The Peconic Puffin

“These are the worst conditions we’ve every sailed here….EVER,” Scott proclaimed.

Oh good.  I’d never windsurfed Webbies, so when Scott made the call I jumped in the van and started driving.  Scott and the Wolf were already there, rigging 4.7’s.  Christian was also en route to have his maiden Webbies sesh.  Webbies, AKA Belleview Park, is on Moriches Bay in Center Moriches.  To be sailed on southerlies.

Arrived.  Scott was tearing it up on a 4.7 so I rigged 4.5. Christian was already there rigging a 5.0, and the Wolf was putting the finishing touches on his 4.7.  By the time the rest of us got our gear to the water a big lull came through, so we eschewed our smallest boards in favor of larger rides (that's right…I said eschewed.)

Gust lull gust lull gust lull gust lull…but hey in the gusts I was ripping (and could have used the 77 instead of the 93 I was on.)   For the Great Shlog Back at the end I was thankful for the extra 16 liters.

First to wimp out was The Wolf.  The rest of us stuck it out, and soon were rewarded with five great minutes.   Then Christian went all girlie whirlie whilst Scott watched me shlog.   

It's true that by normal standards it was le crap session, but it had been a couple weeks since returning from Bonaire and it felt great to hook in and fly.   UnBonaire-like was the water, which was frickin cold.  I wore a 5/3 and a hood and gloves.  Scott said "you don't need gloves" but I'll bet he was wearing gloves when he said that.  In the water my hands chilled quickly, inside gloves.  Maybe I'm just another whining wimp.

Still, I was glad to see Webbies.  I don't imagine I'll be sailing there much (it's a long drive for me…Tiana or Mecox or the North Fork are better choices on southerlies for this puffin) but for the occasional situation I may well return.

You can find Webbies, Tiana, Mecox, and a whole lotta other launches on the Long Island Windsurfing Map.

(Photo:  Happily suited up in the van.  I like windsurfing!)