Monday, June 23, 2008
Bayview Park, Brant Beach, NJ
One small shred for boy, one giant leap for windsurfing.
Today my son David had his first windsurfing lesson. We tracked down Jack Bushko who of course was terrific.
David is 10, so of course I planned to leave them alone for lesson. I figured I'd watch for the first five minutes and then take off, but David wouldn't stop talking to me. So I waved good-bye and went wandering around Ship Bottom for an hour.
When I came back, there he was, sailing. Out and back. Tacking by swinging the sail. He fell as he approached the shore. Jack was out with him, SUPping. Jack said, "He didn't fall until you got here." Ah, boys and dads.
He sailed for another half hour -- perfect form, confident, smiling.
"I did so well because I inherited it from you, Dad."
Thanks, David. Thanks, Jack.
Always imitating, I went back to the shop and Jack cut me my own SUP paddle. Looking forward to using it.
David leaves for sleep away camp on Friday for a month. Maybe he'll even get to sail there.
One small shred for boy, one giant leap for windsurfing.
Today my son David had his first windsurfing lesson. We tracked down Jack Bushko who of course was terrific.
David is 10, so of course I planned to leave them alone for lesson. I figured I'd watch for the first five minutes and then take off, but David wouldn't stop talking to me. So I waved good-bye and went wandering around Ship Bottom for an hour.
When I came back, there he was, sailing. Out and back. Tacking by swinging the sail. He fell as he approached the shore. Jack was out with him, SUPping. Jack said, "He didn't fall until you got here." Ah, boys and dads.
He sailed for another half hour -- perfect form, confident, smiling.
"I did so well because I inherited it from you, Dad."
Thanks, David. Thanks, Jack.
Always imitating, I went back to the shop and Jack cut me my own SUP paddle. Looking forward to using it.
David leaves for sleep away camp on Friday for a month. Maybe he'll even get to sail there.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars, New Jersey
Yes, the first sail of the season. Seems like Little League keeps me away from the shore during prime NJ sailing season . . . oh, well, Little League is pretty great, too.
Gorgeous day -- mid-70s, wind 10-12 SSW. There were two other windsurfers today, a couple with small children taking turns between the swings and the wind.
After shaking down and cleaning up the gear in the morning and cleaning out my Dad's boat, I got on the water around 3:00pm. Lasted to 4:30pm. Glad I bought the sunscreen and aloe. Everything I needed to replace last year at this time still needs replacing. Nice attention to detail there, Steve.
Sunset Park is suffering from erosion. The grassy area in front of the bushes where I used to rig the sail is now eaten away. Up on the point, the town has put rocks and a very small jetty. Had to rig further up the point to find grass. The spot under the trees is now too overgrown to sit in comfortably. The Park itself is in nice shape; I'm just talking about the canal front.
The wind picked up while I was out. It was upwind to get out of the canal, and the water was very shallow in the outer cove. But once out past the island it was beautiful. The outbound tack was right into the sun and that whole sparkly thing happened when I stopped fighting with the sail enough to notice.
Tired, sunburnt, happy. Excellent. Couldn't ask for better.
Thought I would go down to Island Surf'n'Sail on the way back to pick up replacements for the worn stuff. Caught them just after close, though. Saw Jack Bushko on the way out of the store to a kayak lesson, so back tomorrow for to replace all the stretchy bits that don't stretch anymore.
Yes, the first sail of the season. Seems like Little League keeps me away from the shore during prime NJ sailing season . . . oh, well, Little League is pretty great, too.
Gorgeous day -- mid-70s, wind 10-12 SSW. There were two other windsurfers today, a couple with small children taking turns between the swings and the wind.
After shaking down and cleaning up the gear in the morning and cleaning out my Dad's boat, I got on the water around 3:00pm. Lasted to 4:30pm. Glad I bought the sunscreen and aloe. Everything I needed to replace last year at this time still needs replacing. Nice attention to detail there, Steve.
Sunset Park is suffering from erosion. The grassy area in front of the bushes where I used to rig the sail is now eaten away. Up on the point, the town has put rocks and a very small jetty. Had to rig further up the point to find grass. The spot under the trees is now too overgrown to sit in comfortably. The Park itself is in nice shape; I'm just talking about the canal front.
The wind picked up while I was out. It was upwind to get out of the canal, and the water was very shallow in the outer cove. But once out past the island it was beautiful. The outbound tack was right into the sun and that whole sparkly thing happened when I stopped fighting with the sail enough to notice.
Tired, sunburnt, happy. Excellent. Couldn't ask for better.
Thought I would go down to Island Surf'n'Sail on the way back to pick up replacements for the worn stuff. Caught them just after close, though. Saw Jack Bushko on the way out of the store to a kayak lesson, so back tomorrow for to replace all the stretchy bits that don't stretch anymore.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars
1:30-4:30. Opening day for me this season. Once again the lone windsurfer at this site. But not even any kitesurfers at James Street. Plenty of jetskis and powerboaters. Wind was supposed to come up nicely in the afternoon, said iWindsurf, but nooooo. . . . .
First session 2:15-3:00 light but steady SW, not bad to tune up and try to remember how to do all this. Tacked hard out the canal on a very low tide, but once out in the cove it was easy.
Second session after a refreshing root beer -- more wind. Enough so I could start to remember what getting into third gear once felt like, but not really enough for the harness or to blunder onto a plane.
Dropped off by myself. Missed Dad being out there; Laurie came and picked me up after taking kid and cousin's kid mini-golfing. And of course, the apre-sesh Coke at Panzone's, a Barber windsurfing tradition. Thanks, all!
Gear: Trusty ol' 1999 HiFly Wide Style, and 5.5 Ultra sail. This gear is getting old. The ropes are frayed, the uphaul and mast base elastic is shot, the sail has those little sticky things that get into the hands and hurt like heck. Started using sailing gloves just to rig up. Gonna have to raid the piggy bank soon.
But . . . but . . . but . . . it's . . . always . . . so great to be back on the water.
1:30-4:30. Opening day for me this season. Once again the lone windsurfer at this site. But not even any kitesurfers at James Street. Plenty of jetskis and powerboaters. Wind was supposed to come up nicely in the afternoon, said iWindsurf, but nooooo. . . . .
First session 2:15-3:00 light but steady SW, not bad to tune up and try to remember how to do all this. Tacked hard out the canal on a very low tide, but once out in the cove it was easy.
Second session after a refreshing root beer -- more wind. Enough so I could start to remember what getting into third gear once felt like, but not really enough for the harness or to blunder onto a plane.
Dropped off by myself. Missed Dad being out there; Laurie came and picked me up after taking kid and cousin's kid mini-golfing. And of course, the apre-sesh Coke at Panzone's, a Barber windsurfing tradition. Thanks, all!
Gear: Trusty ol' 1999 HiFly Wide Style, and 5.5 Ultra sail. This gear is getting old. The ropes are frayed, the uphaul and mast base elastic is shot, the sail has those little sticky things that get into the hands and hurt like heck. Started using sailing gloves just to rig up. Gonna have to raid the piggy bank soon.
But . . . but . . . but . . . it's . . . always . . . so great to be back on the water.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Ka'anapali Beach, Maui, and Anaehoomalu Bay, Hawai'i
Backfill post
So, I went to Hawai'i and didn't windsurf. Didn't even see a windsurfer on this trip. What?? Have I gone mad? Well . . . probably.
But, it just didn't happen. We were only on Maui this time for four days. Had to catch up with the mother in law, spent an afternoon with neighbor Rich and his sister at their time-share pool, did the whale watch cruise on what would have been a nice Kanaha afternoon. The one day I had time to shoot up to get a board, the wind was so incredibly strong I thought better of it. Wimping out? Perhaps, but out of shape and practice, it was the better part of valor. How windy was it? Well, a cruise ship in Kahului Harbor snapped its lines due to the strain. Yeah, better to sit that one out.
So, I figure, no big deal, I'll have a nice session or two on the Big Island. A-Bay has two outfits renting windsurfers, no problem, right? Wrong!!!! Outfit #1, gave it up years ago. Outfit #2, the one windsurfing instructor quit in disgust at lack of business two weeks prior, taking the equipment and insurance coverage with her. No windsurfing for me. I was most seriously bummed out, sitting there on the hideous little sand dune that has destroyed the A-Bay beach. Depressing.
Ah, screw it. After about 10 minutes of feeling sorry for myself, I got in the car and drove up into the mountains. Gorgeous up there. Life not so bad. Next day, went on fun zodiac cruise down the Kona Coast. Snorkeling at the Captain Cook Monument. Next day after that, on the the volcano.
Can't really have a bad time in Hawai'i. I guess you could if you tried, but that's pretty silly.
Next time!
Backfill post
So, I went to Hawai'i and didn't windsurf. Didn't even see a windsurfer on this trip. What?? Have I gone mad? Well . . . probably.
But, it just didn't happen. We were only on Maui this time for four days. Had to catch up with the mother in law, spent an afternoon with neighbor Rich and his sister at their time-share pool, did the whale watch cruise on what would have been a nice Kanaha afternoon. The one day I had time to shoot up to get a board, the wind was so incredibly strong I thought better of it. Wimping out? Perhaps, but out of shape and practice, it was the better part of valor. How windy was it? Well, a cruise ship in Kahului Harbor snapped its lines due to the strain. Yeah, better to sit that one out.
So, I figure, no big deal, I'll have a nice session or two on the Big Island. A-Bay has two outfits renting windsurfers, no problem, right? Wrong!!!! Outfit #1, gave it up years ago. Outfit #2, the one windsurfing instructor quit in disgust at lack of business two weeks prior, taking the equipment and insurance coverage with her. No windsurfing for me. I was most seriously bummed out, sitting there on the hideous little sand dune that has destroyed the A-Bay beach. Depressing.
Ah, screw it. After about 10 minutes of feeling sorry for myself, I got in the car and drove up into the mountains. Gorgeous up there. Life not so bad. Next day, went on fun zodiac cruise down the Kona Coast. Snorkeling at the Captain Cook Monument. Next day after that, on the the volcano.
Can't really have a bad time in Hawai'i. I guess you could if you tried, but that's pretty silly.
Next time!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars, NJ
An hour of sailing. Nothing special, except it was sailing. The wind was kind of steadily dropping all morning -- from 25 down to about 12 and shifting to the west. Again, the only windsurfer at this spot. Three kiteboarders, though. And as is usual on a summer weekend, some guy beached his powerboat on an outgoing tide, and then wonders why he can't get out 20 minutes later. Doh.
The front that was supposed to liven things up today decided to pass north of us during the night. Oh well!
Spend a lot of time just cleaning out the gear. I noticed many little things starting to corrode. Fresh water is a good thing. Blasted a year's worth of crud off the board.
I don't know -- I should have been able to plane with the wind the way it was. Out of practice, I guess. Got a few good runs, no big go. Got stuck in the wind shadow of the big house on the point -- weird little backlash. Pumped, going backwards, until back out in the flow. The big house now has two little No Wake buoys that get in the way when using the channel to tack against the wind. Maybe they are happier now.
An hour of sailing. Nothing special, except it was sailing. The wind was kind of steadily dropping all morning -- from 25 down to about 12 and shifting to the west. Again, the only windsurfer at this spot. Three kiteboarders, though. And as is usual on a summer weekend, some guy beached his powerboat on an outgoing tide, and then wonders why he can't get out 20 minutes later. Doh.
The front that was supposed to liven things up today decided to pass north of us during the night. Oh well!
Spend a lot of time just cleaning out the gear. I noticed many little things starting to corrode. Fresh water is a good thing. Blasted a year's worth of crud off the board.
I don't know -- I should have been able to plane with the wind the way it was. Out of practice, I guess. Got a few good runs, no big go. Got stuck in the wind shadow of the big house on the point -- weird little backlash. Pumped, going backwards, until back out in the flow. The big house now has two little No Wake buoys that get in the way when using the channel to tack against the wind. Maybe they are happier now.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars, NJ
I did it. I finally got out and sailed. Unbelievable, and wonderful. It was Sunday, May 28, 2006. The basics: got up, checked the wind, packed everything up. Was on the road by 10:00 and on the water at Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars by 11:00. Dad tagged along, probably because sailing alone isn't the best idea. The wind had died down from like 20 knots to about 12 by the time I hit the water. Since I hadn't sailed at all since Sept. '05, this was not a bad thing.
Man, I'm out of shape. I've gained back 20 (25?) pounds since '03. My sailing muscles have atrophied. My arms are weak. I've got the lower back of a, well, 44 year old. But, I take it easy. No uphauling. Conservative jibes. The tacking chops start to come back after 45 minutes of practice. It is, as always, unbelievably mind-clearing and body-invigorating just to be on the water. I take a run out to the Intracoastal and back. The noon whistle blows. Lunch break!!
There are no other windsurfers to be seen. The summer people aren't on LBI yet, but c'mon. It is peak sailing season, and a fine wind. I guess the old Sunset Park crew has dispersed. After lunch, another windsurfer buzzes around the cove. Two kitesurfers are messing around the point. That's it. Lots of jetskis. Some entertainment as we watch the clueless try to launch them, and watch some folks with too much money and not enough sense beach a runabout with the tide going out, and then take off for parts unknown. When they come back, they wonder why the boat is stuck. Duh. Always some folly to watch there.
OK, enough lunch. Back on the water for another 45 minutes until my arms tell me it is time to quit. The wind has been patchy, or maybe it's just my rusty technique. It started ENE, and swung ESE, just like iWindsurf said it would. I pack up and wait for Laurie to show up with the van. I take a swim in the channel while we wait; with a shorty on, the swimming is just fine, thanks.
Just what the doctor ordered. Hope to be back soon.
I did it. I finally got out and sailed. Unbelievable, and wonderful. It was Sunday, May 28, 2006. The basics: got up, checked the wind, packed everything up. Was on the road by 10:00 and on the water at Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars by 11:00. Dad tagged along, probably because sailing alone isn't the best idea. The wind had died down from like 20 knots to about 12 by the time I hit the water. Since I hadn't sailed at all since Sept. '05, this was not a bad thing.
Man, I'm out of shape. I've gained back 20 (25?) pounds since '03. My sailing muscles have atrophied. My arms are weak. I've got the lower back of a, well, 44 year old. But, I take it easy. No uphauling. Conservative jibes. The tacking chops start to come back after 45 minutes of practice. It is, as always, unbelievably mind-clearing and body-invigorating just to be on the water. I take a run out to the Intracoastal and back. The noon whistle blows. Lunch break!!
There are no other windsurfers to be seen. The summer people aren't on LBI yet, but c'mon. It is peak sailing season, and a fine wind. I guess the old Sunset Park crew has dispersed. After lunch, another windsurfer buzzes around the cove. Two kitesurfers are messing around the point. That's it. Lots of jetskis. Some entertainment as we watch the clueless try to launch them, and watch some folks with too much money and not enough sense beach a runabout with the tide going out, and then take off for parts unknown. When they come back, they wonder why the boat is stuck. Duh. Always some folly to watch there.
OK, enough lunch. Back on the water for another 45 minutes until my arms tell me it is time to quit. The wind has been patchy, or maybe it's just my rusty technique. It started ENE, and swung ESE, just like iWindsurf said it would. I pack up and wait for Laurie to show up with the van. I take a swim in the channel while we wait; with a shorty on, the swimming is just fine, thanks.
Just what the doctor ordered. Hope to be back soon.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Backfill post
Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars, NJ
As I recollect, I sailed 3 times in the 2005 season: in late spring, high summer, and early September. It was a summer I didn't get down the shore much, prioritizing work at my new job at StreamBase fairly high. When we did go to LBI, swimming and bodyboarding in the ocean with 7 year old David took priority -- a blast in itself.
All three times were at Sunset Park. I remember having to be careful about straining my lower back, which has been weakened by lugging around an bag full of heavy laptop gear the wrong way.
I remember not seeing many other windsurfers at Sunset, even Jack, all season. Sigh.
Gotta check my paper windsurf log, old calendars, and bills and try to nail down the dates.
Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars, NJ
As I recollect, I sailed 3 times in the 2005 season: in late spring, high summer, and early September. It was a summer I didn't get down the shore much, prioritizing work at my new job at StreamBase fairly high. When we did go to LBI, swimming and bodyboarding in the ocean with 7 year old David took priority -- a blast in itself.
All three times were at Sunset Park. I remember having to be careful about straining my lower back, which has been weakened by lugging around an bag full of heavy laptop gear the wrong way.
I remember not seeing many other windsurfers at Sunset, even Jack, all season. Sigh.
Gotta check my paper windsurf log, old calendars, and bills and try to nail down the dates.
