Well, Kevin Pritchard’s recent article in Windsurfing Magazine discussed a
funny scenario, what if the winds at a particular event site are
unfavorable..do you move to another?? Well, since today was set up and Meet
the Pros we really couldn’t move the event with the offshore winds blowing.
While the set up crew prepared the beach, most everyone headed to where the
NE winds HOWLED, Bayview Beach on Dennis’s northern shoreline on Cape Cod
Bay (6 miles from the event site).

The day was very similar to a November Bayview sesh for many of us. A dreary
rain descended from the dark sky. Seasoned Cape Codders had hoods and dry
suits but the Bonaire Sailing Team came in surf shorts and t shirts. That
changed quickly as the bitter cold winds blew through the rigging scene.
Some had their own 3/2 wetsuits but most borrowed dive suits from a
Bonairean dive shop..the bright lime green legs and sleeves brought back
memories of
the Day Glo Days…

The average sail size was a 4.7 and the winds did howl. The water was
actually warmer than the air so missing jibes wasn’t too painful.

The best part of the day was the Loopatorium. Matt Pritchard from Maui
showed his stuff while Jerry Evans, Jim Canniff and Fred Vetterlein were
amongst the many locals chucking forwards and pulling other aerial
maneuvers.. By far the cleanest and highest were often seen by Bonaire
superstar Tonky Frans. His brother Tati was not far behind and 16 year old
Javier Sint Jago from Aruba threw a few wowing the small crowd braving the
elements for this show.

The rock star Goddesses, Colette Guadagnino, Nori Hubbs and Karin Jaggi made
an appearance with Nori and Karin deciding to make it happen. They made the
best of the onshore backside wave sailing, pulling off some pretty
impressive maneuvers.

Our registration party was like out of a windsurf mag..pros from the
Caribbean, Europe, Maui and Canada were on hand. Jace Panebianco had a
contingent from Long Island. These youths had high energy and enthusiasm.
Peter Hart entertained us with his stories and wit. The food was super and
the drinks flowed thanks to Red Bull.

DAY 2

The day started cool but sunny with light winds from the NE. Not the
direction we had hoped for but the event commenced. Initially the winds were
about 10 offshore but suddenly the Wind Gods and Goddesses heard my plea.
Gusts from the SE sent white caps over Nantucket Sound just as Petra Kanz
and Daida Moreno duked it out in one of the Pro Women’s heat. The crowd was
instantly energized and so the rest of the event progressed.

Everyone got a dose of winds in the 12-15+ range..sometimes more and
sometimes less but all in all it was a day filled with duck jibes, rail
rides, wormburnes, swayzes and even Bonairean Ro Mayer back to back reading
a Venus Swimwear Catalogue. The crowd LOVED it..

The day ended at the Red Bull Rave at Karl’s Landmark. The food flowed and
later the entire crew danced wearing glow light necklaces til the late hours
to trance, house, hip hop and reggae. I left at 11:15 and the place was
still pumping.

If Windsurf and NOAA are correct, tomorrow promises to be a stellar day at
windy West Dennis Beach.