New Gadget:  TIMEX REVOLUTIONIZES THE SPORTWATCH
   First Watch To Use GPS Technology To Measure Speed and Distance
     Middlebury, CT and Olathe, KS - America's premier watchmaker announces a major breakthrough in wrist instruments for athletes with its Ironman‚ Speed & Distance System. Teaming with global positioning system (GPS) industry leader Garmin® International, Timex makes it possible for runners, skiers, kayakers, windsurfers, mountain bikers, anybody covering distance in the great outdoors, to accurately answer the all-important questions; how far and how fast?
     The Timex Ironman Speed & Distance System consists of two pieces: a GPS receiver and a watch/monitor that are wirelessly connected by a radio signal. The receiver scans the skies for satellite signals looking for the best geometric solution (through a process called "triangulation") and transmits precise speed, distance and pace readings to the watch in real time. While GPS technology is most commonly used as a navigational tool, the satellites are equipped with atomic clocks, making it possible to get speed and distance data with pinpoint accuracy.
     In 1986, Timex changed the industry forever with the introduction of a sportwatch named for the world's most famous endurance athletic event, the Ironman Triathlon. Since then, the Ironman brand has become synonymous with some of the most advanced product offerings from Timex. With the introduction of the Speed & Distance System, the Timex Ironman line further asserts its leadership position among performance sportwatches.
     With the addition of GPS technology, the Speed & Distance System has the most comprehensive list of features ever offered in a Timex Ironman watch including:
- Current speed/pace - Best pace - Distance of activity - Target speed/distance alarms - Speed in 1/10 mph or kph resolution - Distance in 1/1000 mile or kilometer resolution - Automatic time setting (minutes and seconds when GPS transmitter is in use) - 100 Lap Memory with: - Lap number - Lap Time - Lap distance Aver - Average speed/pace - Continuous odometer - Dual time zones - Max speed to 450 mph or 725 kph - Indiglo‚ night light with Night Mode - Alarm with daily, weekday and weekend option - Watch water resistant to 50M/GPS receiver immersible (Marine Standard IPX7) - Countdown Timer with:  Stop at end or Repeat at end - Chronograph at endage lap speed/pace Remarkably, packing all of the foregoing features into the Speed & Distance System doesn't compromise the watch's familiar Ironman styling or ease-of-use, nor does it require that the watch be any larger than many of the other models in the world's best selling line of performance sport watches.
       Launching in April, the Timex 100-Lap Ironman Speed & Distance System will sell for around $225. In May, a 50-Lap version priced at around $200 will be introduced.
        Garmin® International Inc. is a member of the Garmin® Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) group of companies, which designs and manufactures navigation, communication and information devices - most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin®’s market-leading products serve the aviation, marine, outdoor recreation, automotive, wireless and OEM markets. Garmin® Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and United Kingdom. For more information, visit the company’s virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom. 

Biff Makes a Start!
    The weekly gathering of the Corpus Christi MORF (Midget -- er, vertically challenged Ocean Racing Fleet) fleet makes a grand and stately sight every Wednesday afternoon.  Large numbers of big hulls and expensive hardware congregate in the tight confines of the Marina behind the stone breakwater,  tacking hither and yon, hoisting sails and making ready for the race.  Despite the inertia of these vessels, some as long as 52 feet, the preparation is choreographed beauty;  skippers intimate with right-of-way rules and no close calls.  That is, until Biff showed up.  The fleet doesn't know quite what to make of Biff.  When he's under sail, he planes circles around the big boats.  But he can STOP dead if he loses sail power, which is pretty much guaranteed if he gets stuck below a 50 foot mainsail.  Plus he can fall and become invisible from the helm.  Some MORF skippers have expressed a fear of running him over.  Some have expressed a burning desire to do the same.
     Dauntless, Biff, Dr. Charles A. "Molar-Man" Allen, and Racerguy invaded the sanctity of the Wednesday Night Races for their first Official appearance at that august event.  And it's only April.  Catamarans, Multi-hulls and other undesirables were consigned to the fourth and final start of the night.  Flags are five minutes apart, so we departed 15 minutes behind the lead boats.
     Molar-Man got the holeshot, squeezing gamely between a pair of big monohulls.  Biff and Racerguy followed the magnificent Trimaran of John Williams and crew to an early charge at the line, only to have to tack off and jibe back for another run.  By the way, that's one nice boat and very impressive to see flying the windward hull at speed.  Anyway, Biff rode up behind and climbed aboard for the Imported Beer they were serving, so he missed the start.
     Well, it wasn't much of a race.  By the time Charles and Racerguy had reached Oleander, they were in the absolute lead.  The course took us to Number Three, which boardheads have always called "C-Mark" off Ropes park, then back to the Start-Finish at the T-Head.  Around 45 minutes including stopping for a break and to fish out a particularly nasty bit of seashell from the left bootie.  The lead boat had to be 20 minutes behind.  Biff wore out his welcome and was thrown off the Trimaran, had to swim home.  The usual suspects plan to make this a regular Wednesday night thing, for those Bay sailors looking for a training venue in preparation for the Nationals..........see you there                 Racerguy

Editor's Puffs:   by Roy Tansill
    The CCWA was represented at the Parks & Rec planning meeting earlier this month by our Commodore, Chip Biery, Allen Mitchell, and yours truly, the three of us tried to sell the Parks & Rec folks on the idea of putting a city park on Laguna Shores.   Chip has been working hard to sell the idea and all seemed to be going well until he escorted a few of the politicians to the proposed launch.  There is some urgency since the present owner of the land you must cross to get to the launch is reportedly selling that access land.  This pending crisis to launch access is why we tried to get the city involved.  We’ll keep you posted on the outcome of this effort.  One outcome of that meeting is that I am now a candidate to be put onto the city’s Planning Council.  It will cost me 2 Wednesday evenings a month but I think that’s a small price to pay to get the windsurfing community represented on the Council. 
     There was another meeting of some import to sailors this past month, this one was held at the National Seashore and it dealt with the pending ban of PWC’s (jet skies) at the local National Park.   Windsurfers outnumbered PWC advocates at that meeting primarily due to a contingent of ‘Spring Texans’- those RV dwellers that show up every spring to enjoy Bird Island Basin’s warmth and wind.  I no sooner got home from that meeting when I was introduced to a PWC that even I had to admit looked like something I would really like to play with.  Its essentially a self powered surfboard that can do 40mph, is steered by foot pressure on the rails, and its advertised as quiet and less polluting than most PWCs.  The photos of this new craft deep in a mountain of water at Jaws sold me- now all I need is  the $6,000 to buy one of these 40 horse powered surf boards and I’ll have a light wind board that doesn’t involve a dozen+ square meters of sail or 30 yards of life threatening strings to get going- all you need is some gas and probably a friend to help heft the 139 pound board onto the water.  You won’t be able to launch it at Bird (or even operate it within the waters under NPS jurisdiction) but a lack of wind will not be a problem.  Check out their website <www.powerski.com> 
The control handle contains a throttle, start switch, auto shut off (when you let go of the handle) and a fuel gauge.  Have no fear that your editor is going over to the ‘other side’- that price tag will keep me rigging my biggest sail on light wind days for many more years to come but I gotta admit I’d like to try one! 

Lake Texana 2002 edition
I want to thank all of you that drove the distance to participate in the ABK Windsurfing Camp / 2002 Spring Windsurfing Campout at Lake Texana. Thanks Andy and Sarah Brandt, and Peter DeKay for the wonderful instruction and sharing their infectious passion of windsurfing. Though we had a bit of drizzle both Saturday and Sunday, we were blessed with good to great wind depending how you look at it.  We had participants from Dallas, Austin, Corpus Christi and of course our Houston Area. Friday and Saturday was mostly 15-20 mph winds and there were quite a few of the new really wide Formula boards racing around. You can't believe how little wind is needed for these new boards to plane, and how much wind the new bigger sails can handle. Nor have you ever seen a windsurfer point so high into the wind upwind till you see Formula boards get powered (no white caps needed).  Saturday night many participated in the fun and sharing of the delicious pot luck dinner outside our new house (33 foot fifth wheel travel trailer).  Peter, thank you for the new video of those amazing Bonaire kids windsurfing in Bonaire performing tricks that would blow your minds. If you want to get your kids excited about windsurfing, this video could do it.  Later everyone retired to the bonfire and the four+ guitars and one banjo led everyone brave enough to sing. (Thank you Jon Jay Ernst, David Cothran, Chuck Taylor, Rey Cardino, Stuart Legler, Guy Racette, and Mike) Sunday's winds were southeast 25-35mph. There was quite a display of jumps and tricks almost too close for the faint of heart to watch.  Karen and I had taken some vacation time and spent the entire week prior at Lake Texana, Brackenridge Plantation Park and Campground. Leon and Jennifer were next door neighbors for the week. After a training session with Leon on our new simulator, Karen is now in the harness on the water.  Check our web page for Lake Texana pictures in the near future. Come by our store and see the newest addition (2000 more square feet).
See you soon;
Cliff Tudor

Bird Bash 2002- Warm, Windy, & Tastey
     With gusts hitting into the 30’s well offshore and more boards on the waters at Bird than I’d seen in a decade, The 2002 version of the Bird Island Bash turned out to be one of the best.  There were four windsurfing clubs well represented:  The Austin Club, the New Mexico association, The Rocky Mountain bunch (From Colorado) and the hosts (CCWA).  Command central was way up the beach on the northern end- the only spot Crab could find large enough for his RV when he drove out to Bird two days early.  I suspect Crab knew where he wanted to be and got his preferred location- that’s the easiest launch anywhere along Bird’s perimeter.  From command central its was less than a dozen steps into thigh deep water.  With two grills blazing Crab had his hands full but he was up to the task.  I’m not sure what kind of demonic peppers he spiced up the fajita beef with but the delicious beef was hotter than the grill when it was ready and it took two cold beers before my voice returned to normal. 
      Plans for a fun race never reached fruition due to the winds, weather, and the size of the windsurfing horde that was out at  Bird.  There was no way to reach those who might have wanted to give the race a try and we would have interfered with too many other sailors who were enjoying the near perfect conditions.  The beach croquette match ran afoul of the masses also- it was bumper to bumper parking everywhere you looked.  Even the proposed horseshoes would have been tricky- ever see what a rolling horseshoe will do to the monofilm laying in its path?  Despite the lack of games, the day was a total success because everyone seemed to enjoy the opportunity to sit about, sipping cold drinks, (between runs out and back one on the windy Laguna Madre) and talking to old friends not seen in awhile. 
     After most had retired from the water, and most of the food was consumed,  there was a raffle for momentoes of the event.  The door prizes were donated by Daco Street Promotional Products & Apparel and the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau. 
     A lot of time and effort went into making the 2002 Bird Island Bash an event to remember.  Hans Anderson was the hub for most of the planning while Crab and Susan supplied the majority of the labor.  It will be a long time before I’ll forget the sight of Crab in his paper cap masterfully flipping the grilled meats and all the while entertaining the crowds with humorous banter. 

     We had a good turnout at the April edition of the CCWA monthly meeting and all enjoyed the cool breezes on the warm evening.  If you missed the April meeting, don’t make the same mistake in May.  We’ll be at the home of Gary and Elaine Motl out on the Island for the May 21st meeting. 

Konrad's not so good day by Mike Murphy
     It was one of those choppy, windy days in March at Bird Island Basin, everybody sailing smaller gear and comfortable.  A frequent visitor to the area and good friend, sailed across the Intracoastal Canal when equipment failure resulted in a close encounter with a very large barge.
     Konrad had comfortably cruised across the channel when the sail ripped from luff to leach.  He decided to swim the rig back to the windward side of the channel rather than drift to the King Ranch shoreline.  During the process a barge appeared on the horizon heading his way but Konrad managed to make it back across the channel.  He waved down a passing fisherman after about an exhausting hour of swimming, never reaching shallow water. 
     On the beach, the equipment failure was noticed and Konrad's Zodiac was being prepared to assist.  Just before the barge horn was heard, it was confirmed that Konrad was in tow by the fishing boat which safely returned to the beach with the board and rig.  Ingrid's favorite 5.0 sail however is now two 2.5's.
     Konrad was confident throughout the ordeal and the beach was trying to help.  It was a big wind day, no barge visible (until after the equipment failure), with a current strong enough to require a continuous effort.  It was such a choppy day, not many fishing boats were out. Thanks to the fisherman who was kind enough to assist Konrad.
      These incidents serve to remind everyone to keep a watch out for anyone in trouble.  The results could of been personal injury, and even in relatively warm air and water, hypothermia, so it is very important to get assistance quickly.  In retrospect, someone needed to sail out to Konrad, verify the situation and remain with the downed sailor. Two heads can be better than one when it comes to making a decision whether to tow the rig or provide assistance to ditch it and paddle the board, especially if Konrad had not been able to swim clear of the barge as he did.
     Often there is not a Zodiac available, no other boats and many times those on the beach are not aware.  Not in this case, but before the Zodiac was in the water, with gas and ready to start the motor the situation had the potential to become more serious.  We can often be limited to what assistance can be provided but it can be a huge comfort to know you aren't going it alone when in trouble. 
     We have all probably seen, heard or experienced injury or equipment failure while sailing It's not reassuring for anyone if we assume everything is all right.  Check it out quickly, make an assessment and take necessary action before a major problem develops.  Let those on the beach know someone else is sailing out to check a situation.

Become a Windsport Magazine Team Rider
     Windsport magazine is excited about windsurfing's future and has launched a new Team Rider program for kids 14 years old and younger. The program is designed to generate exposure and provide role models for kids of all windsurfing ability levels. 
     Kids are invited to send in a picture of themselves windsurfing and a letter telling us a bit about  themselves. In return, we will send them an official Windsport Team Rider sticker. The photos collected will be compiled and run in a future edition of Kid's Corner. Kid's Corner is a regular feature dedicated to kids who are already windsurfing and parents who would like to introduce their children to the sport. Throughout the year Kid's Corner profiles up-and-coming windsurfers along with instruction techniques and equipment news. Our upcoming summer issue in late June will include a special kids-specific Buyer's Guide section. 
Team Rider photos and letters should be sent to: Windsport Team Riders, PO Box 335, White Salmon, WA, USA, 98672 or 2255B Queen St. E., Suite 3266,  Toronto, ON, Canada, M4E 1G3. Letters can also be e-mailed to letters@windsport.com. 

NEWS FLASH: CORPUS CHRISTI IS A PRETTY WINDY PLACE AFTER ALL I have to admit that we locals were all a bit bummed to read a few months back that, according to Windsurfing Magazine’s tabulation, Corpus Christi is not one of the top ten windiest spots in America.  True, it would been more relevant if the magazine had named locations that were actually windsurfing sites, or maybe even near water, but who am I to question such a preeminent publication?     Evidently iWindsurf.com has no similar qualms, and with a touch of humor, sent in their own Top Ten list collected during 2001 from sensors located at over 1000 actual windsurfing sites scattered throughout the US mainland. The Corpus windsurfing community was frantically packing gear and preparing for a mass exodus when the news broke that Corpus Christi is still a pretty windy place.  In fact, Laguna Shores, TX (near the Worldwinds site) is listed as 6th in the category of places where the wind blows the hardest.  The more important category, of course, is sites where you can sail most often.  Guess what?  Ropes Park in the Bay weighs in at #8 and (drum roll please) Laguna Shores is #1.  Thanks to iWindsurf.com for setting the record straight. Their complete Top Ten list appears on page 12 in the May issue of Windsurfing Magazine. 

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT PROHIBITION AT PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE The National Park Service has issued a final rule for managing personal watercraft (PWC) use in areas of the National Park system.  This rule prohibits PWC use throughout the National Park System unless specifically exempted by legislation, rule, or management action.  One aspect of the ruling was that individual National Park Superintendents had some latitude and could seek a Special Regulation that would allow full or limited PWC use within their park.

The Superintendent of The Padre Island National Seashore, Jock Whitworth, has made the determination that all PWC use within Padre Island Seashore will be prohibited and therefore a Special Regulation will not be requested.  This finding and Determination was based on questions of appropriate use, recreational compatibility, impact to park resources, and safety and enforcement.  As one would expect, the PWC industry is not all that happy about this determination and has initiated legal proceedings to reverse the prohibition.  In a recent ruling, the Federal Court in Victoria, TX, threw out a legal challenge to the ban.  But I am quite sure that the battle is not over and I suspect that Superintendent Jock is getting his share of nasty grams from PWC users.  We are also pretty good at complaining any time we think our windsurfing is being compromised so it is time to show our support for the Park.  Please take a minute to send the Superintendent an email at Jock_Whitworth@nps.gov thanking him and supporting his determination.  One can only imagine how crazy (not to mention dangerous) it would be to add jet skis, hydrocarbon, and noise to the mix at Bird Island Basin. 

This might also be a good time to remind everyone that windsurfing is not immune from environmental impact.  Sure, we use a renewable resource for power but that does not grant us zero impact status.  We need to be environmentally smart and follow the same rules as everybody else.  The spoils islands are important bird rookeries and should be given a wide berth.  Of course, this is pretty much a moot point since you will usually run aground well outside the “wide berth” perimeter and the nesting birds will all get a big laugh.  Windsurfing activity is also limited to south of the exclusion area buoy located in the shallow cut before reaching the boat ramp channel. Yea I know, more than a few boaters think that this marker is a convenient navigational fix for inshore high-speed access to the boat ramp, but to the rest who exhibit seamanship, it is a hazard buoy.  And as always, pick up your trash.  The truth is that the beach almost always looks cleaner in the afternoon after the windsurfers leave than it does in the morning before they arrive. But that is the way it should be. 

That’s it from here, Don

And a reply...
Barry - I am so honored by your opinion and even more honored that you would take the time to respond with so many wonderful details about the event.   THANK YOU!!!! And I appreciate you.
I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. - Elaine
(Elaine Motl)

Ed's Note:
Come on out and be a part or the 2002 US Open.  Participate as a racer, volunteer, or just as a spectator but don’t miss it.  Your help is needed to pull it off this year due to the lack a major sponsor with deep pockets.  If you’ve never been a part of the Open before, don’t let another opportunity slip away- and take home an Open tee-shirt while you’re at it.  This is the Event that put Corpus on the windsurfing map. 

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Race-Worthy '00 Pro-Tech 29 Carbon.  Light and fast, looking for same characteristics in a sailor wanting to improve on speed and angle.  $600. or Best Offer 
'99 LeMehaute Custom Slalom 9'2".  $450.  Both boards in good condition with professionally-done minor repairs.  Scale weights competitively light.
Contact: racetteguyjen@msn.com