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CCWA	CURRENTS	April 2000
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: Well I Was Right by Chester Hulme
      In the last newsletter article I said it was about to get busy and IT DID! We held the SCREAMING REACH and it’s associated Shrimp/Crawfish boil, we held the first WHATABURGER Race, and we pulled off the fundraising shrimp Boil at the WOMEN’S CLINIC. All of the events were a success. I have decided to not look ahead at all the rest of the events this month, so I can fool myself into thinking that I can relax.
       Looks like the club raised around $1,100 dollars with the Women’s Clinic Shrimp boil to be awarded at the U.S. Open for the professional women’s purse. We served over 125 people. I don’t care if I see another boiling pot for quite a while. Thanks to Pam, Dick, Larry, Crab, Bob, Brian, Chip, Karl, Linda, Arlene, and Susan for the help. If I failed to name anyone thank you too.
     I have been invited to a meeting at Texas A&M regarding the park facility that is being planned. Hopefully I’ll have some info for the next newsletter.
     Probably the most important upcoming event we need to get geared up for is the U.S. Open. We have 4 days of event that we need help with. Tasks range from registration to ON-water committee, to On-land committee, to T-shirt booth, to awards event coordination. I ESPECIALLY NEED SOMEONE TO COORDINATE THE BOY SCOUT CLINIC. If each of us will commit to at least 1 day to volunteer then there would be no problem having enough people. The club will be hosting a BBQ on Sunday night.
     Those who said they will be interested in committing to the U.S. Open Committee please give me a call. We need to get this group organized not only for this year , but for future years. Those that attended the last meeting heard a short presentation about incorporating the club form Greg Perkes. We will pursue this. Now that the time change has kicked in , hopefully more of us can get out and sail late afternoons.
See you on the water.     --   Chester

2000 WHATABURGER RACE SERIES
Race #1, March 25
Saturday morning and I’m fumbling about getting ready to leave for Oleander and the first of six year 2000 Whataburger races; this year I promised Chester I’d help out for all six. By the time the skippers’ meeting got underway the winds were still not doing their March best but enough to begin the course racing. Peter Nordby took on the Race Director duties and set a box course which, with the shifting winds, had the fleet on a beam reach at the start of the third heat. As a result, many were over early in the third fleet but even a head start was not enough for anyone to overcome Craig Greenslit- Craig took first in every heat. During the break, the course was reset to better match the wind’s more recent direction.
New gear was everywhere on the beach: the Racettes were on their new Gaastra Nitro sails and Craig had a pair of the ‘00 North Warp sails. Craig picked up right where he left off last season, pointing higher and going up wind faster than everyone else, he reached the up wind mark first in every heat. That superiority wasn’t as evident on other legs as Olivier Jallais, John J Ernst, and Guy Racette took turns closing in on Craig but none were able to overcome that upwind advantage. John J lost an encounter with first some trash that latched onto his fin then the anchor chain on the starting line buoy. The result of that double whammy was the loss (repairs needed) of his new Zajicek race board- all this on its maiden race day. Even without his newest board, John J. earned a solid second for the day. Nick Antrobus had his new ‘yellow Techno’, a 281 Tiga, but he wasn’t happy about its stock fin- not for upwind was the verdict. Nick also supplied the official results in the March newsletter.

Race #2 and #3, April 15 and 29, results:

2000 WHATABURGER RACE SERIES RESULTS

Race #2, April 15

Open Fleet

Name
John J Ernst
Guy Racette
Guy Miller
Barry Ritchie
Olivier Jallais
Christian Auger
Zing
Jay Hutchins
Jennifer Racette
Nick Antrobus
David Cothran
Phil Keyserlingk
David Corpus
Trey England
Kyle Krebs
Darron Rolls Sail #
US-1166
CC-111
TX-1
NM-0
US-07
CC-22
US-097
Bib 53
CC-111
K-111
US-TXT
Bib 38
Bib 34
Bib 159
US-459
Bib 42 Heat 1
0.7
2
3
5
4
6-to
12-to
7
9
10
13-to
8
11
14
15
17 Heat 2
0.7
9-to
3
2
7
4
8
5
11-to
10
12
6
13
14-to
15
17 Heat 3
0.7
3
17-to
4
2
6
17-to
7
8
9
10
5
17-to
12
11
17 Heat 4
6-to
0.7
2
5
3
4
9
7
12-to
11-to
8
17
17-to
10
13
17 Heat 5
2-to
0.7
7-to
4
3
5
9
10
8
11-to
13-to
6
12
14
15
17 Heat 6
2
0.7
4
5-to
6
3
7
17-to
8
10
9
17
11
17-to
12
17 Heat 7
2
0.7
4
5-to
17-to
3
6
8
10
9
11
17-to
7
12
17-to
17-to Heat8
0.7
3-to
2
4
17-to
10-to
5
17-to
6
8
7
17-to
9
11
17-to
17-to Total Pts
6.8
7.8
18
24
25
25
44
44
49
56
57
59
63
73
81
102 Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

    Notes:
1) "to" means thrown out
2) Did Not Finish scored 17
3) Did Not Start scored 17 (were not recorded)
OPEN                        MASTERS                        GRAND MASTERS
1 J Jay Ernst               1 Guy Racette                      1 Jay Hutchins
2 Olivier Jallais            2 Guy Miller                         2 Nick Antrobus
3 Kyle Krebs              3 Barry Ritchie
WOMEN
1 Jennifer Racette

2000 WHATABURGER RACE SERIES RESULTS

Race #3, April 29

Open Fleet

Name
Craig Greenslit
John J Ernst
Olivier Jallais
Guy Miller
Zing
Jennifer Racette
Nick Antrobus
Jay Hutchins
Trey England
Susan Drelich
Darron Rolls Sail #
WY-5
1
US-07
TX-1
US-097
CC-111
K-111
Bib 2
Bib 146
Bib 164
Bib 42 Heat 1
0.7
2-dis
3
4-dis
5
8-dis
7
6
11
9
10 Heat 2
0.7
2
4-dis
3
5
6
8-dis
7
9
10
11 Heat 3
2-dis
0.7
4
3
5
6
7
13-dis
9
12
10 Heat 4
0.7
2
3
4
6-dis
5
7
13
13-dis
12
13-dis Heat 5
0.7
2
3
4
5
6
7
13
13
13-dis
13 Total Pts
2.8
6.7
13
14
20
23
28
39
42
43
44 Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11 Division
O
O
O
M
M
W
GM
GM
M
W
O

    Notes:
1) "to" means thrown out
2) Did Not Finish scored 19
3) Did Not Start scored 20

OPEN
1 Craig Greensit
2 J Jay Ernst
3 Olivier Jallais MASTERS
1 Guy Miller
2 Zing
3 Trey England GRAND MASTERS
1 Nick Antrobus
2 Jay Hutchins

WOMEN
1 Jennifer Racette
2 Susan Drelich

Editor's Puffs:   by Roy Tansill
Self rescue is not something you practice like a fire drill but when the events force you to do that, it helps to have given it some thought before you have to do it. Most board sailors already know what has to be done: stay with the board, break down the rig, roll up the sail, make a nice package of the mast, boom, & sail, secure it all on top of the board then begin the swim to shore with the gear in tow. Having worked out at WorldWinds for much of the past three years, I’ve gotten to do this a few times for other sailors who’ve gotten in beyond their ability or just broke down far from shore and as a result I’ve gotten to practice the drill more often than most sailors. I recently broke a mast while sailing on the Laguna Madre- with no warning the carbon mast exploded just above the boom pocket. I wasn’t worried, it was going to be a lengthy walk back but at least I could walk in the waist to shoulder deep water. As I resigned myself to the long walk I realized the chop was going to propel the broken mast through the luff sleeve unless I derigged before walking. What follows is my own left handed approach to derigging in the water and its a useful routine even when you are just ending your day derigging in knee deep water. The biggest hassle is keeping all the parts together- another arm or two would make this simple but we’re limited to just two. My method to overcome this problem is to first detach the sail at the U-joint then immediately tie the uphaul to the back footstrap. Next loosen the battens if necessary, let off the downhaul some, then detach the boom from the sail and either slip it over my shoulders or in shallow water I step inside the booms which means the board is still not going to take off downwind while I finish up the other tasks. Next, pull off the base extension and put it back onto the U-joint. As the mast is extracted from the sail I secure it onto the extension with the downhaul line, roll up the sail, secure it and the boom on top of the mast and board. When at the shore, I detach the mast base and can then carry the mast, boom, sail and base package to the car easily without losing any of it. Between the uphaul, outhaul and downhaul everything is quite well secured.
     The monthly meeting was at Chip and Diane Biery’s beautiful home near Poenish Park. Phil Keyserlingk brought an attorney friend to discuss the process of incorporating the CCWA as a non profit corporation and then Chester and Vicki Duncan both made known the need for volunteers at up coming events. Thank you to both Diane and Chip for hosting the meeting.
     These new light air wide style boards all seem to share a common problem- they don’t stand up to boom hits very well. In the first two weeks of this season at WorldWinds, two of these newer style boards were taken out of service to get nose jobs- both were equipped with deviators and good boom bras when the damage occurred. Those were Bic boards which are generally rated tougher than the average; but all wide style boards have rather thin noses as a means to save weight. It seems even a light hit from a boom arm will produce damage despite all the above precautions. Vicki Duncan contacted the folks at Padz and she now has a new product designed to overcome this problem- a nose pad from Padz. If you own a Techno or any widestyle light air machine you ought to contact Vicki about getting one of these new devices- they’ll be a lot cheaper than a nose job. I hope they are in before my new Tiga 281 arrives.
     Speaking of Techno boards, the ‘00 racing season will have a separate Techno 31 class. The rumor mill has indicated there will be enough of them in the Whataburger series to support the new one design class and hopefully in the fall series as well. To date Steve Montouri and Nick Antrobus are already on Technos and several others are considering a purchase. One design short board racing has arrived in Corpus- go get yourself one and join the fun!

FOOTSAVER - a safety breakaway footstrap
Every now and then a product comes along that seems to be a great idea.... if it works as advertised. Several months ago this product received some very favorable comment on rec.windsurfing from sailors I’ve learn to respect for their obvious knowledge. I’ve received one of these footstraps to try and I’ll let you know how it worked for me. Below is part of their ad:
‘The FootSaver helps protect against windsurfing injuries to the feet, legs, and knees when a foot gets locked in the foostrap during a forward fall. If you’ve never been hurt in the footstrap, you probably know someone who has (or have had ‘close calls’ yourself). Footstrap injuries are the number one cause of injury in windsurfing. You may only have a serious enough fall to make the FootSaver release once a year. But saving one injury a year is worthwhile.‘

2000 Screaming Reach And......
With the winds reversing their normal direction and thereby requiring a last minute alteration in the event’s course, the 2000 Screaming Reach got underway on an angry looking Corpus Christi Bay at 2:30 PM. Sixteen minutes and 55 seconds later the first and second place finishers who started at Oleander Point, were only seconds apart as they passed the last mark near shore at Poenish Park. Eighteen participants began the event and sixteen finished. The new committee boat, which the club has chartered for the Whataburger Series and other events, easily rounded up the two ‘lost at sea’ participants both of whom were more than happy to get a ride back to shore. The course was set so that sailors left Oleander heading southeast to round ‘C Mark’ a nearly invisible permanent channel marker well out in the Bay. The second leg sent the fleet back into the marker set on the edge of the shore break at Ropes and then downwind to Poenish Park. Sounds easy enough, but in the cool North winds and their lengthy fetch across the Bay, the normal chop was significantly augmented. It wasn’t a very warm afternoon- I’m glad I had that parka with me. The Reach then the 2000 Season kick-off chow down at Chester and Pam’s made for a memorable Saturday and season opener.
This years Screaming Reach had twice the entries of the previous two years. We had wind, a change of venue and a different course layout. Sorely missed was Mark Franey’s input with the Naval Base; in the past, Mark would get us clearance with the base just prior to the Screaming Reach. It seems Commander well out ranks Commodore and when Chester went to the base offices he was told ‘you’re too late’. I doubt Commander Franey would have received the same message that Commodore Hulme was given but then mother nature intervened and that stiff North breeze made the issue a mute point. Next year, we’ll have to request base access a bit earlier.
Mary Beth Holmes flagged the fleet off from shore and I began the timer. Jumping into my Jeep, I then headed down to Poenish paying attention (somewhat) to the posted speed limits. Fortunately, I caught only one traffic light along the way or the first and second place finishers would have beaten me to Poenish. At 16 minutes and 55 seconds Guy Racette crossed the finish line followed very closely by Craig Greenslit.

        Results:
   1   Guy Racette
   2   Craig Greenslit
   3   Olivier Jallais
   4   Jon Bright
   5   Skip Johnson
   7   Stewart Legler
   8   Nick Antrobus
   9   Chip Ducrest

10 Jay Hutchins
11 Mike Thiel
12 Pawel Kostulak
13 Jennifer Racette
14 Thomas Holmes
15 Pablo Arce
16-17 2 D.N.F’s

.....Season Kick-Off Chow Down
In what has become an annual event, the Post Screaming Reach Feast, this year also celebrated the season opener for the CCWA’s 2000 events schedule. Chester, along with his crew of chefs (Chip Ducrest, Larry Haas, and one or two other unnamed co conspirators- with way heavy hands on the pepper) did their job well. Its an impressive schedule and running the Reach event in the windy spring rather than the summer was a good call. The food was delicious, the company unparalleled, and the entire day made it easy to smile. Thanks to all the folks who participated in the rocking ride from Oleander to Poenish or just devoured the shrimp and other delicious chow. The Screaming Reach is a fun event with quite a history. The event received a nice write-up in the Sun Papers penned by Dickey Neely who sailed the event years ago. Dickey’s article is reprinted below and talks about the early history of the event and who started the annual mad downwind dash.

The 18th Annual Screaming Reach    by Dickey Neely
Edited reprint from the March 9th SEASIDE SUN
     The Screamin’ Reach, one of the longest continuous running windsurfing events in the country, is sponsored by the CCWA. The Screamin’ Reach is a long distance race in Corpus Christi Bay reaching out into the Bay then back to the finish line far downwind. It is scheduled in the Spring in hopes of catching a day when the winds are howling and the windsurfers are screamin’.
     The race began in 1983 when Kandi Van Dyke and Vicki Harraghy, two of our local windsurfing pioneers, came up with the idea for a race while discussing the now defunct Iron Man Race across San Francisco Bay. They felt that we ought to have something like that here and the idea was sparked.
     With help from the Corpus Christi Yatch Club, Sail Surfing (the windsurfing shop owned by Vicki and Bob Harraghy), and WIND,Waves, & Wheels (the shop owned by Lou Kennedy in which Kandi worked), the race was put together. The first race was won by Hugh Dobson who blistered the field composed of locals and many from out of town who traveled from all over the state to race. Each year the equipment gets better and more reliable and the sailors gain more experience thus it becomes more and more difficult to win.
Ed’s Note: On behalf of the entire CCWA, I thank you Dickey for both the history lesson and publicity for our event and an additional thanks for the package of vintage windsurfing graphics you sent me.

Bird's Eye View:

Wind Peaks
Jan, Feb, & Mar '00

by Roy Tansill
The March wind average got a major boost on Tuesday the 14th when the wind went postal around 2:00 PM. Anemometers at Bird Island Basin were no match for the gale force winds; the NWS meter was knocked off line, WorldWinds’ meter became a weather vane after recording a 59 mph gust (shedding two of its three arms in the process) and a camper’s whirling device showed 71mph while burning out its bearings. Those of us unlucky enough to be there pretty much agreed the two hour long assault had gusts in excess of 80 mph. The back end of my Jeep was pushed sideways about two feet and Robert McGonnical’s hefty pickup truck was moved down the paved road despite its back wheels being locked by the parking brake. One 18 foot Catamaran was flipped while tied to the pilings along the shore and another had its bare mast snapped as the gale moved it and its anchor a block down the Laguna Madre. Peeking out a leeward door of the WorldWinds’ office, I saw a yellow shortboard go by at least 10 feet off the ground and watched the large garbage can first flip then levitate while rapidly rotating up and over the neighboring container. The wind even snapped a red Surfiac surf mast in half (one of those heavy bomb proof antiques) that had been serving as a flag pole. Campers’ gear was scattered well up into the dunes below the containers and all of the Park’s dumpsters emptied themselves after toppling in the winds. No one was injured but gear carnage was both widespread and severe. I had to laugh at the Caller Times published wind peak of 46 mph- it was blowing harder than that inside my jeep (and its windows were up). At times visibility was less than 20 feet in the wind driven horizontal rain. Just another reminder that spring is coming, such sudden severe storms provide adrenaline overloads and lasting memories.

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Jan
37mph
38mph
33mph
31mph
23mph
21mph
32mph
22mph
21mph
24mph
25mph
25mph
14mph
32mph
25mph
26mph
22mph
28mph
25mph
32mph
28mph
25mph
14mph
33mph
17mph
26mph
33mph
28mph
21mph
16mph
25mph

Feb
25mph
39mph
17mph
25mph
29mph
24mph
21mph
17mph
28mph
35mph
23mph
23mph
31mph
15mph
30mph
30mph
36mph
33mph
37mph
26mph
30mph
39mph
32mph
40mph
39mph
31mph
29mph
29mph
32mph

Mar
31mph
44mph
26mph
29mph
30mph
33mph
44mph
30mph
21mph
38mph
43mph
21mph
26mph
71+**
20mph
20mph
29mph
17mph
37mph
36mph
33mph
36mph
35mph
29mph
25mph
25mph
18mph
29mph
28mph
26mph
31mph

CURRANTS Letters to the Editor

Horse Lineament
As of the moment, no one has submitted a letter to the Editor for the month. Well that’s not entirely accurate; I did receive a suspicious e-mail from a Zacharia Scoggins but the official censor (my wife) said ‘no way!’ So I’ll send one to myself. I’ve been beating myself up for years in this sport and have spent the cost of a new board quiver on ‘Ben Gay’ and other such minor ache relievers. An elderly athlete told me about Bigeloil and its been a post hard day staple for me ever since. I even brought two quarts (a 2 year supply for me) of the stuff with me when we moved here. I was pleasantly surprised to find a local source for my elixir. My source... The Bluff Feed Store at 3801 Waldron Rd. Even better is that the shop belongs to CCWA members Phil and Amy Keyserlyngk. Stop in and pick up a bottle, it is a refreshing topically applied magic pain reliever for muscle aches and arthritis and only $12.95 a quart. It doesn’t have anything horrible in it, unless you consider rubbing alcohol as such; a lot of natural stuff (oil of pine, oil of Juniper, aspirin, menthol + more) that isn’t greasy and doesn’t stink for hours. A word of warning, there are ‘some places’ that you don’t want to get it on!
Roy Tansill

WHATABURGER 2000 THE SERIES

Whataburger #3- Oleander Pt., April 29...Be there and help out

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

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

‘92 Bassett 296 a former US Open winner (when sailed by Mark Bassett). Still in good condition, winger tail, light wind course board very light for its size, 145 liters with Tuttle box. $350 obo, Contact: Roy Tansill, email: LooseClu@prodigy.net

‘98 ProTech Master Blaster 80 ltr, a fast bump and jump rocket in excellent codition $650 Contact: Pawel Kostulak at (361) 884-6294

SPACIOUS BAY WATERFRONT HOME: Two story custom home with master suite down. Four bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 1/2 car garage with workbench. Bayfront views on both levels, including 2nd-story observation deck. Vaulted ceilings with 2nd floor loft, library and office. Two large living areas, glassed/screened-in sunroom, formal dining, large kitchen with island and breakfast bar, plush carpet and ceramic tile throughout, wet bar with redwood wine rack, lots of storage space and built-ins. Woodburning fireplace and dual a/c heat pumps. Excellent condition, well-maintained throughout, and maintenance-free exterior. Backyard with seawall and stairs to the water's edge provide excellent access for boating, fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, and bird watching. Adjacent to city park with fitness track and picnic pavilion. MUST SEE! Listed at $229,000.Call Greg Kiel, Realtor, at 361-855-3711 or pager (361) 902-7176.

For more web classifieds, check out the Windsurfing Classifieds at "the other CCWA".

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