The song for yesterday is "You spin my head right round".
Here it was finally, race day. An event I had been waiting for for 18 months! (Couldn't make the ECWF 09 in June due to certain circumstances). The forecast called for the wind to spin up throughout the day, which would bad for me considering my jibing situation as chronicled ad nauseum here. I decided to get to the beach (West Neck - near where I grew up and we would be sailing in Cold Spring Harbor where I first learned to sail when I was 8, so I'd have an advantage, right? NOT) early to get rigged and maybe spend a little time on the water before the racing. The skipper's meeting was scheduled for 10 AM and first race at 10:30, so I got to ol' WN at around quarter after 8.
Happiness! The wind around this time was light so maybe there would be time to get one course race in before the wind really showed up, or maybe the forecast was wrong and the wind wouldn't arrive until much later. So, I rigged up the 7.5 and the 6.9. First mistake here. As Andy said at the race clinic a couple of weeks ago, make sure you do what you always do. I have learned, and re-learned, this lesson many, many times in the past, but I feel like I make this mistake too often on the day of a competition (of any kind). I hadn't used this 6.9 since the late spring. I forgot that the mast I use for it is the same one I use for the 7.5. So, I had to use the 490 mast for the 7.5 (never rigged on that mast before), so I could rig the 6.9. Anyway, got it rigged and went out for a sail on the Pacer with the 7.5. Tried to plane, not yet, so put the board down, masttrack forward, and went upwind. Felt good, a couple tacks, ready for racing. Then, fell on both jibes. WHAT?? I never fall when I jibe the Pacer, what the heck?
Came in. Hopefully I'd work out the jibe problems during the first course race. But then, the skipper's meeting got delayed and delayed. I was annoyed. But, to the race director's credit, I am sure that he was waiting for the wind that he and ALL the OTHER windsurfers knew would provide for awesome slalom racing. Just not for me. Well, the wind finally did spin up and for the first 3 races, I figured the 133 board and 6.9 sail would be a fast combo. And it was. I'd do my best to hang on. Problem is, the sailor has more to do with speed than the equipment. Before the first race, I sailed the course. Got to the mark, got around it without falling but had to uphaul, sailed back to beach, no problem, I can do this.
First race starts. Oh, I'm doing okay, not last. Catching up a bit. (I always start last when they do these starts where you have to run in to the water carrying your gear. The others run. I walk. Wet rocks and everything. Don't want to slip. Wish we could start already in the water). Anyway, almost halfway across, still up. Picking up speed. Looking back to see who's behind me. Dooosh. Catapault. Now, I am in last. Get up, sail to mark. Carnage at mark. Good, maybe I can pass a couple people. Go into jibe. Doooosh. Get up. Ok, just finish. Halfway back, can't get into harness lines on port jibe. Line is twisted. I hardly ever use this boom because of this. Need to get new harness lines (Ordered 'em already). Dooosh. Catapault again.
The next race went a bit better, but still couldn't get hooked in on port jibe. The 3rd race started out to be my best. Was flying, moved up into the main pack by the mark, so I do have the speed. Even passed Bob M. on this leg, who finished like 5th overall or something for the whole event, but then, he can jibe. Then, doooosh, at the mark. Got up, and sailed back not harnessed in, but at least finished. I was finished. Three runs across the bay without harness with 6.9 in almost 20 knot winds, too much for me. So, I watched and rested. Man, some of these guys (and gals) are fast. Sasha's wife was amazingly fast. Third in one race.
However, did meet some nice people. Ned C, who was the second one who showed up, came from the Hudson Valley and is a super stoked older windsurfer like myself. His wife seemed nice too. ( Might want to get one of those for myself sometime in the not so distant future.)
It was a nice sailing day, so I rigged up the 6.3 and went out on the 133 for a couple runs. Then on the 102 the rest of the day. But, I was tired from the non-harness runs, so gave it up after a while. The wind kept spinning up and the 6.3 was a bit much at times, but it was fun. Almost, but didn't quite make a jibe all day. Need to change mind set on this and try something else, like switching feet after rotating sail. Need to watch Peter Hart alot again.
Lesson: Don't try to race on equipment you are unfamiliar with. Murphy's Law will always catch up with you. On my trial run, I was able to get hooked in on port jibe, but during the actual races was not able to hook in port. That harness line is seriously kinked/twisted. Never using that manufacturer again. My other harness lines just ALWAYS hang straight, so ordered another set of those.
Problem: Spin out. The last few times I have gone sailing, I have been having this problem. Am I pushing on the fin too hard? I know spin out is caused by air mixing into the flow around the fin and disturbing it and causing ventilation/cavitation which then cause the fin to be surrounded by air and it loses "grip" and the board goes sideways. But, why is that happening to me? Different boards, different sails, different fins. Obviously, I am not doing something right. I need some guidance here.
Feeling good about:
1. The fact that I am now going fast enough where this stuff happens. Also, I am (more and more) going fast enough that I can feel myself skimming along the tops of waves and just going fast. Too much fun.
2. This was, after all, my first attempt at a real planing slalom race. I managed to finish ahead of 3 people for the event. (No idea how that happened.) So, nowhere to go but up. It is really cool and fun, just need to relax and just sail.
Well, that's my story, if anyone has any thoughts as to why I am spinning out so much, please let me know, I'd like to hear them. I think I might try discussing this with Peter Hart too. I think he has a section on this on his DVD.
Till the next time (which might not be for a while)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Fun, but then some disappointment
Today's song is "Vahevala" by Loggins & Messina (thanks to the PeconicPuffin.com for showing the way to using youtube videos for blog theme songs) because I was out there semi-ripping, and learning alot, today.
So, on to today. I wonder if anybody else gets the slightly sick, about to have a heart attack, having a stroke, can't get there soon enough feeling in their brains when you know the wind is blowing and you are just leaving work around 2:30 and the beach is a half hour away? Please let me know I am not alone.
Anyway, so I got to Heck around 3, in the water by 3:30 or so, 5.5/102. Had some great fun sailing for about 2 hours, I guess, no made jibes, some disappointment. BUT, I feel like I am really learning alot. I can now tell a real difference with the boom at slightly different heights, harness line placement/ length, sail tuning, fin choice, etc. At times I feel like I am getting (almost) the max speed out of the board, by just keeping legs as straight as possible (very difficult in the chop at Heck), getting in the "7" position and hanging my weight on the boom. I can just about keep up with most everybody (nobody could keep up with the dude on the RRD X-Fire 112 slalom race board today, that thing was just too much. It made a whistling noise like a jet as it went through the water. Obviously, its pilot is no slouch, but that board was just too cool - someday).
I also found out what its like when your footstraps are too loose. I had set them up loose to make it "easier" for me to get into them, but today I fell off the back of the board when trying to go max. speed waaaaay downwind, and my front foot got twisted in the strap, and didn't come out. So, there I was lying in the water with my right foot up on the board twisted and stuck in the strap. I will admit I almost panicked. I couldn't get my body up to the same level as the top of the board to flatten out the foot and get it out of the strap. And for a minute (actually less than a second, I hope) I thought I wasn't going to be able to keep my head out of the water for very long. I did notice a guy jibe just outside of me and actually yelled "HELP" once or twice. Actually, it was probably a blessing in the long run that he didn't hear me or didn't respond as it forced me to calm down and take stock of the situation. I ended up sliding my foot partway out of the bootie, and that freed my foot. It hurt a bit for a little while, but all is ok now. I sailed in and immediately tightened up my footstraps so that only my toes go all the through. That felt much better.
Jibes. Jibes. Jibes. One day, I hope, I will be able to do them somewhat reliably and hopefully laugh at this period of my windsurfing career. Then I will reward myself with a Mike's Lab and/or Rogue Wave custom board or two. I hope. Anyway, since I haven't had much real success with them (except sporadically), I decided to try a different approach at some point today. I practiced releasing the sail BEFORE I switch my feet. I was able to carve through turns, get the sail to rotate, but failed to grab the boom on the other side and my feet seem somewhat glued to the board. Will have to work on this.
Some disappointment. After sailing today, I pulled out the Pacer and removed the c/b and plates to clean them all up and McLube 'em so the c/b goes up and down easily. When I got home I used lemon juice to remove the brown stuff that gets on boards at Heck. I also replaced the boom tail lines on my two larger booms with the adjustable outhaul systems with the 3mm Amsteel stuff. I did all this in anticipation of the races tomorrow, which are going to be at West Neck Beach, right in Cold Spring Harbor where I grew up sailing and first learned to sail boats (at age 8) and my first forays into windsurfing 20 something years ago. (I stopped windsurfing for almost 20 years then took it up again 3 or 4 years ago). At least the Pacer is ready for the spring, however, it looks like good conditions for Pacer sailing on Sunday.
The wind forecast is for like 20 mph winds with higher gusts at times. All the other windsurfers are probably very excited, but I am somewhat disappointed. I can't really do a shortboard jibe, and these winds are for slalom races. Even if they have upwind marks, I can't do a shortboard tack either. Not a good situation for me. I have been waiting 18 months or so to do windsurf racing again (except for the ABK race clinic) and now the conditions are the ones I have been dreading. Sunday would be a good day for me to race (10 to 14 knots). Not Saturday. Well, one never knows, and its the beach I would go to any way for the W/NW wind direction that is forecast, so I guess I'll go and see what happens. Hope for the best. At least I will be able to get out and sail all day.
Till the next sailing day.
So, on to today. I wonder if anybody else gets the slightly sick, about to have a heart attack, having a stroke, can't get there soon enough feeling in their brains when you know the wind is blowing and you are just leaving work around 2:30 and the beach is a half hour away? Please let me know I am not alone.
Anyway, so I got to Heck around 3, in the water by 3:30 or so, 5.5/102. Had some great fun sailing for about 2 hours, I guess, no made jibes, some disappointment. BUT, I feel like I am really learning alot. I can now tell a real difference with the boom at slightly different heights, harness line placement/ length, sail tuning, fin choice, etc. At times I feel like I am getting (almost) the max speed out of the board, by just keeping legs as straight as possible (very difficult in the chop at Heck), getting in the "7" position and hanging my weight on the boom. I can just about keep up with most everybody (nobody could keep up with the dude on the RRD X-Fire 112 slalom race board today, that thing was just too much. It made a whistling noise like a jet as it went through the water. Obviously, its pilot is no slouch, but that board was just too cool - someday).
I also found out what its like when your footstraps are too loose. I had set them up loose to make it "easier" for me to get into them, but today I fell off the back of the board when trying to go max. speed waaaaay downwind, and my front foot got twisted in the strap, and didn't come out. So, there I was lying in the water with my right foot up on the board twisted and stuck in the strap. I will admit I almost panicked. I couldn't get my body up to the same level as the top of the board to flatten out the foot and get it out of the strap. And for a minute (actually less than a second, I hope) I thought I wasn't going to be able to keep my head out of the water for very long. I did notice a guy jibe just outside of me and actually yelled "HELP" once or twice. Actually, it was probably a blessing in the long run that he didn't hear me or didn't respond as it forced me to calm down and take stock of the situation. I ended up sliding my foot partway out of the bootie, and that freed my foot. It hurt a bit for a little while, but all is ok now. I sailed in and immediately tightened up my footstraps so that only my toes go all the through. That felt much better.
Jibes. Jibes. Jibes. One day, I hope, I will be able to do them somewhat reliably and hopefully laugh at this period of my windsurfing career. Then I will reward myself with a Mike's Lab and/or Rogue Wave custom board or two. I hope. Anyway, since I haven't had much real success with them (except sporadically), I decided to try a different approach at some point today. I practiced releasing the sail BEFORE I switch my feet. I was able to carve through turns, get the sail to rotate, but failed to grab the boom on the other side and my feet seem somewhat glued to the board. Will have to work on this.
Some disappointment. After sailing today, I pulled out the Pacer and removed the c/b and plates to clean them all up and McLube 'em so the c/b goes up and down easily. When I got home I used lemon juice to remove the brown stuff that gets on boards at Heck. I also replaced the boom tail lines on my two larger booms with the adjustable outhaul systems with the 3mm Amsteel stuff. I did all this in anticipation of the races tomorrow, which are going to be at West Neck Beach, right in Cold Spring Harbor where I grew up sailing and first learned to sail boats (at age 8) and my first forays into windsurfing 20 something years ago. (I stopped windsurfing for almost 20 years then took it up again 3 or 4 years ago). At least the Pacer is ready for the spring, however, it looks like good conditions for Pacer sailing on Sunday.
The wind forecast is for like 20 mph winds with higher gusts at times. All the other windsurfers are probably very excited, but I am somewhat disappointed. I can't really do a shortboard jibe, and these winds are for slalom races. Even if they have upwind marks, I can't do a shortboard tack either. Not a good situation for me. I have been waiting 18 months or so to do windsurf racing again (except for the ABK race clinic) and now the conditions are the ones I have been dreading. Sunday would be a good day for me to race (10 to 14 knots). Not Saturday. Well, one never knows, and its the beach I would go to any way for the W/NW wind direction that is forecast, so I guess I'll go and see what happens. Hope for the best. At least I will be able to get out and sail all day.
Till the next sailing day.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Lookin' Forward
Today dawned a somewhat dreary day, but the forecast called for some wind (or zephyrs may be a better word for it) from the SW, so I was lookin' forward to going to Heck and getting some raceboard practice in. I had spent yesterday working on my new version of my all-Harken outhaul on my HPL race boom, and was lookin' forward to trying that out (worked well). Also, I have been trying to put a tennis ball knob on the c/b for the Pacer, and have been lookin' forward to trying that out too. Unfortunatley, things haven't worked out quite like I thought, but right now I have a tennis ball full of Great Stuff foam with slot in the middle that fits perfectly over the end on the c/b. I am going to try Marine-Tex to hold it on. In the meantime, for the foreseeable future, I am using the c/b from the "other" Pacer. They are identical.
Back to the subject at hand. I arrived at Heckscher around 1:00 PM or so. I saw Jim M's van but he wasn't around. so I set to rigging the 9.5 Pacer sail. I also wanted to try my new Prodigy mast foot with a tendon. (It worked great, I guess all these boards with mast tracks use the same mast track) Jim eventually showed up, he was taking a walk with his wife. He rigged up his 8.0. There was another guy there who is at the very first stages of learning. He asked me if "this thing" (pointing to the uphaul) is supposed to give one callouses. I replied "yes, your hands should build up callouses as you windsurf more." Then I showed him how to put the bottom loop of the uphaul around the mast foot. Passin' it on.
So, I finally got out sailing and was planing for awhile. I practiced tacks, jibes, going upwing, going downwind. Spent a little bit of time doing the recovery drills we learned from Andy Brandt a couple of weeks ago. Drag raced with Jim a bit (I was able to get on a plane much quicker, but his top end may have been a bit faster). He was on his Bic 148 with an 8.0, and I was on the Pacer, but Jim is a potato chip, and I, sadly, am not. Although I am down to about 167 now (in the morning, after breakfast).
I am lookin' forward to this Saturday for the East Coast Fall Windsurfing Races. However, after not sailing with the 9.5 for a few weeks, I feel like I am not in good enough shape to race with it. I did fiddle around with tuning it today, and got it looking pretty good, but it is pretty darn big and heavy. I dropped it a couple of times today, and sure had a hard time getting it back up (no inappropriate thoughts allowed here). So, I think I may enter the 7.5 class next week, depending on the wind.
Woo-hoo, one thing I found out is that they may do some timed starts. Finally! Real racing is coming to LI!
So, I really am lookin' forward to it and towards the end was practicing really railing the board with the 52 cm fin. It seems to go almost straight upwind with good speed when I got it way over, but it's not easy keeping it there. There is a point where it just seemed to take off. Of course, there was no one to compare to, but it did feel good. Lookin' forward to using the 60 cm fin next week, if I can get out of having the skin surgery done. We'll see.
Hopefully, all will go well, and there won't be a ton of wind next Sat (I can't believe I am actually wishing for lighter winds, but I do want to get in some tactical course racing). btw, there was a really nice sunset tonight.
Well, 'till next time!!
Back to the subject at hand. I arrived at Heckscher around 1:00 PM or so. I saw Jim M's van but he wasn't around. so I set to rigging the 9.5 Pacer sail. I also wanted to try my new Prodigy mast foot with a tendon. (It worked great, I guess all these boards with mast tracks use the same mast track) Jim eventually showed up, he was taking a walk with his wife. He rigged up his 8.0. There was another guy there who is at the very first stages of learning. He asked me if "this thing" (pointing to the uphaul) is supposed to give one callouses. I replied "yes, your hands should build up callouses as you windsurf more." Then I showed him how to put the bottom loop of the uphaul around the mast foot. Passin' it on.
So, I finally got out sailing and was planing for awhile. I practiced tacks, jibes, going upwing, going downwind. Spent a little bit of time doing the recovery drills we learned from Andy Brandt a couple of weeks ago. Drag raced with Jim a bit (I was able to get on a plane much quicker, but his top end may have been a bit faster). He was on his Bic 148 with an 8.0, and I was on the Pacer, but Jim is a potato chip, and I, sadly, am not. Although I am down to about 167 now (in the morning, after breakfast).
I am lookin' forward to this Saturday for the East Coast Fall Windsurfing Races. However, after not sailing with the 9.5 for a few weeks, I feel like I am not in good enough shape to race with it. I did fiddle around with tuning it today, and got it looking pretty good, but it is pretty darn big and heavy. I dropped it a couple of times today, and sure had a hard time getting it back up (no inappropriate thoughts allowed here). So, I think I may enter the 7.5 class next week, depending on the wind.
Woo-hoo, one thing I found out is that they may do some timed starts. Finally! Real racing is coming to LI!
So, I really am lookin' forward to it and towards the end was practicing really railing the board with the 52 cm fin. It seems to go almost straight upwind with good speed when I got it way over, but it's not easy keeping it there. There is a point where it just seemed to take off. Of course, there was no one to compare to, but it did feel good. Lookin' forward to using the 60 cm fin next week, if I can get out of having the skin surgery done. We'll see.
Hopefully, all will go well, and there won't be a ton of wind next Sat (I can't believe I am actually wishing for lighter winds, but I do want to get in some tactical course racing). btw, there was a really nice sunset tonight.
Well, 'till next time!!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
More Progress...
(The theme song for today was "Livin' on the Edge of a Hurricane", by Randy Naish and the Ultronz.)
Last night I checked the forecast for today and it said SW in the 20's. The only fly in the ointment was that I almost had to stay late after school. So, I moved some things around, and checked the wind right near the end of, the day. The promised wind had come. This is quite unusual, but I was ready. Contact lenses in, bathing suit on (yes, I wore my bathing suit under my dress clothes to save time later), wetsuits in van, and ice and drinks in cooler.
So, I basically followed the buses out of the parking lot to get down to the beach as soon as possible. All day long the trees outside the window were moving around ALOT, so by the end of the school day I was very antsy, to say the least. You know the drill on the half hour or so drive to the beach on a windy day, right? Temples get all tight and achy, fists clench steering wheel, heart pounding out of the chest, basically a heart attack. Well, for some reason, I was all calm today, and focused. Today was the day I was going to do, not try, not attempt, but do a planing jibe.
When I arrived at the beach, the parking lot was full with the usual suspects all out sailing already. (Some people did come even later than me, but most were already there). I saw Allison rigging, I said hello, she said "everyone is out on 4.2's". Awesome, I thought, this is the day.
So, rigged up the 4.2 and headed out on the 102. There were big puffs, and for the first couple of runs I felt overpowered, or over-boarded, or both. But, it got my attention. I should say right now that when I first saw the chop, my first thought was, well, maybe I won't do my first planing jibe today. That was it, the die was cast. It was not to be, I had psyched myself out yet again......but, I am feeling so much more confident and free, yes free, in these very windy conditions than I used to be ("used to", meaning last week, I suppose). Anyway, made first 2 jibes, not planing but the ever popular flarve where you carve in and flare out. It was fun going back and forth a couple or three times without falling. It will be so much MORE when I can stay planing the whole time (or more nearly so).
Of course, I was so excited I told a couple of people on the beach that I had just made 2 jibes in a row, and that was it for a while. But, it was 100% fun, all the time. Took a break for awhile, went back out and made 3 jibes in a row. Also, I started thinking that besides looking where I wanted to go, I needed to flip the sail earlier. This was later confirmed by Pharmacist Al (who I really look up to, cause he's like 68 or something and rips it up out there), who said two great things to me:
1. "You are sailing as well as I did after 8 years in only 4 years" (to paraphrase)
2. "If you flipped your sail sooner you would have a perfect jibe" (well, maybe not perfect, but acceptable).
Also, I need to credit Andy Brandt of ABK Boardsports once again. He had us doing some recovery drills in light wind on our raceboards last weekend. Well, when the 102 nose popped up a couple of times in the flare phase of my flarve jibes, I just leaned forward, down it went, flip the sail, and go. It sounds smooth, but believe me its pretty rickety.
I was also able to finally thank Joe (he of the Angulo board), for suggesting to me several weeks ago to use a single backstrap. It really changed my life. (my windsurfing life, anyway - or should I tell my students that I am much happier in class now that I can always put both feet in the straps and can really motor on the water - or relatively so?) You see, I had this phobia all last year, and even the first part of this year, about getting my back feet in the straps. If I didn't do it at precisely the right time, dire consequences would happen, or so I thought. The single backstrap made it so much easier, and now I do it almost with thinking, even on the 133 which has double back straps. This, along with getting my boom up a bit and slightly shorter harness lines has unleashed my inner personal speed demon. woohoo. (which is not to say I am the fastest, or almost the fastest on the water by any means, it just means that I can more closely keep up with the other people and in some cases keep up or go a bit faster than others in some conditions)
Not only was the sailing great, but it's always inspiring to watch the more experienced windsurfers do really cool maneuveurs. Trying to emulate them, and trying to keep up with them speed-wise has made a big difference in my sailing. When sailing alone, I would think that I was going fast, but its not until someone passes you that you realize just how much faster one could be going, or how much better one can turn, etc.
So, all in all, another wonderful day in the universe. see ya next time its windy and I can get out sailing.
Last night I checked the forecast for today and it said SW in the 20's. The only fly in the ointment was that I almost had to stay late after school. So, I moved some things around, and checked the wind right near the end of, the day. The promised wind had come. This is quite unusual, but I was ready. Contact lenses in, bathing suit on (yes, I wore my bathing suit under my dress clothes to save time later), wetsuits in van, and ice and drinks in cooler.
So, I basically followed the buses out of the parking lot to get down to the beach as soon as possible. All day long the trees outside the window were moving around ALOT, so by the end of the school day I was very antsy, to say the least. You know the drill on the half hour or so drive to the beach on a windy day, right? Temples get all tight and achy, fists clench steering wheel, heart pounding out of the chest, basically a heart attack. Well, for some reason, I was all calm today, and focused. Today was the day I was going to do, not try, not attempt, but do a planing jibe.
When I arrived at the beach, the parking lot was full with the usual suspects all out sailing already. (Some people did come even later than me, but most were already there). I saw Allison rigging, I said hello, she said "everyone is out on 4.2's". Awesome, I thought, this is the day.
So, rigged up the 4.2 and headed out on the 102. There were big puffs, and for the first couple of runs I felt overpowered, or over-boarded, or both. But, it got my attention. I should say right now that when I first saw the chop, my first thought was, well, maybe I won't do my first planing jibe today. That was it, the die was cast. It was not to be, I had psyched myself out yet again......but, I am feeling so much more confident and free, yes free, in these very windy conditions than I used to be ("used to", meaning last week, I suppose). Anyway, made first 2 jibes, not planing but the ever popular flarve where you carve in and flare out. It was fun going back and forth a couple or three times without falling. It will be so much MORE when I can stay planing the whole time (or more nearly so).
Of course, I was so excited I told a couple of people on the beach that I had just made 2 jibes in a row, and that was it for a while. But, it was 100% fun, all the time. Took a break for awhile, went back out and made 3 jibes in a row. Also, I started thinking that besides looking where I wanted to go, I needed to flip the sail earlier. This was later confirmed by Pharmacist Al (who I really look up to, cause he's like 68 or something and rips it up out there), who said two great things to me:
1. "You are sailing as well as I did after 8 years in only 4 years" (to paraphrase)
2. "If you flipped your sail sooner you would have a perfect jibe" (well, maybe not perfect, but acceptable).
Also, I need to credit Andy Brandt of ABK Boardsports once again. He had us doing some recovery drills in light wind on our raceboards last weekend. Well, when the 102 nose popped up a couple of times in the flare phase of my flarve jibes, I just leaned forward, down it went, flip the sail, and go. It sounds smooth, but believe me its pretty rickety.
I was also able to finally thank Joe (he of the Angulo board), for suggesting to me several weeks ago to use a single backstrap. It really changed my life. (my windsurfing life, anyway - or should I tell my students that I am much happier in class now that I can always put both feet in the straps and can really motor on the water - or relatively so?) You see, I had this phobia all last year, and even the first part of this year, about getting my back feet in the straps. If I didn't do it at precisely the right time, dire consequences would happen, or so I thought. The single backstrap made it so much easier, and now I do it almost with thinking, even on the 133 which has double back straps. This, along with getting my boom up a bit and slightly shorter harness lines has unleashed my inner personal speed demon. woohoo. (which is not to say I am the fastest, or almost the fastest on the water by any means, it just means that I can more closely keep up with the other people and in some cases keep up or go a bit faster than others in some conditions)
Not only was the sailing great, but it's always inspiring to watch the more experienced windsurfers do really cool maneuveurs. Trying to emulate them, and trying to keep up with them speed-wise has made a big difference in my sailing. When sailing alone, I would think that I was going fast, but its not until someone passes you that you realize just how much faster one could be going, or how much better one can turn, etc.
So, all in all, another wonderful day in the universe. see ya next time its windy and I can get out sailing.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Catchin' UP
Hello there. Haven't posted in a little while so I figured I would catch things up. Last weekend, Sept. 19 and 20, I attended the ABK Board Camp Racing Clinic out at Napeague. As I think I have posted here before, I am a (wannabe) racer. So, of course I had to make it to this clinic, as there is the East Coast Fall Windsurfing Racing thing coming up Oct. 10 and 11. I turned 54 during last week's clinic, so I will be signing up for the over 50 class.
Still not sure if this only for the 7.5 and under class or not. The Pacer sail is 9.5, which would put me in the unlimited class. If its blowing, I guess I'll go with the 7.5 and under class. Just hope its not windy enough for slalom!
Anyway, the clinic was great fun. Who knew that Andy Brandt. awesome freestyler and teacher, is (or was and may be again) one of the top windsurf racers in the country. He had us doing some really cool light air drills to get more comfortable on the board, and to be able to stop and turn quickly in light air. He also gave me some tips on how to get the Pacer moving better in light air with the 7.5. The flat water at Napeague is very confidence boosting I might add. So, on Saturday we did some triangle light air racing, then a "long distance" race around the island at the entrance to Napeague Bay. Besides learning alot about upwind speed and tactics, the effect of current, and the effect of shallow water and choosing the right strategy to maximize speed in light air, the two things that really stand out from the "race" are the following:
a. getting back in the bay against the tide through the little cut to the north of the island when board speed was only a tiny bit above the current speed. The board was basically planing in the apparent current "wind" but forward progress was very, very slow. Two people came walking down the dunes towards me and were probably wondering what was going on. There was a rooster tail coming out from the stern of the Pacer ("flux linkage", is its name, like it was a racing yacht or something. oh well, I am a geeky nerd after all), and yet I was barely moving relative to the shore. Wish I could have had a camera to show my students. This was a great example of adding (or, rather, subtracting) vectors.
b. The deer that came bounding through the water and over the sandbar, and swam right across water right in front of me. An amazing sight. One I'll never forget. So, its true that deer swim from Ct. to LI after all.
Sunday was actually pretty good. We did one triangle race, and then since it appeared that the wind was going to build, Andy set up a little figure 8 slalom course. The wind dropped a bit, but I was able to get planing with the c/b down (ran aground a couple times so pulled it halfway up), and it was great fun. Didn't realize how much I miss timed starts and rounding buoys in (or on) sailing craft. The only thing I realized as I was driving home was how come, yes how come, Dennis, you didn't do port tack approach starts? You used to be awesome at tacking into the hole in the line. Next time, don't forget.
After the clinic ended on Sunday afternoon, I stayed out on the Pacer for a while flying on close reaches across Napeague Bay and back. I have never sailed the Pacer that fast before, I don't think. The perfectly flat water is perfect for speed runs. When I finally came in, Tom L. called me "speed boy". Well, the only thing is that I am sure that all the good windsurfers would have been able to beat me, but it sure did feel good.
My "ace" move of the weekend was jibing early and wide at a leeward mark to get inside of a guy, pass him, and then kill him upwind. Of course, I did this for 42 years in boats, but it did feel good to do it on a sailboard. Also, Andy had gotten hold of a 20 year old custom carbon 13 foot long course racing board designed by Bard Chrisman. What a weapon!! He let me sail it, and the thing felt so stable for something so long and narrow, and it just glides upwind at very close angles. I need to get ahold of something like that. Of course, then I would have to get racks for the hitop van, figure out someway to get the board up there.........Guess that's one of the things that led me to the Pacer in the first place. But I was able to almost hold his angle (at slightly less speed) non-planing on the Pacer. Even though Andy made me use a 36cm weed fin instead of the upright 60 cm its supposed to have.
Next sailing day was Friday afternoon at Crab Meadow in a somewhat less than expected NE, Of course, I should expect NE winds to die as the day progress as they always seem to do. Rigged the 7.5 (desperate to get out) on the 133. The worst windsurfing I have done in a long while. I just felt out of sync and couldn't do anything. The less said about this day the better. Even Greg the kiter had his spreader break and Jeff T (old sailboat racing friend and all around nice guy) and Dr. Bob (pediatrician and all around nice guy) ran down the beach and helped him out. But it was nice to meet Chris and Dana, and even Greg, and have a good talk catchin' up with Jeff T.
Today, Monday, Sept. 29. I hope I never forget this day. The wind was expected to be SW and build, which it did. Almost wish I had driven out to Napeague early in the morning, but went to Heck early afternoon instead. I wasn't feeling so good, maybe just the anticipation or maybe because I hadn't sailed well in a week (or sailed at all except for the crappy sesssion on Friday). I even went back home after I left for the beach to make sure I had taken all my medications! (I had)
Anyway, got down to Heck sometime after 12, I think. To my immense surprise, ardly anyone was there , but it wasn't that windy yet and not that many people had today off. It was not surprising, however, to see "The Captain" cruising around and even getting on a plane once in a while on her Starboard Phantom. So, I rigged the 7.5 and went out on the 133. Right away, I could tell this was going to be a good (if not great) day. Everything just felt so comfortable. Even the chop seemed fairly small and manageable ( I retained this feeling all day even as the wind built, to my enthusiastic surprise). I was even getting around and making most of my jibes (not quite planing out, but almost). Then, the wind built. Rigged the 6.3. It took awhile, had to redo the mast extension at least 4 times, but finally got it set up right. I did remember to right down all the settings at the end of the day. I think I finally have this sail in its sweet spot. It felt light and powerful all day.
At first, I sailed the 6.3 with the 133 but pretty soon went to the 102. What a treat! I was having fun blasting around and carving up and downwind in the little chop-swell. Just a great time. I was even making most of my jibes (at first) and started coming out of the carves on a plane, and I THINK, maybe, not sure, but just maybe I completed a carving, full planing, jibe. Not really sure though. Here's what I have now learned. Jibes are a whole lot easier when you look into the direction of the jibe. In other words. look where you want to go, and you will go there. I learned this a long time ago when learning to ski trees, and then a little less long ago when riding mountain bikes. I guess I have to learn it every time I try a new sport! Everything the hard way, that's my life. But, so much more satisfaction when I do accomplish something new.
I was even looking for "ramps" and trying little jumps as best I could. I THINK, maybe, not sure, but just maybe on or even possibly two of these attempts that the fin may have cleared the water. In any event, I was able to turn the board off the wind before the board contacted the water during these attempts and avoided the dreaded spin-out. All in all, a good day, and progress made.
So, the day was awesome until I noticed a little crack in the nose of the 102. Fixed it with some ding stick, but it took an hour to dry, it was 5:30, heavy clouds moving in, wind dying off a bit. But, went out for one more planing run, and had to schlog back in upwind, but what a great day. Then, on the way home, I got within a couple of minutes of home when the heavens opened up. So, had to run in during a torrential downpour. Of course, it let up quite a bit several minutes later. Like I said, everything the hard way.
A great day. Just wish I didn't have to wait for the weekend to go sailing again. Oh wait, class at Stony Brook on Wednesday has been cancelled (you should see chlorophyll fluoresce at 669 nm under black light, very cool),
maybe there will be afternoon wind.
Until the next time!!
Still not sure if this only for the 7.5 and under class or not. The Pacer sail is 9.5, which would put me in the unlimited class. If its blowing, I guess I'll go with the 7.5 and under class. Just hope its not windy enough for slalom!
Anyway, the clinic was great fun. Who knew that Andy Brandt. awesome freestyler and teacher, is (or was and may be again) one of the top windsurf racers in the country. He had us doing some really cool light air drills to get more comfortable on the board, and to be able to stop and turn quickly in light air. He also gave me some tips on how to get the Pacer moving better in light air with the 7.5. The flat water at Napeague is very confidence boosting I might add. So, on Saturday we did some triangle light air racing, then a "long distance" race around the island at the entrance to Napeague Bay. Besides learning alot about upwind speed and tactics, the effect of current, and the effect of shallow water and choosing the right strategy to maximize speed in light air, the two things that really stand out from the "race" are the following:
a. getting back in the bay against the tide through the little cut to the north of the island when board speed was only a tiny bit above the current speed. The board was basically planing in the apparent current "wind" but forward progress was very, very slow. Two people came walking down the dunes towards me and were probably wondering what was going on. There was a rooster tail coming out from the stern of the Pacer ("flux linkage", is its name, like it was a racing yacht or something. oh well, I am a geeky nerd after all), and yet I was barely moving relative to the shore. Wish I could have had a camera to show my students. This was a great example of adding (or, rather, subtracting) vectors.
b. The deer that came bounding through the water and over the sandbar, and swam right across water right in front of me. An amazing sight. One I'll never forget. So, its true that deer swim from Ct. to LI after all.
Sunday was actually pretty good. We did one triangle race, and then since it appeared that the wind was going to build, Andy set up a little figure 8 slalom course. The wind dropped a bit, but I was able to get planing with the c/b down (ran aground a couple times so pulled it halfway up), and it was great fun. Didn't realize how much I miss timed starts and rounding buoys in (or on) sailing craft. The only thing I realized as I was driving home was how come, yes how come, Dennis, you didn't do port tack approach starts? You used to be awesome at tacking into the hole in the line. Next time, don't forget.
After the clinic ended on Sunday afternoon, I stayed out on the Pacer for a while flying on close reaches across Napeague Bay and back. I have never sailed the Pacer that fast before, I don't think. The perfectly flat water is perfect for speed runs. When I finally came in, Tom L. called me "speed boy". Well, the only thing is that I am sure that all the good windsurfers would have been able to beat me, but it sure did feel good.
My "ace" move of the weekend was jibing early and wide at a leeward mark to get inside of a guy, pass him, and then kill him upwind. Of course, I did this for 42 years in boats, but it did feel good to do it on a sailboard. Also, Andy had gotten hold of a 20 year old custom carbon 13 foot long course racing board designed by Bard Chrisman. What a weapon!! He let me sail it, and the thing felt so stable for something so long and narrow, and it just glides upwind at very close angles. I need to get ahold of something like that. Of course, then I would have to get racks for the hitop van, figure out someway to get the board up there.........Guess that's one of the things that led me to the Pacer in the first place. But I was able to almost hold his angle (at slightly less speed) non-planing on the Pacer. Even though Andy made me use a 36cm weed fin instead of the upright 60 cm its supposed to have.
Next sailing day was Friday afternoon at Crab Meadow in a somewhat less than expected NE, Of course, I should expect NE winds to die as the day progress as they always seem to do. Rigged the 7.5 (desperate to get out) on the 133. The worst windsurfing I have done in a long while. I just felt out of sync and couldn't do anything. The less said about this day the better. Even Greg the kiter had his spreader break and Jeff T (old sailboat racing friend and all around nice guy) and Dr. Bob (pediatrician and all around nice guy) ran down the beach and helped him out. But it was nice to meet Chris and Dana, and even Greg, and have a good talk catchin' up with Jeff T.
Today, Monday, Sept. 29. I hope I never forget this day. The wind was expected to be SW and build, which it did. Almost wish I had driven out to Napeague early in the morning, but went to Heck early afternoon instead. I wasn't feeling so good, maybe just the anticipation or maybe because I hadn't sailed well in a week (or sailed at all except for the crappy sesssion on Friday). I even went back home after I left for the beach to make sure I had taken all my medications! (I had)
Anyway, got down to Heck sometime after 12, I think. To my immense surprise, ardly anyone was there , but it wasn't that windy yet and not that many people had today off. It was not surprising, however, to see "The Captain" cruising around and even getting on a plane once in a while on her Starboard Phantom. So, I rigged the 7.5 and went out on the 133. Right away, I could tell this was going to be a good (if not great) day. Everything just felt so comfortable. Even the chop seemed fairly small and manageable ( I retained this feeling all day even as the wind built, to my enthusiastic surprise). I was even getting around and making most of my jibes (not quite planing out, but almost). Then, the wind built. Rigged the 6.3. It took awhile, had to redo the mast extension at least 4 times, but finally got it set up right. I did remember to right down all the settings at the end of the day. I think I finally have this sail in its sweet spot. It felt light and powerful all day.
At first, I sailed the 6.3 with the 133 but pretty soon went to the 102. What a treat! I was having fun blasting around and carving up and downwind in the little chop-swell. Just a great time. I was even making most of my jibes (at first) and started coming out of the carves on a plane, and I THINK, maybe, not sure, but just maybe I completed a carving, full planing, jibe. Not really sure though. Here's what I have now learned. Jibes are a whole lot easier when you look into the direction of the jibe. In other words. look where you want to go, and you will go there. I learned this a long time ago when learning to ski trees, and then a little less long ago when riding mountain bikes. I guess I have to learn it every time I try a new sport! Everything the hard way, that's my life. But, so much more satisfaction when I do accomplish something new.
I was even looking for "ramps" and trying little jumps as best I could. I THINK, maybe, not sure, but just maybe on or even possibly two of these attempts that the fin may have cleared the water. In any event, I was able to turn the board off the wind before the board contacted the water during these attempts and avoided the dreaded spin-out. All in all, a good day, and progress made.
So, the day was awesome until I noticed a little crack in the nose of the 102. Fixed it with some ding stick, but it took an hour to dry, it was 5:30, heavy clouds moving in, wind dying off a bit. But, went out for one more planing run, and had to schlog back in upwind, but what a great day. Then, on the way home, I got within a couple of minutes of home when the heavens opened up. So, had to run in during a torrential downpour. Of course, it let up quite a bit several minutes later. Like I said, everything the hard way.
A great day. Just wish I didn't have to wait for the weekend to go sailing again. Oh wait, class at Stony Brook on Wednesday has been cancelled (you should see chlorophyll fluoresce at 669 nm under black light, very cool),
maybe there will be afternoon wind.
Until the next time!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Tale of Two Sundays
As Joe4.7 had said on Saturday, "Manana". He had then pointed down, meaning it was going to be happening here, at Heck, on Sunday.
Sunday, Part One.
Woke up, got out of bed, checked the iWindsurf meters. 26 NE at Bayville. 23 NE at Gilgo. 11NE at GSB. What to do? First of all, when its NE, I historically have missed it because either 1. the weather is lousy (rain and all that stuff), which takes the stoke right out of me, 2. I don't get up early enough (NE seems to always die pretty quickly around here), or 3. I just simply don't know where to go.
Then, I checked the Long Island Windsurfer's Group forum on Yahoo (LIWGF). This REALLY bummed me out. It was 8:11 AM, or thereabouts. George and Pete (and probably others) were already sailing 4.2's at Overlook. Overlook? What and where is Overlook?
So, I went down to Heck. Heck, Joe4.7 called Heck yesterday, and he always seems to know what to do, right? Arrived at Heck at 9:30 AM. No wind. No cars. No people. Drove back up to the north shore to Crab Meadow. There was some wind, woo-hoo!! Bummer, though, the only two windsurfers were just leaving as the wind was starting to die. Was I going to miss yet another NE day? Even the kiters were preparing to leave. Well, since I had to go back to work in two days (today), I better go for it, I thought to myself. The guys who were leaving had been on 5.8. So, I rigged a 6.3, pulled out my beautiful and lovely RRD FSW 102 (that I really can't jibe) and went out. It wasn't constant, but I was planing most of the time. The water was, for me, super. Large (for me) swells, well spaced. Not the choppity, chop-chop stuff like Heck. Jumps (well, sort me, at least it seemed like it to me) on the way out, wave riding on the way in. Changed my life. Seriously. All my life I've had this thing about surfing and surfing lifestyle. I've been surfing like two or three times (not including body surfing). Over 35 years ago. In high school. Down at Tobay. My friend's Dad took us. He was real good. It was awesome.
Well, that's the feeling I had Sunday morning. Three runs in and out. Made 2 out of 3 jibes. Amazing, now I can jibe, awesome. Then the wind died out some, so I headed in. One cool thing is that a lifeguard was watching me, and as I walked by him he said "Are you Mr. G?". Good thing it was the best windsurfing I've ever done on that board. Turns out he is a student at the school where I teach. Today he was telling everybody what an awesome windsurfer I am. Just lucky, I guess.
So, I headed home just before noon, prepared to quit for the day, but happened to check iWindsurf one last time. GSB at like 25, ENE. This is it!!!
Sunday, Part Deux
I ran, as fast as my van would take me down to Heck. You know the feeling when it's blowing and you can't get there soon enough? The arteries around your heart are tense, your mind is blowing itself out through your ears, your legs are twitching, you feel like you are going to die if you don't get to the beach NOW. Well, that's what I was feeling. All thoughts of the morning are gone. Just MORE, MORE, going through my jellied brain.
And then, of course, some guy in front of me at the gate guard shack has to give the gate guard a hundred dollar bill or something, the gate guard is probably texting during the transaction, then the guy has to ask her an hour and a half of questions about who knows what. Finally, after about 5 hours, I finally roll through, go 25 times the speed limit to get to the beach, AND.... the parking lot is crowded and everybody has been sailing on 4.2s for hours. "Where were you?"
So, quickly rig the 4.2 and head out. I'm feeling all flushed about my newfound jibing ability from the morning. But this is Heck. Things are different here. The choppity chop-chop is worse than ever before. But, speed is good. Jibing is not so good. I think I made about 2 jibes all day. But what fun, oh what fun!!
Laughed it up with Curt, Sesel (sp?), even John M., who was doing amazing stuff like an Essex duck jibe. Really cool. Curt sailed across to other side with a few others. Joe4.7 was out on his old Bob Dill board. Some guy on a Maui Sails sail was jibing, tacking, doing amazing maneuveurs. Upwind Mike was doing his normal thing cranking out jibe after jibe without, seemingly, losing any speed whatsoever. Everybody was having an amazing day. "Someday", I thought to myself as I crashed for the umpteenth time.
But, you know that foot thing I talked about in my first post, well, that works. Helped me in the morning and I did it all day long. I am almost there. So close. Just need to do a thousand more jibe setups and entrances, and I am sure I will be able to do a carving, planing jibe in the not so distant future.
Yesterday, Monday, Labor Day:
Nothing really to talk about, except for talking to a few people. Then headed out on 7.5 , 133l to practice tacking, trying to get footwork right. Frustrating, but some progress made. Then laughed it up for a while before heading home and getting ready for the big day today. Wind tomorrow, they say, but I can't make it. Maybe Thursday afternoon. I sure hope so. If so, see you all there!!
Sunday, Part One.
Woke up, got out of bed, checked the iWindsurf meters. 26 NE at Bayville. 23 NE at Gilgo. 11NE at GSB. What to do? First of all, when its NE, I historically have missed it because either 1. the weather is lousy (rain and all that stuff), which takes the stoke right out of me, 2. I don't get up early enough (NE seems to always die pretty quickly around here), or 3. I just simply don't know where to go.
Then, I checked the Long Island Windsurfer's Group forum on Yahoo (LIWGF). This REALLY bummed me out. It was 8:11 AM, or thereabouts. George and Pete (and probably others) were already sailing 4.2's at Overlook. Overlook? What and where is Overlook?
So, I went down to Heck. Heck, Joe4.7 called Heck yesterday, and he always seems to know what to do, right? Arrived at Heck at 9:30 AM. No wind. No cars. No people. Drove back up to the north shore to Crab Meadow. There was some wind, woo-hoo!! Bummer, though, the only two windsurfers were just leaving as the wind was starting to die. Was I going to miss yet another NE day? Even the kiters were preparing to leave. Well, since I had to go back to work in two days (today), I better go for it, I thought to myself. The guys who were leaving had been on 5.8. So, I rigged a 6.3, pulled out my beautiful and lovely RRD FSW 102 (that I really can't jibe) and went out. It wasn't constant, but I was planing most of the time. The water was, for me, super. Large (for me) swells, well spaced. Not the choppity, chop-chop stuff like Heck. Jumps (well, sort me, at least it seemed like it to me) on the way out, wave riding on the way in. Changed my life. Seriously. All my life I've had this thing about surfing and surfing lifestyle. I've been surfing like two or three times (not including body surfing). Over 35 years ago. In high school. Down at Tobay. My friend's Dad took us. He was real good. It was awesome.
Well, that's the feeling I had Sunday morning. Three runs in and out. Made 2 out of 3 jibes. Amazing, now I can jibe, awesome. Then the wind died out some, so I headed in. One cool thing is that a lifeguard was watching me, and as I walked by him he said "Are you Mr. G?". Good thing it was the best windsurfing I've ever done on that board. Turns out he is a student at the school where I teach. Today he was telling everybody what an awesome windsurfer I am. Just lucky, I guess.
So, I headed home just before noon, prepared to quit for the day, but happened to check iWindsurf one last time. GSB at like 25, ENE. This is it!!!
Sunday, Part Deux
I ran, as fast as my van would take me down to Heck. You know the feeling when it's blowing and you can't get there soon enough? The arteries around your heart are tense, your mind is blowing itself out through your ears, your legs are twitching, you feel like you are going to die if you don't get to the beach NOW. Well, that's what I was feeling. All thoughts of the morning are gone. Just MORE, MORE, going through my jellied brain.
And then, of course, some guy in front of me at the gate guard shack has to give the gate guard a hundred dollar bill or something, the gate guard is probably texting during the transaction, then the guy has to ask her an hour and a half of questions about who knows what. Finally, after about 5 hours, I finally roll through, go 25 times the speed limit to get to the beach, AND.... the parking lot is crowded and everybody has been sailing on 4.2s for hours. "Where were you?"
So, quickly rig the 4.2 and head out. I'm feeling all flushed about my newfound jibing ability from the morning. But this is Heck. Things are different here. The choppity chop-chop is worse than ever before. But, speed is good. Jibing is not so good. I think I made about 2 jibes all day. But what fun, oh what fun!!
Laughed it up with Curt, Sesel (sp?), even John M., who was doing amazing stuff like an Essex duck jibe. Really cool. Curt sailed across to other side with a few others. Joe4.7 was out on his old Bob Dill board. Some guy on a Maui Sails sail was jibing, tacking, doing amazing maneuveurs. Upwind Mike was doing his normal thing cranking out jibe after jibe without, seemingly, losing any speed whatsoever. Everybody was having an amazing day. "Someday", I thought to myself as I crashed for the umpteenth time.
But, you know that foot thing I talked about in my first post, well, that works. Helped me in the morning and I did it all day long. I am almost there. So close. Just need to do a thousand more jibe setups and entrances, and I am sure I will be able to do a carving, planing jibe in the not so distant future.
Yesterday, Monday, Labor Day:
Nothing really to talk about, except for talking to a few people. Then headed out on 7.5 , 133l to practice tacking, trying to get footwork right. Frustrating, but some progress made. Then laughed it up for a while before heading home and getting ready for the big day today. Wind tomorrow, they say, but I can't make it. Maybe Thursday afternoon. I sure hope so. If so, see you all there!!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Asphyxiation
After listening to Roy Orbison's magnus opus Windsurfer several times this morning, I just had to get wet. While driving down to Heck on Sagtikos Parkway, I noticed that a giant caromboulage had just occurred on the other side. Some poor person's car was completely smashed in and ambulances were on the way. Serves to make one feel lucky when one is in good health and can think about going windsurfing.
When I arrived at the beach, there was a bit (a wee small bit) of wind that the Captain was making use of on her Starboard Phantom along with a couple of other people who looked like they were on their maiden windsurfing voyages. Good on them, I say!!
Anyway, I decided to rig the Pacer/Pacer combo and went out practicing railing and longboard tacks and pivot jibes. It was okay for about 20 minutes, then the wind (if I may call it that) got so light that it wasn't even blowing anymore. It was more like a sucking effect. Sucking out all of the oxygen in the air. It was getting hard to breath. I was hoping that an oxygen mask would pop out of the boom. I started feeling a bit "high" and began to realize that if I didn't get back to the beach soon, that I would soon pass out. This "high" is the first indication that one is being asphyxiated, and is similar to the effect of diminished oxygen in high altitude flight without an auxiliary oxygen supply.
In addition, even though the insolation from the Sun has started to diminish because the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun has begun to move the Northern Hemisphere into a position where the incoming solar radiation is spread over a larger area as fall and winter approach, it was still hot enough that I was thinking that when I did get asphyxiated from the sucking effect of the "breeze" that someone would eventually find a dessicated human sailing along on a really cool windsurfer. A gaggle of jet skiers thankfully interrupted this reverie and I headed in.
Joe4.7 then opined that "Manana" was going to be good. Can't wait to fall asleep and wake up to lots of wind.
(Some names have been changed to protect the innocent.)
When I arrived at the beach, there was a bit (a wee small bit) of wind that the Captain was making use of on her Starboard Phantom along with a couple of other people who looked like they were on their maiden windsurfing voyages. Good on them, I say!!
Anyway, I decided to rig the Pacer/Pacer combo and went out practicing railing and longboard tacks and pivot jibes. It was okay for about 20 minutes, then the wind (if I may call it that) got so light that it wasn't even blowing anymore. It was more like a sucking effect. Sucking out all of the oxygen in the air. It was getting hard to breath. I was hoping that an oxygen mask would pop out of the boom. I started feeling a bit "high" and began to realize that if I didn't get back to the beach soon, that I would soon pass out. This "high" is the first indication that one is being asphyxiated, and is similar to the effect of diminished oxygen in high altitude flight without an auxiliary oxygen supply.
In addition, even though the insolation from the Sun has started to diminish because the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun has begun to move the Northern Hemisphere into a position where the incoming solar radiation is spread over a larger area as fall and winter approach, it was still hot enough that I was thinking that when I did get asphyxiated from the sucking effect of the "breeze" that someone would eventually find a dessicated human sailing along on a really cool windsurfer. A gaggle of jet skiers thankfully interrupted this reverie and I headed in.
Joe4.7 then opined that "Manana" was going to be good. Can't wait to fall asleep and wake up to lots of wind.
(Some names have been changed to protect the innocent.)
Back to Summer weather...
Pretty light wind today, so I put on some windsurfing music to get myself stoked a bit. My favorite windsurfing song of all time puts me in the mood and I've been listening to it over and over again today. Thought I'd share it with you (hope I don't run afoul of copyright laws):
Windsurfer
Windsurfer
All he wanted was to ride out on the wind
Windsurfer
To be one of the guys and to look good in her eyes
He practiced in his dreams
trying to catch the waves
Most of the time he sailed alone
Endless summer days
flying in the sun
He'd ride and wait for the wind
to take him home
Windsurfer
Windsurfer
Windsurfer
He said let's sail away together
She told him no no never no
Wind Windsurfer
It was early one morning
on a lonely beach
He left a message and
he wrote in the sand
Why do we always go for
something out of reach?
Nobody ever really understands
Windsurfer
All he wanted to do
was outrun the sun
Wndsurfer
to take her in his arms
when the lonely day was done
Windsurfer
-Roy Orbison (Mystery Girl album)
Thanks for the stoke, Roy
Windsurfer
Windsurfer
All he wanted was to ride out on the wind
Windsurfer
To be one of the guys and to look good in her eyes
He practiced in his dreams
trying to catch the waves
Most of the time he sailed alone
Endless summer days
flying in the sun
He'd ride and wait for the wind
to take him home
Windsurfer
Windsurfer
Windsurfer
He said let's sail away together
She told him no no never no
Wind Windsurfer
It was early one morning
on a lonely beach
He left a message and
he wrote in the sand
Why do we always go for
something out of reach?
Nobody ever really understands
Windsurfer
All he wanted to do
was outrun the sun
Wndsurfer
to take her in his arms
when the lonely day was done
Windsurfer
-Roy Orbison (Mystery Girl album)
Thanks for the stoke, Roy
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wow, It got cold fast....
That's exactly (or pretty close to exactly) what I said to Judy when I got out of my van at Heck this late afternoon. Judy is the wife of George (I don't think their last name is Jetson) and they are a really nice windsurfing couple. In fact, just about all of the people I've met windsurfing over the past, say, four years have been really nice.
My goal for the day was to practice tacking and jibing. (See information below about my desire to be a "racer")
I digress, however. It felt pretty cold this afternoon, and the wind when I arrived was from the SE or SSE, hard to tell, but side onshore in any event. Judy was out practicing tacks on her 109 liter board and 6.3, not planing, just practicing tacks and doing well. So, I decided I was going to, once again, practice tacking my Exocet Pacer 300 hybrid raceboard as I am a wannabe racer. More on this in upcoming posts. I rigged up my 9.5 custom Aerotech cuben fiber Pacer sail and went out. Well, the wind as measured by my wind meter on the beach was only about 9 knots, but was stronger the further one went off the beach. I was planing the whole time, no problem. Oh, I forgot to mention that just after I beach started for the first time today, I glanced at my watch and it was 4:52 PM. So, I had some fun trying to figure out optimum speed vs. angle upwind for maximum VMG (I may be relatively new to windsurfing, but not to sailing, more later on this also). This is extremely hard to do, if not impossible, without someone to gauge off of, but I was just seeing what angles felt better vis a vis speed. So, I tacked upwind for a while and tried to put into effect the ABK tacking method. (This can be viewed at windsport.com) I did this with more or less decent success, then turned downwind and did a bunch of "flarve" jibes downwind. Flarve is a type of jibe where you sort of carve in to the jibe, then finish with a flare. These seemed ok as I wasn't almost, but not quite planing off the wind.
Then, the wind picked up and I was flying! woo-hoo! I could easily have been on a 7.5 and 133 liter board, but I wanted to get some experience with the whole raceboard setup. I must tell you, dear reader, that over the past couple of days of non-sailing, I happened to look up all the information I could find on planing jibes to try and sort out some of my problems that are keeping me from the completion of this most elegant windsurfing maneuveur. Once again, the ABK videos at windsport.com are very helpful and awesome. I also looked at Peter Hart videos a few times which are also good, but no substitute for real instruction. Andy Brandt of ABK has obviously spent a lot of time figuring out the best way to teach windsurfing which is a wonderful thing. Sort of like how us classroom teachers try to figure the best way to present content to students so that they can learn quickly and easily. Unfortunately, for an athletic plodder like me, windsurfing is superhard and it is going to take me some time to get this whole carving jibe thing. I need to concentrate on one step at a time.
At this point, I should like to put in a plug for ABK board camps. I have been to three of them over the past couple of years and they are really great. At the first one I attended, I was initially disappointed to not be in the learn to jibe group, but they did sort out my stance which was in dire need of straightening out, literally. The "7" stance that they teach is the best way, IMO, to sail.
Back to today. When the wind came up to maybe 14 or 15 knots, I was super powered on the 9.5 and decided to try some carving jibes. Well, in addition to online videos mentioned above, I found pictures I took at an ABK clinic last year of master instructor Tom Lepak showing the foot work involved in a carving jibe on the beach simulator. I noticed that he put his old front foot in FRONT of his back foot when stepping over to the other side of the board. For some reason, I have been putting that foot BEHIND the old back foot first. I wondered how all these windsurfers could stay so far forward driving the board through the turn. Now, I know.
So, I tried this technique today. Amazingly enough, when I carved into the turn (which I think I have now just about figured out thanks to a few tips from Pete Roesch a couple of weeks ago on a windy day at Tanner Park) and stepped across as described above, the board stayed on a plane, and if had done my sail flip sooner and quicker, I would have planed through and out of the jibe. But, as I said above, one step at a time.
All in all, a fun time sailing. I sailed until around 6:20 or so, so I got in almost a good hour and a half with only a couple of short breaks. I am only sorry that I forgot to bring a camera as it was a beautiful day and sunset. I will post those pictures of Tom Lepak tomorrow or Saturday to illustrate what I am talking about.
Another lesson learned today, is that to practice tacking and get more efficient at it, I need to get on my 70 cm wide, 133 liter board with a fairly small sail to get all the steps down properly. The big sail and board is somewhat unwieldy for learning the subtleties of maneuveurs.
Thanks for reading.
My goal for the day was to practice tacking and jibing. (See information below about my desire to be a "racer")
I digress, however. It felt pretty cold this afternoon, and the wind when I arrived was from the SE or SSE, hard to tell, but side onshore in any event. Judy was out practicing tacks on her 109 liter board and 6.3, not planing, just practicing tacks and doing well. So, I decided I was going to, once again, practice tacking my Exocet Pacer 300 hybrid raceboard as I am a wannabe racer. More on this in upcoming posts. I rigged up my 9.5 custom Aerotech cuben fiber Pacer sail and went out. Well, the wind as measured by my wind meter on the beach was only about 9 knots, but was stronger the further one went off the beach. I was planing the whole time, no problem. Oh, I forgot to mention that just after I beach started for the first time today, I glanced at my watch and it was 4:52 PM. So, I had some fun trying to figure out optimum speed vs. angle upwind for maximum VMG (I may be relatively new to windsurfing, but not to sailing, more later on this also). This is extremely hard to do, if not impossible, without someone to gauge off of, but I was just seeing what angles felt better vis a vis speed. So, I tacked upwind for a while and tried to put into effect the ABK tacking method. (This can be viewed at windsport.com) I did this with more or less decent success, then turned downwind and did a bunch of "flarve" jibes downwind. Flarve is a type of jibe where you sort of carve in to the jibe, then finish with a flare. These seemed ok as I wasn't almost, but not quite planing off the wind.
Then, the wind picked up and I was flying! woo-hoo! I could easily have been on a 7.5 and 133 liter board, but I wanted to get some experience with the whole raceboard setup. I must tell you, dear reader, that over the past couple of days of non-sailing, I happened to look up all the information I could find on planing jibes to try and sort out some of my problems that are keeping me from the completion of this most elegant windsurfing maneuveur. Once again, the ABK videos at windsport.com are very helpful and awesome. I also looked at Peter Hart videos a few times which are also good, but no substitute for real instruction. Andy Brandt of ABK has obviously spent a lot of time figuring out the best way to teach windsurfing which is a wonderful thing. Sort of like how us classroom teachers try to figure the best way to present content to students so that they can learn quickly and easily. Unfortunately, for an athletic plodder like me, windsurfing is superhard and it is going to take me some time to get this whole carving jibe thing. I need to concentrate on one step at a time.
At this point, I should like to put in a plug for ABK board camps. I have been to three of them over the past couple of years and they are really great. At the first one I attended, I was initially disappointed to not be in the learn to jibe group, but they did sort out my stance which was in dire need of straightening out, literally. The "7" stance that they teach is the best way, IMO, to sail.
Back to today. When the wind came up to maybe 14 or 15 knots, I was super powered on the 9.5 and decided to try some carving jibes. Well, in addition to online videos mentioned above, I found pictures I took at an ABK clinic last year of master instructor Tom Lepak showing the foot work involved in a carving jibe on the beach simulator. I noticed that he put his old front foot in FRONT of his back foot when stepping over to the other side of the board. For some reason, I have been putting that foot BEHIND the old back foot first. I wondered how all these windsurfers could stay so far forward driving the board through the turn. Now, I know.
So, I tried this technique today. Amazingly enough, when I carved into the turn (which I think I have now just about figured out thanks to a few tips from Pete Roesch a couple of weeks ago on a windy day at Tanner Park) and stepped across as described above, the board stayed on a plane, and if had done my sail flip sooner and quicker, I would have planed through and out of the jibe. But, as I said above, one step at a time.
All in all, a fun time sailing. I sailed until around 6:20 or so, so I got in almost a good hour and a half with only a couple of short breaks. I am only sorry that I forgot to bring a camera as it was a beautiful day and sunset. I will post those pictures of Tom Lepak tomorrow or Saturday to illustrate what I am talking about.
Another lesson learned today, is that to practice tacking and get more efficient at it, I need to get on my 70 cm wide, 133 liter board with a fairly small sail to get all the steps down properly. The big sail and board is somewhat unwieldy for learning the subtleties of maneuveurs.
Thanks for reading.
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