1

New Jersey Windsurfing and Watersports Association Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue 4. Winter 2011

Editing and Layout: Alasdair Gilfillan Contributors: Angela Andersen, Bill DeStefano, Alasdair Gilfillan, Corinne Gilfillan, Tom Latham, Bill Marker, William Tuthill Photographs: Alasdair Gilfillan, Corinne Gilfillan, Tom Latham, Bill DeStefano, Bill Marker, Eileen Pfafman, William Tuthill

Contents: Page Article 1. From the Editor 2. From the President Club News Tentative NJWWA Schedule 3. NJWWA Gala by Bill DeStefano 4. Other News Bonaire windsurfing kids in upcoming film 5. On the Water 6. On the (Frozen) Water Ice, Ice, Baby by Tom Latham 7. Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships by William Tuthill

8. Special Feature Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor Estuary: Our dynamic backyard playground by Angela Contillo Andersen 12. Members Page Couple of things I’ve learned recently: by Bill Marker 14. Sponsors

From the Editor As we come to the end of our third season, we can reflect on how much the club’s activities have grown during this time through the efforts of our current president Tom, our past president, Wallace, other past and present committee members, and the membership at large. During the past year, successful Fun Fests were not only held at the original venue, Bayview Park, LBI, but also at other locations up and down the Jersey shore, namely, Lakes Bay, Seaside Park, and Sandy Hook. These events allowed members to get involved in informal races and other fun events and more importantly, gave others outside of our group the opportunity to try out various watersports including windsurfing, standup paddle boarding, and kayaking. In addition to these fun events we finally managed to get a few races in the Flip Flop of Fly series held. Unfortunately, as these races are dictated by an algorithm based on

Thermal Bob and Alasdair enjoying an epic fall day, LBI

2

predicted wind conditions, and with the winds being more or less a bust this year, the opportunities to take part in the events were few and far between. Hopefully, next year the winds will be more accommodating. The events of the year culminated with the 3rd annual NJWWA Gala (see report by Bill D. in this issue). By all accounts, a fun time was had by all. Over the past couple of years several articles have appeared in the NJWWA newsletter describing the winter equivalent of windsurfing, namely, freeskating (AKA iceboarding). During last winter, NJWWA held a series of meets, both up north (Budd Lake and Lake Hopatcong), and further south (Lavallette, and Bayview Park with ISS), where members could try this sport out for themselves. Alas, so far this winter has been unusually mild and there is little sign of ice forming on the lakes yet. Nevertheless, should true winter finally arrive, why not get out and give this fun activity a try. As an encouragement, Tom has written a new article on this topic for the current newsletter. In an accompanying article William Tuthill, who is President of WISSA, describes the upcoming Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships, the first one on US soil (make that ice). Perhaps we can get some representatives from our club taking part. One of the missions of the club is to take an active role in the protection/maintenance of the coastal environment and inland lakes which is critical for us to be able to enjoy our sport(s). These waterways are under increasing threats with encroaching development and fertilizer and other run off affecting the balance of the flora and fauna within the coastal bays. Over the summer, we ran an article on some of the challenges to Barnegat bay and surrounding areas by Lori Castle from the Alliance for a Living Ocean. In this current edition we have a companion piece by Angela Andersen, Recycling Coordinator, Long Beach Township, Chairperson Barnegat Bay Partnership Education and Outreach Committee who runs a series of environmental tours and talks during the summer months.

In her article Angela describes the Barnegat Bay ecosystem and the challenges faced to maintain this fragile environment. For our part we hope we can encourage some of our members to take part in the 2012 Spring Green Up Clean Up (GUCU) day on LBI which will be the first NJWWA event of the upcoming season. NJWWA has been a sponsor of the annual GUCU on LBI and members have participated in this event during the past couple of years. Details regarding participation in this day will be circulated to membership nearer the time.

The schedule for other NJWWA events for 2012 are currently in the planning stage but included in the Club News is a tentative schedule. Again, as more details will follow as these dates are firmed up. It would be great to see you all there.

From the President by Tom Latham

For many of you, this is the down time for windsurfing and other watersports. While I won’t be escaping to anyplace warm this winter, I don’t get cabin fever because I’m always out pursuing winter sports. Whether it’s skiing at Mountain Creek, the Poconos

or the Catskills, I’ll be secretly praying for hard, smooth ice. And as much as I’d like to try windsurfing across the bottom of the ski slopes, I’m resigned to skating and sailing on area lakes. Much like windsurfing has free access in the off (windy) season; access to the ice is free too. You’re halfway there already if you own a small windsurfing rig and have cold weather gear. So make the jump & add one more board to your quiver. Like your wave board, your freeskate will be well cherished when you finally get to use it. Let’s hope for a cold and not too snowy winter.

Aloha…

Club News

Tentative NJWWA Schedule (These dates are all subject to change) Spring, 2012 (TBA): Annual Green Up Clean Up day Bayview Park, LBI May 12 - June 24, 2012: iWindsurf Flip Flop & Fly Slalom Race Series June 17, 2012: Fun Fest at Seaside Park (subject to change) July 15, 2012: Fun Fest at Bayview Park, LBI

Angela (right rear) teaching a summer class, LBI

3

(subject to change) Aug. 11, 2012: Lakes Bay (subject to change) Sept. 8 - Oct 28, 2012 iWindsurf Flip Flop & Fly Slalom Race Series Sept. 9 or 16, 2012 Sandy Hook (subject to change) October/November, 2012 (TBA): Annual NJWWA Gala

NJWWA Gala by Bill DeStefano, Photographs by Eileen Pfafman and Bill DeStefano

Members and friends gathered on November 12, 2011 to celebrate the NJWWA’s third year of existence with our now-traditional end of year Gala, held for the second year running at the friendly confines of Brant Beach Yacht Club on LBI.

The event also served as the final act of NJWWA President Tom Latham’s first year in office. As he has been throughout the year, Tom as was joined his wife Tracey (aka the women who does anything and everything to guarantee success for all of Tom’s endeavors, and does it with patience and good cheer). Needless to say, the energy and enthusiasm which Tom and Tracey used to make the 2011 season a success were on display on the 12th, guaranteeing that a good time was had by all.

The festivities started with appetizers and cocktails while friends reconnected and reminisced about the season’s highs and lows. After yet more food and cheer, Tom conducted the ―business‖ portion of the meeting, with a review of 2011’s successes and a summary of the work to be done to further the NJWWA’s mission in the years to come.

Sponsors were thanked, and several non-board members received appreciation plaques to acknowledge their contributions during the 2011 season. Tom, in turn, was thanked for his hard work and dedication during the year. An informal motion was made to designate Tom as President for Life, and was enthusiastically seconded by all present, including founding president, Wallace.

Sunset over the bay before the Gala

Tom presiding at the Gala

Feasting at the Gala

4

On display was a plaque which the NJWWA commissioned in memory of our dear friend and founding member, Paul Smith, who left us this summer and whose loss was felt by all present. Tom also announced the initiation of the Paul Smith memorial award, to be presented periodically to members (and non-members) who show extraordinary initiative and enthusiasm in assisting the NJWWA in achieving its core goal of promoting windsurfing and other watersports in New Jersey and beyond.

Regrettably, Paul was not on hand to reprise last year’s rendition of Jimmy Buffett’s ―Let’s Get Drunk and Screw‖. Also missing were Olga, whose evocative belly dancing was missed, along with Alasdair and Corrine, who elected to spend the week in sunny Scotland. However, the Toe Jams were back to shake the rafters with garage band renditions of favorite selections from the Ramones, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and, of course Bruuuucccce.

The Toe Jams performed two sets with a shifting retinue revolving around the core of NJWWA members Brian Rauch, Jeff and Barb Bauer (who at least one attendee dubbed the ―female Keith Moon‖).

The NJWWA would like to thank all members and non-members who made this season a success. We, like you will be counting the minutes until the first agreeable days of Spring 2012. See you then.

Further photographs from the event can be viewed on the NJWWA website (http://windsurfnj.org/news/news.htm).

Wallace and Tom, past and current Presidents

presiding at the Gala

Gregg, Brad and Brian (Toe) Jammin

Jeff - Rocking in the free world

Barb (AKA Female Keith Moon) Bauer

5

Other News

Bonaire Windsurfing Kids in

upcoming film

For those of you that have managed to experience the great flat water sailing in Bonaire’s Lac Bay (see NJWWA Newsletter 2.1) and marveled at the incredible freestyle skills of Tonky and Tati Frans, Kiri Thode, Caesar Finies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc-3ctj6kA0&feature=related) , and many of the younger up and coming future champions, you may be interested in a documentary film that is in the final stages of production called ―Children of the Wind‖. This film documents the rise of these kids from humble beginnings to their current rankings amongst the best in the world. A Trailer for the film can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CDgYcd4bZ8&NR=1. Details about the making of the film can be found at : http://childrenofthewindmovie.com/2011/06/photos-from-filming-in-bonaire/

On the Water

OK so 2011 is not going to go down in the record books as one of the windiest years we have had. Nevertheless, during the fall season things did improve somewhat. Not only did we have some beautiful warm, sunny calm days for kayaking and SUP, but we actually did get some awesome days for windsurfing.

Although a number of these days fell on weekdays when unfortunately most of us were unable to escape work, we did get one or two days at the weekends when we got some epic days. Even on the calmer days, many of us that had been deprived of sailing took the opportunity to get out on the water to practice freestyle sailing (see Bill below).

Tonky – freestyle wizard, Lac Bay,

Bonaire

Mark K entering a flashy jibe , Brant Beach, LBI

Kay in action, Brant Beach, LBI

6

However, on Saturday October 15th we were finally treated to the day that we had been waiting for all season with winds gusting over 30 mph from the SW. Due to the high tide early in the day, this produced some gnarly chop and whitecaps on the bay (Barnegat) during the late morning hours, but, as the tide started to go out during the afternoon, the chop flattened out enough to make sailing a bit less of ―seat of your pants‖ variety but still with enough ramps to allow some nice jumps – see Dave below.

It was great to see such a large turnout. Although wet suits were needed, the conditions were really quite comfortable due to the air and water temperatures being around 60 degrees. Indeed conditions during the fall remained quite mild making it was fairly comfortable sailing in light weight wet suites until the Thanksgiving weekend when the water started to cool down a bit too much for thinner wet suits. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving weekend did produce some pretty decent sailing conditions.

Although sailing is now finished for the season for most of us, the good news is that it should only be about 3-4 months when we can start to get psyched to get back on the water again unless>>>>>

On the (Frozen) Water

Ice, Ice, Baby by Tom Latham If you are as passionate about windsurfing as I am, you will soon be searching for a way to fill the void in the off season. Have I got a deal for you. Come check out one of our NJWWA Iceboarding Demo Days this winter. Fellow iceboard enthusiasts will be on-hand to lend their equipment and share the stoke of windsurfing on ice. The only requirement is that you need to know how to windsurf. Novices are welcome. Think of it as windsurfing2. Stepping onto the board and sheeting in will propel you effortlessly across the smooth ice. As you become more proficient, you can easily reach 2x the wind speed. Jibing is accomplished by foot steering the board into a jibe. The lay down jibe is one of the easiest jibes to perform on a freeskate. I can guarantee that if you are a windsurfer and you try iceboarding, you will become addicted.

Dave Cylinder getting some air time

Bill D., back-winded freestyling

Alasdair and Thermal Bob

Frozen Barnegat Bay

7

You will first need to get beyond the apparent dangers and educate yourself on ice safety (see below). Simple things like staying within the designated sailing area and avoiding the shoreline will soon become second nature. Equipping yourself with ice awls is as common as keeping extra outhaul line in your harness for safety. We will gladly lend you a set of knee & elbow pads and a motorcycle helmet if you don’t have your own yet.

I can pretty much sum up ice forecasting with a quote from champion iceboarder Jeff Brown; ―There is ALWAYS thin ice somewhere‖. The most important thing you can do is to become educated about ice. I cannot stress enough that the ice is NEVER 100% safe. There is always an open spot of water off in the distance, whether it’s an active spring, underwater vegetation, or a flock of birds. The first and most important thing to do is prepare yourself for a break-through. This includes ALWAYS wearing ice awls, and keeping a throw rope & cell phone handy. Homemade Ice Awls

There are so many educational resources on the internet today. I’ll start with what can be considered the equivalent of the ice bible; www.lakeice.squarespace.com. As with any sport, there are inherent risks involved. This is the place to learn about the many ice hazards, rescue equipment, rescue technique, cold water immersion, ice science, and cautionary tales. Bookmark it with your iceboarding favorites, and become familiar with it.

The next two yahoo! groups sites have been recently developed by Jeff Brown, and are very active with past members of the now defunct Northeast Freeskate Association. Participation requires a free Yahoo! Email account. The first place to check out is Iceboard-sailing Lots of commentary, so choose your web notifications accordingly. The window of opportunity can be short, as conditions are subject to Mother Nature’s wrath. Thanks to the internet, we can now find out where the ice is sailable by visiting IceReports covering the northeast with what is sailable. Very good site- Be sure to read the posting guidelines, and explore all of the links.

The North Shrewsbury Ice Boat & Yacht Club offers the ice hotline 732-747-5665, which is pretty much accurate for NJ metro area. (Expect lots of spam pop-ups from their website)

For our European friends, we have the World Wide Winter Windsurfing Web winterwindsurf.com

Last but not least, the World Ice & Snow Sailing Championships will take place in the United States this year. Contact us if interested in taking this long drive. WISSA2012

With all the knowledge you have just gained, you are ready to take on the sport of iceboarding. We do our best to gather information from various resources to determine when & where the ice is sailable. Due to ever changing ice conditions, surface conditions, snow, rain, and air temperatures, we cannot determine sailability until the last minute. I can be found many times driving up to Budd Lake or Lake Hopatcong on Friday afternoon to physically drill holes to check the ice depth & monitor surface conditions. Upon confirmation of 5‖ of hard black freshwater lake ice, or 7‖ of grey saltwater bay ice, we will send out email alerts to the NJWWA membership. Additional postings may be made on the NJWWA Website, NJWWA Facebook Page, along with other iceboarding related sites.

Ally and Tom at Budd Lake

Ice boats and Freeskate at Budd Lake

Sit-down kite sled

8

Gearing Up

Essential safety equipment includes: ice awls, whistle, (major sporting goods stores) large knee pads & elbow pads,(skateboard shops) open faced motorcycle helmet, (BMX store, or craigslist?) ski goggles, and thin palm gloves. Work boots work fine for me. I also wear padded shorts underneath my jeans for added protection for when I occasionally blow a jibe. Weeee across the ice you slide…

Used freeskates can occasionally be found online and on craigslist. You get what you pay for. Both the original 1980’s Paul C. Mindnich/ Jersey Shore Freeskate, as well as the 1990’s Fiberspar Freeskate with the improved/widened rear spans, are a good, inexpensive, introduction to the sport. Homemade plans can also be found online. Nothing can compare to the new Dimension Freesk8 – the only iceboard in production in the USA. With a more stable platform, tighter tuning radius, and comfortable at high speeds, its well worth the investment. Island Surf & Sail

New Freeskate = $999 Crash pads & helmet = $200 Packing your 5.0 wave sail and heading

up to the mountains for some hard, smooth ice = $Priceless

Ice and Snow Sailing World

Championships by William Tuthill,

Greetings New Jersey Windsurfers [and adventurers]

This might be a bit off topic, but maybe not.

I know that a lot of you sail Freeskates, and I hereby formally invite you to the first Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships to be held on US soil [I mean ice] in 17 years! The event is both prestigious and friendly. You do not have to qualify, just register and show up.

Racing will take place in Three Classes:

1] All sleds using a windsurfing rig- open construction

2] Hand held wings [such as Kitewing]

3] Kites

There will be plowed cleared ice for Freeskates, and a Short Track Slalom [STS] course. The event takes place 20-26 February in the cradle of early American civilization - Great Lakes region: Saint Ignace, Michigan. http://www.stignace.com/

If any of you ski, but do not like the price of lift tickets, there is a cool alternative- The Kitewing: http://www.kitewingusa.com/

I am a Freeskate sailor too, but I have been tainted by the new Hiberna board from Latvia. http://www.hiberna.lv/Site/Hi.html

There will be a fleet of them there for you to see.

The main point is the hand of friendship and welcome extended to you and yours by: http://www.wissa2012.com/

Come sail with folks from around the world. You will be most welcome.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season

William Tuthill, President WISSA

Seaside land sailing Rhode Island

William’s 16 year old daughter in Finland

9

Special Feature

Barnegat Bay and Little Egg

Harbor Estuary: Our dynamic

backyard playground By Angela Contillo Andersen, Recycling Coordinator, Long Beach Township, Chairperson Barnegat Bay Partnership Education and Outreach Committee. Photographs by Alasdair GIlfillan

“Above them, as they moved, the surface of the water was broken into a thousand glittering facets that shone with the sun’s gold. One after another they flexed their bodies in a quickening rhythm, gathering their strength and leaping into the air.”

“In the upper layer of water, a dozen feet above the swimming mullet, schools of silversides quivered in formation, each fishlet a gleaming note reflecting the sunlight. From time to time scores of them leaped out of the water, bursting through the surface film of the fish’s world and falling back again like raindrops- first denting, then piercing the tough skin between air and water”

Under the Seawind- By Rachel Carson ( 1941)

As you glide over the surface of Barnegat Bay, whether at the slow pace of kayak or SUP paddling or with the breeze blowing through your hair on the speed of wind on a windsurf board or sail boat—it brings pause—and provokes a ponder. What lies beneath the gleaming water surface which reflects the shapes of clouds and sunlight like stars on the water? What lies along the shorelines that you skim by? Evoked by a subtle scent in the breeze as it blows by the ever occurring cycle of natures master recycling process of decay, rebirth and regrowth.

A dynamic cycle of nature is at work right before our eyes, creating a magnetic draw to the water, to the wind and to the waves to those lucky enough to catch that bug. Take a minute to stop in your tracks-it will lead you to a wonderland of the living resources that are at our finger tips and just off the tips of our toes.

The Barnegat Bay ecosystem (the estuary and its watershed) is an array of environmentally-sensitive habitats intermingling sandy beaches, bay islands, submerged aquatic vegetation, finfish nursery areas, shellfish beds, waterfowl and colonial bird nesting grounds. Its biological resources are rich, and include migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and commercially and recreationally important species of fish and shellfish.

The Estuary

Sunset over Barnegat Bay, Ship Bottom, LBI

Kayaking at dusk, Brant Beach, LBI

Resting Gull, Brant Beach, LBI

10

The Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor estuary ("Barnegat Bay") covers 42 linear miles of shoreline from the Point Pleasant Canal to the north down to Little Egg Harbor Inlet in the south and is protected from the open ocean by a system of two barrier islands, dune faces and backbay wetlands. The flow of fresh water from rivers, creeks, and groundwater into the bay produces the special mix of salt and fresh water and conditions unique for the survival of resident crabs, fish, birds, and other wildlife as well as human use.

The barrier islands work double duty by both creating and protecting the estuary. Without Long Beach Island and it’s counterpart to the north the Ocean would mix and disperse with the outflow of the rivers and ground water.

The hugging arm of the island holds tight that mix of fresh and salt water to create the bay- and stands guard against the brutality of storm surges and waves to protect the delicate balance to create the estuary that is nursery ground for our fin and shellfish and the grasses and habitats that support them.

The Barnegat Bay estuarine system is composed of three shallow bays: Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay, and Little Egg Harbor, north to south respectively. A nearly continuous barrier island complex runs along the eastern edge of Barnegat Bay, separating it from the Atlantic Ocean. Seawater enters the Barnegat Bay system through the Point Pleasant Canal via the Manasquan Inlet in the north and the Barnegat Inlet and Little Egg Inlet in the south. Three salt water portals in from the sea and seven fresh water portals from the watershed mix and habitat is made.

The Watershed

The area of land making up the Bay’s drainage system is known as a "watershed‖ and covers over 660 square miles- nearly the identical boundary as Ocean County with the addition of a few portions of southern Monmouth County towns. The western edge of the watershed land includes the precious Pinelands, running east toward the maritime forest along the western edge of the bay toward the coastal dunes and marshes.

Over 560,000 people reside within the Barnegat Bay watershed. The population doubles in the summer making Ocean County is the second fastest growing county in New Jersey.

With all of the growth and development, negative consequences have emerged that are directly affecting the region’s environment: significant declines in water quality, increasing demands on water quantity, habitat loss and fragmentation, and declines in our fisheries are just some of the issues we face. Yet, the continued economic health of the Barnegat Bay watershed is dependent on the continued health and natural beauty of its waters. Addressing these issues presents both a challenge and an opportunity and requires the involvement and commitment of a wealth of government agencies, academic institutions, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals- the people of the bay, that use the bay.

Dunlin, Barnegat Inlet, LBI

Ruddy Turnstone, Barnegat inlet, LBI

Double –crested cormorant, Barnegat Bay, LBI

11

It is our charge to understand the system first in order to protect it. As the rain falls from the sky onto the watershed, it skims over the surface of the land looking for the lowest point to drain into. Along its path of least resistance the rain takes with it all it can in its tracks. Just knowing this should help to direct us to be stewards of this land—we enjoy it and so we should take care of it. Logic prevailing, we need to pick up trash and dog waste; reduce our consumption and reuse what we can—then we can recycle the rest. The order of the three R’s is not accidental.

The Marsh

The seemingly barren grass islands that pock the bay surface are in fact the driving force for the cycle of bay life. There are two primary grasses on the marsh—anchored by heavy duty ―soil‖ called detritus--- the bays compost. It is rich with remnants of all that lives and dies in the marsh. Spartina Alterniflora, common name Cord Grass likes wet feet and is found on the low lying perimeter of the marsh bay islands. It is a vascular plant that can process the salt out of the estuarine water. A slide of a finger along the surface of the blade provides the gritty exhale of the plant much to the benefit of critters like the mud snail that happily slide along to gorge itself with nutrients while exposing the ready to breath blade of grass.

The cord grass has another symbiotic relationship in the marsh, the ribbed mussel attaches itself to the base of the grass, outcropping from the detritus. These mussels feed the grass through a lacey threadlike attachment.

On the slightly upper slope of the marsh bay islands is a matted tubular grass- Spartina Patens, common name Salt Hay, which historically significance for uses in home building and packing materials. Both grasses as well as the marshes are protected under the state and federal governments.

The nesting birds know the salt hay to be the more suitable area to nest---- since it succumbs mainly to lunar and extreme high tides--- salt hay is not tolerant of daily tidal flows—and offers a safe soft carpet for nesting habitat.

Along the banks of the marsh—tiny holes reveal that which only a very exposed tide would otherwise expose—home to thousands of 1 to 2 inch long side-waltzing fiddler crabs. Burrowing up to 3 feet into the marsh, the fiddler crab takes one of the first jab at nourishing itself from the detritus——the fiddler burrows while picking gingerly through the decaying material-naturally aerating the soil structure of the marsh.

Great Egret, Marshland, LBI

Migrating Monarch Butterfly, Marshland, LBI

Dragonfly, LBI

12

Upon revealing itself they often fall victim to a heron or egret, which subsequently dies in the marsh, creating the cycle again.

Human kind

We are lucky enough to live in the periphery of this dynamic place. Passive recreational opportunities take us for fleeting moments into the spaces occupied 24-7 by creatures that much like the tides, ebb and flow in an eternal cycle.

The more we understand the cycle the more we can honor it and protect it.

There are recreational, historical, cultural, artistic and entertaining aspects of this environment that we humans relish in. From surf crest to a tearing north wind, nature and human propelled sports leave a lighter imprint on the land but once we pay attention—it leaves a deep and lasting impression on our souls.

For more information on the Barnegat Bay ecosystem and to get involved in its protection go to the Barnegat Bay Partnership website at

www.bbp.ocean.edu and on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barnegat-Bay-Partnership/155123267875884

Members Page

Couple of things I’ve learned

recently: by Bill Marker, Clinton, NJ Part 1. HARNESS and LINES

Harness and Lines - Pros: • Your arms don’t tire from holding the sail! • You can sail faster, longer with bigger sails in stronger winds. Harness and Lines - Cons: • When not planing, being hooked in slows your ability to compensate for shifty winds, an unexpected harness line tug sometimes knocks you off balance. It's a common problem for lake sailors. • More importantly a very strong gust can toss you, hooked to the sail, like a rag-doll. A human catapult!

• While leaning back, if the wind suddenly stops, like in a tug-of-war when your opponent lets go, you fall backward into the water with your harness lines remaining hooked; the sail falls right down on top of you.

• Sometimes there is a pocket of air under the sail. You surface under the sail, breath, unhook, and swim out from under.

• Sometimes there is no pocket of air under the sail. (Yikes!) You hold your breath, maintain your wits, unhook, and swim underwater and out from under the sail. I've read that in a crash, don't let go of the boom, so you'll know the shortest distance to the surface.

Calmness and confidence, that you will escape a precarious situation is the required cost of passage to the elegance, speed, and ease that the harness brings to windsurfing. It's possible to use the harness to eliminate almost all arm exertion in almost all conditions.

Part 2. FOOTSTRAPS Footstrap Pros: • Sail 20 to 30 mph, or faster for miles! • Sail confidently in strong winds without fear of catapult. • Move your body’s balance quicker, with more range, and stability in chop and swell.

End of the Day, Barnegat Bay

Bill M. at Spruce Run

13

Footstrap Cons: • Whenever the board slows below planing speed, you may need to quickly step out of the straps and forward to avoid sinking the tail, and going swimming! • Feet in straps during a crash, can make splashdowns more awkward. In very rare cases, footstraps have been the cause of broken bones. To use the footstraps, you need the confidence that you can step in and out immediately when necessary: • Bare feet are ideal, easy to slip in and out of the straps, they make learning much easier. Unfortunately, bare feet are not always practical. • My boots stick to the straps, so I wear a thin pair of socks over them, and cut small holes in the sock's bottoms for board traction. • It's important to adjust footstraps to allow easy entry and exit. Seems a little too big is better than too small. To step into the straps, this technique works for

me: 1. Planing winds are required to use footstraps

• No planing, no footstraps. • Aim board on a beam reach. • Check launch and cruise area for traffic,

you'll be rocketing through in a few seconds.

2. ―T‖ formation is your foot starting position • front foot alongside and upwind of the

mast, toes forward • rear foot just behind the front straps on

centerline, toes downwind 3. Hook in to the harness when the wind is right.

• as you accelerate, shuffle your feet rearward, maintain the ―T‖, near the board's centerline.

4. Hang low from the boom with your weight through your arms and harness, to reduce the weight on your feet. 5. Bank the board downwind by pressing with your rear foot's toes. This raises the front strap away from water; It makes stepping in easier. It also helps maintain direction and acceleration. 6. Insert front foot into front strap. Now planing, continue accelerating, more harness tension, less from the arms. 7. Continue banking downwind by standing on your front foot's toes, and

• slide your rear foot to feel the location of

the rear strap. 8. Insert rear foot decisively into the rear strap, and get comfortable. While in the straps: • Hang much of your weight through the harness. • Lean, position the harness to eliminate arm exertion. • At the end of each run, adjust the harness line position on the boom: forward if your front arm became tired, or rearward if rear arm became tired. • Go fast by keeping the board flat on the water. • Steer by banking the board. • In very choppy water push the boom away to ensures harness lines remain tight and don't unhook. Watch out for traffic and wildlife...now you're Speed-Surfing!

Disclaimer of liability

NJWWA, it's contributors and it's advertisers make no representations or warranties as to the completeness, accuracy, or suitabability of any information supplied in this Newsletter or hyperlinked web site. Use of the information is at your own risk. In no event will NJWWA, it's contributors or it's advertisers be liable to any party for any direct or indirect damages.

Future Issues

If anyone is interested in submitting an article for future issues, please contact ancwsurf@gmail.com.

Past Issues

Past issues of the NJWWA newsletter can be found at http://www.windsurfnj.org/news/news.htm.

14

Sponsors

http://www.hobiepolarized.com/

http://www.extremewindsurfing.com/

http://www.iwindsurf.com/

http://www.ikitesurf.com/

http://www.islandsurf-sail.com/

http://www.sailworks.com/

http://www.dakine.com/

http://www.windsport.com/

ISS 3rd annual SUP race

Dusk, North Beach Haven