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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
comfortable
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.
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.
One tired editor tying up his antique gear and heading for a cold one to celebrate his first win in a decade. |
|
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
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
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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.
Name:______________________________________Phone: ( )______________ Family membership, list names of family members:_____________________________________ ____________________________________E-mail Add:_________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________ 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. Mail ads to: LooseClu@prodigy.net |
Seatrend "94" 8'6"
ATV 16lbs. good for 20-40
mph $250 great
condition Neil Pryde
Wave NR 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 sails $145
ea. great condition. Call Tony Winkler
(512) 784-3668 mobile (512) 342-2776 work
‘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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