State
of the Stoke:
What
a busy season! Windsurfing is really rocking again in these
parts -- not that it ever wasn't, according to the ever-stoked
wind-addicted faithful rippers out there. Reports come in
from Stone Mountain to Station 29, from the coves of Lanier
to the coast of the Golden Isles, from the weird waves of
Lake Murray to the real waves of Wilmington -- the demand
is there. This sport is captivating people again like it
did in the 80's. That's fantastic. I love windsurfing people.
They're great people, without fail, everywhere I go. While
wave surfers at the most popular breaks are getting a reputation
for aggressively defending "their wave" from the occassional
visitor, windsurfers will drop what they are doing and help
a complete stranger -- as long as he has a wind wing in
his hand. It's curious to me why windsurfers are so consistently
good, decent people. Could it be because this sport teaches
patience and humility while elevating the spirit? Life is
short. Thanks for spreading Peace, Love, and Joy. Thats
what makes it all worthwhile -- well, that along with a
little sideshore, steady 17 knot sundown session on a balmy
summer afternoon...
Kid's
Rig for Rent.
I surrender.
So many of you have asked about sail rigs for your kids.
I've sent out tons of info. Nobody has moved on it. So,
I've ordered a HiFly "Junior Pro" 2.8 rig. It's a monofilm
sail that looks much like Mom and Dad's but with a design
and outline to put the center of effort in the right place
for a little person. It has a 2-piece alumimun mast and
fixed boom (lightweight) of reduced diameter. Has adapter
to work with your bases and U-joints. After testing it on
my 7-yr old, I'll offer it for rent at $25 which will be
returned to you in full as credit toward a new rig if you
decide to get one. These rigs are available new in 1.6 to
3.6 for $180 to $280. (You pay the freight coming and going.
The rental period will be a reasonable time for you to get
out on the water to try it.) First call, first served.
New
Area Windtalkers...
Lake
Thurmond -- As you know, the eqipment is installed in a
prime location and in fine working order; yet, WE HAVE NO
WINDTALKER. All I have left is staying on Pam Tucker of
the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency to pressure
the NWS to get the last ingredient accomplished, the dedicated
out-going phone line from the Columbia office. Do that and
we're done. Someday, we'll have it. If we don't get movement
on it by August, then maybe a deluge of friendly, brief
e-mails from many different people (i.e., you folks) to
the NWS office will motivate them. I'll let you know. Lake
Murray -- Same story; different lake. Hardware is being
installed but it's not going to "work" either without a
dedicated out line from the NWS office.
Charleston
News
Charleston
Scene Longboard races every Thursday evening at the James
Island Yacht Club. Don't have to be a member to participate.
Or any experience racing. Open classes. Totally low-key
way to get into racing. Contact the Whitecap rep in the
Charleston area, Johnathan Coleman, at ....................
Station 29 Situation: if you visit the area, be aware that
the usual windsurfing crowd is spreading out all over the
beach fron from the lower station #'s all the way to the
Isle of Palms. They're all still there -- just not neccessarily
at 29. The sandbar and current situation there has inspired
some to branch out. But many of the regulars can still be
found there. I'm aiming to do lessons -- come hell or highwater
-- in Charleston around the July 28th weekend. Please, let
me know of any who are interested. Groins prohibited!
The
S.C. Court of Appeals has ruled that the construction (and
re-construction) of goins is prohibited by the SC Beachfront
Mangament Act. The Coastal Conservation League, Sierra Club,
and Surfrider's Foundation all strongly oppose the erection
of groins as an attempt to interfere with what Mother Ocean
has been doing with sand and island arrangement for eons
along the barrier isles. This ruleing overturned permits
for a jetty on the south end of Folly Beach, 4 new and 17
refurbished groins on Hilton Head, and pending applications
to build many more at Hunting Island, Garden City Beach,
and DeBordieu Colony. This is a victory for all who love
the ocean and beach. Research has proven that "erosion control"
hard structures, such as seawalls and revetments, create
much larger problems along the coast than they solve. (Thanks
to follybeachsurfer@aol.com)
Lessons
Going on all over
The
summer is waning away, so get those spouses, freinds, and
neighbors in a lesson before it's too late. Clark Hill Lake,
St Simons Island, Lake Murray, or Charleston, Whitecap can
usually make it work. Here's what's set up right now: July
15th and Aug. 5th at Clark Hill; any day around July 28th
to Aug. 1st at Charleston and/or St Simons. The Atlanta
Board sailing Club had 16 at the "Learn to Windsurf" clinic
at Lake Lanier on June 24th. All of these are invited to
Session Two at that clinic on July 21st. Hopefully, the
conditions will be as perfect that day as it was at Sesh
One. Look out for a "follow-up" clinic at Clark Hill for
all those who took their first lesson this year (or anybody
who wants to come.) in early September.
Hey,
YOU, Don't forget the e-Swap Meet! The e-Swap Meet on the
Whitecap website (www.whitecapwindsurfing.com) has been
an alarming success. In fact, the lists of used gear from
our 3 state community of windsurfers are pared way down,
so don't forget to list your used stuff there. Remember,
I don't get involved financially in the e-Swap, but this
is where you can sell and shop for used stuff in a simple,
orderly fashion among windsurfers who know one another --
more or less. And speaking of selling stuff, which means
you may have to ship it, you may need... ...The Right Eighteen
Wheeler You can ship sails, masts, and booms by UPS or FedEx
Ground, but when you need to truck that board, go with AAA/Cooper.
They are WAY cheaper than anyone else and no damages after
several trials so far. Thanks to Brooks Gant for finding
them. They were even $25 less than Overnight with whom I
have this "great" industry-negotiated discount.
So,
just what exactly is "monofilm"?
(Here's
some answers to the most FA sail Q's I've heard this year.)
Monofilm is an extruded polyester resin. That's right, melt
down that old leisure suit, spread it out in a real thin,
consistent layer and, there you go, you got "monofilm".
(That's not far from the truth --- I was told this week
that some sails are produced from recycled polyester.) >>
This sail is all crinkly -- what's up with that? Is it old?
That happens to monfilm through abrasion, creasing, and
especailly UV radiation. It is a sign of weakness. ("You
are the Weakest Link...Goodbye.") It can't be avoided, but
some manufacturers use what's called "X-ply" in almost all
their sails over the whole sail -- not just in their hardcore
wave sails and not just along the luff and foot -- to counteract
that. SO, what is X-ply, exactly? X-ply is two sheets of
polyester film bonded together with a glue containing UV
inhibitors and stiched into a "mesh" with reinforcing thread.
It's more pliable, less prone to cresing and tears don't
spread easily. >> Can I store a sail rigged for months at
a time without harming it in any way? ANSWER: Sure, just
don't forget where you buried it. Yes, you can. No, they
don't stretch out or loose shape as long as nothing is put
on top of them. Hang 'em up completely off the ground if
possible.
