Sport Today

Hi

Do many people out there wear glasses? What do they do with them while
they're windsurfing? Or do you just do without, and does anybody find it a
problem? Just wondering.

that often.

Eric

I wear sunglasses every time I am out on the water.  They reduce the glare
and thus minimize eye fatigue.  Plus, wearing them is probably healthier
for your eyes in the log run.  Use chums to hold them on tight in most
action.  Cheers and Happy New Year.

I ALWAYS WEAR GLASSES. SHIELDS CUT TWICE THE UV OF SUNGLASSES. I SAIL AND
LIVE IN HOOD RIVER IN THE GORGE. CHUMS ARE WHAT I USE TO HOLD THEM ON AS
WELL

After losing three pairs of prescription sunglasses I finally went
to using Spex prescription goggles (Costa Mesa, CA).  They are used
by surfers, jet skiers, skydivers, etc. I have used them two seasons
now and am completely satisfied. When they come off they even
float. Also, they give great protection.

--

Laguna Niguel, CA                  CIS UserID: 73522,3213

I wear soft-contact lens with good results. I've had them get lodge under
my eyelid a couple times on really bad wipe-outs and I've always been able
to but them back in even out in the middle of the Columbia (not any easy
task mind you). One tip though, if they do come out it easier to put it
under your tounge and sail back in (Yuck). Sailed without them once and it
was very differcult to judge the size and spacing of the swells/chop. Hope
this helps.

Kevin
Portland OR

--
 ***
*8***
*****
 ***   From Behind the 8 Ball

I wear soft-contact lens with good results. I've had them get lodge under
my eyelid a couple times on really bad wipe-outs and I've always been able
to but them back in even out in the middle of the Columbia (not any easy
task mind you). One tip though, if they do come out it easier to put it
under your tounge and sail back in (Yuck). Sailed without them once and it
was very differcult to judge the size and spacing of the swells/chop. Hope
this helps.

Kevin
Portland OR

--
 ***
*8***
*****
 ***   From Behind the 8 Ball

I now wear disposable contact lenses.  I used to wear hard lenses but
found them ***y uncomfortable plus I could not wear them windsurfing.  
Decided to try the soft disposable lenses.  I put in a new pair each
week.
They are much more comfortable, infact I often go to bed with them still
in.
Much bigger and therefore much less likely to fall out.
So what if they do fall out?  I just put in another pair!

In the past three months I have lost two pairs totally and twice lost one
lens. I generally get out once a week.

Gareth Williams
Screamer, Tush 5.0 -> 6.5, North Masts & Boom

Ballygowan, Northern Ireland

I also wear disposable contact lenses and I have done so for the past 3
years.  I loose one every once in a while.  I make sure I have extras with
me.  Sometimes the after a good wash the lense will work it's way to the
top of my eyeball and cause a few moments of anxiety!

Good luck.

Alan

--
Alan Torrignio
McCloud H.S. Mathematics

The *** nutcases who travel on our weekly club Windsurfing
Surfaris here in the Washington State area have grown fond of those
$5 protective glasses that you buy at the hardware store.  They
feature a "wrap-around" cool look, and protect your face from
the horrible effects of drying out in the sub-zero windchills
experienced while sailing Stevenson in December.  While not as
chic as Varnets, they do keep the 60knot blown water out of your
eyes while jibing and crashing in winter.

Side note: Friday at Dalton Point in the Gorge featured easterlies
of the 70 knot plus range.  We escaped upriver to the lesser (?)
winds of Bob's Beach at Stevenson, and only found gusts to 50 to 60,
so the 2.8m worked moderately well.  Air temp 39 degrees, water temp
40.8 degrees farenheit.

(Geeze I envie the Maui folks during this time of year!).

--Bill Nelson
  Purdy Windsurfing Association
  Tacoma, WA

I prefer wearing glasses to contacts -- I've tried both. And I've lost both.

with contacts, the sheet that comes up when my ***& thigh hit the face of a wave washed them right out before I could close my eyes, even when wearing sunglasses. I've found a cheap, effective solution in wearing swimming goggles. but they fog up and get scratched up and such. I'd like to try "spex" goggles but they're $50, and I wonder about how much spray can sheet up through the drain slots on the underside.

with glasses, there doesn't seem to be the fogging up problem, and photogray is a neat advantage. I trusted a tight croakie + foam float to keep them on my head, or float them if not, but found that they will slide right off the head when I got slammed flat on my back after a catapult. The (soft) foam got waterlogged and didn't float 'em :(    (not too bad tho, they were way old and needed replacing). solutions for these seem to be: (1) use the croakie but also tie a lanyard to it and tie that to either we
tsuit or wear around neck, (2) get those "sports" glasses that look like ski goggles and have a headband, and do a lanyard as in (1).

When I get around to spending the money on another pair of glasses, I'll try 'em again. For now I'm going the inexpensive route of contacts (that's what I use daily anyway) plus the swim goggles.

Jeff

We could really do with some new sailors on the U. Cambridge team, Eric -
how about coming along to the Spade & Becket (Jesus Green) 9pmish
thursdays in full term?

--
Jeremy

I've tried and lost both. I've now had a pair of Raybans that I had
prescription tinted lens put in for about three years. I mostly sail on
flat water or small chop so there's not so much chance of losing them.

I also use the SPEX, but over soft contacts. HINT, don't buy the
black frames. Even though they float, they are very hard to find
if they are knocked off in choppy water. Get one of the really
bright colors.

I am quite happy with my setup. The worst problem that I have had
is getting slammed into the water and having a lense go 'off
center' so that I couldn't see until it went 'on center'.

: > Do many people out there wear glasses? What do they do with them while
: > they're windsurfing? Or do you just do without, and does anybody find it a
: > problem? Just wondering.

I know many people who ware contacts while sailling with no problems,
myself I wear glasses. What I suggest is what I do which is I use an old
pair of glasses (so if worst comes to worst OH WELL). I have use a
croakies strap and even with the worst wipe outs they come off a couple
of time still stuck to the top of my head. In addition to the strap I
have croakies floater I bought a couple of years ago. So if they do come
off at least they fload.
--
Alan Knecht, Thornhill, Ontario

With all the stories about people sustaining *** injuries while
windsurfing, I stopped wearing regular sunglasses.  It seems that wearing
only impact resistant glasses would be the best way to go.  

I'm still looking for good polarized glasses that are also impact and scratch
resistant.  Are the Spex polarized??  

Bob Hain
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Stretch, Waddell 4.7, 5.3, 5.9, Fiberspar, DaKine