Can Anyone Beat this Record?

gerritt · Joined: 06 May 1998 Posts: 632 Location: Redwood City, CA

I didn't start off trying to make a record and am wondering if I even hold one.

I have windsurfed at least one day every month since January 2004. I began keeping a journal of my sessions in 1998, just to go back and figure out what works and what doesn't, along with where I've been and when I was there. Along the way, I have set goals, and tried to work toward them. Some, I have attained, and some I have not. As for statistics, I set a 100 days/year goal many moons ago and have made that every year since 1999. My personal best is 153 days in 2013. I'm happy with that since I hold a full time job and am/was the primary care give for 2 daughters. My youngest will be out of the house in the fall for school. Maybe I can do better? I know of plenty of folks who windsurf more than 150 days/year. But I don't know that many who can claim at least one day/month every year since 2004.

Can anyone beat it? I live in the Bay Area, which is wasted on most who don't participate in windsports (IMHO). I'm not a professional windsurfer, but am including any one of them in the challenge. I'm curious who gets out the most consistently. Where they live. Where they travel to do it AND the lifestyle they employ to accomplish the pursuit of their passion. Do you work? Are you retired?

So come on. Lets hear from the Maui boys, the Carribian folks, the folks in Europe, the travelers and wanderers. Call out your numbers.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

I think Mitsu at Berkeley had some year's with over 220 days, but Nov and Feb can be really tough to log in even one day.
Is more better, or is quality of day also important?
I CAN sail over 200 days a year, but choose to limit it down to around 100, for the sake of interest and body health.

usa4 · Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 93

I cant claim to beat that record.
Well done!
I had 164 windsurfing and kiting sessions in 2015 - http://stevebodner.blogspot.com/2015/12/2015-by-numbers.html
150 in 2014: http://stevebodner.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-by-numbers.html
and 161 in 2013- http://stevebodner.blogspot.com/2014/01/2013-by-numbers.html
I'm more or less around 150 sessions a year since I moved to SF in 2001 with 2 years over 200 days a year. Formula windsurfing made it easy to sail in the light wind winter months for many years; now. however- kite foiling has replaced formula in the winter months.
I keep track of my sessions via twitter and try to make an analysis at the end of the year to see what gear Ive used. I work as a consultant in SF and get most of my session at crissy field as its close to home and work. SF is one of the few urban areas in the US where one can hold down a steady job and get out on the water 100+ days a year with a steady afternoon thermal from March to October.
I've probably given up a lot of career advancement but vacation comes most afternoon at 4pm when the shoes and socks come off and I walk down the beach and put the board in the water.
Oh yes- having a very understanding significant other makes all the difference in the world.

gerritt · Joined: 06 May 1998 Posts: 632 Location: Redwood City, CA

Agreed on all points usa4. Live well and play well. I did 148 WS days last year. Add in surfing and I got 177 days on the water. A couple of days were double session. I have no way of knowing where my career would be without this awesome sport and the life I've built around maintaining access to it, but I do know I would not be a as happy.

rigitrite · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 520 Location: Kansas City

Pretty the locals in Hawaii, Bonaire, or Aruba have you beat.....just sayin'.

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Google "Windsday sailing" for some tips on making time to sail on weekdays.

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

I can. I've sailed at least 2 days per month since the late 90s. Locally, central coast, San Carlos, and especially Maui. If there is a wind drought in Ca, I jump on a last minute flight to Maui. I've flown over a minimum of 6 times a year since 99. I've been there twice in the last 2 months, and have had 8-9 days here. PS, last week was the 1st trip I've taken over that I didn't get to sail.....IN YEARS. Although Jaws was firing HUGE.

Edit, I lied, I had surgery and missed 1 month a couple of years ago...Shit.

loopy · Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 73

kept log from 96. sailed every month except for dec'2001 -- recovering from busted ankle, and april'2011 -- no idea why. maybe travelling or maybe the other busted ankle.

looks like 2013 was a good year for me too -- 158.
sail 100+ each year. don't know how to do other stuff like kite,sup,surf..
5.0 is big sail. although i have a floaty 83ltr board at 150#.

on the down side, don't see too many young people / new faces joining the sport where i sail.

gerritt · Joined: 06 May 1998 Posts: 632 Location: Redwood City, CA

Ha! My record stands! If I could ex-out a couple of months, then I could go all the way back to 1998, when I first started keeping a journal, but I'm claiming only from 2003 forward - at least one day every month, documented. Many of those winter months include more than one day. Many of those "off season" sessions are the most memorable of my sailing career.

In any event, loopy and MalibuGuru get credit for "the love" and dedication. Indeed, the sport has condensed in terms of participants, but those of us left are pretty hard core. I never had the luxury of jumping on a plane and abandoning my job to chase perfect wind and waves on Maui, or San Carlos. So credit to those that can for living the dream.

BTW - my session last weekend at Princeton Harbor was notable for a comment from a passing dog walker, who stated as I was picking up my gear to walk down the the water, "Right on man. Keeping it old school!"

Fuck, now we are old school.