Saturday, March 27, 2010

interesting

"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 15th. 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.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

I guess I was a little overpowered



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.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Will things ever change?

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!