New Jersey Windsurfing &
Watersports Association
NJWWA Fun Fest at Sandy Hook
The Fun Fest at Sandy Hook arrived just after the first cold front marked the end of summer. With air temperatures approaching 70, and a stronger than anticipated 17mph NE wind, we got right into teaching our 19 students the basics of windsurfing. The on-land windsurfing simulator allowed initial hand & foot movements to be practiced before getting their sea legs acclimated to the bay. We had a great mix, as we were also geared up for, enthusiastic kids, svelte women and burly men. Wetsuits were a popular addition to ones ensemble. While the offshore winds kept the water flat, the outgoing tide, and simultaneous current, required us to perform a few rescue exercises.
We welcomed the addition of Ned Crossley, who is a professional windsurfing instructor trainer with US Sailing. He took the time to come down from NY and help us. His supply of tethers to use while teaching beginners in the offshore winds was appreciated. Our new sponsor, Aloha Guides, set up their canopy on the beach, and soon had half a dozen students on the water at a time. Stand-Up Paddleboarding is quickly becoming the latest watersports craze. The calmer bay waters made for ideal beginner conditions. Winds had subsided to 12mph by SUP race time. Eight paddlers took to the circular course. With mostly beginners, and a variety of age groups, it was anybody’s race. I think there’s a re-match in order for the father-son team of Jean Luc and Spencer Peyrot, who finished first and second respectively, with Enrico Pager close behind. As the SUP racing came to a conclusion, we took the opportunity to assemble everybody on the beach, and observed a moment of silence for our recently lost comrade - Paul Smith. Kind words were spoken by various NJWWA board members.
Lunch was soon served up by Chiafullo’s Navesink Pizza; subs, salads, and pizza aplenty. Beverages and snacks were also provided by our volunteers. The Stand-Up Paddleboard awards ceremony featured silver, bronze and gold medallions, with paddles across the face, fastened on black ribbons. Winners were also adorned with shell leis and eye patches, given out by our pirate race committee. Runner ups received a treasure map depicting where a t-shirt giveaway was buried. It was fun to watch the kids, and kids at heart, dig in earnest to find their treasures.
Jeff Bauer held a captive audience during the novice windsurfing clinic. They listened intently as he covered waterstarting, jibing, and duck jibing, to name a few. The on-land simulator really allowed these maneuvers to be shown from the comfort of land. Kind of like sitting’ back on your couch, and watching an instructional DVD. Beginner windsurfers took advantage of their free time after lunch to lasso up an instructor, and return to the water in the dying breeze.
With the wind having shifted to the SE 7mph, there were still a few dedicated souls intent on racing their windsurfers. The two buoys that were left on the water marking the beginner’s area soon became the shortened race course. After recruiting a few beginner racers, it was time to line up on the starting line. The race committee flag said it all as it sat limp, and sometimes blowing the opposite direction. The shadow of the sand dune was enough to displace any real wind direction, but soon competitors made their way slightly down wind (which used to be slightly up wind) and around the first mark. Then it was pot-luck, with most of the fleet floundering around as the outgoing tide drew them away from the course. Bill Marker didn’t let that affect him as he easily sailed through the finish line. Enrico Pager was close behind. This left Laurie Cox edging out Ally L. for a paddling finish over the line. The last few contenders were soon collected ashore.
With our pirates again providing the coveted medallions and leis to our winners, the final awards ceremony also featured a number of sponsor giveaways, including a Kiteboarding DVD, subscriptions to iWindsurf and Windsport magazine, DaKine harness lines, assorted t-shirts, stickers, and a pizza pie.
An NJWWA Board Meeting was subsequently held at Off The Hook, just over the Rt. 36 bridge in Highlands, following the event. Topics discussed included: Paul Smith memorial, the Gala, event review, safety, and overall improvements.
Photos courtesy Claudia Willison. Many more pictures available on our Facebook page
