This sure beats doing homework!Thursday, October 22, 2009
Cool front ends doldrums
Between windsurfing and working there hasn't been anytime for blogging. Six straight days on the water, it doesn't get any better than that! Friday my last post marked the approach of a much needed cool front, that week the temps were in the low 90's.
Saturday the wind was NNW and for most of the day it was overcast and cool. I rigged an 8.5 on the formula and went out around 3:00. Art, Dino, Austin, Ron T and David were on the water. As the skies cleared we had a cookout at one of the pavilions and watched the sunset.
Sunday the best wind was early and it was still straight down the river. Greg, "aka Kawabunga", was already on the water when I arrived. I rigged a 7.0 and Art joined me as we headed about 1/4 mile north of the causeway and made runs back and forth across the river. Huge gust would come through and you would have thoughts of rigging smaller. Then the wind would go slack and it would leave you wondering if that was it. I saw about 5 kites on the causeway island but with all the holes they couldn't go out. The wind shifted to the west some and backed off slightly, we were forced closer to the causeway. Eventually I saw Andrea, Dino, Austin, David, Dick and a few others on the water.
Monday the wind was up and down and blowing out of the NNE. While rigging a 7.0 Mitch showed up, David, Art and Alex were on the water. I got one good ride in, blasted up to the Jensen Causeway and back.
Tuesday the wind clocked around to the east. It was ESE when I arrived. Jon told me he was well powered on a 5.8 when he was on the north side. Looking south the wind was light just south of the causeway, with binoculars you could see wind driven chop out at the House of Refuge. I rigged a 7.0 and schlogged out, once I hit the windline I had huge power. I made a few runs and it was too much. Ron T. and Jon were racing around, Art and Dave were on the water as well. When I got back to the island Dino and Austin were heading out. I rigged a 6.0 on a 92L synchro, I have been waiting 6 months to ride it, how sweet was that? I was out about an hour and then switched the sail over to the 118L techno 2. We sailed till atleast 6:30.
Wednesday the wind was still ESE. Ron T was sailing an 8.5, David and Art were on 7.5’s. When I was rigging my 7.0 Ron started packing up, he gave some weak excuse about a 20th wedding anniversary. Just kidding, congratulations to Ron and his wife! I put a 48cm fin on just to make sure I could plane up easily. It worked well and was having a lot of fun. Brandon blew past me once, he was having a good time. Chris was on the water as well but I’m not sure what he rigged. Dino and Austin showed up followed later by Dr. Connelly.
Saturday the wind was NNW and for most of the day it was overcast and cool. I rigged an 8.5 on the formula and went out around 3:00. Art, Dino, Austin, Ron T and David were on the water. As the skies cleared we had a cookout at one of the pavilions and watched the sunset.
Sunday the best wind was early and it was still straight down the river. Greg, "aka Kawabunga", was already on the water when I arrived. I rigged a 7.0 and Art joined me as we headed about 1/4 mile north of the causeway and made runs back and forth across the river. Huge gust would come through and you would have thoughts of rigging smaller. Then the wind would go slack and it would leave you wondering if that was it. I saw about 5 kites on the causeway island but with all the holes they couldn't go out. The wind shifted to the west some and backed off slightly, we were forced closer to the causeway. Eventually I saw Andrea, Dino, Austin, David, Dick and a few others on the water.
Monday the wind was up and down and blowing out of the NNE. While rigging a 7.0 Mitch showed up, David, Art and Alex were on the water. I got one good ride in, blasted up to the Jensen Causeway and back.
Tuesday the wind clocked around to the east. It was ESE when I arrived. Jon told me he was well powered on a 5.8 when he was on the north side. Looking south the wind was light just south of the causeway, with binoculars you could see wind driven chop out at the House of Refuge. I rigged a 7.0 and schlogged out, once I hit the windline I had huge power. I made a few runs and it was too much. Ron T. and Jon were racing around, Art and Dave were on the water as well. When I got back to the island Dino and Austin were heading out. I rigged a 6.0 on a 92L synchro, I have been waiting 6 months to ride it, how sweet was that? I was out about an hour and then switched the sail over to the 118L techno 2. We sailed till atleast 6:30.
Wednesday the wind was still ESE. Ron T was sailing an 8.5, David and Art were on 7.5’s. When I was rigging my 7.0 Ron started packing up, he gave some weak excuse about a 20th wedding anniversary. Just kidding, congratulations to Ron and his wife! I put a 48cm fin on just to make sure I could plane up easily. It worked well and was having a lot of fun. Brandon blew past me once, he was having a good time. Chris was on the water as well but I’m not sure what he rigged. Dino and Austin showed up followed later by Dr. Connelly.
This doesn't bode well for recreational sailors!
Dr C and Dino conferring, next we will see Dino and Austin both on full race equipment!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Last Sunday I was out late in the afterrnoon on a 10.5 and a formula board. Wind was out of the SE and it was lite. Art was sailing way south and Dino, Austin, Ron T and I were sailing between the spoil islands. It was a lot of work at first hunting gusts but the wind came up some towards the end.
Friday Brandon called regarding the wind and as I was driving over the causeway some kites were up...... all good signs! When I got to the island I spotted Jerry and Jon, they must have brought the wind. It was blowing out of the SW and favoring the north side. So I rigged a 7.0 on the 118L board. It was so nice to be off the formula gear. I buzzed up to the sailing center, water was flat with some nice gusts coming through. Then I headed down the channel and under the bridge. I sailed with Art and Jon, water was flat but the holes were getting bigger. I was out for an hour and a half, the first hour was excellant. I saw Alex, Joel and a few other windsurfers on the water. On the island Fred, Dick and some others were milling about and Brandon showed up when I was leaving.
Friday Brandon called regarding the wind and as I was driving over the causeway some kites were up...... all good signs! When I got to the island I spotted Jerry and Jon, they must have brought the wind. It was blowing out of the SW and favoring the north side. So I rigged a 7.0 on the 118L board. It was so nice to be off the formula gear. I buzzed up to the sailing center, water was flat with some nice gusts coming through. Then I headed down the channel and under the bridge. I sailed with Art and Jon, water was flat but the holes were getting bigger. I was out for an hour and a half, the first hour was excellant. I saw Alex, Joel and a few other windsurfers on the water. On the island Fred, Dick and some others were milling about and Brandon showed up when I was leaving.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Saturday I was over at the Sanibel causeway and rigged a 4.0. What a 4.0,.....did you miss a tropical storm? No actually I was giving my neice, Olivia, a lesson. The 4.0 was the smallest sail I had and she did very well with it. She's got good balance and is a quick learner.
Sunday found me at the Stuart Causeway rigging a 10.5 on the formula. Wind was out of the SE and earlier had been blowing 8.5. Dino, Karen, Ron T, and Don were on the water. Shortly after launching the wind started to back down, but I had a decent hour on the water.
Sunday found me at the Stuart Causeway rigging a 10.5 on the formula. Wind was out of the SE and earlier had been blowing 8.5. Dino, Karen, Ron T, and Don were on the water. Shortly after launching the wind started to back down, but I had a decent hour on the water.
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