Even though it took me almost a year to sort out the logistics of interviewing Windsurfing Hall of Fame Nevin Sayre for Seahorse, it was certainly worth the wait. That September Sunday started with a quick passage from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven with my dad and Paul on Katrina; we even managed to arrive a tad early. And then I got to learn more about Nevin, while overlooking a mostly wind-free Vineyard Haven harbor (which meant that neither of us felt like we were missing out on wingfoiling).

But it’s the sail back to Woods Hole that provides the strongest memories: an upwind, up-current challenge that took me right back to childhood Knockabout racing. What could be more fun (for all three of us) than puzzling out how to best escape the foul current coming around Nobska Light? It was a great reminder that all that cruise planning (trying to make passages easier and more efficient) leaves out some of the most memorable aspects of traveling by sail.
Seahorse has graciously agreed to let me share the PDF with all of you, so click on the photo below to learn more about Nevin . . . and his near-death experience in 2024. To read Rod Davis’s piece (illustrated by a fantastic photo of Nevin himself, inspiring the next generation), subscribe to Seahorse—and never miss another profile!

Got a Nevin story? Share it in the comments below, or send me an email. I read every single one, with gratitude. See you next Thursday!
Previous Seahorse Profiles
Upwind with the Uncategorizable Dee Caffari
Listening to the Legendary Butch Ulmer
Steve Clark Just Can’t Sit Still
Seahorse Profile: Sharing a Brain
Paul Callahan: Maximizing His Unique Potential
Giving Paul Bieker Some Seahorse Love
Betsy Alison: Using All the Tools
Jerry Kirby: All the Stories are True
Peter Harken: What an Amazing Guy
Buddy Melges: He Really Was a Wizard
Toppa Talks: One Job, One (Big) Dream
Circus Minimus: The Rich Life of Bill Mattison
Mark Reynolds: Hard Chines and Unasked Questions
Dawn Riley: Setting the Standard
Clicks of Chance: Onne van der Wal
Just Say Yes: Stan and Sally Honey
Rod Davis: Why You Need His Wisdom in 2021
Rod Johnstone: An Amazing Legacy of Yacht Designs
A Final Conversation with Harry Anderson