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CCWA CURRENTS Nov. 1999
What follows is an edited version of our newsletter "CURRENTS".  To get the full printed version, just join the club using the membership form below, and get the complete newsletter delivered to your mailbox every month.  Send submissions to the newsletter to LooseClu@prodigy.net.

Commodore's Notes:   On the Road Again
Wish I could say that I‘ve really enjoyed the sailing lately, but we were out of town for two weeks and prepared to go out of town the week before that, and then I had to catch up on work the next week back.  Finally when I got a chance to go last Saturday at the Aransas triangle, my timing was off and the wind blew in the morning.  While my sailing was not a success the event certainly was.  John and Rose Williams again pulled out all the stops and a great time was had by all.  Thanks for the effort.  We appreciate it.  (Ed’s note:  Once again John and Rose’s gumbo was the best- taste bud nirvana!)
Several topics were discussed at the meeting including next years schedule, officers nominations, (if you missed the meeting you're lucky you're not “Next years Commodore- I Missed The Meeting”) and the holiday party.  The holiday party will be at our house (Dec 11).  I plan to have a proposed 2000 schedule for publication in the December newsletter for everyone’s review.
It was pretty much decided that we will return to monthly meetings in January.  Get your month reserved early to host a meeting.  It would work better if we could post it on the calendar instead of my last minute scramble.
The club will sponsor the shrimp boil fund raiser for the Women’s Clinic next year in April, get your chef hat on.  Sounds like it may be a large turnout and we’ll need some volunteers Windsurf Magazine will cover it.
I certainly enjoyed Jock Whitworth’s article in last months newsletter and hope he continues to keep us current on the plans and progress for the National Seashore.  I want all of you to know that I have a standing offer of club manpower to help if needed for projects.
As I am writing this, I know its going to be windy for the Halloween weekend [indeed it was], because we’ll be headed out of town for the Renaissance Festival.  Enjoy it.

See you on the water.     --   Chester

Biff’s Racing Primer...  by Guy R.
   Chapter One: Why Race?
Sooner or later you'll become a better sailor. And yet, and yet...we all  tend to repeat the same mistakes because we get
Cartoon: Biff sports his new ultralightcomfortable with nice,  predictable mediocrity. If there's nothing motivating me to try something a different way, why should I? For many, racing provides that motivation.
So what, you ask? Well, for starters, it gives you a great deal of  confidence to know you can get upwind, or that you won't miss that jibe in front of that tanker, or that you can waterstart before the shark gets your other leg. This in turn lets you have the gumption to try sailing deeper water, or an exploratory cruise, or even the Port A waves on a good day.  Sure, you'll eventually acquire those skills sailing in familiar, safe surroundings if you keep at it long enough, BUT A: you'll be bored to tears before long, AND 2: It'll take so long you might lose interest, AND: iii:  You won't have those really way cool racing numbers on your rig while you learn.
So the skills you acquire from racing can let you learn faster, which in turn encourages you sooner to TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Isn't that what makes life more interesting, after all?
   Chapter Two:  Show Up Ready to Rock
Water time helps racing.  Racing helps you get more from your water time away from the race course.  On the day before a regatta, it's good to sail a variety of gear sizes, to "tune up" and get everything balanced.  It's not good to sail to the point of exhaustion.

  --Long, Boring Story--
In 1989, Dr. Charles M. (Stands for Molar Man) Allen organized a 24-hour ordeal for 10 sailors vying for the world distance record on a windsurfer. In August!  When are we gonna pick a month with NO wind?
Anyhow, my shift started Friday at noon and I sailed like a disoriented lemming back and forth inside the Seawall until Saturday at noon.  That's probably too much sailing before a big race... So I'm driving home and I realize there's a Whataburger Windsurfing Series race that day.  I decide to stop, and discover that only 3 or 4 racers had shown up.  (Did I mention there was no wind?)  In those days, turnout was 20 to 30 in the Open class alone, (I was young enough then...) so what the hey, if I just sign up, I'm guaranteed a 4th or a 5th.  Not so fast, Biff.  Seems the accursed wind AAAAAAArrrrrrrghh- NOW starts blowing, which in turn rousts every go-fast guy in town outta bed and over to the registration table... Now there's 20 guys registered in Open class, and I've  gotta race or take 21st.  That's pretty much how I finished despite racing, anyway.  Can you say "Carpal Tunnel?"
   -END OF LONG BORING STORY --
So if you're racing tomorrow, get some sleep.  I've known some people to abstain from all mind-and-reflex-altering substances until after the event.  Now would be a good time to visit the Shop to buy rope to replace that outhaul that's down to the last strand.  Make sure all your screws fit the fins and patch those dings and holes. Set your alarm early and eat a good breakfast.
Woody Allen (no relation to Charles or Wally...) is quoted as saying "80% of the secret to success in life is Showing Up".  That's good advice in racing, too.  Get there early for a good parking spot.  Bring everything you can carry, and rig up as much of it as you can, then TIE IT DOWN, because you can't prevent it from flying across Ocean Drive when you see it getting airborne but you're standing at the weathermark. Before the skippers' meeting, try to get out onto the water, even if it's on a rig different  from what you'll be racing on later on.  It gets the legs and arm blood circulatin' doncha know.  Feel and if possible measure the wind speed, and then look at the waves to remember what that wind speed/sail size looks like for next time.  Most of my best and worst races were the result of the right or the wrong call on the beach.  Then go out and just have fun doing the best you can. Yer best will be better by day's end.       --Biff

Editor's Puffs:   by Roy Tansill
Okay I’ll take the blame for all the light winds we’ve had around here the past month- whataya expect the wind to do if I get into racing?  Despite the light winds, I’m enjoying the races and I’ve learned (the hard way) quite a bit about a part of the sport I disdained for nearly two decades.  I can hear myself repeatedly saying, ‘I don’t want my favorite past time to get caught up in competitiveness’ but in reality I was never fond of getting passed even when I was out sailing ‘just for fun’.  What I really felt was ‘I don’t need to embarrass myself  by proving I’m the slowest old man out there and by not racing I could at least avoid proving that to myself (but I sure suspected it!).  Well two days of racing in the Oso Fall series and probably one of the most enjoyable ordeals I’ve ever experienced ‘on board’ later and I think I’m hooked.  Its not the all out gung-ho I’m gonna win or die trying attitude I had as a high school jock but a far calmer, more civil, and much more enjoyable ‘I’m just trying to do better than that last heat’ type of competing with myself that has me wanting to upgrade my antique gear quiver.  Heck it's even fun to watch guys like Craig Greenslit go screaming by... and really watch what he’s doing to go that fast. The real trick is staying close to him long enough to be able to focus on what he’s doing... and sometimes just  getting close enough to determine who that blur on the horizon is. Guy Racette’s primer on racing seems to be written in response to all the errors I’ve made to date in my three race days last month--lucky for me I get to read it before the rest of you!  To date I’ve managed a few dead last finishes and have been in the center of several starting line fender benders (longboards are like battleships at the start when shortboards are coming off the line) but knowing right of way rules helps and you’ll learn quickly about their nuances and much more if you get out there and just DO IT.  Its been the most fun I’ve had on board in years and now that I’ve gotten my feet wet my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.  By the way, the current leader of the Oso Series is Billy Kidd so don’t think you can’t do it because you’re too old- remember you’re out there to learn, have fun,  and improve your sailing--none of us are too old for that.  Keep an eye out for Guy’s future chapters--I’ll print them after I commit them to my failing memory--next month you get chapter three.

Padre Island & Jet Skis   by   Pat Suter         (Reprinted from the Flour Bluff Sun)
   Among the many organizations which I belong to is the National Parks and Conservation Association. In the mail this week is a letter which has the word ALERT in large caps. In this article I will summarize the main points.
   "Personal watercraft (PWC), better know as jet skis, are threatening the integrity of our national parks. With their excessive noise, high speeds, unpredictable movements, and use in shallow waters, PWC's frighten wildlife and destroy the peace and quiet of other visitors. Their inefficient two-cycle engines release up to 30 percent of their fuel/oil mixture directly into the water and air!" A rule which would eliminate the use of these vehicles in National Parks is under consideration, but Padre Island National Seashore (and 11 other national seashores) are not included. The superintendent has the authority to continue to allow the use of PWC's while he considers regulations.
   If the superintendent chooses to allow the PWC's to continue for another two years, the public will be denied the unique opportunities to enjoy nature. PWC's are thrill craft and their use runs counter to the spirit of the National Park System's preservation mission.  The National Parks and Conservation Association has issued a call for the public to urge the banning of these crafts from Padre Island National Seashore. Please call, write, or e-mail to Superintendent Whitworth and let him know how jet skis detract from your enjoyment of Padre Island. Please direct your communication to:
  Superintendent Jock Whitworth
  Padre Island National Seashore
  National Park Service
  P.O. Box 181300
  Corpus Christi, TX 78480-1300
  phone: (361) 949-8173
  e-mail:  PAIS_Administration@nps.gov

From our Maui Contingent   From Tamay Tipton via e-mail
...... Even though I didn't windsurf today I got a huge windsurfing rush..... Well it blew me off the water yesterday didn't have a small enough sail and Today was the same so I headed down to Ho'okipa to see who was in town practicing for the Aloha Classic....... Wow!!!!!!!!  I saw some incredible sailing. We're talking Josh Stone, Brian Talema, the man himself Dunkerbeck, Matt and Kevin Pritchard, Scott Fenton- it was incredible. They were doing things I had never seen before. I got my picture taken with Matt, Scott and Bjorn so that was cool. I took a bunch of pictures. I just hope they turn out. Anyway I am so stoked I had to share it with y'all......... I think Josh Stone is the one to watch he was doing some awesome freestyle and by the way Bjorn is huge and he was sailing way powered up on a 4.5 so that tells you how windy it was.
Yikes hope everything is well,
Tamay

Free Women's Clinic
by  Vicki Duncan
WHEN & WHERE - April 1 & 2, 2000 at WorldWinds at Bird Island Basin
in the Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi Texas

WHY - To raise money for the US Open Women's Purse. The US Open has had very little female participation and I feel it is in part due to the low amount of prize money. The US Open is a very professionally run, highly visible fun event that deserves support from the windsurfing community.  In 1999 I saw a large increase in the number of women entering the sport for the first time and also an increase in advanced lessons. Interest is high in a clinic like this, I have already received over 20 confirmations for attendance with very little advertising. I am hoping that the clinic will also encourage women to enter events like the US Open.
WHAT - A venue of 10-15 clinics going on daily and simultaneously covering all skill levels. All clinics will be taught by female instructors. Welcoming party on Friday evening at a local club, a beach party on Saturday evening and a grand prize raffle drawing party late Sunday afternoon. Concurrently there will be a Kid's Kamp for the children of participants. There will be no charge for the clinics and a nominal charge for the Kid's Kamp.
WHO - At this time, the list of possible instructors is: Karen Marriott,  Petra Kanz, Ellen Faller, Sue Frank, Sarah Chaos and Vicki Duncan. Aris Tsamis from Mariner Sails in Dallas will emcee as "Ariel" (in drag), Leo DeVigil will be in charge of the Kid's Kamp. All are certified instructors.
HOW - As this is slated to be a free event (in order to attract a large turnout) I am counting on sponsorship to pay the instructors. To raise funds to pay costs and still raise funds for the US Open, I am counting on: donations of equipment and services to be auctioned and raffled off, selling tickets to shrimp boil/beach party on Saturday night, and cash donations.
YOU GET - Rick Bruner has generously offered to donate ad space in the Feb./Mar. issue of Windsurfing Magazine. Sponsors will be listed with their logo in descending order of sponsorship value with size of logo determined by relative value of the donation. I will have a rofessional photographer on hand and a story will be written covering the event. I am asking for a minimum of $500 in sponsorship to be listed in the ad. You may also send banners, flags and T-shirts to be displayed at the fair and used as a backdrop in the photos. I have a new website on line, windsurfwomen.com. Sponsors will have links from this site to their web sites.  Windsurfwomen.com is going to focus on female instructors, women in the industry and be a clearinghouse for all women's events with an emphasis on instructional clinics.
Businesses who have shown an interest in sponsoring this clinic include:  BIC Sport, Windsurfing Magazine, Carib BIC Center, Gaastra Sails, Aerotech, Chinook, Fiberspar, Crankin Downhaul Tools, Windwing, AboGear and Gulftech.
 

‘99 Aransas Triangle...or how to shoot yourself in the foot    by  Roy Tansill
Saturday, October 23rd,  I awake to the reality of a clock radio not set to get me up hours ago.  At that moment it was really difficult to climb out of bed but , if I hustled, I could still make it.  Thoughts of gumbo were the deciding factor.  With my trusty trailer dragging behind, I hit the road at 11:05.  Noticed the trailer doing its 70+ mph. sidestep...but I was only doing 60 heading to Port Aransas- must be getting windier.  By the time I got on the ferry, my Jeep (with the enormous longboard on top) was rocking while I was parked.... yep, its windier.
Arriving at City by the Sea, and zeroing in on John and Rose’s home, I see only one close by launch site parking place still available and almost got parked in the tight space.  I say hello to lots of folks while walking out to the shore and Dick Ward tells me its 17-24;  moments later John Williams assures a group of us that its windier on the outside of the islands.  I listen as Jennifer Racette explained her normal race rigging formula but had already decided what I would rig.  The prospect of 20+ more or less called for something I could handle  then thinking about John’s warning my 6.5 seemed logical.  I rigged the new camless sail, bolted in a lengthy weed blade of indeterminate brand- a black one, and put in off the bulkhead.  Sure enough, it was no longer windy.  Back to shore heave 6.5 then 295 Bassett onto the top of the bulkhead and redo the entire rigging  process complete with the near antique fanatic Cat still bagged on the Jeep’s roof. The relevance of Jennifer’s formula became much clearer to me now.  Twelve minutes before start and I’m gonna do what ..in 12 minutes?  With some help from those ready to go, we were all ready to go at 1:40.
We lined up by age and I was shocked to find myself 2nd in line ahead of Doc Allen.  Dick Ward started off followed by  yours truly then Doc, Jennifer*, Guy , and Craig was told to wait until we were all out of sight.  The first leg was a beam reach then a left through a gap John said was there... somewhere.  I just trailed the pack out since the anchored boat out near the islands I had planned to use for a mark was now long gone.... was that cut to the left of the hill out there, or to the right?  Zigzagging through the narrow cut, dead into the wind and current, was strangely reminiscent of my sail through the canals on Padre.  As I neared the open water at the end of the cut,  I looked back and Craig is walking along the shore, towing his rig effortlessly through the cut..... why didn’t I think of that?  Doc and Guy are well ahead and Dick took the option of staying close to the islands rather than go out to the distant upwind marker.  Doc and I  enjoyed a two mile tacking duel to green buoy #71.  Between tacks, pumping  just prior to the larger chop, looking for shifts, squinting to see that buoy all kept me well occupied as the gap between Doc and I diminished  As soon as I rounded the mark and headed wobbly downwind in the chop the ‘Theme from Jaws’ quickly cured my wobblies- one, then two more dorsal fins appeared off the starboard bow.  I was relieved to see bottlenose porpoise emerge from under those fins as little bunches of porpoise appeared all around both Doc and I.
Dick Ward was clearly ahead at this time but he missed the cut because the committee boat was still out near the upwind mark and he’d taken the inside route.  I almost followed him but Doc hollered over to me that he knew where the next cut was so I paralleled Doc until the cut was visible.  Craig was now back in the picture and was close enough to touch as we went through the narrow channel on a very slow run.  Doc graciously gave me back the lead I had gotten before almost getting lost, vowing to pass me on the last leg.  We stayed close enough to chat throughout the remainder of the course and I managed to get across first by half a longboard length as Doc demanded ‘room at the mark!’ (fat chance!).  So that’s when it occurred to me that sure enough I had just shot myself in the foot yet again.  When I first went to a Whataburger race as the new newsletter editor I used one of Sal’s Rules of Order- the winner has to write up the race unless the race director agreed to do it.  Sure seemed like a safe policy (for me) at the time.  But now I had just won a race for the first time in a decade.... and you just read my write up.
     * Jennifer was given a 10 year age bonus because.... Doc said so.

Roy One tired editor tying up his antique gear and heading for a cold one to celebrate his first win in a decade.
Oso Series Update   by Jon Bright
Wind Peaks
  Aug, Sep, Oct '99
The Oso series kicked off with an excellent turn out. The first weekend (Oct. 3) opened up with light winds but this did not deter sailor turn out. The course was a triangle, which includes an upwind leg and two reaching legs. The wind never stayed above 10 knots for any significant time so this made it difficult for shortboarders. Seven heats were completed. By the end of the day sailors were hitting the start line timely and aggressively. Please come join us in November for more low key racing. 

*Skipper's meeting time will be on my answering machine message
Friday evenings, Jon  (361) 985-0799 

Date change: November 13 event is changed to November 27.  Skipper's Meeting: 8 am if windy in morning due to prior cold front,  otherwise, skipper's meeting at 12-1230 PM. Triangle course: Below 10 knots,  Figure eight course: 10-15 knots,  Windward/Leeward course: 15-20 knots,  Down wind slalom: 20 knots plus
 

             Aug      Sep         Oct 
 1      23mph     20mph     21mph 
 2      18mph     23mph     18mph 
 3      15mph     22mph     21mph 
 4      16mph     28mph     26mph 
 5      20mph     32mph     24mph 
 6      18mph     19mph     22mph 
 7      21mph     17mph     18mph 
 8      24mph     16mph     24mph 
 9      24mph       16mph     17mph 
 10     25mph       16mph     18mph 
 11     29mph       21mph     35mph 
 12     29mph       23mph     17mph 
 13     33mph       20mph     28mph 
 14     20mph       20mph     20mph 
 15     21mph       17mph     21mph 
 16     26mph       22mph     22mph 
 17     24mph       22mph     30mph
 18     21mph       17mph     25mph 
 19     18mph       19mph     24mph 
 20     18mph       20mph     24mph 
 21     23mph       29mph     13mph 
 22     41mph       29mph     15mph 
 23     54mph       16mph     25mph 
 24     26mph       18mph     18mph 
 25     21mph       30mph     20mph 
 26     18mph       28mph     20mph 
 27     18mph       26mph     22mph 
 28     17mph       22mph     24mph 
 29     10mph       45mph     26mph 
 30     13mph       31mph     37mph 
 31     22 mph           -         31mph 
WHATABURGER  '99   THE SERIES
See you next season 

Volunteers Wanted:  The club sponsored events, both races and fun events, need people to help out on and before the events.  This is particularly true for the U.S. Open.  Last year, the CCWA was a sponsor and had a booth at the Open; but we didn't have sufficient help to man the booth throughout the event.  We don't want that to happen again!  Similarly, other events suffered because of a lack of help.  How about volunteering your help this year?  Just phone an event coordinator and offer some help.

Corpus Christi Windsurfing Association Membership Application

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____________________________________E-mail Add:_________________________

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City:_________________________________State:_________________Zip__________

Please enclose $20 for individual; $30 for family (1 year membership)

Mail To: CCWA,  PO Box 81453, Corpus Christi, TX  78468


 
Used Gear: Classified ads are free to members, non-members:  $5.00
Please submit the ads by the 25th of the month.
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‘97 Custom Berky Composites "medium-wide" Slalom board. All carbon, still light. Championship winner. For 5-7 Meters $550.Tectonics Mirage 46 cm No gouges  $90.Northwave 9.0 ‘98 model. Long or shortboard. Xlnt. $189.Aerotech 11.0 Championship winner  $150Contact:gracette@gateway.net

‘94 World Sail 7.5 Excellent condition, 2 cam freestyle, very light $75.Contact:LooseClu@prodigy.net
 

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