Mark Roundings... by  Craig Greenslit      2001 Whataburger Series Update
     On 1/23/01 Peter Nordby, Chip Ducrest, Philip Keyserlingk, & I met with Whataburger representatives to discuss support for The 2001 Whataburger Windsurfing Series.  Here are the highlights from the meeting:
* Whataburger was very enthusiastic about supporting the 2001 Series.
* We agreed to include kiteboarding in the 4 events held at Oleander Point.  The new name for the event is The 2001    Whataburger Windsurfing & Kiteboarding Series.  Kiteboarding creates more exposure for Whataburger and all wind driven  water sports as folks stop along Ocean Drive   to see this new exciting sport.  Plus, change is good.
* We agreed to have 2 windsurfing events at Bird Island.  Events at Bird allow more sailors to enjoy participating in the series.  The events at Bird will be geared to get more sailors involved in the fun.  Similar to the Fall Fun Series, these events will include a clinic during the lunch break. The March 24, 2001 event at Bird will be held in alongside Andy Brandt's ABK Clinic. 
* We agreed to continue with the Whataburger day at the US Cellular US Open (Elaine- I got the name  right!).  The Whataburger day at the US Cellular US Open will be scored separately and not be included in the overall Whataburger Windsurfing & Kiteboarding Series scoring.
* Whataburger will be giving the series sail/bumper stickers, high quality caps, & mugs.
DATES 
Race #1 - March 24 @ Bird Island 
Race #2 - April 21 @ Cole Park Race #5 - June 9 @ Cole Park
Race #3 - April 22 @ Bird Island Race #6 - June 10 @ Cole Park
Race #4 - May 19 @ Cole Park Backup day #2 - June 16 @ Bird Island
Backup day #1 - May 20 @ Cole Whataburger Awards Party - June 
Whataburger day of US Cellular US Open - May 26
FEES
Windsurfing Season Pass = $ 125 (CCWA, US Sailing or USWA member = $ 100)
Kiteboarding Season Pass = $ 85 (CCWA, US Sailing, AKA or USWA member = $70) 
One Event = $ 25 (CCWA, US Sailing, AKA or USWA member = $ 20)
First Timer = $ 10 (CCWA, US Sailing, AKA or USWA member = $ 5)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
EVENT #   RACE DIRECTOR EVENT SUPPORT 
#1 March 24  @ Bird Craig Greenslit Chip D., Roy T., & Chester H.
#2 April 21    @ Cole Chip D. & Roy
#3 April 22    @ Bird Guy Miller Chip D. & Roy 
#4 May 19    @ Cole Chip D. & Roy T.
#5 June 9      @ Cole Guy Racette Chip D & Roy 
#6 June 10    @ Cole Chip D. & Roy 
CONTACT
Whataburger Series Director Craig Greenslit: e-mail: Hoffslit@AOL.com

Never tried racing?  This year, with events at Bird, it will be fun even for first timers- c’mon, give it a try! 
 

Editor's Puffs:   by Roy Tansill
      I received word recently that Tamay Tipton will be in town around mid March for the Hamilton-McClain wedding.  Keep an eye out for her and maybe you can get a first person report on what’s happening with the ever growing number of CCWA members who have moved on to Maui.  I’d also like to wish Hal and Nancy all the best as they change their individual CCWA memberships to the family rate. 
     As discussed later in this issue, the final draft plan for Bird Island was released.  I hope everyone took the time to read the the web based version or the 45 page bound volume which the NPS sent to the folks who had requested it.  Even more importantly, I would hope you contacted the National Seashore and informed them of your preference.  If you didn’t at least do that much then keep any gripes to yourself about the final outcome.  There is no final decision from the park’s administration as of this writing but plan 1 is the odds on favorite. 
     Another odd piece of e-mail came my way last month, it was an announcement for the sale of a piece of history.  A mid-Atlantic based sailor named Larry Kesselman was putting his totally original 1973 Windsurfer serial number 000379 up for sale.  not surprisingly it was sold within 24 hours and we will probably get to see it here in Corpus at this year’s US Cellular US Open.  Roger Jackson bought the antique and is doing some restoration on it but plans to bring it with him when he comes to town for the Open.  I’m sure many of the readers have had the dubious pleasure of sailing one of the original Windsurfers and I’m equally sure there are many CCWA members that would find it almost impossible to sail one now.  The sport has come a long way from the days of those 50 lb. beasts with their teak booms that were longer than most contemporary boards (and heavier too).  My first board was ‘81 model Windsurfer vastly improved over its predecessors since it had a genuine aluminum boom (same shape and size as the original but half of the weight).  It still puzzles me how I ever had that much fun on such gear.  The gear  wasn’t the key; it was the fellow sailors as we all enjoyed discovering new ways to get wet.  Do you remember when no one was competitive and just staying on the board was the goal for everyone?  Something else has been lost from the sport as well;  do you really think anyone will have a 2001 board in sailable condition in 2028? Even if they did I’ll bet it would take more than 24 hours to sell.  The guy who bought my ‘81 Windsurfer still has it and that original 65 square foot (meters were way foreign back then) sail is still getting rigged and used.  Its a tad baggy these days but still intact and quite capable of beating you up if you expose it to winds beyond 15 mph.  If Roger brings his latest purchase to town in May I will be sure to do an article on it because the Windsurfer will always possess a part of my soul. 

Sightings   by  Chip Biery
      Windsurfing in Corpus has really kicked-in during the last weeks of  February. I've been sailing often and at many different spots. In the span of a few days, I sailed North Beach, Poenisch Park, the laguna, and once over on the bay side of Fish Pass. I'm trying to give credit to all the sailors who are out on the water but I certainly need to learn some of your names. Some of the faces are familiar and many of our friends are now out sailing since the water has warmed a little. 
     Poenisch Park was the place to be last week, when a Norther blew in.  Since I live around the corner, I headed there in the early morning. Phillip, the French guy not the German, was on the water early riding his small board and small sails. My teenage buddy, Jeff, and I followed him out shortly. In due time, Don was out on this Roberts board. Dave from Austin headed over from Port A. where he had been sitting waiting for the wind to shift to the north. Olivier came, went, and came again and was still sailing late in the afternoon. New club member Ron Hayden deserves special mention for leaving work at 11:30 , ostensibly to eat lunch, sailing a 5.4 sail for an hour and then toweling off and heading back into work. 
      This last weekend has seen two days of warm 25mph to 40mph days in succession. On Saturday, we set a record high temp ( 89 ) for the Corpus area along with sustained winds in the 30mph range all day. Friday's record gust hit 44 mph. I sailed Poenisch on Friday and on the laguna on Saturday. One other sailor joined me on the laguna and we spent the day on small boards and small sails. We kept asking each other where the other sailors were. The answer to that was obvious! A drive around the bay found all the sights active! People drove from San Antonio and Austin to sail the North Beach launch. The parking lot at Cole Park was full of sailors, with license plates from as far away as Illinois. By Saturday afternoon, there were three guys sailing off of Ropes. A few brave souls were challenging the waves at Bob Hall pier. I didn't make the drive out to Bird Island but it must have been as much fun out there as at all  the other spots on the bay. 
      As commodore of the club, it's my duty to sail with as many of you as I can. It's a tough job but I'm up to it. I hope to sail with each and every one of you at some time this year. If it continues to blow like it has these last two weeks of February, then my job will be that much easier. If I miss a good launch, then speak up now, so I'll have no excuse not to have personally inspected each one.

NPS Releases Their Final Draft Plan   by  Roy Tansill
     In a forty-five page bound volume, the Draft Bird Island Basin Recreational Use Plan was released only slightly behind schedule on February 12.   For those of you who have followed the earlier developments in this on going saga of meetings and feedback, the final plan looks almost like a carbon copy of the earlier alternative plans with the notable exception that Alternative 1 is now clearly labeled the ‘preferred plan’.  The entire plan is available online at the parks website at: http://www.nps.gov.pais (click on the “in depth” button then select”park planning”).  By the time you read this the time period for feedback will probably have expired since mailed responses must be postmarked by March 7th and e-mailed responses have a March 4 deadline.  At this point it seems Alternative 1 will be selected by a decided majority of respondents but that isn’t the end of this lengthy process.  Next comes an Environmental Review and if the plan’s concepts are approved by that process the nitty gritty of converting the concepts into physical reality come into play.  There are a few foreseeable obstacles among them is the estimated 1.1 million bucks the entire job is projected to cost.
     Feedback that I have received from several folks who have taken the time to read and decipher the lengthy plan is positive.  There are many questions regarding details that, at this point, don’t have definitive answers.  The composition of the shoreline road is one such question.  No one seems to want a caliche surface and alternatives are being sought.  Several folks have expressed concern about the bollards and cable but at this juncture not even the planners are certain about its placement and construction.  The proposed steel cable will rust soon after it gets a dose of the Laguna Madre’s salty moisture but something will need to keep vehicles and foot traffic off portions of the beach if we want to have a beach at all.  There are other such issues already known and no doubt more to surface when concepts get translated into reality.  Those who are concerned will have, I now believe, input in these decisions.
     As a former skeptic about the intent of the Park’s administration, my previous sentence probably doesn’t ring true.   I’d like to explain this seeming about face.  Over the course of this ongoing process I have been forced to change my mind about Superintendent Jock Whitworth and his right hand man Ken McMullen.  They have both been very open and honest with the windsurfing community throughout the process to date.  They have endured some personal attacks and still listened to what we have had to say and I no longer doubt their desire to do the job to satisfy the users of Bird Island Basin.  Indeed they have accepted our suggestions, incorporated those which could realistically be done and explained why some others, that conflicted with existing regulations, could not be done .  I’d like to thank both of them for a job well done to this point and I feel confidant they will complete the job with the same openness and willingness to listen to our suggestions.  Good job so far Jock and Ken!
     Like the administration, our job as concerned users is also not yet over .  I’d like to urge the folks who have stayed on top of these developments to continue to do so.  There will be opportunities for our suggestions in the ensuing decisions;  Jock and Ken will listen, as they have thus far, and use our collective knowledge where it can be used- if we continue to supply it.  If you don’t like bollards and cables don’t just gripe about it, come up with a better solution to the problem the cables and posts would solve.  Don Jackson has come up with an idea to help out with that projected 1.1 million cost and the Park service has said that funds can be donated and earmarked for very specific portions of the project.  This is only one example of how we can continue to help make Bird even better.  It is a special place and worthy of our best efforts to keep it that way.

Don Jackson:
     When my family sailed into Port A last April the last thing on my mind was owning a windsurfing business.  Like many others, we did come here because of the wind and by no coincidence arrived just prior to the US Open.A couple days after arriving, My Son Matt and I tied our boards on top of the rent car and drove out to Bird.  The wind was ripping and I will never forget the local who took one casual glance at me rigging my smallest sail and commenting: "You're gonna die."  He was very nearly correct.  I was near-death overpowered and knew right then that I loved the place.  Of course we wanted to sail, but Matt also wanted to see if it was possible to get a summer job at Worldwinds.  Because he had the experience, Vicki hired him on the spot but said she had to run it by the new owner, Randy Roper.
     Due to a set of very unlikely circumstances, Randy, John VanLeeuwen, and myself joined forces to do the best that we know how to take the torch from Vicki Duncan and carry on the little windsurfing business that is Worldwinds.  I thought it was a great combination.  Randy, with his enthusiasm, accounting, and web experience, John because he is a proven resort manager and great instructor, and me because I like to hang out and windsurf.  Anyway, as sometimes happens, situations change.  While I support Randy and Samantha's decision 100% and congratulate them on their new family addition, I will debate with Randy that it is what's best for Worldwinds.  The good news is that Randy will still be around a bunch and will be doing the web page.  When out at BIB, he will still be in the thick of things.  The only significant difference is that I will now be paying all the bills.
     Worldwinds will be busy this spring.  We have been asked to help out at the Texas State Championships at Lake Whitney and so John will be going on the road to teach a clinic during that event.  If you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop on by.  We will also be a sponsor of the US Open this year and will have a booth and be doing free land simulator lessons.  Hint: we will also be giving away some free stuff.  If you check out our schedule of events, you will see  that we are putting some effort into growing the sport and promoting the Corpus windsurfing community - and not just Bird Island. 
      I have a hard enough time staying serious for a couple of minutes let alone for three whole paragraphs, so that's all for now and look forward to seeing everyone out at Bird.  The time for hibernation is over - spring is here.               Don

 John VanLeeuwen:
     What an eventful month at Worldwinds with the great news of Randy and his wife Samantha expecting their second child.  Randy's new job in San Antonio remains demanding but fulfilling and promises a welcomed ongoing challenge.  Now his decision to step down from Worldwinds was to me surprising but supported knowing full well that his family life must come first. I first of all want to congratulate Randy and Samantha of their forthcoming gift and secondly I wish Randy continued success with his career. Now I will not say goodbye, as Randy promises to remain a fixture at Bird, helping us on occasion and ripping it up whenever possible.  Moving onto the subject of ripping it up. February 24th, 9:30 AM, a 4.7 thinking I'd be safer and having more fun on a 4.0, 90 liters of board volume, air and water toasty warm with the sun peeking through.  Oh yes the spring trend, this is what everyone has been telling me about.  This was without a doubt one of the windiest days that I have been witness to and it lasted well into the early evening.  I have to say that there were several other days in February that proved to be challenging and with more and more sailors appearing, the arrival of spring is almost official. March at Worldwinds will see our spring calendar host various events Q&A sessions, fun races, a mini clinic, video fun, you name it, there will be something for everyone.  Stay tuned for details, I hope to see you all at Bird, and may the wind be with us.               John 

E-Mail from Superintendent Jock Whitworth
Good morning and thanks for the chance to review the article. 
     It looks good.   We are still looking for a better surface for the road, in fact a Federal Highways Engineer is supposed to be here this month and we're going to ask them for their advise, and the steel cable does concern us and we'll keep looking and listening for the best way to safely keep vehicles off the beach.
     I appreciate your support and look forward to working with you and the windsurfing community to 
implement the plan once it is finalized.
Jock 
 

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Must sell equipment to become a team rider for Drops / Yes sails.
Guy's Transatlantic boards:
2000 Bassett Course Slalom board, 29.75 " Wide. 17lbs 140 litres.  $800
‘99 Mike Zajicek World Cup Course Race board 27 "  wide, 13lbs light.  $750
‘98 Mike Zajicek high speed slalom, 8ft 10 " long 20.5 " wide, amazingly only 9lbs Tuttle box, capable of over 40 knots with ease, works great in rough conditions $600.
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Neil Pryde RX2 Sails. Quiver discount available 
10.6, new in October for Nationals, in excellent condition  $475,  9.4   $ 450, 8.4  $425,  7.8 $400,  7.2 $390, 6.6 $380, 5.8 $370. 
Neil Pryde RX1 sails the previous year, been in storage unused since I got the RX2 sails 7.1 $260 6.4  $250, 5.9 $240.  Neil Pryde Carbon masts for RX Sails. Purchase with sail reduce by $25.  520 $270, 490 $250, 460 $230, 430 $210, 400 $200  Contact Guy Miller @ (512) 918-3164 or e-mail: GMiller@austin.rr.com