can kick up great Back Side wave riding, Bump and jump, and even flat fast water for all you Freestylers. So dress warmly, and get on it early, Northwesterlies have a tendency to blow themselves out before noon.

Then there are the Nor’easters…these are the bane of anyone arrogant enough to build on the waterfront. Nor’easters can pack a short punch or better yet blow relentlessly for days. As they travel the coast of the eastern US, they can produce waves, as well as wind. My favorite are the ones that chose to spend a few days off the Carolinas pushing water to build a big [logo to mast high] long period [10 seconds or more] swell. This way, even if we don’t get a wind event, we get clean easy swell. If the Nor’easter tracks up the coast [as is usually the case]; we get a day or two of Easterlies. Easterlies can make even the most jaded anti GSB [Great South Bay] sailor hoot and holler.

If the Nor’easter stays spinning just east of the East End [which it can do for days] on its journey to Cape Cod and Nova Scotia… Then we are in for a real treat. There are two basic scenarios

1- The storm funnels water into Long Island sound creating DTL [Down The Line] “Mysto Waves”. The Mysto appears because the LI Sound goes from over 100 feet deep, to about 20 feet at certain spots. You can sail this as a rolling swell, or where it actually starts to break. The wind is side, or side on, shore; and can blow anything from 4.0 to 7.0

Or 2- Lastly the conditions I’ve sailed the least in, but I dream about the most. This occurs when the Ocean holds its long period south swell, and the wind blows a perfect side off. Timing is essential here, as is local knowledge of the break. I however can think of nothing greater than dropping in on a logo to mast high “true DTL’ wave with a 5.0 to 6.0 sail. Simply perfect.

But perhaps the greatest thing about winter sailing here on the Island, is the people. For the last 25+ years I have had the privilege to sail with some of the greatest people in the world. The most generous, genuine, and positive tribe I have ever had the pleasure of sharing the water with. Whereas we tend for safety reasons to all sail together in the winter… I miss my crew in the summer, when we all scatter for different parts, or when we are outnumbered by all the seasonal Watermen.

One of this groups greatest attributes is its positive vibe. No one ever feels the need to make themselves feel better by putting someone else down. As a result, we all feed off of each others positive energy. There are no show offs: great sailors, not great sailors; we all sail together, we watch out for each other, we compliment, and help each other. Maybe we are just so stoked by sharing the experience that we just don’t have the bad stuff in us.

This is pretty rare in today’s world: especially on line. For the most part, my participation in on line posting boards is only in groups where I know the majority of the posters in real life. I use them to communicate with my friends. It is faster, and much more efficient, than the 50 phone calls we would need to decide where we are sailing, surfing, or whatever…

It became acutely apparent to me that this is not the norm during the last few weeks. I have been fighting a tenacious sinus infection the last month and a half, so I have had more time to read those boards that are made up of people I have something in common with, [Cape Dory Sailboats, Fishing, etc.] but where I only know a fraction of the participants.

There is a real tendency among posters on these boards to put down, or trash talk others. I can only guess this is so the trash talking poster can feel better about themselves at the expense of someone else . Sometimes it’s blatant, mostly it’s more subtle. It usually comes from someone who feels the need to prove their superior knowledge by arguing every minute point someone makes. Or, it’s the guy who rights a dissertation on every subject complete with their credentials. This poster rarely actually answers the initial posters question: but instead does their very best to ramble on with tons of unintelligible data, and opinion, usually hijacking the thread as his bully pulpit.

Boy I am glad I went sailing yesterday, and last weekend as well. I heard the surfing was great yesterday, and we had some great windsurfing last week, but missed it, because I want to fully kick this sinus thing before I leave for Hatteras.

I feel lucky that I found this crew. They have become the best friends a guy could have in this day and age. Real, genuine, caring, fun, people.

Thank you guys.

Too much to do: too little time to do it.

2011-03-16T21:40:00.001-04:00

I am less than a week away from my week as a “Guest Tester” for Windsurfing Magazine. http://www.windsurfingmag.com/

There is just so much to do.
1- Get rid of this damn sinus infection… [I am currently on my second course of antibiotics] this is just tenacious. I felt better for about a week, then bam I’m down for the count. I probably won’t fully kick this thing till I am finally on vacation.Starting to feel better.
2- Get the truck oiled, greased, and ready...Check
3- Get my sails back from EZZY... ETA Thursday night Done
4- Make enough money to take the time off work… Guess I am dipping into savings.
5- Finish fixing my JP109 and Naish wave… Maybe this weekend
6- Paint the repairs to my RRD, Sumo, and Syncro…I doubt it. Guess I’ll just live with the stickers.
7- Pack…I’m sure this will be a last minute scramble.
8- Get my Blackberry to sync with my laptop…HA HA HA HA yea that’ll happen.
9- get a new pair of Rx sunglasses because I broke my old ones…ordered but not ready yet.Got em' today
10- Find out where I am actually staying, and plan my trip… soon

Wish me luck. And health.

Let’s hope my ship comes in…

2011-03-06T12:39:00.000-05:00

So EZZY did their best to take care of my sail issues. Now I am like a little kid waiting for his Christmas presents. I can’t wait for my sails to arrive. I am told it should take another week or so. They are on a container ship somewhere in the Pacific. But I am so impatient. Yesterday I sailed my Ezzy Wave Panther 5.5 with my 110 ltr RRD FSW. I was almost relived that it was gusty 5.5 wind. That way I didn’t have to use my 9 year old 5.0. Some guys were out on 5.0’s; but I hate to shlog. Even so; I did shlog some of the time, but the sail never overpowered in the gusts. Just controlled power.

It’s getting warmer; yesterday I sailed with open palm mittens. This is wonderful; I can sail so much longer with bare hands, than mittens.

Plus DLST starts on the 13^th; and my stint with Windsurfing Magazine as a guest Tester starts soon. So I am really going to need those sails. I am making do with my old 5.0 and just not sailing when it is light enough for the 6.9. I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY NEW TOYS TO ARRIVE! I promise to treat them well and enjoy the hell out of them.

Special thanks goes to Garry Stone of Isthmus Sailboards, and Tim Ortlieb of Ezzy.

Let’s hope my ship comes in…

A Selkie story

2011-02-27T17:35:00.001-05:00

Just a boy, a SUP and a Pup.

I have always been a waterbaby. From my first memories I never feared the water. I have instead, always loved it. I have not always respected her. And respect is what she needs. My whole life people have referred to me as a fish, a duck, even a dolphin. But it wasn’t till later in life that my Mother truly explained that somewhere in my Irish roots there must have been a Selkie Folk. The legend goes that when God cast some Angels from the Heavens; those that landed on the land became Fairies and those that hit the water became Selkies. For the majority of their life Selkies are seals. You know the pretty ones like harbor seals, or fluffy Pup Seals.

There are many versions of the Selkie tail. Some believe they can shapeshift and take on the form of humans. The males apparently take this opportunity to turn on the charm, and mate with as many Human females as they can during their treks on dry land. The female Selkie usually ends up with one partner. And the story goes that if their mate steals and hides their Selkie skin, or coat. Then they can’t return to the water in there Selkie Seal form with out it.

So apparently someone in my family many generations ago had sex with a seal. And I guess it makes sense I married a girl names Lauralee. Her mother didn’t want to use the proper Lorelei. A Lorelei is a mermaid name which belonged to the mermaid who lured unwary fisherman to their death by singing the most beautiful song they had ever heard.

We make a great pair.

Today I tried my Naish 11’6” Nailu for the first time. I purposely picked the narrowest SUP [Stand Up Paddleboard] I could find. I knew it would be harder at first, but I also knew if need be, I could paddle it from a prone position. So I went to TOBAY today, because I wanted to be alone. I didn’t want my first awkward day to have an audience.

When I checked the Gilgo Cam it looked pretty flat with knee high surf and dead offshore wind. Perfect. However, once I got out past the shore break the wind switched West at about 20 mph, and it got really choppy. As a result, standing was not an option. I knee paddled, and I paddled with my hands from a prone position.

It wasn’t the worst day I’ve ever had on the water. And I had company; a Guardian Angel watching out for me. A beautiful harbor Seal. My Selkie kin.

Spring is here?

2011-02-21T06:50:00.002-05:00

Photos courtesy of BlueHarborCat

I woke to 3 inches of snow this morning. WTF? It was just 60 degrees on Friday, You know Friday… The day we all had to work. Go figure; I was hoping LL and I would go for a sail today. I guess not.

No choice visuals from me today. Instead you will have to endure the excellent photography of Blue Harbor Cat. A man who never Windsurfed himself, but has become quite skilled at capturing the moment. We are always happy to see him and some of us have that ability to bring on that Kodak courage when he is around. The shots are of Brook and Pete at West Neck. But I also have reports of great sailing at West Meadow, as well as out on the East End. I really have to make it a point to sail out East before the summer crowds invade the place. [They are certainly not the Hamptons I remember from 20 years ago], I doubt I could even afford a parking spot out there now.

I myself was unable to take part in Saturdays 3.5 to 3.7 weather. Having just finished a course of Cipro for a persistent sinus infection…I just didn’t have it in me. I remember drifting in and out of sleep all day. Waking up once in the middle of Animal Planet’s “Bringing Up Baby” Where I had the privilege to watch an inbred White Tiger be neutered and spayed. And they say there is no quality television on anymore.

But don’t feel sorry for me. Yesterday I finally went Ice Sailing. My original plan was to drive all the way out to Bud Lake NJ. [a three hour trek at best].

By 11:00 I figured it was to late, and the ice would be too soft. [No Ice for me this season] But then as I was eating lunch, I received a text from the infamous Marty and Arty that there was still sailable ice in Lake Ronkonkoma. [I can do Lake Ronkonkoma in an hour and change if I don’t get nailed for speeding.] So I was off! The ice was less than perfect: lots of cracks, Styrofoam, and soft spots. It also seemed like someone had been out there during this past weeks thaw, on slush runners. So we can safely say it was not a smooth surface like they enjoyed last weekend, or we had last season on the Great South Bay. But it was still fun.

The two major modifications to my ice board worked out well. First off; I stretched it about a foot longer than its original length. This enabled be to set the mast farther behind the front runners. This allowed me to put more pressure on the stern and kept me from skidding out. [Of course that could also have been due to the softer ice, and the extra rocker I added to my blades]. Next I cut down some rubber stoppers, and used them to replace the original urethane bushings that came with the board. While these are fine in the summer with wheels…they tended to harden, or freeze up when it got cold. Both modifications worked well in the less than ideal conditions. I used an old 5.3 North Volcano for power[I can’t believe this thing is still working, and patch-less after 15 years of service.]

No pictures from me. You will just have to take my word for it. After two weekends and three weeks off the water: the last thing I wanted to do was fiddle with me camera. So enjoy the pics BlueHarbor took of the crew on Saturday. I’m bummed I missed it. But I just wasn't ready.

This is going to be one great Spring!

2011-02-18T12:27:00.004-05:00

segue.edited..1.16.11 from Frank Messina on Vimeo.

Sorry guys, I still haven’t found a video editing software program simple enough for me to use, that gives me the ability to add a soundtrack. I was going to use “Wooden Ships”By CSNY. But feel free to play whatever music suits your tastes. I was also thinking of “Southern Cross” by CSNY, or “The Reach” By Dan Fogelberg. If, however you chose “Sailing” by Christopher Cross, you are hereby banned from this website.

This is for all my landlocked friends out there. You armchair sailors. I cut the footage down from one hour so it would fit Vimeo’s 500MB limit. This sail was on January 15, 2011: it was the last day that I could get through the ice to the open water of the sound. Even that was a little tight. I left a nice little trail of red bottom paint in the ice for my friend Garry to follow on his way out of the harbor.

I’ve surfed and windsurfed a little bit this February. But have really been miserable with a sinus infection the last two weeks. So last week I missed some nice ice, and tomorrow is supposed to be in the 40’s and nukin’. http://www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/

I will however, have to pass. I have learned from experience that overdoing it with Cipro in your system can really mess up your joints. So while I am feeling better [I took my last pill this morning], I don’t want to chance ruining my whole Spring season for one day on the water.

The air temperature has been in the 50’s the last two days; so maybe I’ll get to take Segue out again this weekend. The ice looked pretty well broken up, or melted on my drive in this morning.

But I need to take it easy. Daylight Savings starts March 13^th, and my gig with Windsurfing Magazine in Hatteras [as a guest Tester] starts around the end of March.

This is going to be one great Spring!

My dry spell ends

2011-02-07T20:05:00.001-05:00

So while I surfed the 8^th, and windsurfed January 9^th. And had a decent, but cold sail on Segue on the 15^th. after that… I was landlocked. It was too cold to sail or surf, and the entrance to the creek where I keep Segue is frozen shut. To make maters worse It has been snowing so much, I can’t even ice sail. And lastly my body had been messing with me.

But things are looking up! I finally sent of my photos of my Ezzys that I am having problems with. It is very uncharacteristic of his sail to tear the way these two 09 Wave Panthers have. I have been using his sails for over 20 years, and they have always proven to be bulletproof. I have to think this is an isolated incident. In fact I have so much faith I his creations, that I just bought two more Ezzy waves on closeout with Isthmus.

Mustang and I had a nice surf Saturday February 5^th. And Saturday night McPhilly, Pre-Marital Chuck and I went out to see Dommer's Band Play. They where really good.

I also just learned that I am going to be part of the Windsurf Magazine 2011 Board tests in March. How cool is that?

[more to come on that subject, for sure]

But the great thing is I’m back in the water. The new drugs seem to be working. God it feels great to not be in pain!

I watched Spider-man two the other night

2011-02-02T20:50:00.001-05:00

I watched Spider-man two the other night. How come when Peter Parker or Bruce Banner are exposed to some sort of radio active isotope they become super heroes? But me; no such luck. Make me drink some Barium… inject me with some radio active agent for contrast, and I spend the next three days in more pain, more dehydrated, and in more intestinal distress than I was in before. It hardly seems fair; couldn’t I get just one superpower? I mean other than the ability to eject food from my body with ballistic force.

It's frustrating: I was finally making some progress. I had my weight up to 200 pounds, and I was pretty active. I wasn’t making it to the gym much. But this time of year that’s a blessing. There is nothing like a gym full of fat out of shape year end resolutions. I would rather be out on, or in the water. And I was. There may have been a lot of snow this season, but it’s been reasonably warm [upper 30’s]. I have been windsurfing, sailing, or surfing or a combination of two every weekend since October. That, and one night a week at the gym has been better exercise than a three days a week at the gym. And my god it is so much better for you; not just because it is the perfect cross training; but because it’s good for my soul.

I shoveled the boat on Saturday. The water was pretty free from ice. But it is supposed to hit the single digits the next two nights. I have re-assembled the ice board, and sharpened the blades. But we have had more snow this January than we are used too. It's turned whatever ice we do have into a lumpy mess. I heard they had good ice in Lavallette NJ two weeks ago, but by the time I found out about it, we were digging out of two feet of snow. [definitely not helping my shoulder]. The snow drift at the end of my driveway is 5 feet tall.

I has been awhile since my last windsurf session. I had one decent surf in early January: and one sail three weeks ago on Segue. Now she is iced in the harbor, and all this snow has made ice sailing impossible. So it’s been three weeks since I had some time on the water. We are definitely due a good session at something. I guess I should never have given up skiing. Can’t wait to sail, or surf again.

Some choice visuals

2011-01-14T20:33:00.000-05:00

I finally got a new camera. It's a nice little Nikon. So while I update my software, and learn how to use it, I figured I'd share some really cool videos that my friends have posted up recently. Then we'll take some photos of my Ezzy's and see if we can't figure out why they are self destructing after a few uses.

This first one is from Pete...

This next one I found up on iwindsurf. I recognize one of the spots from RI, but I suspect some of this is Block Island. These guys rock!

An Ocean State of Mind from Silent Ink. Productions on Vimeo.

Yet another tech day

2011-01-10T20:22:00.000-05:00

I spent Sunday morning on the phone with tech support again. Still no progress.

New Kindle> needs WiFi = loss of ability to use existing Wireless on laptop and re-install of new service pack, + re-install of new Blackberry Desktop Manager> all of which do not work because of office mandated encryption on laptop = no Hot Sync since Christmas + Automatic upgrade of my Mcaffe Firewall = still no new camera to take photo's of my torn Ezzy's, because the new camera's need a softwear upgrade from my old windows XP service pack 2.
An upgrade is not an upgrade; if it now takes you 30 hours to do what used to take you 30 seconds. and I am not even going to begin to get into my companies new integration.

Thank god Dommer posted that they guys were going to West Neck for a 5.5 session.
You can find the pics of our fine session here http://www.flickr.com/photos/domer2/sets/72157625788082774/ at Steve's Flickr site. It was a big board kind of day. 6.0 one minutes 5.0 the next 30. But it was still above freezing and I was toasty in my ProMotion Drysuit.

We sailed at the private club just south of WN. No one seemed to mind. http://www.flickr.com/photos/domer2/sets/72157625788082774/detail/

Not a bad weekend overall: the wife is as sick as a dog, But I still surfed Saturday, and windsurfed Sunday. Thank you for understanding Lauralee. And, thank god: for with out it I definitely would have killed someone.

It's been pretty cold the last few nights. I fear the ice is coming. Sharpen those blades.

No new camera yet

2011-01-08T20:43:00.000-05:00

No new camera yet. After 5 hours of misery with Blackberry's help techs, I still haven't solved my hot sync problem. So when Mustang called and said the surf was up...I had to run an go surfing. It was great, and well needed. And there were lots of rights. I'm not used to that, and loved the fact that I could face the wave instead of my usual backside surfing.

More fins, more breakage

2011-01-08T09:31:00.003-05:00

More Windsurfing Videos

So, above is a video by Peter Hart where he has some recreational non-wave sailors put a 95 ltr Quad through its paces. I find it interesting. I make fun of Brook's quad because I still have a bias against the multi fin boards of the past. But I think I am slowly being won over.

In fact right now I am in the middle of re-building my old JP 109. I buckled the tail under the footstraps, right in front of the fin. As I have already replaced the JP 109 with an RRD 110... and since I am bound to add another pound to the JP in my repair [we don't got, no stinkin' vacuum bags] I'm considering adding a pair of thrusters; and pinning out the tail a bit.. Making it a tri-fin, so it will rely less on the center fin and allowing the board to stay in control on the water while keeping the extra volume. I would use it on those gusty 4.5 to 6.0 days, and as a "Demo board" that would get me back home when the wind dies out there. I don't know if it will work. What do you think?

Next: I want to "Bitch" about my new Ezzy's. I spent a considerable amount of Bank this season on a new quiver of Ezzy Wave Panther's. My old Ezzy Waves are approaching ten years old. I wanted to replace them before I started to have them self destruct.

I bought 5 new sails, and 3 new skinny masts, and universals to accommodate them.

My first impression was that I have found that the Wave Panthers lack the low end guts of the old SE's. For example I use a 6.3 Panther in the same range as I used to use my 2007 6.0; a 6.9 where I would have rigged a 6.5.
I'm not saying this is bad; just different. The Panthers are more "slippery"; I also find that the Panthers don't top out. And I can continue to use them in conditions I would have had to rig down on, in the older version. I never minded the continuous back handed power of the Ezzy Wave. It was actually something I loved about Ezzy Waves.

I am a "lazy" sailor; and tend to let the sail pull me onto a plane, rather than pump myself up onto a plane. This is because of an old shoulder/neck injury. And because I am a 48 year old, old school sailor, and will probably not change this habit any time soon.

The other thing I loved about the old Ezzy's, was that they were practically indestructible. Even if I did accidentally drag one of my old Ezzy's across a sharp object, [like one of those metal poles they use to install dune fence] they simply would not tear. I might get a wrinkle, a stretch in the clear part, or a small pinhole, but not a puncture and tear. The Spectra X-Ply always stopped any possible tears dead in their tracks. Sure, I had some abrasions along the head cap, and the batten pocket above the boom. But that is my own fault for rigging in the parking lot. Otherwise, my Ezzys were bulletproof!

But NOT SO with My NEW Ezzy Wave Panthers. I've have these five sails less than one season: and I already have THREE; punctures, holes, or tears in 2 out of 5 NEW sails. What's left of my old quiver, looks much better than all the Kevlar tape insulting my new sails.

My feeling: Ezzy got a hold of some "bad" X-Ply. Why? Because the only sails I am having any problems with are the two 2009 Ezzy Wave Panthers. All my other sails are just fine. Christ I still have a 2000 Ezzy Wave that I use for ice sailing now, but was part of my quiver until 2007: and it has no tears! At all.

Gary Stone, [FANTASTIC OWNER of ISTHMUS SAILBOARDS] has asked me to send him an e-mail, and take some high resolution photos of the tears. He's a stand up guy. So I'm sure he will go to bat for me with David Ezzy.

But we all know that I have been without a decent digital camera for about six months now. So it is off to Best Buy to purchase a new camera. And I really,really, really, don't want to un-tape my repairs. [Especially, the major one on my 5.0.]... However: I want to give Mr Ezzy a chance to make good on his sails. I have been a fan of his since my North Zeta's and Infinities. I really don't want to sail anyone's creations, but his. I have always been an Ezzy fan: let's see if I can stay that way.

Surfrider Foundation, Central Long Island Chapter: Save the date

2011-01-02T11:36:00.000-05:00

Surfrider Foundation, Central Long Island Chapter: Save the date

This is my first attempt at a video

2010-12-27T20:16:00.002-05:00

first attempt at a video. from Frank Messina on Vimeo.

This is my first attempt at a video. While I got my ass kicked…I have a feeling there were more guys out sailing in that Blizzard than just Pete, Florian and myself. Let’s see em’. Thanks to Joe for the recommendation on Machete Video Editor lite.

While it seemed cold, [the snow is a dead giveaway] the temp’s were in the mid to high 30’s. Once the rig starts icing, I just don’t sail. I’m glad we sailed Sunday the 26^th because it was in the high 20’s today; great if you’re a skier, not a sailor. We were hoping that the outgoing tide against the incoming Nor East wind would kick up some nice swell. But as you can see, the shore break sucked, and I kept getting swept west: not the direction I wanted to be going.

I tried to come ashore: rest and re-adjust my rig. But that was not a good idea. There was no shore just concrete seawalls. I smacked up my rail pretty badly attempting an ungraceful exit. Plus, I have a hole in my new 5.0. I’m not sure exactly how I did that. I don't remember taking any unusually bad crashes.

Brook finally has a December session

2010-12-24T16:19:00.001-05:00

Brook finally had a December session. December; as you know, has been a pretty good month for wind. Unfortunately, most of those days have been during the week.And for Brook, on every weekend, someone in his family has been ill. So instead of carving hard, he's been wiping runny noses. In fact he recently lamented that this will probably be the first December he has missed sailing for like 12 years.

Until yesterday; when we all got an early Christmas present. We sailed West Neck in 4.2 to 5.5 conditions during an outgoing tide. Just beautiful. All the photo's are by Brook so he isn't in any of them. And I am still in search of a simple Windows based video editing program for my GoPro. Not that it would have mattered any way. Visibility was zero during the frequent snow squalls that would blast through. But it was warm enough that we didn't have to contend with ice. In attendance were Rich, Florian, George, Brook, Mustang, and myself. Dommer showed up: but too late for a safe session.

That is one ugly board

Florian on the way out. I'm the tiny orange sail on the other side. I think the red one is Rich.

Flo goes for air

George, carving hard

I'm the tiny sail on the left. George is on the right.

And the word for the day is Microburst.

2010-12-17T21:25:00.001-05:00

Can you say Microburst? See; I knew you could.

I have not been sleeping well. As a result my body is not healing like it should.

I need a lot more time to heal between sessions then I did even five weeks ago. [I think the holidays are getting to me.]
So Sunday morning I woke up from my three hour sleep in a good deal of pain.

I had spent the day before, outside; pulling moorings at my club. It was a glorious day; no wind, cloudy, quiet…many of the reasons I love to spend time on the water in the Winter. There was about a half inch layer of skim ice on the surface. The sound of chain breaking through this “soft” ice was the most wonderful sound. You could both hear, and see your breath. It was perfect. Even the sound of Vic the Club Stewart yelling at me because I couldn’t anticipate his every move was comforting. It sent me back to my 20’s; when I did this kind of work for a living.

Buy I’m NOT in my 20’s; I’m pushing 50. And I spend the majority of my day sitting on my ass. Atrophy is a bitch!
I was excited about sailing on Sunday. The forecast was for 20 to 57 MPH out of the South East. And it was expected to be warm. [relatively, anyway]. High 40’s. My new drysuit had arrived on Friday, and I probably would not end up needing gloves.

The plan was to put the finishing touches on my “Go Pro” camera mast mount, and then head for the “Bowl” at Shinecock inlet. Somehow time got the best of me. [Read about the guys that did sail "The Bowl"] or cut and paste http://www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2010/12/new-guys-early-birds-and-good-times-in-the-rain.html

I spent hours more fiddling with my old boom attachment then I thought I would. It is just as well. As I waited patiently for my Celebrex and Viconine cocktail to take effect. It didn’t. At least not until 11:00. I knew that there was a crew sailing from West Neck, [about 2 hours closer], so I decided to join them.

When I arrived it was Nukin’. Most guys were getting hammered with 4.2’s in the gusts; but others were hanging on to 4.5’s for the inevitable lulls. But I knew it was supposed to back off as the day progressed. So I rigged a 4.7, my 90 ltr. I used my old reliable True Aimes slotted 8 incher.

I spent the rest of that day on that set up or my 110 and my 6.3. No matter what I rigged…It was either over, or under, powered sailing. It didn't matter what you rigged.

You would get to spend 15 minutes, up to your knees, doing the underpowered limbo. Then a microburst would come down and just flatten, or backwind you. Sure, I had a few perfectly blissful runs. [That's really all you need. Isn't it?]

In hindsight, I should have taken the trek to the East End. But you never leave wind to find wind. And while it wasn’t the best session I’ve ever had…it wasn’t the worst either. My shoulder is still sore; but I didn’t have to wear gloves.

Who knows? Maybe this weekend?

http://www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2010/12/possible-weekend-noreaster.html

Sometimes, you just have to pay your dues.

Da Meadow twice, once with Mustang

2010-12-08T15:19:00.002-05:00

The Tri-Fins were coming out.

The Cell phone pics are not the greatest; but they capture the spirit of the day.

Saturday, 11/25/10: It was the first "glove Day" for me. Cold, short and sweet at West Meadow. The wind came up hard; so the kiters called it a day. I hung on for as long as I could. But in the end, only managed two hours before my forearms gave out. I hung onto my 5.5 overpowered, and over downhauled for as long as I could, because I was too lazy to come in and rig down. It was interesting: the wind had a lot of west in it. So the south east corner,[notorious for clean waves with light wind], was actually the breeziest spot that day. WM was definitely the call. I was going to try RM5 again. But Mustang convinced me otherwise. Good call by Steve.

Mustang Steve, catching air at Da Meadow. Photo by Steve Domjan.

We still call him Mustang. Although for years, his preferred mode of transportation was a tricked out red Mustang. Now he drives one of those boxy Honda Elements that look small, but you can still fit all your gear inside. {it helps that most boards are shorter today than they were in the 90’s]. He’s married with two kids, but he still has that Mustang; with a NOS system and ready to race. He is a high school teacher living in Long Beach now. So he surfs nearly every day it’s good. When we get together to surf at his local break, we refer to it as Camp Mustang. It’s not just that we are paying homage to the various Maui breaks. It’s because sailing, or surfing with Mustang; makes you better. He is always dishing out helpful, useful advice. Maybe he’s just a born Teacher. But every surf, or sailing session I have with Steve, I come back better then I was before. It’s like having your own private coach. If it was not for Steve, I would not be half the windsurfer I am today.

Steve at West Neck. Photo Pete Roesch

Going for air at the Gorge

One more West Neck Pic, by Pete Roesch.

Saturday 12/04/10: I was going to drive all the way out to Tiana. But heard from Jon that he and Mike B. were lit up on their 5. somethings.
I pulled off the LIE at exit 62 and went north to Da meadow. I arrived to a disappointing sailor, alternating up and down between fully powered, and under powered on his 6.2. He was on the outside.

In the flats Jon & Mike were planing on their 5 inch fins, big flat freestyle boards and high 5 sails. I wanted to sail; so I rigged my 6.9 Ezzy, and the 125 ltr Angullo. I was powered from the start. Then as the sun moved closer and closer to the horizon; the wind speed increased. [I am getting just too much practice sailing overpowered!]. Again, we only had about one hour of sunlight left as the wind went ballistic. Not enough time to walk all the way back in, [yes, walk]; I don't feel like breaking another board on the sand bars; thank you. As it was; I did hit bottom once, and was treated to a ride over the handlebars. And that was WITH a weed fin. The only kind you should use at WM, unless you have an unlimited bank account.

So, I down, and out, hauled my 6.9 till the leach was so lose, David Ezzy would have had a coronary...and I sailed till I could see no more.

God, I love this time of year. My only complaint would be Sunset at 4:28. If it wasn't for the short early days...Steve and I would be sailing right now.

Brook

2010-11-24T14:44:00.000-05:00

All of the following shots are by Brook.

The Video
http://peconicwindsurfer.blogspot.com/2010/11/ohhhh-tiana-video.html

is by Jeff S. aka Peconic Jeff. Mike as usual does a great job of chronicling their days adventure at Tiana at http://www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2010/11/oh-tiana.html

It's not so often you can sail DTL

I think this would count as logo high.

Some of the crew: Kev, George, Scott, Bill, & Ted.

Brook, himself; Dommer, & Pete.

My day started a little differently. I had fully intended to make the drive to Tiana. My last experience there was so beautiful, I wanted more. But the day, and my body were not cooperating. I woke up early on Saturday,[like 4AM]; my impingement was bothering me so much I could not sleep. That: and maybe the prospect of wind, and waves on the weekend. It was 5:00 AM and already blowing 20 from the west, with the expectation of a veer to WNW later in the day. I did my best to stretch and loosen up my shoulder joint, but more drugs would be in order. A little more Celebrex, for the inflammation; and a little Vicodine for that tweak of pain that deprived me of my sleep last night.

I figured I would wait till later in the day and sail West Meadow on the wind and tide switch. But I kept getting these great reports from Brook at Beach X. We are Windsurfers. So, in the eyes of the State Parks Department we are not Surfers. Therefore, Windsurfing is prohibited from the ocean at Robert Moses State Park. We could have launched from Overlook and legally sailed three quarters of a mile in open ocean to Democrat Point… But Beach X has a safer, closer to the break launch, with little shore break.

“I was going to go to West Meadow or Tiana. My shoulder is acting up. Do you think I can handle it?” was my question. “Of course you can” was my answer.

Brook was right. Beach X was great. Not perfect, but great, warm, no gloves backside to DTL wave sailing. In other words: Windsurfing. Thank you Brook.

Oh yea, and sitting here in the office today...While it's blowing 25-30 out of the NW all day, and it's sunny, and warm. It's killin' me!

It's all about the Sunsets

2010-11-18T07:34:00.024-05:00

Sunset from the Mooring

My friend Jeff always tells me "it's all about the sunsets".

Life is rushing by lately. I haven’t been able to do, or enjoy the things that are important to me.

The year end crunch is starting sooner than usual.
It always seems to be windy when I’m working. And I always seem to be injured when it’s going off.

Life has me pretty stressed right now. I’m not built to deal with stress: I barely sleep, and only with the help of sleeping pills.
I seem to be working all the time. And it always seems to be windy and warm when I'm at work.
I am missing the things I want to do; so I can pay the bills for things I don't need.
I missed Monday’s meeting with the State. Instead; I was here at work dealing with those things that will seem unimportant on my death bed.

I don't even have time for my family. When you don't come home from work till 7:30, then fall asleep on the couch at 8:00; that's not much of a family life. I will not even have the time to make the trek to Chatham to see my Parents for Thanksgiving this year.

This is the time of year I should be going to the gym regularly, to rehab the damage I do to my aging body. I can’t slack off on that. Besides, it's kinda' hard to do an after work session in the dark, so I should actually have the time for rehab now. But I'm not even doing that. Instead I'm up at 4:00 doing this.

Something has got to give. I'm just too close to the edge. I can’t keep up this schedule much longer...

So while we go through this stressful time of year. I thought I'd share a few of the sunsets. The Camera phone doesn't do the greatest job; But it is enough. Some are from a sail I had the other night with LL; some from my night with Phil, and the others just various nights the last few months.

Manhasset Bay from the Town Dock [above]

RM causeway after a day of surfing [above]

Stehle in Bayville [above]

MB from the Town Dock [above]

another RM Bridge [above]

puting Segue to bed [above]by Phil

State aims to temper dispute over access to LI beaches

2010-11-16T10:14:00.000-05:00

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/long-island-now-1.1732330/state-aims-to-temper-dispute-over-access-to-li-beaches-1.2463845

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/long-island-now-1.1732330/state-aims-to-temper-dispute-over-access-to-li-beaches-1.2463845Long Island Now

State aims to temper dispute over access to LI beaches

Monday November 15, 2010 4:47 PM By Erin Geismar

The New York State Department of Parks, with a new chairman at the helm, is taking on a long-running dispute over Long Island beach access.

Members of the Long Island Beach Access Group and the New York State Parks - Fishing Advisory Board filled the seats at the parks department commissioner’s meeting at Belmont Lake State Park on Monday and gave opposing views of the trouble between surfers and anglers at beaches across the Island.

Bill Muller, an advisory board member, complained that surfing and fishing were not compatible activities and that fishermen felt they were being pushed off the beach.

Jack Riordan, of Long Island Beach Access Group, said surfers have been made to feel like “second-class citizens,” and that they deserve equal access to the beach.

It was not the first time the groups have approached the parks department for a solution, but Chairman Bryan Erwin said during his first meeting in the position that it would be his “winter project” to fix the problem.

Erwin asked both groups for a concise list of grievances, and the commissioners voted to form a sub-committee to review the issues and how they might be able to address them.

< back to article

Pete

2010-11-11T16:38:00.001-05:00

It’s not every day you find a sailing partner like Pete. He’s not just a competent sailor: he just keeps getting better. And for guys our age, that’s impressive. His son is becoming pretty damn good as well. Pete is more than a Family man, Master Carpenter, Master Board Repairman, and multiple job holder.

But that’s not why I like Pete. I like him because even if he has been out surfing or sailing all day…if I show up to the beach late because I’ve been working all day and would have to go out on a solo session…Pete will rig up and still go out with me. I’d be too exhausted to do that. I don’t know how he does it?

As you know; I’ve been nursing my left elbow the last week or so. A steroid shot kept me side lined over Halloween’s howling winds. [A day on Segue with Phil, had to do for that day.] Pete and I have been known to have been the catalyst for toxic death of the wind. He and I at the same launch at the same time has killed the wind on more than a few occasions. Yet to spite all that when I showed up at CIB on Sunday afternoon, in desperate need of a sail. Pete still rigged up and went sailing with me. Even though he had be surfing all day.

Thanks Pete

Ice sailing

Pete in big the big stuf.

Logo high, for sure.

Air Pete

Progress

2010-11-02T18:27:00.001-04:00

So I believe in drugs. Cortisone injections to be particular. Last week I had one to my tendinitis in my left elbow; and I am already beginning to feel better.Over the years I've had more than several steroid injections to my neck, back, and shoulders. In all cases, they have proven more effective than sucking down Celebrex like Pezz. Although, I do that anyway. I come from an aging generation of Weekend Warriors. And I do not intend to stop any time soon so...

This is what I missed

http://gallery.tranquilphotos.com/g/main.php/v/Sports/20101031-Surf-WestMeadow/

three days of great windsurfing. But even I realize the need for rest.

But Phil and I managed some time on the water. He chronicled it here on his Blog.
http://theoutsideinsideout.blogspot.com/2010/10/dangling-over-water.html

While it's nice to be ON the water...
I'll be back IN the water, soon.

What a Fall

2010-10-29T13:48:00.002-04:00

As seems to happen every year: The weekend of October 15, 16 & 17 was such a great sailing weekend, [see last weeks post] [or last years] that they canceled/postponed the Manhasset Bay Fall Series again, because it was too windy. That's right folks. Million dollar racing sailboats, it seems, are incapable of sailing when there is actually wind. Well I'm glad the wind finally calmed down enough for them to hold some races by spreading the event over two weekends.

In other news: last Friday was an outstanding West Meadow day again. I was able to sail my 90 ltr Syncro, and 5.0 all afternoon. Though I probably should have been on my 4.7. I aggravated my tendinitis to such an extent, that I had to get another cortisone shot. so you guys will have to windsurf with out me this weekend. I'll be out on Segue.

Lastly; the Fall Bass run is moving West.

So the Fishermen have set up their "Beachfront Condo's" at Demo.

Remember, they have the exclusive right to drive on the NYS Parks beaches. The State of NY does NOT issue a 4X4 outer Beaches permit. They issue a 4X4 FISHING Permit. Everything else is prohibited via 4X4. [surfing, sunbathing, camping, swimming etc.]

So I figured I would show some action shots of these hearty fishermen in action.

Wait a second; no one is fishing. And why do you need a five ton truck to cart your fishing gear? Surfers have to carry their boards that same mile and a half stretch each way to reach that same section of beach? Why are the "Soccer Mom's" and other user groups... people who are not 100% fishermen prohibited from using these beaches? I couldn't possibly carry all my windsurfing gear a mile and a half each way. It's a good thing I can sail there via the Fire Island Inlet.

Something smells fishy here.

Dear NYS Parks Department
We are not simply looking for surfing access. We are attempting to right a wrong. The State of NY has created a special class of beach user with the exclusive right to access certain choice beaches. Beaches the general public are prohibited from using. And that is against the very charter of the State, and the very reason NYS Parks System exists in the first place.
The whole idea of the NYS Parks System was to create access to nature for everyone. Not just the special people; but EVERYONE.

WE the PEOPLE: NOT just a SELECT FEW.

Yours truly,

The citizens of NYS

It looks like wind

2010-10-20T07:30:00.000-04:00

Friday 10/15 we sailed West Meadow. I should have been on my 3.7, but sailed the 4.2 all afternoon.
See Steve Dommer's pics at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/domer2/sets/72157625189503616/

The Kites were out too. But a friend of mine managed to cut his hand pretty badly on his lines. And he is one of the better kiters I know...so I think I'll stick to windsurfing.

He also has some from Saturday's 5.0-5.5 session at West Neck. God I love the Fall.

BlueharborCat also took some pics on Saturday at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LongIslandWindsurfer/photos/album/828932708/pic/list

I cant copy Steve's photo's but here are two of my favorites from Saturday by Blue

More narcissistic behavior.

2010-10-20T07:06:00.003-04:00

Last week I read a WSJ article that Government research concluded; people who keep public Blogs, or social network pages like Facebook are narcissistic.

DUH! How many of my tax dollars did it take for you to figure that out? I keep a public diary. Isn't this supposed to be under lock and key? Hidden under my mattress. What the hell are you all doing in my bedroom anyway?

Back to the matter at hand. Bragging and public complaining.

On Saturday October 9th I did indeed clean the bottom of my boat,[and my father's before me];Segue. A light putty knife, and scotchbrite pad were all I really needed.
The new ablative paint I have been using the last few years works very well. I wore a pair of prescription swim goggles and my Boogie Board fins. So lord knows what toxins I ingested in my little exercise.
The thing is. I used to be able to just beach her at high tide; wipe her down; and roll on a new fresh layer of bottom paint at low tide. Than I would just float her back to her mooring at high tide again. This saves me about $750 a season in crane time, hauling, bottom paint, and labor cost. Mind you, I still have her professionally hauled out every two years or so; but I just did that last October 2009. Why am I bothering you with this? Well other than the fact that I pride myself on being self sufficient...my Yacht Club changed the rules on me mid season.

With out any warning, announcement or vote; and even though it clearly states in this seasons 2010 roster that I can "lose my reservation to beach my boat if I am not ready at the beaching area at least 1/2 hour before high tide"; someone decided I can no longer avail myself of this privilege. Hell, the right to beach my boat, and do my own work was one of the reasons I chose this Club in the first place. The North Shore Yacht Club is one of long island sounds oldest continuing Yacht clubs. It has always been the more inexpensive alternative to the grander Clubs on Manhassett Bay. A "real Sailors club"; no swimming pool or bar tab here. Just the way I like it. Or liked it. Our shoreline is becoming infested with McMansions, every season more boat yards get pushed out of business, and even the grand Knickerbocker Yacht Club went belly up this year. And so it seems that yet again, I have become the grumpy old man longing for the "old Days", when seamanship mattered; not the size of your wallet.

Part Two: The good part.
On Sunday Lauralee and I at the urging of Peconic Jeff or peconicwindsurfer

took a road trip to Tiana. It is hard to believe that after 25 years of windsurfing on Long Island, I've never been there before. It is simply one of the most beautiful places on the island. It produces a easy clean wave, close to shore; and is sailable in just about every wind direction. And of course; just plain surfable. It was one of my most special windsurfing days in a long time. I met up with Jeff,[of course] it was his post that pushed me to drive out there in the first place. I sailed with Great Lakes Ted, Sasha & Christina from the regular crew. But also John Ford of Hamptons Windsurfing, and Michael Alex , whom I had not really sailed with in 15+ years. He posted our exploits on his now famous Peconic Puffin.

Thank guys

2010-10-09T09:10:00.002-04:00

What is left of the beach at The Old Coast Guard Station.

No great pictures, nothing spectacular to report. Work has been a bitch lately. That along with the fact that the sun is setting early and earlier, has put a crimp in my late shift sessions.

Since my “incident” with the NYS Parks Police at RM3, I’ve been able to secure a Surfing Permit for fields 3,4, and this year field 2. This is important because RM2 is closing soon due to budget cuts; and it is a long walk to Demo from field 5. I couldn’t get the State to agree to extent the permit through April 15. That bothers me; we are allowed to surf Demo from Jan 1 to April 15; no one uses those lots that time of year; but we can’t park there because the fisherman will be pissed! Well I’m a fisherman; and I have no problem.

Enough negative vibes! Although I missed some great days recently…I’ve enjoyed some great sailing and surfing as well. I hope you have been able to take advantage of this great Fall season. I’ve been reading and hearing about some truly great days.

Personally:

9/19 After making the best of a sunny slow day; I managed a little Segue time from 5-8 PM.

9/21 Another after work sail from 4-7. The forecasters totally missed this one. I could have been on a 6.0 easily.

9/24 A really warm evening sail on Segue.

9/25 I did two beach clean ups. RM2 in the morning; The Old Coast Guard Station in the afternoon. I was especially disturbed by how many hypodermic needles we found that afternoon; at least 50.

9/26 Surfed a dawn patrol with Brook and Mustang. Then I came home and went sailing with Lauralee all afternoon.

10/2 Sailed West Meadow Dawn Patrol with some Kiters. The wind was light, and I actually rigged my 8.5. Came home and sailed Segue with the wife.

10/3 Nice NE day at Crab Meadow. 6.3 and the 110. Mostly it was great to have such a great crew out there. I haven’t sailed with Chuck in ages, and it is always a treat to sail with Phil.

10/4 Monday night; Pete, Dommer and I had a great NE Mysto session at CIB. Pete was a little jaded since this was like his 5^th day sailing in a row, and he had sailed the ocean that morning. But I count it as one of my top ten CIB days. Fully powered 5.5 on the 110 RRD. Waist to head high swell; back side on Starboard, but DTL on Port.\

9/8 Last night I had a great nighttime sail on Seque. It was blowing 10-15 out of the WNW, and the visibility was good. Sailed from 6 till 9:30. Took me three attempts to hit my mooring. My depth perception is not what it once was in the dark. Plus the lights from shore kept obscuring my pick up buoy; even with a glow stick tied to it.

Well, I’m off to clean my waterline…Hope you all have a great weekend.

Oh and Columbus didn’t discover America; but that is not going to stop me from taking the day off.

I paddled out at Robert Moses Field Three yesterday.

2010-09-19T08:47:00.006-04:00

I paddled out at Robert Moses Field Three yesterday.

The swell was big; but rideable. Though not much, for me. I have not surfed since the Spring with Mustang. I first did a drive by at 12:30, and it looked clean and perfect. But no one was surfing there at all. So I re-checked Gilgo [a crowded kook zoo], RM 4; & RM 5, [3 guys out: but the water was this brown foam, and it was breaking haphazardly].

I settled back on RM 3. The waves were breaking cleanly and consistently, about a quarter mile south of the pencil. It's a bit of a walk and a lot of paddling for me.

The water was crystal clear, but you could feel some tiny jellyfish chunks that had been broken up by the churning shore break.

The worst part was exiting the shore break. So once out you; just stayed out. It is the best place I have found when the wave period is 12 seconds or greater. Best time is an hour before, to an hour after low tide. Yesterday "Magic Seaweed" had RM as 5 feet @ 14 seconds. Low tide was 11:00.

Last year during hurricane Bill, I had the best surfing of my life there. It was one of those days you keep re-living over and over in your head. One of those days, like my first Demo session in a Nor Easter:… I will spend the rest of my life trying to recreate those moments.

Lauralee got to get some sun on a warm empty beach. I got some needed IN the water time. I surfed from 1:00 to 4:00. [I think we both overdid it a bit.] The first hour was great clean one and one half overhead size swell on the outside. It was jacking up for about 30 seconds or so. Dropping in was so much fun! But the swell just disappears; no impact zone to contend with. Unlike the inner bars that were just closing out, churning sand, and crushing everything. After 3 hours, we called it a day, and headed back to the parking lot.

On my dashboard I had my Fishing Permit, and the letter from George Gorman to Surfrider dated 2006, that states we can use the 4X4 Fishing Permit, or can purchase a Fall Fishing Permit for $15. And that this allows surfers to use the "closed parking lots" at RM 3 & RM 4 from September 15th to January 1st to park for surfing.

But of course when I arrived back at my truck I found State Police Sergeant "B" trying to ticket me. "What kind of permit do you have there son?", "The right kind Sir, Why do you ask?". "Well we got a phone call from a fisherman about someone illegally surfing Field 3”.

The entire time I was at field 3 there were only 4 cars in the entire lot. Three fishermen and one surfer: myself. One of these three fishermen had actually taken the time to call the Cops! I was nowhere near them. We were separated by a quarter mile of Ocean. I pulled out my copies of my documentation. [I never give the officers my originals; I’ve been harassed before.] I then explained how the “off season” parking works; showed him the letter and the maps.

“Well I’m the officer in charge of these here parts. How come I’ve never heard about this?”, “I couldn’t tell you that Sir. My name is Frank*********** by the way Sir; I work with Surfrider, if you would like to call Ron Foley, or Betsy Winterberger, they know who I am. I’m sure they could vouch for me.”,” You’re right Sergeant, if you ask about the Fall Surfing Permit at the office over there at Robert Moses they won’t know what you are talking about. You have to talk to Belmont. These are copies, so if you would like you can keep them.”

“No, no, I’ll check Monday. Personally, I have no problem with you surfers; it’s the kids who come down here and drink. You know the fishermen are just worried about your safety…If you get hit with one of their 8 ounce casts…” I interrupted, and pointed to my LIBBA plates. “Look I am a member of both LIBBA and Surfrider. I know the whole line of B.S. that Willy Young and Chuck Hollins are feeding you. My wife has only been surfcasting 10 years, and she could hit that sign 50 feet over there. If a fisherman hits a surfer with a treble hook, they are either incompetent, or it’s intentional.” “Let me ask you something; here is mine, and my wife’s fishing licenses. When you are done with me are you going to check those guys for NYS Fishing Licenses and beer?”

“No we were told that we don’t need to check for that”…”your paperwork seems to be in order. But I still have never heard anything about this Fall Surfing Permit”.

So I asked politely” Look Officer, I understand you are just doing your job. And you have no idea how much I appreciate how difficult your job is. But could you do me a favor, and not write me the ticket; It would mean I’d have to miss a whole day of work, to go to court, show the Judge the same documents I just showed you, so he could dismiss the charges”. Thank you Sergeant “B”.

Now this is the second time in three weeks that the NYS Police force have overstepped their authority. In the last case, after legitimately ejecting Surfers who drove their trucks to Democrat Point from the water: the Police continued to eject surfers from the water who had walked the mile and one half each way. Surfing is legal at Demo, so long as you walk in.

This is getting out of hand.

FALL

2010-09-16T14:13:00.003-04:00

Brewster in the blue, I am in the green

It was an Ezzy day. Brew in Blue. Me in Green.

I guess I was taking off, or landing?

Gotta' love the carve!

All images courtesy of Blueharborcat. Thanks

Sailed Stehle Wed with Pete R, Brewster, Joe Elvis, Upwind Mike and (I'm sorry I don't know the name of the guy in the car with the "windsurfer" plates). Sails ranged from mid 5's to 6.9. I sailed the 6.3 Ezzy Wave, and the 110 ltr RRD on a 9 ½” Weed Wave. Lots of ramps, lots of swell, mostly powered.

It was a nice night of sailing; especially for one that was not forecast.

I spent last night after I went to the gym glassing the rail on my Fish. I thought I was done with it: I had finished wet sanding the tail, and was going to wax it up for Igor, when I discovered the crushed rail. It must have been hidden under all the surf wax. It would have been easier to have just stripped the whole board and just re glassed the whole rail. But it's too late now, and I will probably have some decent swell this weekend.

Shame I'm going to miss tonight. - just can't go two days in a row. I have to let my body heal. At my age it takes at least 48 hours. Well at least I can get some work done. Business has been really tough lately. And hopefully, the wind will hold till Friday afternoon. It’s already starting to crank outside now. Hope you get some…

I broke one of my own rules tonight.

2010-09-12T23:52:00.004-04:00

I went windsurfing alone.

No buddy system: just me.

I got a text from Phil that he was heading to the ocean for a sail or [if the wind didn’t come up] a surf. I was busy, all day; I even forgot to eat. So at 3:00 when I saw the wind come up, I just wanted to go.

I tried to text Phil, but saw on LIwindsurfer that Sasha was powered up at Heckscher on a mid six sail. So I decided to go for the sure thing. I later discovered that Phil had a great ocean session; so I wish I had gone to Gilgo with him. But by the time I found that out, I was on my way home.

I arrived at Heckscher at 5:00. I saw everyone was on 6.5ish sails, so I rigged my 6.9 Ezzy, and the 125 ltr Sumo. I was way powered, to overpowered in the gusts. I thought of going back in and switching boards, but I didn’t want to waste the time. It gets dark shortly after 7:00; so I knew it was now or never. After about an hour, I realized that everyone had left, and gone home. I was alone in the Great South Bay, just blasting.

And I thought…Sailing alone at dusk is dangerous. But not nearly as dangerous as continuing to work across the street from the former World Trade Center after 911. I’m sure people who saw me from shore might have thought, “what is that guy doing, sailing out there all by himself, in the rain?”, “that’s crazy”. No. I think watching the progress at Ground Zero from my office window…that was crazy. I didn’t know any better. I thought I was doing my part, if I didn’t, I was told, ”the terrorists will win”. So I went to work every day. Wiped down the 1/8 inch of dust that would accumulate on my desk each night. And what was the point? We didn’t even have working telephones. I had a $1,500 cell phone bill for 3 straight months. Yes my company paid it; but that’s crazy.

Watching the snipers on the roof when I bought my egg and cheese an a roll each morning; that’s crazy. Breathing air that’s not safe, when your Government tells you it is; that’s crazy. I always used to get Tonsillitis if I had a cold that dragged on too long. Now, I get a sinus infection every year. And I have a friend who gets chronic pneumonia. What was the point.

In 2006 I found work here on the Island. After 20+ years; no more commute to the City.

I didn’t see the towers fall. I felt it. I smelled it. I breathed in the souls of 3,000 people. I’ve never published these photos, shot from my office window before.

So danger and crazy is all relative. I am only happy when I am in the water. No time to think; just act; just be. I’m glad I’m alive. But I need to live…I need to remember, how to live...

I will never forget.

2010-09-10T14:57:00.001-04:00

It has been blowing all week since the Hurricane that never was. So I jumped at the chance to leave work early yesterday.

Snuck out just a little before 4:00. Arrived at CIB to Pete R and his son rigging 5.8's and 5.2's. I didn't want to chance being underpowered, so I rigged the Ezzy 6.3 and the 110 RRD. Joe E joined us later. I hit the water about 5:15, and sailed till about a half hour post sunset. I'm glad I chose the bigger combo, as the wind and waves varied quite a bit. I think Joe was also on a 5. something. Check everyones Blogs on the right hand side of the screen. It has been quite a week. I especially like the photo sequences Chris took of Mike B.

hurricane earl

2010-09-09T14:25:00.002-04:00

The Weather Channel put it best. In the course of their coverage, they showed a sign outside a restaurant on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It said Jim Cantore deserves an Emmy Award for his coverage of Tropical Storm Earl. The pleasant looking anchor woman thought it was a compliment of the channel’s coverage. She didn’t realize it was a full blown insult.

Maybe it was because of the 5 year anniversary since Katrina: the Hurricane that destroyed a city and showed just how piss poor our Governments response can be, when you have an uninformed President, and an inept, political patronage, appointment. “You’re doing a good job there Brownie”

This heavily hyped storm wasn’t a dud, but it was hardly epic, and it pretty much missed Long Island all together. It’s been a pretty good August. I’ve sailed the ocean a few times had some nice Nor Easters off Demo with Southern swell. And the temperature hasn’t been too hot. I can’t complain.

But the coverage of Earl had people canceling their Labor Day plans up and down the east coast. The amount of revenue that must have been lost…I could not even begin to guess.

Thursday we actually had some heavy wind. But it had nothing to do with Earl. It was your basic cold front. I wish I had gone windsurfing, but went out n Segue instead. I figured it was my last chance to take down my Genni, and check my mooring. I ended up sailing with a single reef in the main, and 70% jib. I would have been cruising on a 5.5 at least. But I’m glad I took the day off. I never did clean my gutters, or find a source for sand bags…but the power went out in my office. So I would have been frustrated beyond belief.

Friday I touched up some glasswork I have been doing on my surfboards all morning. I loaded my Smallest board in the Van, made sure I had a boom small enough for my 3.7, and headed to CIB. 15 guys spent 3 hours bullshitting and just talking. Something we rarely have time for, while we waited for the wind that never arrived.

Saturday. The brave hit Da Meadow early then headed to the ocean to break some gear.Dommer chronicled the action on Flicker. Me; I arrived at Da Meadow about 11:00, for the outgoing mid tide. I started with a 6.3 Ezzy, and my 110 ltr RRD and I stayed with it all afternoon. It was just exactly what I needed. But hardly a Hurricane, or even a small craft advisory.

Now it has been blowing ALL week since I’ve been back at work. And I’ve missed every day because I have to pay my mortgage, and I’m pretty sure the bank won’t accept the excuse that it was really windy all month. But I’m not sure. I’ve never actually tried that excuse.

OK it’s been awhile. So I have a lot to cover.

2010-09-02T06:59:00.001-04:00

This sort of tropical weather pattern we have been experiencing has made for some interesting sailing, windsurfing, and surfing. Last week was so cold during the Nor Easter, that I wore a 4/3 in the ocean. This Sunday was so warm: I just wore swim trunks.

The non-typical wind directions for this time of year have allowed me to explore new destinations. Not just the same “tour of the mooring area”, or Tack up wind to “Stepping Stones” and broad reach back home. I’ve had a few nice sails up to Larchmont, and Bayville in the east. And two sails up the East River towards Manhattan. I never made it all the way to the City. Once I sailed up through “Hells Gate” and back, the other, I explored the old “Worlds Fair Marina” by Citifield [formerly Shea Stadium], and of course LaGuardia Airport.

I’ve also been able to spend quite a bit of time exploring City Island’s mooring fields. Sailing there is a time capsule to my childhood. So many boats from the 70’s… some derelict; some beautifully preserved. And my favorite thing… at least 5 Cape Dory’s in that fleet.

Sunday the 22nd brought the 3rd or 4th East, South East I’ve been able to enjoy at Heckscher. Yes. I know I complain about that place. But it rocks in an Easterly. The problem with Easterlies, is they are not dependable. In fact Sundays' wind was not predicted by anyone! I sailed a 5.5 all day; switching between my 110 ltr and 90 ltr boards. Most guys rigged two sails [~4.7 ish, and ~5.5 ish] I just changed my down, and out haul; and switch boards.

Tuesday night, the 24th; Dommer and I sailed Demo in a Nor Easter. It was cold. It was big at times. But it was not the epic, clean, side off, Nor Easter that Demo can produce.
As the Nor Easter’s weakened, LL and I shared a few evenings on Segue. Lastly; I tried to surf Sunday. But was denied, when I dropped my 9.6 in the parking lot and split the rail; ARRGH!. So this week I’ve been in repair mode for the upcoming storm. It’s gonna do something. What? I don’t know. But I want to be prepared.

I have a meeting with the State today, [Thursday]; we had an ‘incident’ Tuesday morning, where some surfers were ticketed, and ejected from the beach. Some were there Legally: some were not. But all were told they had to leave. This is not the first time the NYS Parks System, and the NYS Police have overstepped their authority. And while Surfrider was swamped with reports of this incident… we can barely get three people to show up to a meeting, or a beach clean up. Where were these people when we successfully lobbied NYS for the “Better Bottle Bill”? How about when we fought against the “LNG Island” the government wanted to build right off our shores. We dodged two bullets when ‘other interests’ [Donald Trump] defeated the “Wind Farm”, and when BP screwed up in the Gulf, creating a moratorium on “off Shore Drilling’… But as soon as someone gets kicked off a beach, they just come out of the woodwork.
I have been getting kicked off of the beaches for 30 + years. I have gotten sick from the water I so love, on countless occasions. In one instance I dropped 40 pounds in less than a month! This is why; despite the fact apathy among watermen, is at an all time high… I will continue to work with organizations like Surfrider, and LIBAG, the Long Island Beach Access Group.

This afternoon, I think I’ll take Segue for a sail. It looks sunny, warm, and breezy. Then I’ll remove the Genni from the roller furling, and make sure my ground tackle is in order. I am even thinking of daisy chaining some fenders around her hull to protect her from the boats that will inevitably chafe through their mooring lines. We will have to see what this storm brings… Great windsurfing, epic swell, closed beaches and erosion? Who knows? It could be a wonderful playground, or I could be stacking sand bags as the bay invades my street. I hope it is safe for us all and we don’t sustain too much damage.

Time to steal a boat

2010-08-24T07:06:00.002-04:00

I'm up early today. I thought I could pull off a dawn patrol before work. But my body says no. So here I am.

My friend Ted sent me this video clip

You may have to cut and paste the link bellow.

http://www.windsport.com/videos_display/video:2231/Wake-Sailing-the-Gorge

This summer we have had an unusual weather pattern, in that it has been windy in the middle of the western portion of the sound. As apposed to our "normal weather pattern where you get thermal wind in the Great South Bay. Specifically Heckscher.

So I have been talking about stealing, [really finding " someone with a power boat willing to take us out to the mid sound during one of these thermals; and then pick us up maybe two hours later.

The problem is [as always] that the wind in the bay is much lighter. So you need a big board and big sail to get out there. But once you are out there you wish you were on a 5.5 and a 100 ltr wave board. What I have been doing is rigging a 6.9 and a 125 ltr board and a small fin. This way the slog out is not so bad. But it IS bad! and then out-hauling and down-hauling the heck out of my 6.9; and riding overpowered out in the sound.

In the "old days" we didn't have this problem. First off because it was always winder on the South Shore. And secondly; because we always had some way to access the sound. Unfortunately the overbuilding of Mc-Mansions has privatized our access. When there were only a few "old money" waterfront residents on Sands point, they never hassled us. In fact one nice little old lady used to bring us lemonade when we were through. "you boys must be thirsty after all that 'what is called?' Windsurfing"

As the shoreline was invaded by the new heavily leveraged rich, All our access points were choked off. These new residents called the cops at the first sign of us approaching. The Police were real cool about it at first. But they eventually had to succumb to the homeowners paying their salary.

I am trying to work out something with Matt Myron, and the
Port Water Taxi
But still haven't worked out the kinks, or the price. Meanwhile Matt has been nice enough to let me launch from his dock at MICA. It's still a terrible slog, but at least I'm Windsurfing.

Wow it's 7:30. I've been messing around for 1 1/2 hours; I better get to work. Maybe tonight? If the wind holds.

Back to the Future

2010-08-15T09:32:00.004-04:00

I guess I'm going to to just have to break down and buy a new camera. My Cell Phone pics are piss poor, the new cameras are just better, and I am beginning to think that my best chance of finding a compatible cord will be at a Garage Sale. "How much for the cable Granny?"

I did find an old Polaroid while in my search. I read that they are making film for them again. Is it a quest for a simpler time? The search for a non-Photoshop-able format? Or just a retro aesthetic, like Steampunk? Kodak stopped making Kodachrome. Did they stop making Ectachrome as well? Remember contact sheets? Time spent in the "Dark Room", burning and dodging; double exposures? And "Slide Shows"...

I guess the modern blog has replaced the Slide Show. I miss the social aspect of the slide show. [Granted, some of them were the most boring, inane hours of my life.] "Here's another one of Uncle Ted in front of the statue of liberty". I suppose I'm doing the same thing right now. Only you have the choice to skip ahead. So let's break out the folding chairs, dim the lights, have a Fanta, or RC Cola; munch on some Jiffy Pop: the Pigs in Blankets, Tuna Melts, and Fondue will be ready in a minute.

I've been feeling old and insecure lately. So maybe I've just been clinging to to the sights and sounds of my childhood looking for comfort.
My ipod has not played a song recorded since 1979 in months.
Segue, a 1985 Cape Dory, is purposefully maintained to appear as she did in 1985. [No modern looking hardware or sails allowed!]. And I really want to trade her in for a wooden Catboat , or Doughdish. I want something trailerable; beachable, with a centerboard: something I don't have to pay $5,000 a year just to keep it; something I can store and work on in my garage. Wooden watercraft have a soul; Fiberglass does not.Don't get me wrong! I love my Cape Dory, it is probably one of the best cruising boats for a couple ever made. But I never sleep on her. I am purely a day sailor. A light wind day sailor at that. If it's windy; I'd rather be Windsurfing.

I have this compulsion to put wood paneling on the side of my van. I've always loved woody's.

I am also in the market for a 1970's era longboard windsurfer.
And I am thinking of building [as if I actually have the time] a hollow wood longboard. Do I buy the whole kit with material? Like Grain http://www.grainsurfboards.com/ or CLC http://www.clcboats.com/ ? Or do I just buy the frames http://fiberglasssupply.com/ ? I don't know.

And how would I have the time any way? I still have not finished the teak on Segue for this season; and I still have 5 more board repairs to finish.

Long lunch

2010-08-07T12:21:00.006-04:00

I took a long lunch yesterday. From 12:30 to about 9:30. Lauralee and I could not decide if we wanted to battle the Friday traffic to the beach or just take Segue for a spin. Segue won.

We had, un-forecasted [ the Weather Channel, iwindsurf, or windfinder all missed it] wind from the West North West. This frontal passage has been difficult to track and predict for the weather forecasters I generally trust. While they were correct about Tuesday's wind at Heckscher and the Great South Bay; They totally missed the wind and size of the surf we had at Democrat Point. Mike Burns [ http://purewindsurfing.blogspot.com/ ] has been hitting the mid afternoon thermals at Heckscher all week. I think the biggest sail he has rigged in two weeks has probably been a 5. something. My usual on site reporter K-dog, has taken on an RJ [Real Job]; temporarily, at least, with the US Census.

Any way, it was way windier than expected. We spent most of the afternoon with one reef in the Main, and 100-120% in the jib. Even though that sounds like good windsurfing wind; it was awfully gusty, and wasn't filling in by the shore. The land was causing any on shore breezes to lift. So we stayed with the sailboat. Later on when I checked my BB at about 10PM, I saw that both Rich and Dommer had called looking to see what I was up to. {sorry I missed your calls guys}. From what I understand Rich S., Bayville Joe, Pete R., and Brewster, all had a good evening sail. I assume that as the land cooled, it allowed the breeze to fill in closer to shore.

Anyway LL and I sailed back to our fleet about 5. The breeze at the dock was pretty light, but really shifty. So we used the opportunity to sail to the dock. It took a try or two to get our communication skills in sync. [I'm getting way to used to sailing alone] But, we managed a nice soft landing. I spent most of the evening up the mast changing out the topping lift shackle. That damn thing has been such a pain in the ass this season. I also lubricated the mast sheaves; they and the topping lift did not like taking the salt water bath from last weeks squall. Paul Meilink Was a great help to me; sending tools I had left in the cabin to me via messenger line. He saved me a lot of climbing; which is very helpful since my left hand is still pretty messed up. [Anybody know a good massage therapist?]

Once I was done with that; I cleaned the water line, and did my best to scrub the bottom. I am trying to avoid hauling the boat this season. But she hasn't been out of the water since last October 09'. And that was only for a week.So I am sure I am not keeping up with any bottom growth. I'm thinking I will beach her at the Club when the weather gets a little cooler.

I had to stop working at dusk as the Skeeters were eating me alive. This means I still have to get a coat of wax on that waterline. Now that she is all white from the acidic fiberglass stain remover; the pores on the hull at the waterline are all open and exposed, until I can fill them with wax. If I don't wax it soon, the hull will be just as dirty as is was before I cleaned it.

Well I hope the weather is nice wherever you are. Looks like a beach day today.

One down, five to go

2010-08-04T14:59:00.001-04:00

Fixed the RRD, and painted it, Still glassing and grinding my fish and the JP. Still using tape as the paint on the nose repairs of both the sumo and the Syncro. And lastly, I have not even begun work on the Naish.

It’s August; I still have not found a replacement cable for my Sony camera; so any photos I post, are going to be poor quality cell phone pics.

The weather patterns are still really screwed up this season… But that is turning out to be a good thing. I’ve sailed Demo twice in the last two weeks. Both times on a 6.3 Ezzy Wave, and my 110 ltr RRD. Last nights session was the better of the two. Plus I’ve sailed the 125 ltr Sumo and the 6.9 three times in the last three weeks right here at home in good old Manhasset Bay.

I am just wrecking my body. Today I can’t even make a fist with my left hand; last week I could not lift my right arm above my shoulder. But I have to say I was proud of myself last night. After two hours of well powered wave sailing, I had one run where I came off a plane for a while. Instead of getting greedy, and exacerbating my various impingements. I sailed for home.

I’ve also had a few nice sails on Segue. So she is filthy again and the teak looks like crap. But how could a person complain? This summer is basically a working vacation for me. The only downside has been lack of beach time for Lauralee. It has affected me too. I haven’t surfed since April. But sailing and windsurfing are really my thing. The surfing for me, is only a way to get on the water when we have no wind.

2010-07-29T17:03:00.001-04:00

Ok; so now every board I own is broken. It either has a ding, or a crushed rail, broken nose or tail,…I know I said I was going to fix them a few weeks back. But it was too hot and humid that 3 day weekend. To top things off in the life is good department; the wind is back. We went through 2 or 3 weeks of super high humidity, and 90 to 105 temperatures. All the weather patterns I am used to, are just different.

Last weekend Lauralee and I sailed under the watchful eye of a harbor seal on the rocks just to the north east of Kings Point. Usually the seals leave the sound by February; March at the latest. But there he was. Most of my sailing; or outdoor activity anyway has been either in the early morning, or the late evening. It has just been so hot. Last Saturday I was sailing Demo, and became so dehydrated, I was dizzy, weak, and threw up all over the dashboard of my truck on my drive home. Yuck!

Last Sunday was hot as well; but we had a nice little North Westerly that morning. I sailed Segue from 8 till 11:30. Then called it a day. It was just too hot. I am glad I did. That afternoon we had another mini tornado/waterspout/microburst in Manhasset Bay. I am told by eyewitnesses that Segue, and literally half the fleet was knocked over so hard by the wind that my mast was laying in the water. This is the second time this has happened this summer. I heard at least 5 people where sent to the hospital, and one 20 year old is still missing. Since many of the boats in our fleet are simply floating real estate. They don’t sail much. So there are a lot of lose, un-battened down objects down bellow. So a few families spent 10 terrifying minutes down bellow trying to protect their grandchildren from flying projectiles in all directions. I am lucky; Segue seems no worse than usual. I sailed her on Tuesday night, and everything seemed OK. But I should probably take a flashlight, and mirror, to the nooks and crannies; and inspect my chainplates.

Which brings up another interesting weather change this year. We did not get any of the famous Heckscher thermals this June, or July. When we did get a thermal; one of two things happened. 1. it died by 6PM when the “late Shift” guys showed up. {I am a late shift guy} Or 2. the NYS Parks closed Heckscher at 6PM because they had a positive result showing West Nile Virus in their monitoring program. Never mind that Heckscher is the Deer Tick, Lyme disease, capital of the world. Or that you are just as likely to get bitten by a West Nile carrying mosquito in your own back yard.

So I have actually windsurfed Manhasset Bay a few times. Always on a big board and sail. Once I slog out to the wind line, I blast, overpowered back and forth.

The most frustrating part of this season has been the loss of beach. The only “legal 4X4 Surfing” beach is still underwater. And that just makes it very difficult for me to share the ocean with Lauralee. She loves the beach, but simply can’t take the long hikes necessary to get there. So while I have had a few pretty good Democrat, and Outer Bar Windsurfing sessions. I have been going it alone. I am NOT allowed to launch from Demo, Sore Thumb, or Overlook. So last night [Wednesday] I had to launch from Cedar. It was a weeknight; so I was only charged $15, vs. $25 on Fri/Sat/Sunday. The wind was OK, but once the tide changed, the waves became more orderly, much bigger, and lot’s more fun. But I had a terrible time staying upwind. So after sailing a half mile or so just to get to the break; and dodging Fishing boats as I cross the inlet. When I came in I had to drag my gear a mile or so back up wind to Cedar. And that is how I damaged my new board. I dragged it so far, I literally sanded the paint off the starboard rail!

What do you think?

2010-06-26T08:25:00.003-04:00

Last week I described a situation where I was sailing on a port tack to windward. We were trying to clear Plum Point. Plum Point is the narrowest section of the bay. It is also where the 5 MPH / NO WAKE zone starts. In that particular situation; a large top heavy power boat was slowing down from 30 MPH, to the required 5 MPH. The act of slowing down, directly in front of us, created an unusually large and steep wake.Segue's freeboard is about 3 feet; so the wave this boat instantly created was at least 5 feet tall, tip to trough.
In this case, I don't believe the power boat intentionally tried to swamp us. I believe he knew that he had to slow down by law; and that he just did not understand, or care what occurred in his wake.

I learned this many years ago when I was out fishing with a friend of mine. My friend was not an asshole. In fact my friend had spent a number years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and had over 20 years experience with his 30 foot Tiara Pursuit. But I saw him cross in front of several sailboats; and I watched his wake smack several boats, until I said something.

"Dude why do you keep trying to swamp all these sailboats? I had no idea, you were such a 'Motorhead'." "What do you mean" he said. I'm just trying to get out of their way. You 'Ragmen' have the right of way". "Yea, I said but look at all the havoc your wake is doing. Instead of cutting in front of them why don't you just head for their sterns"? "I never really thought about it" he said. Now this was a powerboater with 20 years experience, and it never even occurred to him that he was being inconsiderate to other boaters.

The next weekend I took him sailing with me. And he understood.

So I don't believe all Motorheads are Assholes. I just think we all just need to be able to see the world from the other guy's perspective.
But yesterday, when I was close hauled, on starboard, trying to pinch my way past the point and the guy driving Dorothy B decided to go from 5 to 30 MPH right in front of me, instead of behind. And when his wake hit me so hard, I heard sailors on other boats 20 feet away gasp...now he,...was an asshole.

Sorry, I've been rambling. I almost forgot the original reason I posted today...So here it is. Last week, when I almost failed to give way to the sailboat on starboard. My wife said he had his engine on. He was motor sailing.

So, when you have your sails up, but you are still under power, in terms of "right of way" rules: Are you a sailboat, or a powerboat? What do you think?

Bacteria closes North shore beaches

2010-06-25T14:06:00.002-04:00

Bacteria closes Piping Rock, Center Island Sound beaches

Originally published: June 25, 2010 12:46 PM
Updated: June 25, 2010 1:03 PM
By JOHN VALENTI john.valenti@newsday.com

where

view large map

Elevated bacteria levels forced the closure of two Nassau County beaches Friday, the county health department said.

The Piping Rock Beach Club in Lattingtown and Center Island Sound in Bayville were ordered closed until further notice. The health department reported that Laurel Hollow Beach remained closed.

For updated beach closing information, call 516-227-9700. To speak with a health department representative, call 516-227-9717.

Manhasset Bay should be closed as well. It is filthy.

I windsurfed Manhasset Bay three times this Spring. In the Winter and Spring the water quality is pretty good... but as soon as Memorial Day hits; it's all over. Within a week's time the water goes from clear; to red, or brown. Just too many boats, too many McMansions, and too much fertilizer on all their lawns.

I still sail Segue from the bay. But spend way too much time having to clean the stains on her from the filthy water. It really sucks. I live less than a block from the Bay, but have to go elsewhere, if I want to windsurf, or swim.

Summer

2010-06-20T07:21:00.003-04:00

Saturday was a pretty gusty 10 - 20 veering from SE to SW. So I am glad Lauralee and I decided to go sailing instead of heading to the ocean or Heckscher in hopes of a thermal. It doesn't look like it was an "epic" Demo day. Plus, sailing Segue allowed me to spend some actual time with Lauralee; not just the car drive. [Giving my shoulder another day of rest after all that waxing, was an added bonus.]

We finally had "classic" June Manhasset Bay sailing. Bright sun, cool breeze, just warm enough to get some sun on my back, and tons of Motor Heads! Evevery time we sailed past the No Wake / 5MPH sign, we ended up turning back into the bay. The confused chop and wakes from all the Cigar chomping Buddha bellied, top heavy Clorox bottles was just no fun. So we just toured the mooring areas, looking at all the floating real estate.

Most of the fleet are ugly Clorox bottles, or tennis shoes. These boats look so top heavy, and have so much freeboard, it's no wonder they need bow thrusters. Their hulls are strictly designed for wasting gas, and planing. And I doubt anyone who operates one ever looks aft at their stern wake. Plus, they have this obnoxious practice of powering full throttle right up to the 5MPH zone, then dropping their speed from 30 to 5 knots instantly. This creates a huge wake! One such wake hit Segue so hard yesterday, that her bow was completely underwater as she pierced the wake. LL and I were so shaken up by this that I stopped paying attention for just a few moments. I was so preoccupied with the boat who had no idea he almost swamped us, that I failed to notice that I was on a collision course with another sailboat. It wasn't until he screamed "STARBOARD!" that I noticed him and tacked out of his way. Sorry dude; MY fault.

So again, we just stayed in the bay looking at all the boats. One trend I've noticed this season, is the return of "classic style" boats again. Yes; the bay littered with high freeboard, plumb bow, BenaHunterLinaToues.

But there are a number of new Hinckley, Picnic/Lobster style boats; not the modified day boats created by retrofitting an old Down Easter. These come complete with jet drives, modern under bodies, and vacuum bagged Kevlar, and Carbon hulls. I am also noticing this trend among Sailboats. I am starting to see a few new Hinckley's, Alerons, Tartans, and Island Packets.

The greatest trend I am seeing is restored, MBOs, Knickerbockers, Ensigns, Sparkman Stevens, Cape Dorys, CrisCrafts, Hershoffs, and Bristols. Beautiful to look at, as well as sail.

I promise I'll have some photos, ifI can find the cable to connect my camera to my PC.

Well what’s been going on?

2010-06-19T08:51:00.007-04:00

I did attend the East Coast Windsurfing Festival this weekend. I arrived late. [I have too much going on in my life right now]. By the time I arrived, they had already completed a good portion of the racing. The wind was light [8-12 maybe] so the best competition took place in the 7.5 maximum sail class, on displacement boards. My quiver has a gap from an Ezzy 6.9 Wave Panther sail, to a 10 year old Ezzy Infinity 8.5. {I refer to my 8.5 rig, as my desperation sail.] I usually rig it once every year or so, when we have had a light wind spell, and I am boat-less; on a vacation.

Plus, I sold off, or gave away all my old “Race" boards years ago. So I would have sailed Lauralee’s 160 ltr Powerglide.[The Powerglide is designed for control; not speed.] Iv’e already bored you guys enough with my regrets of selling my 230 ltr Equipe longboard.

So I spent some time watching the Free Style Competition. I have a lot of respect for all you free Stylers’. My neck and shoulder hurt just watching you guys; and the fact that you already raced that morning…I sure couldn’t do it.

Anyhow, about 3:30, the thermal started to fill in, so Al and I decided to rig our 6.9’s and biggest wave boards [mine is a 125 ltr Angullo Sumo] and go Free Sailing. It was a nicely powered 2 ½ hour session. We saw that the contest was running the relay races; but decided to do our best “up wind Mke” imitations instead.

Last week since I repaired the noses on my 90 ltr Syncro, and 125 ltr Sumo, [still haven’t painted them] I had some time to devote towards Segue, My Cape Dory 26.

It’s June. So the water in Manhassett Bay has gone from blue to brown. And this had created an ugly brown stain above my waterline. Sunday, I cleaned the waterline, as best I could. But still managed to get an acid burn on my left hand, my lip. and my eye. [there has got to be a better way]. Yesterday afternoon, I managed two coats of wax, [time for the Celebrex and Vicodine cocktails].

Still I have nothing to complain about. I missed Tuesday’s North Westerly; but managed two sunset sails in the dying thermals this week. I keep stalking this beautiful 50 foot Hinckley in the Bay this season. I love that I see them actually sailing a lot. Port Washington has so much unused floating real estate. It is such a waste.

Last night, [after waxing], I took a 2 hour sail through the mooring fields to reward myself for waxing Segue. As I am sailing for my mooring, [on starboard mind you], I had to tack out of the way of a 100 foot grey, space age designed power boat. I kept waiting for James Bond to pop up. Where as the Hinckley represents all that is beautiful about boating…the grey “James Bond” boat represents all that is wrong. First off; I was enjoying my tranquil sail. It was quiet, calm, and I could hear the music from a live band that was playing at the Port Yacht club up wind of me. Nice mellow, [Dan Fogelberg, CSNY, Jimmy Buffet, etc.] So here comes this ugly 100 foot “James Bond” thing trying to cut through the mooring field, instead of using the perfectly good channel as it is supposed to. Plus it is blaring some deep based no talent Rap music at 500 decibels.
Even though I clearly have the right of way; I decide the “Gross Tonnage Rule” applies here. So I tack out of the way. The breeze is dying, as it does at sun set, so I am trying to reach my mooring before it goes dead calm.

Again, I am on starboard approaching my mooring under sail and the thing is on approach to run directly over my pennant! Giant boat, loud Rap music, clearly incompetent helmsman, heading directly for my mooring, which is less than 20 feet from the channel, and he keeps running his bow thrusters!

I’m so pissed off at this guy by now, I figure,” Fuck it”,” I am not tacking away a second time for this asshole” and I head up in to the wind, Segue comes to a stop, and I pick up my mooring. {Yes I know he could have run me over},{but I had enough}. It seems the law was on my side; because no sooner then I had hit my mooring and the Harbor Patrol, lights-a-flashing, pulls up in between me and Captain incompetent. I didn’t have my radio on; so I don’t know what their conversation was, but they escorted the Grey SS Moron out of the mooring field and to the dock via the channel.

Glass work

2010-06-12T10:03:00.002-04:00

So my forearms are so itchy from all that sanding...
But I made less progress than I would have liked.
The epoxy just didn't stick to the JP 109's deck.
I'll have to rough it up more next time, and use acetone to clean it before my next attempt. The trick is to lay down two layers of glass, with out screwing up the fin box and footstrap inserts.

The epoxy didn't want to adhere to the F2 Powerglide 160 as well. But the rail still seems solid. And it did accept the epoxy with silica.

I DID manage to laminated two layers of glass on the nose's of the Angullo 125, and the Synchro 90. We will have to see if it holds. If not; then I will have to tape the whole rail. Not just the dings. AND THAT will ADD Weight; something I am trying to avoid.

I didn't have time to paint the 125, or the 90 liter. But I did paint them with one layer of Epoxy thickened with silica. It isn't pretty but it is strong, and now, water tight[at least until I crash again]. I will have to worry about cosmetics next week; cause it's gonna' blow today. Maybe I'll ad a few strategically placed stickers so it wont look so bad.

repair week

2010-06-07T07:24:00.005-04:00

I have six board repairs to do this week. count em' six. I only own eight boards.

This spring has need very rough on gear. Last weekend I spent a good deal of time on my hands and knees taping tears in my sails. I bought two new universals... one last season, and one two weeks ago. all my Skinny masts are less than two years old. And while I did buy "used' a new boom this season: the rest are at least 5 years old.

I need to spend some bank on some new sails. They work; but have been showing signs of age.Especially my 5.0 and 6.0. I replaced my old 7.2 with a 6.9. And I already have a puncture in the 6.9.[BTW The Tape Fix worked on that repair.

In the old days, I would just go out and buy new gear. BUT HAVE YOU SEEN THESES PRICES!!!

so...

JP 109: cut open and re glass tail buckle. Then just cover it with Hydro waffle.
Syncro 90: Fill in nose chip small repair.
Sumo 125: open up and re-glass nose, before she starts looking like Ms pac man.
Power Glide 160: this is technically LL's board. I dropped it while loading the truck and split the tail. So some exploratory grinding is in order.

the next two are not as urgent...

Naish wave 85: major nose surgery
Seared Ahi fish: 3 semi repaired dings

I am usually pretty good about this kind of stuff, Not this year.

Oh and BTW windsurfed both days this weekend.

I just gotta' go when it blows. Summer will be here soon and I can work on my tan, and my gear. I'll make all my patch jobs look pretty when there is no wind. Right now my priority is to stabilize the dings, cracks, and chips: seal out the water, keep it light, not pretty, and retain the structural integrity of the boards.

That is get them back out on the water ASAP.

Sorry Segue; I know you need a fresh coat of wax and some sanding. you will just have to wait.

breakin' the law

2010-06-04T14:52:00.003-04:00

LIBAG from jesse fawess on Vimeo.

‬‪

LIBAG: The Long Island Beach Access Group, are individuals who work to keep the beach open to everyone.

Long Island is losing its waterfront and wet lands to private homes at an alarming pace. Beach Access is disappearing right along with it. In addition, NYS laws concerning Beach Access are archaic at best.

I want Long Island to be a place where the next generation can surf, windsurf, sail, swim, sunbathe, fish, kayak or just soak in Long Islands’ Natural Beauty.

At least someone got some.

2010-05-22T21:19:00.011-04:00

Well, while the first two weeks of May I sailed 5 out of 7 days a week: this past week; I was not so lucky. I sailed a few light and gusty nights on Segue. But for the most part, Long Island is not enjoying the 20 to 50 we had those first two weeks of May. It's not so bad. I need the time to let the old shoulder heal up. My only regret, is I would really liked to do the ABK Camp at Napeague this Fri/Sat/Sun. I just don't have the ability to take an actual vacation right now. It would be nice just to get away for awhile.

My parents, on the other hand, apparently had 20 to 30 knots on a regular basis. They had to travel for it though... Here are a few pics of them sailing in Croatia.

Dad at the helm, Mom in the foreground.

Great scenery

Mom and Dad

I can’t believe I missed this!

2010-05-19T07:01:00.002-04:00

I screwed up yesterday. Tried to leave the office by 3. Didn’t till 4.

Drove via the Ocean Pkwy to the Sewer: arrived at 6: wind had shifted off shore: last of the regulars were just making it in. Rich, Joe and I tried to find Andrew's new secret spot by the Jones beach coast guard Station.

We are talking about the beach in the north side of Jones. Instead of going to West
End 2 you make a right at the booth, north toward the Coast Guard Station; then
another right turn at the boat basin just before the Coastie's entrance. Past
the building, and park in the far east side of the lot; and THAT IS THE SPOT; I think.

When we got there the NE wind and out going tide made it too light for our 5.0's
and 85-80 ltr boards. It was a no-go.

If that is Andrews new spot; it's really quite good. You just have to watch the tide in
the channel. I used to Kayak there in the 70's.

We also drove left at the Coast Guard station to the "Fishing" parking lot. That
place looked knarley; all concrete slabs and rebar!

It was getting too late for us to sail and "unknown" spot, so we checked out
West End two. I have a night Fishing permit, and a board carry waiver; so I was
the only legal one. Our cover story was that we were looking for our friend. We
never needed it. But we where all three of us, dressed in our wetsuits. So we
had our stories straight none the less.

I was however enamored with the point break at WE2. The waves were wrapping like
they used to at Demo two seasons ago.

Are the stories I've heard of "extreme Localizim" there true?
If not: what am I missing? The place looked like it could be 'epic', given the
right swell and or wind.

Why don't we Windsurf there? I know Mike Da'Baker told me he sailed and surfed
there long ago. But Mike grew up on Point Lookout, across from WE2. Plus, He was
a great surfer.

Is the spot worth pursuing? and if so...how? Commando; under the radar?
Through Surfrider, or LIBAG?

Any thoughts from our elders...

NYSE, NASD, DOW, SNAFU, CA, MICA, RRD, MPH, GPS, TOBAY, VAS: CIB

2010-05-09T07:41:00.010-04:00

It was just that kind of week. I tried to leave work early four times this week and catch a sail.

The first time I arrived at Stehle to a dieing Westerly. Pete R. had rigged; but never even bothered to put on his wetsuit.

In my second attempt to leave at three; I was greeted by sand blasting across the road at CIB. A good sign for Centre Island Beach. By the time I was rigged and on the water; I was barely able to plane. But it was 7PM and I wasn't going to re-rig, and hump my gear back and forth through the tunnel. So I just sorta schlogged about waiting for the occasional gust.

On my third attempt; Wedensday. A graceful exit was not to be had. This time I left work at 6. Picked up a cold 12 pack of Bud light for Matt Myron and the MICA crew. And frantically rigged a 6.0, and my RRD 110. The wind Thursday was gusty in Manhasset Bay to say the least. But at least I got wet. Something I would never have accomplished if I was still working in the City. To top things off, at 3:57 I get an e-mail from my Regional Complex Manager, "I need to talk to you for 5 minutes tomorrow morning" I think I got about an hour of sleep that night.

Thursday morning, I am up at 5. Turns out I have to move to a new office this weekend; and I'm getting a new CA [Client Associate]. We used to call them Sales Assistants. Then; You see, now that we have effectively dismantled the NYSE, super fast computers do most of the actual trading. So if someone puts through a sell order for 9 Billion of something instead of 9 Million... there is no human Specialist on the floor to say "hey wait a minute". And so we tryed to do damage control during a 1,000 point drop in the DOW.The good news was I did leave the office around 5. As I am crawling through traffic at 10-15 MPH, I wave a small gray sedan in front of me. No sooner than I am behind him, and he hits his breaks hard. I did too. But not fast enough. He calls in his entourage, and the Police. I'm glad the Police came. It felt like I was about to get my ass kicked by half his family and friends. I spoke to his Father; [who arrived on the scene in like 2 minutes]. Apparently this is the third time he been hit from behind in the last six months. If you manage to get rear ended 3 times in 6 months...I'm sorry you are just plain, doing something wrong. Especially, because my truck has absolutely NO DAMAGE! But his tail light, bumper, and trunk are destroyed? I wish I had seen the car before I hit it. There is no possible way I could have done all that at 10 MPH. Check my GPS. After all that I turned around, and just went to the gym.

Friday, my current CA doesn't show up for work. I spend the day fielding calls to explain that it is not the Apocalypse. Leave at 3; and have a wonderful sail with Lauralee on Segue.

Saturday; I tryed to sail at TOBAY, [Town Of Oyster Bay Beach]. The shore break is VAS, [Victory At Sea]. Much better sailors than I are getting pounded. I sit on the beach getting sand blasted for awhile. I just can't do it. I already have two broken boards in my basement waiting for repair. I just can't afford another one right now. I migh as well have just stood in the shore break and tossed $1,000 bills into the ocean. Dommer and I bail. I shoulda' listened to the Squidman, and gone to CIB first. Pleanty of swell in the middle and no killer shore break. Just what I needed. Rigged a 4.7, my smallest weed fin, and the 90ltr Syncro. Phil took some nice shots.[see above]. I can't believe I missed CK.

Maybe some more today; with Joe. I got a TXT from Lenny at 6AM he was already out on a 4.0 again!

Happy Mother's Day everyone.

see the Puffin

2010-05-03T16:26:00.001-04:00

http://www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2010/04/windsurfing-kiteboarding-stand-up-paddling-swap-meet-and-other-important-dates.html

Michael at the puffin will help you plan your summer. Start now.

Did I do this?

2010-05-02T10:30:00.002-04:00

I was on my mooring yesterday, doing some work on Segue. It was warm and sunny; so I took my shirt off. And somebody mentioned it to the Yacht Club Stewart. Now I make it a point to not go shirtless when I am at the dock, or in the club. It is out of respect for anyone who might be offended, or who might be entertaining business guests. But I was out on my mooring. I just don't get it.

Four or five years ago, I attended the Commissioning for the North Shore Yacht club.
http://www.nsyc.net/ It was a sweltering 90 degree day. And so I wore shorts, a short sleeve silk Hawaiian dress shirt, and topsiders with no socks. Now I'm not saying that this is my fault...it's just that since that day, the club has added a "dress code" for Commissioning.

From the invitation: "On behalf of the Bridge, the Entertainment Committee cordially invites you to attend our 140^th Commissioning,... The dress code for the day is sports jackets and slacks for men (ties optional). Women are requested to wear skirts, dresses or dress pants. Jeans, shorts, sneakers, flip-flop sandals and such are inappropriate...

Last year’s Commissioning was a great success despite some rain. Let’s make our 140^th Commissioning even better and pray for sunny skies!"

it's only sailing. I guess I'll miss this years Commissioning; Just as I have for the last few years.
I hope that it's nice and windy for you all, when you get to play "Dress Up".
I guess I'll have to find something else to do.

East Coast Windsurfing Festival June 12 & 13, 2010

2010-05-01T12:21:00.001-04:00

http://www.ecwindfest.com/East_Coast_Windsurfing_Festival/ECWF_Home.html

East Coast Windsurfing Festival June 12 & 13, 2010

My Sunday was a day filled with generosity

2010-04-27T07:10:00.003-04:00

My Sunday was a day filled with generosity. And I wasn’t the generous one: I was the recipient.

I want to give a big THANKS to everyone who came out for the beach grass planting, and / or the beach clean up on Sunday.
The weather was less than ideal: so I really appreciate the effort with such short notice. I had this great idea… We encouraged everyone with kids to bring them to the grass planting. Sylvia, from Surfrider spent her Saturday digging through Surfrider CLI’s inventory of T-shirts. She dug up 50 or so size medium or smaller shirts. The Idea was to give them away to the first 50 kids who showed up to help on Sunday. We knew there would be news coverage…and the camera loves a cute kid in a Surfrider T-shirt at the beach. So while I was out enjoying a great day sailing Segue with Lauralee, my wife; Sylvia spent her day sorting through T-shirts, and driving up to my house to deliver them.

I had a long day Sunday. First I was up at 6:30 for a Dune Grass planting at Gilgo. The rain made the morning cold and miserable. But everyone was in good spirits. It was good to see LIBBA and Surfers working side by side. As usual Fishermen outnumbered Surfrider, LIBAG, Windsurfers, and Kiters 4 to 1. We managed to plant 12,000 grass shoots in under 3 hours.

BTW, News 12 Long Island didn't show up until after we were done planting grass on the West Gilgo dune.

Even the “Earth Day” Surfrider, Beach Clean up at noon, was under-attended. It was cold and wet. [My waterproof boots were soggy and cold.]

At 1:00 I was supposed to head on over to Ray’s for a LIBAG meeting and barbecue.

I didn’t.

I was already soaking wet; and the E NE breeze was filling in. Do I sail Demo? Or just sail from Gilgo. I spoke with Florian who arrived at about 12:30 with his two beautiful children in tow. He didn’t have his gear with him. But I offered to lend him my spare drysuit, and rig. He was thankful; but was really there to be with his kids.

I knew Pete was on his way. So I rigged a 6.9. [my biggest wave sail], and my RRD 110. The wind seemed a little “iffy”, so I considered my 125 ltr Angullo. But the swell was pretty big [waist to overhead high] and I stuck with the RRD.

I had some nice semi-down-the-line wave sailing. But was having a tough time staying upwind. Between the East wind, and side shore sweep, I kept ending up at least 1-200 yards downwind of my starting place. After dragging my gear back up the beach for the second time, Florian says “why don’t you do a Down Winder?” “Really” I said. “Sure, I’ll meet you at TOBAY in a half hour or so."

God I really want to THANK YOU Florian. You gave me the most generous gift I’ve had on a long time. I was then treated to one hour; and two and a half miles of pure DTL Wave Sailing. No fighting to stay upwind. Just pure; go with the flow Windsurfing. And it was glorious. Side, to side-off the whole time. Just me and the seals. By the time I reached TOBAY, I was exhausted, and there was Florian waiting. We loaded up my gear, and he drove me back to Gilgo.

This is going to be one of those sessions I will be re-living in my head for years. I owe it all to Florian. He and Brook introduced me to sailing Demo in a Nor Easter. [another one of those sessions I will be replaying in my head till the day I die].

I still made it to Ray’s at about 6 PM, for some post LIBAG steak, shrimp, and Pool.

Thank you Florian. We are definitely going to do that again; together, next time.

Beach Access, and the 4X4 issue

2010-04-24T10:00:00.004-04:00

Cape Hatteras is in danger of losing it's 4X4 access again.
You can post your opinion on the mater at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=358&projectID=10641&documentId=32596

I just did. Thank god, in Cape Hatteras, the fishermen, soccer moms and Surfers all work together. Here in NY; the fishermen seem to feel they are the only user group entitled to use the outer 4X4 beaches. This is an error, supported by a few vocal fishermen, who claim to speak for the rest of us. These fishing lobby's should work with, NOT against, all the other user groups.

The following is a letter I wrote to the Island Free Press Friday, April 4, 2008. The last time this issue came to a head; I believe it still rings true.

http://www.islandfreepress.org/CatBeachAccessIssues.html

I packed my truck last night. This morning, my family and I will drive 12 hours to Cape Hatteras. We have been visiting Hatteras since the early 70’s. What I have always loved about the Outer Banks, is that I could do any thing there. My father shared his love of the ocean, sound, and marshes that are the cape’s barrier islands. My father is now retired to Cape Cod: I now live and work on Long Island. While we live in places that are similar to Cape Hatteras… They are still not that wonderfully special place where I learned how to play with its forces; [waves, wind, and, water]: Feed from its bounty: [fish, crab, and shellfish]; and stand in awe of its beauty. That’s why we keep coming back.
But if you ban four wheel drive access, you will make it impossible for me to share the same experience with my family that my father shared with me. Sure, you may need to limit or regulate 4X4 access. There are just too many SUV’s around today. But an outright ban is unnecessary! There are just too many of us who use 4X4 access responsibly who will be hurt in the process. We understand that the beach is a fragile and ever changing place, best accessed by foot, or by responsible four wheel access. The last thing you want is hard structures like roads and parking lots.
So, I will make my “pilgrimage” to the OBX today. I’ve already paid for my rental house. Because of this love for the Cape, we visit in the spring or fall. Any sunburned tourist can love the Cape in the summer…But we rent homes, and spend dollars when it is 50 degrees, 40 knots, and pouring rain. And we love it! Take away our access, and see how many of show up next season.

Postscript: Saturday April 24, 2010…

I am a member of Surfrider’s Central Long Island Chapter, The Long Island Beach Buggy Association, LIBBA, The North Shore Yacht Club, NSYC, the Long Island Beach Access Group, LIBAG, as well as an avid year round Waterman. I believe in 4X4 access not merely for convenience. Although that is part of it. [It is difficult to drag your family to the beaches I love, especially when some of your family are unable to walk one or two hundred yards. In one place I enjoy, the walk is over 2 miles].

I believe it is the flexibility of 4X4 access that makes it environmentally responsible. Barrier Islands are nothing more than shifting sand bars. They are constantly in motion. With responsible 4X4 access. you can better utilize the beaches they create and take away. If a certain area is eroding, or needs to be protected as a nursing or nesting area…you can simply close, or limit access to that beach. Temporarily; of course.

If you build “hard structures”: like buildings and roads: you are forced to engage in irresponsible dredge and fill operations, as well as poor beach management practices, like building bulkheads, and jetties. These practices do more harm than good. In many cases, they regressively use taxpayer money to subsidize, ie protect, some rich guys home, that should never have been built in the first place.

Tomorrow, I will attend a Dune Grass Planting at Gilgo beach in NY. As a 4X4 user, I fully support the closing of this, and other beaches to Off Road traffic right now. [Long Island beaches, where I live, took a real beating this winter.] So that is why I will be planting Dune Grass on Sunday. It will give the beach a fighting chance to replenish its self. And I will once again be able to drive on and access that beach at some point in the future.
It’s responsible 4X4 users like me; or some irresponsible rich guy with a million dollar home. You tell me what’s better for the Environment.

Thanks for listening,

dune grass planting

2010-04-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

www.gilgo.com
I am sending this to EVERYONE. I think we should make every effort to rally the troops. I would love to have this well represented by ALL Waterpersons.

Surfrider: since we are doing a beach clean up that day... Can we do an e_blast?

Windsurfers: get your asses down there.

Kiters: you too!

LIBAG: looks like we have a busy day ahead of us.

I suspect the fishermen are going to be there as well.

From: "Wintenberger, Elizabeth (LI)"
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:37:27 -0400
Subject: beach grass planting
To: "drysuit2@gmail.com"
Cc: "Agostinello, Ann Marie (LI)"

Hello Frank, Ron Foley gave me your contact information. We are
planning a volunteer effort to plant beach grass in the area at Gilgo
where fresh dunes have been constructed. The date of the event is
April 25, 2010 at 9 A.M. The meeting place is the Town of Babylon
parking field. Through State Parks and Save the Beaches we have
approximately 12,000 bare root plants to get in the ground.
Volunteers should bring a small spade to facilitate planting.
I apologize for the late notice. This date was establish a while ago
for another project but as you know this issue came arose and we feel
it must be addressed quickly. Any assistance your group can provide
will be greatly appreciated. Hope to see you Sunday. betsy

Elizabeth Wintenberger
Facility Manager
Robert Moses/ Captree State Parks
631-669-0449

Dune Grass planting

2010-04-19T23:20:00.000-04:00

http://surfridercli.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-25-2010-at-9-am-meeting-place-is.html

2010-04-09T22:26:00.001-04:00

This season is going to be interesting. The Beaches have changed so much. that many of the good fishing spots and surfing breaks have moved around.
With so little beach left; we are bound to get in each other’s way.
So all the little inside deals the State made with the local residents and the fishing community in the 30’s will start to be questioned. More of the “general” community will want to know why they can’t enjoy the same rights to the beach that the fishermen have. After all, they pay taxes too.
By accessing Demo through field 2, we have increased our visibility to the general public. They will ask.
Why can he drive his truck on that beach, but I can’t?
Why does he need a giant truck/camper to carry a few fishing poles to the water?
I just saw some surfers walk down there, and they were carrying their gear.
Why are they filling in the road to Demo with my taxpayer money when Jones WE2, RM3,& 4 are still closed?
More and more of us, who do more than just fish, will continue to question” why is it against the rules to simply have a surfboard in my truck? Especially if I not only possess all the proper fishing, and safety gear; but I am actually FISHING, on the FISHING BEACH. NOT SURFING.
I live on the north shore; so this has always bothered me. Why do I have to decide at 6 in the morning what activity I will engage in at 6 tonight, after work? Do I load my fishing, or surfing gear?
When I surf from the T/O Babylon Surfing beach; They don’t care that I have a fishing pole in my truck.
This is my opinion…I think the state can’t enforce the no surfing policy. They CAN make it illegal to carry a board in my truck. But can’t enforce the no surfing rule because it takes place bellow the High Tide Mark.
It all comes down to That often sited Colonial Law: “The Public Trust Doctrine”. It concerns "public rights of way", and a man's right to feed his family. This is why it is often quoted the Fishing Lobby. Some of these public rights of way go back 300 years.
It has also been stretched to include the right to recreate in the water. Though I doubt that Colonial Law anticipated surfing, recreational fishing, or driving on the beach.
So I will watch this year with great interest… if Sore Thumb and Gilgo remain closed, and DEMO is now open, only at night; it will be interesting to see how many “Fishermen” decide to carry their gear down to Demo.

interesting

2010-03-27T09:53:00.003-04:00

"On Behalf Of Port Washington Yacht Club News & Information
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 6:41 PM
To: pwycnews@listserve.com
Subject: [PWYCNews] New Windsurfing Program

Dear Members:

Despite the uncertain times we are living in, we are hard at work to make summer 2010 the best season ever at PWYC – with more services and more fun available to the members than ever before. Therefore we are very pleased to announce that we have retained the services of a windsurfing instructor for the summer season, beginning June 15^th. Philip Muller is a US Windsurfing National Champion who has participated in events in Hawaii, Spain and Portugal.

In addition to windsurfing instruction being available to the children enrolled in the Junior Programs, there will be instruction available for all active members, children and adults, Monday - Friday from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM and on Saturday and Sunday by appointment from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The first one hour lesson is free and instruction will be $20.00 per hour thereafter.

When it comes to summer fun on the water, this is the place to be.

Sincerely,

Pasquale Veneziano

General Manager"

So it looks like windsurfing might stage a comeback: in Port Washington any way.

I wonder what type of boards he is going to teach on? As most of us progress through the sport, we tend to sell our old floaty learning gear. Instead, we gravitate towards more specialized high wind, wave, or freestyle gear. Believe me, I have regretted many times that I sold my old Equipes. Heck, there are even times I wish I still had my 1978 magnum 390, with it's baggy old white triangle sail. No footstraps, a plastic fin, and just pure light air fun. That Magnum cost me $200 dollars. Today you could buy a fin, or mast extension for that.

Meanwhile; I've had a few good and a few not so good sessions in the last month. I already posted about the Nor Easter. Since then I have sailed the 6.9 most often. It's a nice sail; but it still don't have it dialed in. Wednesday I sailed with open palm mittens. Soon enough, it will be time to put the drysuit away for summer.

I guess I was a little overpowered

2010-03-13T23:06:00.003-05:00

Yea. I guess I was a little overpowered. I actually joked earlyer in the day that I was going to find my old Naish wave board. Then dig up my old 4.0 and take a knife to it. That might have actually worked. Instead I sailed CIB with the crew in full force. Sailed the 90 ltr Syncro and my 4.2. It was great for the first hour or so, but then it just kept getting windier. The wind actually started to flatten the waves. And it became hard to stay to windward. I definitely took some long hikes upwind as the wind sandblasted me. [Thanks to Stan for helping me walk upwind one time]

Peconic Jeff posted a few pics from Jamesport. The rest can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peconicwindsurfer/sets/72157623615010214/

Steve Domjan, as always, took a few shots in between sessions.
I think this one is my favorite

.

Pete goes big.

Pete R. definitely in a Logo high set.

This one is of Brewster getting some hang time. I think he has a private photographer.

All in all a great day.

Will things ever change?

2010-03-06T07:39:00.002-05:00

Last week I attended a "political Rally" orchestrated by a State Legislator. The Rally left me feeling cold, and used. I attended, because several of the organizations I belong to were "personaly" "invited" to show "Albany" that they should not close our state parks. The rally was billed as 'Save Heckscher State Park'.

As I have had a chance to process the experience this week, I think I understand it a little better. I still feel used. And I guess that's why I'll never be the politician my father was. That's just the way it works. Someone from the Parks System actually put together one of those mobile stages. None of the three groups that I belong to had any 'stage time'. No Windsurfers, no Surfers, no Fishermen. At least LIBAG, the Long Island Beach Access Group, had a tent set up. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only guy who felt used by this Assemblyman. When I asked about 'stage time' in one of the fishing forums; the leaders of the Fishing Lobby groups went ballistic! "How dare I question their judgment.' But I understand. They felt cheated too. We all thought we were attending a Rally to keep OUR State Parks open.

Albany is in such disarray right now. Legislators are fighting for their political lives. Bureaucrats have no idea if their positions will even exist. While I may relish the thought that Public Sector guys are finally feeling the same job insecurity the rest of us private sector guys have lived with for years...It means we HAVE to be Politically active right now.

It is a great time for us. Why? Because all the "old guard alliances" are being called into question. This means that players in "Albany" will be willing to listen to our story. They may not support us; but might actually take our meeting. Whereas in the past they would have just dismissed us.

We need to get our message out to as many as we can.

Long Island's outer beaches are the exclusive playground of Fishermen.
YOU and I ARE NOT ALLOWED.

This DISCRIMINATORY practice IS SUPPORTED, ENDORSED, and ENFORCED BY by New York State.

Nobody has any idea who will be in charge, or who will have the power when the dust settles. If Patterson resigns, and Ravitch becomes Governor NYS will have had three Governors in one term.

This could very well be our "foot in the door"; Olive Branches for all!

2010-02-28T20:11:00.000-05:00

Horsley To Host Rally To Save Our Parks.
So I went to the rally. I did not see any other windsurfers. (I'm a little disappointed by that). I understand most of the Heckscher crew is in Bonaire. But not all.
Lots of lifeguards, fishermen, State Park Police, soccer groups,
equestrians, philharmonic lovers, bikers, runners, a few surfers,
several 4x4 groups , and locals who just love the open space .

LIBAG had a nice tent set up and about 20 guys.

At least 10 politicians made speeches. As did the Leaders of many of
the groups in attendance as well.

I learned an important lesson today. Don't accept an invitation to any of these political rallies or events without a guarantee of stage time.

The fishermen , soccer Moms, and lifeguards earned political clout
today. Surfing was not even mentioned.

It also seemed to me that the politicians were pandering to the local Heckscher crowd.

I think Surfrider made the best choice on this one. We would have needed at least 20 people in Surfrider gear to have been noticed.

So, do we just leave this alone? Or actively inform the politico's
that if they want our support: we need more lead time?

It seems like we were an afterthought to Horsley.

It also seems that most windsurfers and surfers don't really think we have an access problem.

For many; it is comfortable to remain under the radar. For me; I no longer want to break the law, just to go surfing or windsurfing.

I fear it will take an "incident"
In order to get more surfers involved.

I'm tired. I just want to concentrate on getting healthy and strong again.
Next time you get kicked off a beach...you're on your own

Critics Decry Looming NY State Parks Closings

2010-02-27T08:14:00.000-05:00

Critics Decry Looming NY State Parks Closings

So is there real support for this?
Or, will the Politicians turn a deaf ear yet again when we ask for equal access?
I will go and listen to what they have to say today.

Windsurfing is not a crime. But according to the NYS Park system it is an illegal activity at ALL Ocean Beaches.
It is allowed at Heckscher State park, from April 15 to October 15th on the Great South Bay. That's it!

And while there are Miles of Outer Beaches accessible via 4X4... it is illegal to even carry a surfboard in your truck on these beaches.

Long Island's outer beaches are the exclusive playground of Fishermen. YOU and I ARE NOT ALLOWED.

This DISCRIMINATORY practice IS SUPPORTED, ENDORSED, and ENFORCED BY by New York State.

I like to sail alone

2010-02-20T19:03:00.020-05:00

Why am I showing all these old photos of Lauralee and my self? That's simple. It is to show you that I've been doing this a long time, on a lot of different types of boats. So I've earned my grumpiness.
Jon S. and myself, built our first boat together roughly 40 years ago. they have always been a part of my life.
.

I am happy by myself. It is no secret that I like to sail alone. Or with Lauralee. my wife.
In Summer I sail to and from a mooring. In the Winter I use a Slip. I don't like the dock as much. That has to do with my dislike, or intimidation of engines. I can't tear down an internal combustion engine , and put it back together better than I found it. So if it's idling funny, or the carburetor is gasping for air I don't know exactly what to do. I am just more comfortable under sail.

Under sail power...I've spend the better part of the last 35 years pushing various sailboats around. I understand them. And I've spent the last 25 years pushing Seque around. I know exactly how she reacts. So today I had my main up. [double reef] And my jib ready at 50%. I removed the fenders on the lee side. No need for them. I had the boat set up to sail out of my slip. [like I do ALL the time.] Then I hear, Hey Frank we're going sailing; wanna' come?

Gee thanks guys; but I'm all set up to go. Well, you need a hand with those lines?"

[Note to self: If you ever hear these words again... just say no thanks I'm fine.] .

It's Garry; and he is with a bunch of guys from the yacht club...So I decide to be sociable. Problem is these are guys who own big boats. Most of whom use their engine for everything. So while they "are" sailors...they are not "sailors" in the same way Lauralee, or I am.

When you work moving boats around a boat yard for 30 years or so; you kinda' pick up a few things. I have been on a lot of different boats. And everyone is different. But because these folks own one big boat, and belong to a Yacht Club, they are all a bunch of Captains. Literately incapable of taking instruction IE crewing. So without even asking me how... they all start untying lines and pushing the boat around.

"Guys please don't do that." [no one is listening to me at all]. "no don't untie that line" The boat, as I usually set it up, is using the sails power to push it against the dock where the fenders protect the gellcoat. I oversheet the main so the power is light enough that I just incrementally ease the boat away from the dock, backwind the jib pre-set at 50%, and sail away.

Nobody does any thing I say. " don't worry Frank; we got it". It feels like I am not even there. Now my bow is scraping against the slip downwind of me. Segue's gellcoat has lasted over 25 years. But now some idiot with fear in his eyes ,and no comprehension of the English language is trying to fend me off, and push my boat to windward. The Hulk couldn't push my boat to windward. "Please guys STOP. Your not helping" Still know one listens; "we have too many captains and no crew." Garry un-cleats my spliced on line that I use to stop the boat when I sail to my slip. So now, I'm scraping against the leeward slip where I have no fenders out.

"Why don't you have your engine on?". "You never put up a sail in the slip why did you do that? That's your problem." Don't cha just love unsolicited advice?

So I scream this time "Please Guys; I got it! Just leave the F@*king lines alone!" "I'm fine." "Look I do this all the time: ALONE". "You guys are not helping. Just get the f@*k out of here, please, thank you" and so I shoved off and went sailing. But now I'm the BAD guy. I'm the asshole who lost his temper. These guys may be competent sailors in their own right. but they did not know, or understand how to work as a crew. If they did, someone would have asked me what the plan was. Instead they just started pulling lines, with out any understanding of what the captain wanted. It felt like they were doing everything possible to purposely damage Segue .

It is the arrogance of success. Smartest guy in the room syndrome... Because each guy has achieved a certain level of excellence in one thing... they assume they have that same level of expertise in everything they do. Each one assumes they are the smartest guy in the room.

Well now you know why I don't RSVP to your stupid events.

You know why I respectfully decline, whenever you invite me as crew.

And I don't invite you on my boat.
I was so angry; I let it ruin my sail and my whole day.
When it's windy; I windsurf.
Breezy; I sail.
Waves; I surf.
Hot and sunny; go fishing or swimming at the beach.

So I let you ruin my sail today. That one was my fault.
I won't let it happen again.
yours,

Frank,

2nd February sail

2010-02-19T22:52:00.000-05:00

I'm cheap. I really don't like to spend money. So when I finally bought a replacement for the JP 109, I obsessed and worried about it. I kept thinking "I'm good with glass and epoxy" "I could fix this". I will: eventually. But I'm sure I'll add a ton of extra weight. So I was pretty apprehensive about sailing the RRD today. It took a little getting used to. But that board ripped. I have repaired and added so my epoxy to the JP, I had forgotten what a crisp ride felt like. She is everything I hoped for: about as close a shape as I could find to the JP. Oh well; I really didn't need a dishwasher,and new washer dryer. I never would have pulled the trigger if I hadn't crashed last weekend. As it turned out I got a very nice price. Isthmus sailboards had to make room for this years inventory. Gary Stone, the owner, is around my age. So he gets it. Always good honest advice.

Oh yea: and I sailed the RRD 110 FSW with a 6.0 from 3:30 to sunset. About 2 hours. There were about 5 to 7 of us out at West Meadow. I'm back.

It's still February

2010-02-15T19:25:00.002-05:00

Finished out the long weekend with a substantially warmer sail than the last few.
Yesterday was the first day I've windsurfed since before Thanksgiving. I think that is the longest I have been out of the water since College. In the past, even with broken, torn, and sprained things; I at least found some way to get wet.

The Doc's have to run their tests. That doesn't mean they can tell you what's going on. At least I only lost 15 pounds this time. Let's hope this means I can start getting strong again.
I really have no right to complain. Many of my friends and family, have it much worse. Some just never bounce back.
But you have to just keep trying. If you wait to get to a the level where you where before your [illness, injury, etc.] then sometimes you just don't come back.

So just get out there. I'll never be as fit as I was in my 20's. And that my friend is what we call life.

2010-02-14T22:29:00.000-05:00

Not a bad weekend so far. Sailed Segue Saturday afternoon. But I was cold. First time I've felt that way this year. Broke the top sail slide at the head of the main.
I replaced it with one from the old one. The shape of the "new" sails from 2005 are better. But the craftsmanship is just so much better on the 25 year old set.

I must give Mustang, thanks for the push today. . Wish I could have sailed with you earlier. Upwind Mike and I sailed a good two hours. We used a 6.0 & 5.7. Swell filled in for a while. Nice clean waist high. A good first day back for me, right until I nailed a sand bar on my way in at the end of the day. Doesn't look like I did too much damage. I ground down some hairline cracks at the fin screw connection. I didn't see any discernable buckling on the bottom. But we will see...I have been looking for a replacement of my well loved 2007 JP 109. It is my most favorite I have ever had. It's not that old: but I use it a lot. I beat the crap out of it, and has been showing its signs of age. This is just one more reminder that she won't last forever.

It has been a frustrating search. The newer boards in that volume 109 ltrs; don't seem to have enough rocker for me. The rails are too sharp,and they seem to be designed for early planing. Not dropping into a logo high face. What I love about the board is that the volume gets me safely home when the wind dies, but she sails like a smaller wave board. I use it 5.0 to 6.0. But it handles a 4.5 or 6.5 just as well.
It is a great board for Democrat Point, and gusty conditions. Of course I switch down to my 90 ltr when the wind is strong and steady. But the JP made me sail better in less than perfect conditions and isn't that what we sail the most?

2010-02-10T14:29:00.000-05:00

February is here already. I haven't really been feeling well the last few months. This means I've missed quite a few windsurfing, and surfing days. I've even missed a few important Beach Access meetings. Sorry guys.

But thank god it hasn't been too rough, or cold this winter. If not for the few sailing days I've enjoyed on Segue this winter, I would have been landlocked in hell.( Thank you Dad for letting me take over her care these last five years.) 25 years sailing the same boat and she grows on you. You begin to appreciate her quirks in how she handles.

Everyone is different. What makes you happy?. What gives you strength? What soothes your soul? From a very young age, I understood it was the water.
I am,
I have, always needed a connection to the ocean.
A Lake or a Pool is not enough... It just does not do it for me. I need saltwater; I'll even take brackish. Back bays, sounds, and estuaries: that is where I belong.

Whenever I am away from the ocean; I'm different. I Iose a part of me.
Whenever I am away from the ocean; and try to explain this to anyone, they always try to convince me that they have plenty of water in their landlocked paradise.

It's just not the same.

what is Windsurfing?

2010-01-27T21:22:00.000-05:00

Windsurfing: Pronounced, windsurfing. Also referred to as shredding, Sailing, Boardsailing, or “I don’t care what cha’ call it: you can’t do it here.”

What separates this type of surfing from all others, is the use of a universal joint to merge the sails power with that of the surfboard. This allows windsurfers to travel great distances in order to catch waves, or be rescued.

It is unclear who invented this asinine sport. Only one thing is clear; whoever it was…had way too much time on their hands. The activity gained its greatest popularity in the 70’s. Two out of work engineers; Hoyle Schweitzer, and Jim Drake, patented a universal joint designed specifically to hit you in the nuts when it disengaged from the surfboard. The 70’s were undoubtedly the halcyon days of the sport. While there is proof that people have windsurfed for 1,000 of years; the sport reached its pinnacle during the “head dip” performed in the opening credits of Miami Vice.
This “epic” moment was the last time Windsurfing was considered cool.

Modern Windsurfing is usually practiced by middle aged men who drive large vehicles, but never actually leave them. Archeologists believe this is because they have spent all their money on gear, and actually live in their trucks. The windsurfers themselves claim to be waiting for the wind to fill in?

It is the author’s opinion that Modern Windsurfers spend most of their time waiting for the second coming of Robby Naish, deciding what gear to rig, and complaining about how much access they have lost to kitesurfing.

Sunday January 10th

2010-01-12T19:58:00.005-05:00

Managed a few hours on Segue this Sunday. It was definitely the happiest I've been in a long time. Took this with my cell phone. I was very hesitant to do so. The last time I pulled out my Blackberry on the boat,
I dropped it overboard.

Sorry for all the wind noise,and poor cell phone video quality.
I published it anyway, because you can clearly see how well Segue sails. You set the sails; tie off the tiller; and she does the rest. Sailing alone in the winter satisfies my soul in a way I just can't describe.

Looks like the Ice will be with us soon. I stretched the ice sailor about a foot yesterday. I also sharpened the blades. We will have to see if the extra length improves the handling or not. I had some control problems at speed last winter. This is because we had exceptionally smooth ice last season.
I'll post up, when I have something to report. I understand they had sail-able ice on Lake Ronkonkoma yesterday.

Meanwhile here are 2 pic's from last season.

.

new content at Surfrider

2010-01-12T19:55:00.000-05:00

http://surfridercli.blogspot.com/

2009-12-10T15:12:00.000-05:00

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/091210-geminid-meteor-shower.html

Nice Cams

2009-12-03T20:05:00.002-05:00

http://baycam1.manhassetbayyc.org:81/index.html?size=1&mode=1

http://baycam2.manhassetbayyc.org:82/index.html?size=1&mode=1

http://www.telecamsystems.com/chatham/

http://www.telecamsystems.com/outermost/

http://www.bungersurf.com/Bunger_Surfcam/

November

2009-11-29T20:18:00.000-05:00

I've been missing a lot of the good days this November. Check out the Puffin if you are looking for great Sailing stories. I have none. But I expect to get back on the water soon enough. I did have a great sail today with Lauralee. After yesterdays 50 mph winds, the 5 to 13 we had today was just fine.It was sunny, and in the high 50's. Plus the WSW we had enabled Lauralee to sail all the way back into our slip. Well I was impressed. I don't think I could have done it.