Causeway Cookout

When: Saturday January 26th Where: Stuart Causeway east island. What time: I will start firing up the grill at 2:30pm. Bring your favorite cookout food, beverage and appetite. I will bring ice, eating utensiles, plates, cups and charcoal. See you there!

Great time sailing today!

We have an approaching cold front that created a SW wind today. It was warm and sunny so I rigged a 7.0 on my 101L futura and it worked great. Their was a lot of sailors at the causeway and the gusty conditions kept it interesting. At times it seemed I should have rigged  6.0 and then it would back down some. I took some shots with the mast cam and posted them below with some others as well.

We have had some mild fronts push through these past several weeks which have provided some nice windsurfing. I sailed briefly during lunch the day before Thanksgiving. The wind was out of the north and I rigged a 6.0 on my wave board. I was really powered up and should have rigged a 5.2.
Thanksgiving day the wind really blew but I wasn't able to sail. So I stayed inside so I didn't have to hear the wind and ate heartily. The next day the wind came up for several hours, mid afternoon, but I arrived and rigged a 7.0 as the wind was backing down. Today another mild front pushed through and I was able to sail the Ft Pierce inlet well powered on a 6.0 and had a great time. From now till Sunday the forecast looks good as the wind clocks a little more easterly each day.
 

November 18, 2012

I sailed the Ft Pierce inlet this afternoon. Wind was out of the North blowing 25 - 30mph. I rigged a 4.7 on my wave board and Jon was on a 4.5. I am a novice wave sailor so the experience was both awesome and intimidating. Several times on the way out I had no power in the sail with an approaching wave that was about to break. But on the flip side streaking down a wave face fully powered was sweet. Jon said the small sets were probably 6 - 7' and the big sets 8 - 10'

Mast Cam

November 10, 2012

Hurricane Sandy

Sandy has brought some decent winds these past 6 days. The strongest was yesterday and the wind was averaging 40 - 50mph out of the north. Several windsurfers attempted to sail at the causeway. The following photos and video of Brandon were take by William Anzueto. Jon Sailed the South jetty at Ft Pierce inlet. He rigged a 3.0 on a 66L board and he said the wave faces were 20' on the outside. Sorry no photos. The last set of photos were taken today. The wind was out of the NW at 20 - 30mph. Some sailed the north side of the causeway in a gnarly chop and the rest of us sailed the south side in a smoother but gustier condition. The hurricane also brought a lot of our northern sailors as well. Over the past week I have seen: Henry, Jerry, Norman, Big Bill, Cape Cod Dave, Jon and Clark.

October 27, 2012

10_27_12

Brandon calling it a day.

The wind is going to keep building over the next 5 days. Today it was out of the NE and I sailed a 6.0 on my 101L futura and was well powered. Late in the afternoon I sailed the same board with a 7.0.

Yesterday the wind came in much better than forecasted out of the south. When I drove over the causeway I was pleasantly surprised to see the river covered in white caps. I just recently picked up a 101L futura and was itching to try it out. Dino and Ron where rigging when I arrived. Art was on the water and David showed up followed later by Dennis and Tom. I rigged a 7.0 and used the stock fin of 34cm. I sailed for about 45 minutes and could have used a bigger fin. When the gusts came through I was nicely powered and it was good. I tried my weed fin and it seemed to plane up better, but the wind may have been more filled in at that point. The wind was up from 3:00 to 5:00pm and then dropped off gradually.

Sailing with the Big Dogs (power boats)

Sunday the wind was out of the SW and it was better than forecasted. I rigged a 7.0 on my 118L bic and headed out to the channel. Dino and Ron joined me and we raced up and down the west side of the channel. Occasionaly the wind and boats would sync and you could run right beside them. There were some lulls but not enough to dampen the fun and with the 7.0 I was well powered. Art, Andrea, David, Dorian, Tom, Tan Tom and a few other sailors were on the water as well.

TS Isaac

We had a pretty good time on the water. The Jensen wind history shows it blew 25 - 35 ESE for most of the day. We sailed on the west island, south side on an incoming tide. It was heavily overcast with bands of rain coming through. At times it was hard to see with the rain pelting against your face. My first session was on a 6.0 with my 92L wave board and then later on I put the same sail on my 88L slalom board. We pretty much sailed south of the island. Way down at the south end it was fairly flat with solid wind and made for some fast jibing. I did sail the channel twice down past the spoil island, the channel would have been awesome if the tide was low. I should have rigged a 5.2 later in the day, but it was good.  Ron, Dorian, Art, David, Dino, Mat, Dennis and a friend of Dennis sailed.

Surprisingly good afternoon sail.

The wind these past three weeks has been lacking, to say the least. When SUP starts looking like an exciting sport you know the wind has been light for too long. Today was forecast to be the same but for some reason around 3:00 the wind switched from a light west wind to south at 18 to 23 mph and stayed up for almost 4 hours. Dino. Ron and Dick were on the water when I arrived at 5:00. I rigged a 7.0 on the Bic and was nicely powered, it was a fun afternoon.

TS Debbie

TS Debbie brought some pretty decent wind to our area starting Sunday 7/24 and blowing on through Wednesday. Sunday it blew out of the south with a heavy overcast sky. I rigged a 7.0 on my bic and was having a decent time and then it kept building and building. I put on a smaller fin and later gave my sail a ton of downhaul and stuck it on my 88L board. It got to the point where I really needed a 6.0, by then I was done. It was a pretty exciting session, blinding rain squals, heavy chop near the channel and I spotted a black tip shark.
I went out again on Tuesday 7/26, the wind was out of the SSW and the river was covered in white caps when I arrived. Ron said he was overpowered on a 5.2 and tail walked from the causeway to Dick's house. I rigged a 4.2 on the axxis 285 and was fairly well powered. It was a good session with a mostly sunny sky.

Good Time at the causeway

Early this morning the Jensen site wind history showed 23 - 27  mph out of the SE. I planned to sail around 11:00 and the wind died accordingly as a big rain cell developed. I talked to Ron and he made it out early on a 90L with a 6.5 sail, he said at times he was overpowered.

Yesterday I sailed at noon, wind was out of the ESE, very sunny and it looked dead at the causeway. I could see white caps way south and a kite was up. So I rigged a 7.0 with a huge fin on my 118L bic to get me out there. I caught several gusts and made it to the wind line. Dorian told me their were a lot of weeds out there, and their was. I had to head back and put on a weed fin. It performed great, I was able to motor through big mats of sargaso weeds with no problem and sail over some thin water as well. No wonder Art uses this setup.

I sailed again after work from the west island, by this time it was heavily overcast and the wind was building. Brandon and Mitch were there. I rigged my 7.0 again on the same board. There weren't any weeds on the west side and the channel was fairly clear. The best time was blasting up and down the channel and between the spoil islands.

Saturday the wind was ENE and mostly sunny. Ron and I rigged 9.0 and 8.5 on formula boards. We were well powered and cruising from bridge to bridge. With the big sails you could sail close on the east side in flat water, it was great. When I got back to the causeway Andria, Tom and young Dave were rigging. I went out a second time sailed south under the bridge and cruised the flat water in the channel and between the spoil islands.

Sunday the wind was out of the SE with a mostly sunny sky. Ron and I rigged 10.0 and 10.5 on formula boards. It was pretty good sailing. The only down side was weeds and chop from boats and jet skies. Canadian Dave and Dorian were finishing up when we headed out. Art was at the House of Refuge the whole time on a 7.5. I can't say I was sailing any better than Art but why did I require 3 more square meters of sail? Maybe because I was raking weeds with a 58cm fin.

TS Beryl brought some weather to our area. Sunday afternoon when I arrived at the causeway the wind fades. I was hesitant to rig an 8.5 on the formula board because it looked like it could light up at any minute. Dennis and I were on 8.5's, Dino on a 7.3 and I am not sure what Art was on. We sailed for 45 minutes or so and the wind did come up. I rigged a 7.0 on the Bic and as I was launching Ron pulls up in his boat. He was out at the sandbar with his wife and friends. He had been sailing a 10.0 on his formula. I sailed the 7.0 for another hour, it was great.
Monday was similiar; I showed up, wind dies. Although the wind was stronger so Ron, Dino, Dorian and Art were on 6.5's and small boards. Dennis was smart he was sailing close to the causeway the others were way out at the House of Refuge. The storm that rolled through Jensen shut the wind down at the causeway first, so Dennis came in. We watched as the others continued to sail as another storm worked it's way through Stuart and soon they were standing still. Then multiple lightning strikes and heavy rain came in. Dino and Dorian swam their rigs in, a power boat came out to assist and brought Art in. Ron swam over to IR Plantation, took a nap on the fairway, and schlogged back when the wind started to stir.

Around 4:30 Dino calls me and says it's blowing at the causeway. I haven't sailed in 12 days so it didn't take much to talk me into going. The wind is out of the SE with a fair amount of white caps on the water so I rig a 7.0 and head out. The wind is fading so it was 20 minutes of mediocre sailing followed by 40 minutes of schlogging. So we end up on the island of the causeway talking and around 7:20 it starts picking up, right around the time Dino finally de-rigged his sail. So I head back out, younger Brandon is already out and the wind really fills in. I had to stop several times and flatten out my sail, it was great. As Brandon starts heading in I notice 2 sails streaking back and forth close to the causeway, Ron and Dino are back out. We sailed after sunset, it was sweet.

Hatteras Island

Today was unbelievably calm. At noon I rode my bike from Frisco to Hatteras and stopped halfway between at a beach access. From the boardwalk you could see the ocean and sound, both were dead calm.

Hatteras Island

Yesterday the wind came up earlier and stronger than forecasted. No one was up, I told Tammy I should go around and bang on some campers. I sailed by myself, wind was out of the north and it was nice and sunny. It was blowing 18 - 20 and I rigged a 7.0 on my bic.

Hatteras Island

Yesterday the wind came up out of the SW and I sailed with two other windsurfers on a 7.0. It was warm, sunny and a pleasent ride. Last nite the wind changed direction and around 3:00am gusts were hitting 30+ out of the NW. In the morning the skies became mostly sunny with the temperature in the low 60's. At 7:30am I was on the water on a 4.7 but the wind was dropping fast. So I rigged a 6.0 and was out till 9:00. It was fun because you were sailing parallel to shore instead  heading out into the great void of Pamilico Sound.

Hatteras Island

Yesterday the wind came up out of the south, which is onshore on the oceanside of Hatteras Island. So we headed to the ocean and I rigged a 4.7 but was underpowered

Oceanside Hatteras Island.

Frisco NC.

We arrived at the Outer Banks Sunday around 2:00pm. At 3:00 I am rigged and toting my gear down to the launch site at Frisco Woods campground. I am looking at the windsurfers standing around the area and there is Jerry!! They stopped at the Outer Banks on there way north and when Jerry heard it was going to blow he came over to Frisco Woods. I had rigged a 5.2 on my axxis 285 with a pointer fin. Jerry told me a 4.7 was more appropriate for the wind speed so I flattened out my sail and headed out. The axxis always needed a lot of power to get on plane so the sail wasn't a problem but the weeds were. I couldn't go 100 yards without picking up weeds. When Jerry was through he let me borrrow his weed fin and it was unbelievable. The board got on plane easier, pointed well and didn't pick up any weeds. I was so impressed I traced the outline on a cardboard box and wrote down the specs. This morning the very first windsurf shop had a used weed fin that was very close to the outline of Jerry's so I picked it up for $50. Back to the camp ground we go so I rigged a 6.0 on the axxis and it performed great. I sailed an hour or so and the wind seemed to back off some so I got out the bic. The free ride fin fouled up pretty fast with weeds so I headed in. The wind came up some so I was back out on the axxis. Later in the afternoon I picked up a weed fin for the bic at Hatteras Island Sail Shop and we talked quite a while with Barton. Yesterday afternoon and today was sunny with the wind out of the NE and a temperture of 75 degrees. Wearing a shorty wetsuit was all that was needed. There was a half dozen windsurfers and about 14 kite boarders on the water. Also, when we drove past Canadian hole the parking lot was packed.

Since Sunday afternoon the wind has been blowing out of the SE. I sailed Sunday on a 7.0, the water was shallow and I was picking up a lot of weeds on my fin. Monday I went out on my 92L wave board and a 4.7. I saw Art out at the House of Refuge and on my way back the strap at the head of my sail let loose and the mast cup flew off. I had to de-rig and swim everything back to the causeway. Monday after work I went back to the causeway but launched at the west island so I could get out on my sinker board. Brandon was there so I rigged a 5.2 on my 88L axxis. It was light at first but it filled in and it was fun. I hadn't sailed off that island in a couple of years. Tuesday was the best. Sunny skies and the water was low so the sandbar was cutting most of the chop and the channel was smooth. I rigged a 7.0 on my bic and made long runs up and down the channel. Dino, Jon, Norman and David were on the water. On the runs heading north you were bearing slightly off the wind and Dino clocked 34.1 on his gps. At one point a large sight seeing boat headed up the channel putting out a large wake and Jon took advantage of that.

Weekend Update

Sunday the wind showed up as forecasted. It was a typical west wind; gusts followed by lulls, followed by huge gusts tempting you to change up your rig. Dick summed it up best, "if you stay with what you rigged you will be right 30% of the time." There was a lot of sailors on the water, enjoying the wind, sunny skies and comardery.

Saturdays cook out turned out OK, the weather was a bit sketchy. A front was moving down the state with rain and wind in the forecast. The rain stayed just to the south of us, Art and David were able to sail when the wind spiked for an hour.

Windy Weekend

We had plenty of wind this weekend but it was difficult to sail. The Stuart causeway was closed due to a power boat regatta so it was hard to find a launch site.
Saturday I drove out to the House of Refuge early in the morning because parking is usually tight. I rigged a 4.7 on my 118L bic and was on the water at 9am. While I was sailing Tom, Susan and Ed showed up. At 12 I rigged a 6.0 and sailed for another hour. The wind was out of the east, water was flat and it made for some nice sailing.
Sunday I sailed again at the House of Refuge at 3pm. The wind ws lighter and it was out of the SE. I rigged a 7.0 and had a pretty decent sail.

Cookout at the Causeway

We are having a cookout at the causeway April 21st. So bring your family, friends, your favorite cookout food and beverages. This will take place on the Stuart causeway east island and start at 2:30. I will bring charcoal, ice, plates, cups and eating utensil's.

I was able to sail for three hours yesterday afternoon and it was sweet. The wind was out of the SE and it was nice and sunny. I rigged a 6.0 on the 88L Axxis and had a blast. I spent most of my time sailing out near the House of Refuge and the spoil island, water was flat and the wind was filled in.

Close encounter with a Coastie.

Wednesday I sailed during lunch and rigged a 7.0 on my Bic. The wind had a little more east to it than yesterday and I tacked down the channel. When I got south of the first spoil island I planned to gybe on the west side of the channel and head between the spoil islands towards the House of Refuge. After gybing I was schlogging on the edge of the channel waiting for a gust. Then looking through my sail I noticed a blue flashing light afixed to a Coast Guard boat bearing down on.... Me? The boat came along side up wind of me. A coastie said I was a hazard to navigation and with no wind in my sail and bumping his boat I lost balance and fell in. While under water and close to his twin outboards I hear him give it some throttle and feel the prop wash. Not wanting to become chum I was able to water start right smartely and was leaving the scene. He shouted asking if I was OK and I gave him the thumbs up and left.... sheesh.

Great sailing on Sunday!

When I arrived at the causeway around 1:00 a storm cell was close by and the wind had shut down. Previous to that it was looking like 6.0. After the cell passed by the wind filled in out of the ESE and it was mostly cloudy. I rigged a 5.2 on the 88L Axxis and was well to overpowered all afternoon. Jon figured the actual wind speed was 25 - 30+ and it was blowing solid. What a day!
I also sailed wednesday of last week on a 6.0. Wind was out of the east and it was nice and sunny. James and I did some drag racing out by the House of Refuge, it made for a great lunch time sail.

The wind was cranking!

I arrived at the causeway around noon and the sun was out and the wind was blowing. The usual suspects were there, plus Dave from Michigan. James had been sailing for a while and had rigged from a 7 down to a 5 something, he said it was building. I rigged a 5.2 and put it on the bic and headed for the channel. I needed the 118L to get me to the channel but wished I was on the 88L once out in the wind line. Fortunately the sand bar on the east side of the channel was cutting down the chop which made for a fast exciting ride. I just wished I had brought the gps and a smaller fin.

Sanibel Causeway

This past weekend I sailed the Sanibel causeway. Saturday the wind was out of the south so I sailed at the entrance of the causeway and the wind was onshore. I rigged a 7.0 on my bic and tried to sail on the outside of the sandbar but I had to much speed in heavy chop. On the inside of the sandbar it was flat water and good speed on the east end which made for some nice jibing but the run was maybe 1/2 mile. Sunday the front came through and I sailed on the island closest to Sanibel. I rigged a 4.7 on my 88L axxis and was well powered in the gusts. After an hour and a half the wind dropped some and I sailed another hour on a 6.0.

We had a front blow through last Sunday and it looks like another is on its way this Sunday. I sailed south jetty last Sunday on a 5.2 and a 92L mistral. The jetty park beach was closed because they were pumping sand. There was 100 more yards of beach since I was there last. I put in at Porpoise park about a 1/4 mile south. I was well powered and was able to sail up to the jetty, no problem. The ocean swell wasn't that big but it was fun.

There was a chair, bowl and ladle left at the cookout last weekend, see James to collect your goods. Susan you left your harness and gloves today, James has those as well.

Strong west wind at the causeway!

When I was driving over the causeway around 2:00pm there was a dozen windsurfers on the water on the south side and 30 sailboats participating in a regatta on the north side. Ron remarked that this was the best west wind ever and I would have to agree. I rigged a 5.2 0n my 88L Axxis 258 and had a great time. There was a lot of windsurfers out today, at one point I counted 20 rigs on the beach.

I sailed South Jetty Sunday afternoon. Jon was already on the water when I got there so I took some photos. When he came in for a break he told me what to rig. The wind was out of the north and when I measured it, 22 - 24mph. I rigged a 5.2 0n my 92L mistral and had a decent time.

Cookout at the Causeway

We had a good turn out at the causeway. Plenty of: wind, sunshine, wind, people, food and more wind. The wind was out of the NW and it was a bit gusty. I rigged a 7.0 on my Bic and was nicely powered at times and at other times not so good. We had to put some sails up at the pavilion to block some of the wind. Thanks to all that brought food and to all who participated, looking forward to the next one.

I sailed yesterday at lunch. Tide was high and the wind was ENE. From the forecast I had hoped to sail a 7.0 but when I arrived at the causeway it looked a little to light. I rigged an 8.5 on the formula board, was well powered and I could make long runs from bridge to bridge. Dorian and Canadian Dave were sailing, Ron and Dino were rigging when I finished up.
The weather for tomorrows cookout looks good. 50% cloud cover, wind NW 18 - 24, temps in the low 70's, 30% chance of rain. Bring your sweatshirt, windbreaker and your appetite.

Today wind was ENE and it was nice and sunny. At the causeway I rigged a 6.0 on my Bic and was really well powered. I sailed mostly in the cove north of Joes point. I saw Jerry, Canadian David, Dorian, James and a few others on the water. After work I sailed bathtub beach. Jon was leaving when I showed up and he got me rigging the right gear and pointed out some obstacles in the water. The wind was pretty much onshore, the tide was out and you could blast south to the jetty pretty quickly. I was sailing a 7.0 on my Bic. The wind had dropped some since noontime.

It was a pretty decent afternoon sailing at the South Jetty in Ft Pierce. I rigged a 6.0 on the wave board and sailed with Randy from Vero.

Thursday we had strong winds out of the SSE and it was nice and sunny. I rigged a 6.0 and was really well powered. I sailed with Art, James and a friend of his out by The House and the spoil islands. We raced around for an hour till I broke a fin in the shallows and had a struggle getting back. I put on a smaller fin and went back out. It was a great day on the water.
Friday I wasn't able to get out but the wind was up again and shifted some to the west. I could tell by the wind history that it was a lot gustier.

We are having a cookout at the causeway February 11th. So bring your family, friends, your favorite cookout food and beverages. This will take place on the Stuart causeway east island and start at 2:30. I will bring charcoal, ice, plates, cups and eating utensil's.

Nice weekend sailing

Ron, Dino, me and Art

We had a cold front push through on Friday which made for some pretty decent windsurfing. Ron and I had visions of sailing at Virginia Key on Saturday but it didn't work out so I ended up sailing at the causeway around 2:00 in the afternoon. Wind was straight down the river and it was heavily overcast. I rigged a 7.0 on the 118L bic with a 52cm fin. The wind was up and down and the tide was running out at a pretty good rate. I was able to sail about a mile north of the causeway into some pretty decent wind. I saw Art was way up the river and worked his way down and we sailed near each other. Brandon was finishing up when I arrived and Ron, James, Canadian Dave and a few others were on the water.
Sunday I arrived around 2 again with similiar conditions but it was nice and sunny. I rigged the same and sailed in the same area. Dino and Tom were in the vicinity and as it got later the wind increased. At one point we were blasting across the river heading west with the sun low in the sky. Even with poloraized sun glasses it was hard to make out much detail like shallow water markers or the approaching docks on the west side. James. Art, Ron and Canadian Dave were on the water. Jerry, Cape Cod Dave, Joel, Susan and a few others were finishing up when I arrived. Also joing us was was my lovely and vivacious wife Tammy and our dog Willa.

Tom heading in.