Surfing Fool

I wanted to stay local because I didn't have much time to sail. Besides the local forecast for wind looked good for a change. Fooled again. Nantasket surf scene I crashed the surf scene at Nantasket. There were the usual stifled laughs and inquiries about my kooky looking board, footstraps and all. I said that it was a tow-in surboard that I bought from some guy named Laird Hamilton in Maui. Nobody seemed very impressed. Nantasket, Surfed, Carve123, with others. After surfing and waiting for wind at Nantasket I hit Duxbury, pond side, for some wind that looked good on the meter, felt good in the parking lot, but was mostly a tease on the water. If I had more time I would have put up bigger equipment to get me thru the near-constant lulls. I had to get home and cleaned up for a Porcupine Tree concert with Josh and crew of teenagers. Duxbury, Windsurfed, SE 12-27, 5.2/RW85, solo.

2 Winds

Peter K Levitating at Corporation A windsurfing wind and a kiting wind. I sailed in waves, strong wind at Corp in the AM then kited in the mellow flats at Chapin during mid/low tide in the afternoon. It was a soul satisfying day!!! Almost a kitemare? So when I was walking my kite upwind, in knee deep water, another kiter, Dave, kited too close and crossed my kite. We both released to our safety lines, walked it in and untangled everything, no big deal in this case (light winds, shallow water, no kite spirals) but it definitely worried me. He was a newbie too, and very apologetic. I've been wondering, since I started kiting, what would happen if 2 kites crossed. Now I know. It's not pretty. In strong winds, or at the wrong location I'll bet it could be a lot more serious. Igor- It was great to see you! Your a human weather sock. When you start showing up at Chapin again it means the windy season is coming! Bring it on. Sagamore Bridge Repaving- The traffic was good leaving the Cape, until exit 2. Then it just stopped dead. It took 45 minutes to go the last few miles. I rummaged thru my lunch left overs, made some phone calls, and clipped my toenails while I was bumper to bumper. How often can you clip your toenails while you're driving on the highway?! The repaving is supposed to continue around the clock for the Fall and Spring. Corporation, Windsurfed, NW 13-30, 4.2, 5.2/ RW85, with Scott, Jerry E, Jerry C (Field Pub, Cambridge), Jamie, Jeff, others. Chapin, kitsurfed, NNW, N, 7-17, 12 M Kite, 152 Ply board, with Frank, Sandie, Igor, Dave, others.

AMC, Petra Kanz, and the Lighthouse Inn

The forecast for this weekend's AMC trip was bad. The trip was good. The clinic went well despite mostly rainy, mostly non-planing conditions, thanks to Petra's enthusiasm. This is the most important lesson from a windsurfing instructor- we're windsurfers. We make the most of what we get. Ben had a spontaneous urge to back flip It was a fun group. There were some new faces, some old faces, and some very old faces, (even older than mine), but most faces looked pretty happy. I think everyone had a good time. West Dennis in E wind- On the rainy Friday evening, I got down early enough to have almost 2 hours of windsurfing, practicing my very weak port tack jumps, in strong E winds before dark. The wind seemed almost dead side shore but there was a very noticable wind shadow near the beach, and the meter read low by about 5 MPH. West Dennis, Windsurfed, 15-28, E, 5.7/ RW 85, solo Who kites during a windsurfing clinic? Traitors. On Saturday mid day, I did a downwinder from the Lighthouse Inn to chair 9, using Petra's board. Petra gave me a ride back to the Inn. It helps when the windsurfing instructor is also a kitesurfing instructor. West Dennis, Kitesurfed, 12-17, ESE, 12 M kite, Petra's board, Peter Barbara gets on a plane in light winds with the help of a 10 HP motor Wakeboarding with only a 10 horsepower motor- Barbara & Ben came down on Saturday evening. On Sunday Ben trainer kited. The wind was pretty light. It was a good time to pull out a motor. Ben and I got planing on the Real Wind 85 liter board behind the boat. The trick for getting up was to do it when the boat was moving pretty slowly. Once up and cruising, it was stable enough to cross the wake side to side and play around. We got Petra up on the RW 85 board. This inspired Ben to get up on the kiteboard, with a little starting help from Petra. I tried to get up on the kiteboard but the boat didn't have the juice to pull me onto a plane. Petra got up. Barbara took some turns blasting the boat out to the rock island and driving for my wakeboard attempts. It was another classic, rainy, make-the-best, AMC West Dennis weekend trip.

Total Body Muscle Cramp

I windsurfed in the morning until my arms cramped up, then kited in the afternoon until my legs cramped up. It was perfection in muscle cramps. I didn't neglect any small part of my body. Chapin was a huge kiting/windsurfing party on the beach! This is only half. Windsurfing- I made the long walk out to the water to start but I was just 1 person in the parade of windsurfers and kiters crossing the sand bar. The windsurfing felt so nice, with the side shore wind and Chapin's small wind waves. I practiced going down the line a little and even tried a couple loop attempts. Kiting- From 2 hours after high tide to 4 hours after, Chapin was a giant bathtub, perfect for baby kiters! There was nothing around except shallow, flat water, and sand bars, very safe and easy. I was up and riding, and completed 1 slide turn without crashing or sinking! The new fins fixed the slipping out problem I was having with my cheapo ply board. This day was about as good as it gets! Windsurfed, NE, 15-23, Acid 94/5.7, with Chris, Sergey. Kited, ENE, 8-18, 12 kite/152 ply board, with Frank, Jamie & Robin, Sandie, Sammy.

I got Summer parking at Chapin! no wind

Skunk- Got Skunked at Chapin. Parking- While I was waiting for wind I asked the attendant about Summer parking. Here's the lowdown- Mayflower Beach opens at 7:45 and fills up by around 9:00 on a hot Summer weekend day. Then the overflow parking can fill up Chapin by 9:30 or 10:00. Today there was still parking at 10:00 when I left Chapin, probably because the temp was about 70. Bottle- I stopped at Kalmus to send this bottle & message on its way. It was found at Kalmus on 4/4/09 by Olivier. I added a new note to the original and I've been waiting for a NE wind to set it free at the scene of the discovery.

Busted by Tropical Depression Danny, then not

Extra Tropical Depression Danny- Closed down many local beaches but otherwise was unremarkable. Here's a partial list of closings- Nahant, Revere, Nantasket, Horseneck, The Cut. Nauset Light Beach- I ended up with Jerry, Barry and a merry crew of kiters at Nauset Light Beach. I watched them having fun in the waves while they watched me schlogging on my windsurfer. It was supposed to be windy on the outer Cape! They were right about the torrential rain though. Waves were about shoulder high but I never got out that far. The wind was pretty onshore, not ideal direction. West Dennis- On the way home I drove thru a sudden burst of wind. The trees along the highway were doubled over backwards and the truck was bouncing around like some massive hand was slapping it. IWindsurf said it was blowing up to 53 at Kalmus. This was what I came for! I made a beeline for the nearest beach and got about an hour powered up at West Dennis, flat water. It was good to be powered but I really missed those waves at Nauset. Nauset Light Beach, Windsurfed, ESE, E, 10-20, 5.7/ Acid94, Jerry, Barry, others. West Dennis Beach, Windsurfed, S, 16-28, 5.2/ RW85, Chris E, others.

Busted by Hurricane Bill

The launch at Strong Island Landing, every place else was closed Hurricane Bill was supposed to come close enough to the Cape to shut down most of the ocean beaches but not close enough to give us the really big wind. But the forecasters weren't sure. It is a hurricane after all. I figured the potential was there for some wind if it veered or slowed a little. So I had to try to get some of what we got. It was an early morning session in gusty conditions, planing about half the time. That half felt great! Not what I had hoped for but it was really nice to have a sail in my hands again. Chatham- Strong Island Landing, Windsurfed, NNW, 10-22, Acid94/6.2, Solo

Kiting- How to get Hypothermia on a Hot Summer Day

Don't wear a wetsuit, because it's a hot steamy day (85 temp?) in the middle of Summer and your kiting in a bay, then float in the water endlessly, (dead high tide), trying to waterstart in light winds. I didn't get hypothermia but my teeth were chattering for an eternity after I finally flew the kite and made it back to the bank of seaweed shore. I covered myself in seaweed, like a blanket. By the time I had warmed up the wind had died and that was pretty much my session. Paul drove us out there in his boat because neither of us have an ORV pass. That's a really nice way to get our own secluded launch spot. Thanks Paul! It was fun, in spite of my struggles! Just being out on the water and doing something active makes me happy. I know I'm not normal. Duxbury Bay, Kitesurfed, SSE, 10-15, 12 M kite, 152 ply board, with Paul.

Kiting- I Don't Know Nothing

Waq Bay isn't just for kids, unknown kiter I love this sport! It's just what I had hoped for. Kiting makes a 10-15 MPH day seem intense, challenging, and completely exhausting, at least for this newbie. Signs of progress- I got my longest rides yet! I'm no longer trying to stay in the shallows. I'm bustin' out. On a few rides I even came back close to where I started. I think it was more luck than skill because my stance is still mostly a mess but I'll take what I can get. The feeling of intimidation that I got from my first 4 or 5 sessions is pretty much gone. What I need to fix- The mini wooden fins on my board aren't grippy enough. The board was sliding out a lot compared to Frank's Spleen Door 64. There are plenty of guys on the web who say you don't need fins at all. They must be on steroids. What worries me a little- People say that the most dangerous animal on the planet is a beginner kiteboarder who has learned just enough to think that he/she knows what they are doing. I want to avoid that trap. I keep telling myself, "I don't know nothing." Waquiot Bay, Kiteboarded, S, 8-18, 12M kite/ 152 ply board, Door 64, Frank, Sandie, Megan, others.

Have Kite, Got Skunked

Everyone said it was windy before I arrived. We've all heard that before. I used my 12M as a trainer kite in the shallows. I tried kite loops. I put the board on my feet and messed around. I stayed on plane for 1 run. Then it got too light even for Matt to keep his 17M in the sky.

Moral of the story- Skunks are a part of life. Nobody is immune. No matter how big the kite gear, we're still going to get bitten by them sometimes.

Waquiot Bay, Kite play, SE 5-12, 12M, with Frank, Jamie, Sammy, Matt

Kiteboarding- Home Made Ply Board

1/2" Baltic birch plywood, mahogany handle, 152 x 44 I put the finishing touches on my new board this week. I was excited and anxious to try it out. It looks like a real kite board but I had no idea if it would work. I kept thinking about all the things that could go wrong- the board shape and weight could make it unable to plane, the home made fins could spin out constantly, the brass footstrap inserts could rip out, the wooden handle might break and cut my hand, the board might snap in two right down the middle, it might sink, or worst of all I might get separated from it on my first run and never see it again. None of these things happened. I was amazed. It didn't feel as grippy and easy as Frank's door 64, but it worked. Nothing broke off of it. In fact I got my best rides yet, going far enough to feel like I was sorta kiting for the first time. That felt great! The maple fins seemed to work, I think Kiteboarding, what worries me a little- What if the wind changes suddenly? I know I can swim it in if the wind dies, as long as I'm close enough to shore, but I still don't know what it feels like to be overpowered when kiting. Can I get back to shore safely if the wind jumps to 25 or 30 MPH in 60 seconds? Signs of progress- I could really shoot upwind bodydragging with the board! This technique is a confidence builder. I did some deep water relaunches with the board. I had thought that these were going to be impossible but Des had told me to do them with the board on my feet. It works. It even makes it easier to get the kite out of the water because you can use the resistance of the board to pull against the kite. I think I've graduated from kite practise to sorta kiteboarding. Next, I need to learn to go upwind. Waquiot Bay, Kiteboarded, S, SSW, 10-18, 12M kite/ 152 ply board, Frank, Sammy, Ed, others.

Living-is-Easy Summertime Wavesailing

The waves were friendly and well-behaved once I got to know them, unknown surfer Windsurfing again- I snuck a brief, weekday windsurfing session in today, in waves, and it felt sooo good. It was a nice reminder of how it feels to do a sport that I actually have some experience in. Learning kiting is very humbling. Wavesailing can be humbling too. I can get my butt kicked on a big day, but not today. This was living-is-easy Summertime wavesailing. It was soul satisfying. Wingaersheek Notes- My first time sailing here. This place is a wave playground in NNW! Very forgiving, easy but fun waves. It's port tack out but with an interesting wrap over the sand spit at mid tide for some starboard jumps. Easy shorebreak 1 hour after high tide, but this might be different when the waves are bigger. The tide was ferociously ripping out giving me a boost upwind on every run as I crossed the channel. At mid tide, the waves were breaking out almost as far as the eye could see. I'd love to explore this spot some more. Best wind is probably NNW, N. I'd try it in NW but the wind is probably very dirty on the inside, especially at high tide. I've heard that NE is bad. I wore my drysuit but the water wasn't as icy as I expected for the north shore. Wingaersheek Beach, Windsurfed, 14-24, NNW, 6.2/Acid94, Solo

Kite Practice #4- My first Jump

I'm starting to get up on the board more. It turns out that waterstarts aren't really that hard. It's stopping and changing direction that's hard. I was doing very short runs to stay in the shallows, except when I didn't. Sometimes I would hit the brakes and the board would keep on cruising. I guess I was supposed to edge the board upwind to slow down but sometimes I edged the board downwind and accelerated instead, at just the wrong moment.

My first Jump- On one run I was coming into the beach a little too quickly, (see edging above), so instead of sending the kite the opposite way slowly and smoothly, I sent it fast. I didn't hit the beach. I went up in the air. It was a really nice feeling, being pulled right up off the water and redirected just where I wanted to go, away from the beach. It felt great until I crashed. The peanut gallery on the beach shouted and hollered and had a good laugh! It was pretty encouraging. Of course, I wasn't really in danger of hitting the beach. I just thought I was and overreacted.

What worries me a little- I was feeling a lot of pull and lift in the kite when I was walking it back upwind. Maybe I should pull in the power strap for the walk? The deep water relaunches are still slow, and I was getting dragged down wind pretty fast while I was trying to get the kite to break free of the water and go up on it's edge.

Signs of progress- Besides getting some nice, but very short, rides, I did the upwind bodydrag twice when I lost the board in deep water. Both times, I was barely going upwind but I made it back to the board just as Frank was finishing his swim out to rescue it. Thanks Frank! I thought I lost your board on the last one. Also, Frank taught me to bodydrag with a board, good move to know.

Photo- The newbie kite scene at Waq Bay, the upwind beach.

Waquiot Bay, Bodydragged, Kitesurfed, SW, 10-18, 12M Kite, Door 64, with Frank, others

Kite Practise #3- Death Spirals and Face Plants

Nomadic kitesurfers on the move at the end of the day First time on a board- Yeah, I went over the handlebars. I also did some spectacular kite loop crashes, death spirals Frank called them. It didn't hurt. But I did notice that the nice bay water was draining out of my sinuses endlessly and the Bay seemed to be getting shallower from all the water that I drank. I got vertical on the board a few times, for all of 30 seconds! That was a thrill! Thanks again to Frank for loaning me his board and giving me critical instruction, "bend the knees!!!" What seemed to help the most, besides bent knees, was focusing only on the kite and telling myself over and over, "don't pull in the bar, don't pull in the bar". What worries me a little- My upwind body drag sometimes has the same result as my down wind body drag. Water relaunches are still mysterious- sometimes quick & easy, sometimes not. Everyone who said that they are easier in deep water should go straight to jail do not pass go. A few times I blew across half the Bay before getting the kite up. I saw this as an opportunity to practise self rescue. Sign of progress- I noticed by the end of the day that I was mostly flying the kite 1 handed, which is a sign of progress, or a sign that I was too tired to use both arms. Waquiot Bay, Bodydragged, Kitesurfed, S, SW, 10-15, 12M Kite, Door 64, with Frank, Scott, others

2 Mishaps in 1 Day

Gerry taste testing my Real Wind 85 Sunny, 80 temp, and super windy all day. This is the stuff dreams are made of! I can't believe that days like this really happen in New England. I was there and I still don't believe it. Windsurfing mishap- Gerry and I stopped to help a fellow windsurfer who was down on his luck. His mast base had separated from his board while he was sailing. It was a star base and I'm sure it got loose, slid back and came out of the opening to the mast track, which was in the back of the track. It was really hard to get that bugger back in while bobbing around in the water. This has happened to me too but I haven't had the problem since I started using 2 bolt bases. We got it reconnected eventually and no one was any worse for wear. The unfortunate windsurfer was very appreciative. Kiting mishap- I saw my first kiting mishap and I wasn't even kiting. I met Jason, a kiter who was waiting for his no-show slacker friends. I offered to sail up to kite beach and help him launch his kite. He walked his gear up. When I got there, I realized that there were plenty of other kiters to help Jason. He offered to let me try bodydragging with his 11M kite but a voice of reason, which is sometimes almost silent in my head, spoke out loud and clear. "Thanks but I think it's too windy for me." As I was about to head back out on the water I heard a shout. I looked up to see someone standing in the middle of some kite lines, helping to land a kite that was barely in control. As I watched, the kite blew out of his grip. The lines were taught, the guy was trapped, and I knew that if the kite took off this guy could be sliced and diced. I thought to myself, "that is a position that I really don't want to be in". Fortunately, Phil of Inland Sea grabbed the kite along with Jason and averted a disaster. Lesson learned. Windsurfed, West Dennis, WSW 15-30, 5.2/RW85, With Gerry, others, kiter Jason.