After a quarter-century absence, windsurf racing is making a comeback to Long Beach Island with the upcoming Windsurf LT Regatta. Scheduled for June 21 and 22 at Bayview Park in Brant Beach, the event promises a nostalgic celebration of the original sailboard races that once energized the local waters.
Organized by Island Surf & Sail, the regatta will feature the Windsurf LT, a classic watercraft design that harks back to the early days of sailboarding. “It’s a one-design class race,” explained Terry Deakyne, owner of Island Surf & Sail. “Everyone races on the same board, whether rented or purchased, which keeps the competition fun and accessible.”
Deakyne, whose family has deep roots in the island’s sailing community, emphasized that the event is more about enjoyment than high-stakes competition. Island Surf & Sail remains one of the few local outfitters to rent sailboards, a testament to the sport’s enduring but niche presence.
The regatta aims to draw former enthusiasts who sailed the waters in the 1980s and 1990s, while also introducing a new generation to the sport’s classic style. “This is about getting back to the ‘70s design that got us hooked — feeling the glide across the water,” Deakyne said. He noted that the sport’s evolution towards lighter, high-tech gear made it less accessible, eventually overshadowed by newer water sports like kiteboarding.
The origins of windsurfing trace back to 1977, when Hoyle and Diane Schweitzer founded Windsurf International in Southern California, pioneering the modern sailboard. That year, Schweitzer connected with Bob Nissen, former Ship Bottom mayor and owner of Long Beach Marine, who helped introduce the sport to the island. Surfer and skateboarder Jack Bushko became an early local instructor, helping to grow the community around the Island and beyond.
Island Surf & Sail was established in 1987 by Terry’s father, Dave Deakyne, a Hobie Cat sailor. Terry learned to windsurf a year after learning to sail a catamaran, and both he and Bushko became prominent instructors in the sport’s heyday.
However, by the 1990s, the rise of kiteboarding—a less cumbersome and more affordable sport with a fresh cultural appeal—led to a decline in sailboarding’s popularity. Island Surf & Sail’s last sailboard race was held in 2000, marking the end of an era on Long Beach Island.
The current regatta represents an effort to revive the original style of windsurfing, much like the resurgence of ‘60s-style longboard surfing. The event has already attracted participants from New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Florida.
“These are authentic boards, with wooden booms and a padded deck, no footstraps, and 5.7 Mylar sails,” Deakyne explained. “It’s truly old school, and it’s very exciting to see them being made again.”
The regatta’s success will depend largely on weather conditions, particularly wind. Island Surf & Sail will keep participants updated via a WhatsApp group titled Island Surf & Sail Windsurfer LT, and registration is available at regattanetwork.com.
While the sport may be unfamiliar to younger water enthusiasts, Deakyne hopes to spark their interest through exposure and camaraderie. “We want high school and college students to see the board, try it out, and discover how much fun it can be,” he said. “It’s easier to get into with friends, and that’s what we’re encouraging.”
As the Windsurf LT Regatta brings sailboarding back to Long Beach Island’s shores, it promises a weekend of both nostalgia and new beginnings for water sports enthusiasts.
