From his vantage point, Norman watched the plank rider rise to stand and balance as the waves carried them back toward the beach. He had never seen that sort of thing before on the water, and he thought he'd seen everything.  Squinting at the moving figure, all Norman could tell from distance was that they had dark skin, and wait - was that long hair trailing behind? No man would dare have his hair that long, so it must be a woman.  He looked down at the note he hand just written and crossed through it.

Mystery person on plank, paddling/swimming? off beach.

Mystery woman, long hair, dark skin - plank riding(?) off beach. Who is she? 

How he wished he still had his telescope. He finished his note and then returned to stare at the figure in the distance.