BRANT BEACH, N.J. — For the first time in 25 years, a sailboard race will return to the waters off Brant Beach. Island Surf & Sail is set to host the Windsurfer LT Regatta on June 21 and 22 at Bayview Park, marking a major revival of a classic water sport on Long Beach Island.
The Windsurfer LT—a one-design board based on a 1970s design—is central to the event. All participants will race using the same type of board, creating an even playing field and emphasizing fun over fierce competition.
“It’s not about high-performance racing,” said Terry Deakyne, owner of Island Surf & Sail. “It’s about having fun. Everyone rents or buys the Windsurfer LT, so it’s fair and simple. We’ll have regattas and relay races.”
Island Surf & Sail is one of the few shops in the region where you can still rent a sailboard. Deakyne, who also offers wakeboards, surfboards, paddleboards, and kayaks, hopes to bring back the excitement of windsurfing that once dominated the island in the 1980s and 1990s.
“This board is a throwback,” he said. “It’s what got us hooked back then—gliding across the water, feeling everything. Then the gear got too high-tech. Whoever had the lightest, most expensive equipment had the edge. We want to bring it back to the roots.”
The Windsurfer LT, with its padded deck, wooden boom, and 5.7 Mylar sail, is part of a broader effort to revive the soul of windsurfing, much like how longboard surfing made a comeback in the 2000s.
A Sport With Deep Roots on LBI
Windsurfing on Long Beach Island has a rich history. In the late 1970s, Hoyle and Diane Schweitzer, founders of Windsurf International in Southern California, reached out to Bob Nissen, former mayor of Ship Bottom and owner of Long Beach Marine, to promote the new watercraft.
Nissen contacted local surfer Jack Bushko, who quickly embraced the sport and began teaching others through Atlantic Windsurfing. Although they skipped the calm bay for the open ocean on their first try, the sport quickly caught on.
Bayview Park, the location of this month’s regatta, soon became a hub for sailboarding. Bushko still calls it one of the best access points for paddle and wind sports on the East Coast.
Terry Deakyne’s connection to the sport runs deep. His father, Dave Deakyne, opened Island Surf & Sail in 1987. A Hobie Cat sailor himself, Dave introduced Terry to sailing at a young age. By age 13, Terry had learned to windsurf. Along with Bushko, he later helped teach others and grow the sport locally.
The Rise of Kiteboarding and the Decline of Windsurfing
By the late 1990s, windsurfing began to lose momentum. The gear had become more technical and costly, pushing out newcomers. Meanwhile, kiteboarding emerged as a more affordable and youthful alternative, drawing in a new generation of water sports enthusiasts. Today, the kiteboarding equipment market alone is worth more than $1 billion.
The last sailboarding race hosted by Island Surf & Sail was in 2000. That event eventually evolved into a kiteboarding crossover, marking the end of the sailboard era on LBI.
Now, with the Windsurfer LT making a comeback, Deakyne is hopeful. Windboarders are already registered from New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Florida.
“It’s completely old school,” he said. “They’re bringing back the original boards with wooden booms. It’s so cool.”
Introducing A New Generation
Deakyne sees the upcoming regatta as a way to reintroduce windsurfing to younger water lovers—especially teens and college students unfamiliar with the sport.
“We did a small gathering last year, and a few people were thrilled to see it again,” he said. “This time, we want to reach more young people, show them the board and sail, and let them experience the fun.”
He added, “They need to try it with friends. That’s how it becomes fun. That’s how it catches on.”
Event Information
The Windsurfer LT Regatta will be held June 21–22 at Bayview Park in Brant Beach. Event updates will be shared via WhatsApp at Island Surf & Sail Windsurfer LT.
As with all water sports, success will depend on the conditions—especially the wind. But organizers are optimistic that this event will mark a fresh start for a timeless sport on Long Beach Island.