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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

We have had some pretty decent wind lately. It started on Sunday and it is forecasted to fade out today. I sailed Sunday on the north side of the island, Monday and Wednesday on the south side. I rigged a 7.0 on the bic 118L on those days and had a good ride.

I had a decent day windsurfing on Saturday. I arrived at 8:30am and rigged a 5.2 on the bic. Wind was out of the east and there was a big wind shadow south of the causeway. It was hard getting out but once I was in the windline I was overpowered. I made some runs near the "House" and then headed back. I tried going out later on a 92L wave board but the wind dropped slightly. So I ended up rigging a 6.0 on the bic. By this time quite a few sailors had shown up and we were making runs up and down the channel. Alex was between the spoil islands doing his freestyle thing and at times all of us were in the same area. It was pretty wild. Later some of us joined up with Art and sailed near the "House". It was a great day to be on the water.

For Thanksgiving we were in Ft Myers and I was able to sail the Sanibel causeway. I rigged a 7.0 and used a big fin because the wind was kind of light. I sailed out and around the light house where the kite boarders were, then the wind backed down a lot so I headed back. There was about a half dozen kite boarders out and when I returned to the causeway the same number of windsurfers were waiting for the wind to pick up.
When we returned on Sunday I went down to the Stuart causeway around 2:30. Art and Dino were on the water and Ron showed up shortly after I did. Canadian Dave, Charles and a few others were at the causeway as well. I rigged the same as I did on Sanibel and joined up with Art and Dino out at the "House". I was a bit leary of following Art out in the shallows with a 52cm fin but we had a fun time. I sailed a few hours and then went back out with Ron and pretty much sailed till sunset.

Sweet sailing on Sunday!

I arrived at the causeway around 2:00pm and it was blowing out of the NE. Dino, Henry, Joel, Bill and Susan were finishing up and most were sailing 6.5's. I rigged a 6.0 on my 118L Bic and was nicely powered. Cape Cod Dave, Dennis, Art, Ernesto and a few others were still sailing. With the addition of Cape Cod Dave was Jack and Marion, so now the windsurfing season officially begins. With the exception of Michigan Dave but it's still much to warm for him. I sailed up to the bay north of Joe's point, Art's bay, and spent 45 minutes carving up some flat water. It seemed like the wind was starting to back down so I headed back. Halfway there the wind picked up and I spotted Art heading north to the Jensen causeway. I jibed and followed Art but I was wishing I was on a smaller board. We ran from bridge to bridge and then I called it quits.
If you lost some harness lines on Sunday see Art.

Saturday when I arrived at the causeway Jon and Mike were there, Art and Canadian Dave showed up when I did. The wind was ENE and I rigged an 8.5 on the formula board. I was really well powered and sailed down at the House of Refuge with Art. Then we sailed under the Stuart causeway and on up to the Jensen causeway. That run was kind of choppy for a formula board, but out at the House it was great. When I stopped at the causeway Henry was there and Andrea had rigged.
Sunday I showed up around 2 and by that time the wind was E but harder. Jerry, Henry, Art and a few others had sailed the north side on 6.5's. Dino and I rigged 7.2, 7.0's. We sailed out at the House for a while with Art and Jon. We had some drag racing going on with flat water and some powerful gusts coming through. I caught one good gust close in on flat water and kept bearing off and logged 30.3mph on the gps. After that I made my way over to the channel and made some nice long runs from the spoil island up towards the bridge. Brandon showed up when I came in and he sailed the channel with Dino. The sky was overcast, a nice breeze was blowing; it was a very pleasant evening at the causeway.

We had some huge wind this past weekend. It actually started on the 5th and ended Sunday evening. I sailed on Wednesday evening on the north side of the causeway on a 7.0. There was some nice gusts coming through but nothing like what it was blowing earlier in the day. I could make some nice long runs and point way up the river so it was fun.
Thursday after work it was blowing out of the SE and I had to rig an 8.5 on the formula board. I was a bit dissapointed in sailing formula gear but I was really powered and sailed very close to the House of Refuge. The water was super flat and it was fun.
Friday morning I was at the causeway at 9:30am, it was raining with no wind. I waited over 2 hours and it just started to come up when I had to leave around noon time.
I was in Leesburg Fl Saturday and I got some texts stating that the wind was blowing 40 - 50 mph, thanks Dino.
Sunday I was at the causeway around 1:00pm. I rigged a 5.2 on a 88L board and sailed the south side of the causeway. It was tough getting out but once I got to the House I was WAY overpowered. The sky was heavily overcast and it was drizzling at times. I made some runs and decided to head back because the wind seemed to be getting stronger. I found Dennis along the bank south of Dick's house. He was overpowered on a 4.7 and was taking a break. After I got back to the causeway Art, Dino, Ron, Dorian, Canadian Dave, and some other windsurfers were taking a breather as well. I ended up rigging a 4.7 and sailing the north side of the causeway. Brandon, Joel, Don and Craig showed up. The wind had shifted slightly to the north and the sun strarted coming out. I had some good runs and was suprised how big the waves were just west of the channel.

Sailing this summer has been kind of sparse for me. It was nice to get out Saturday afternoon. Ron, canadian Dave and Art were on the water when I arrived around 2:30. Wind was out of the NE and light. I rigged an 8.5 on the formula board and launched on the north side of the causeway. I sailed up the river and met up with Art. We were making runs from Joes point and heading up towards the west island of the Jensen causeway. After exiting a jibe you had to hunt for a gust to get back up on plane but for the most part I was fairly well powered.

Last time I sailed was on Saturday afternoon. I rigged my 8.5 on the formula board and was well powered. Wind was out of the SE and the tide was coming in. If it weren't for the tide I probably could have rigged a 7.0. I met up with Art out near the spoil island and sailed with him a bit. It was a good session except their was a lot of seaweed. Dino and Ron rigged 7.2's and were underpowered. Then Ron had a run in with a jet ski, literally! He had to jump off his board so he wouldn't get hit. The authorities were called no tickets written but an apology was given.

North wind in July??

Around noon time today the wind came up and Dino was at the causeway and caught some of it sailing his 7.0 on his 92L JP slalom. Ron and I showed up around 2:00 and the wind had backed off but was still blowing out of the north. I rigged a 10.5 and Ron a 8.4. I was out for an hour and was nicely powered. After that the wind filled in more and Ron and Dino were powered up on there 8.4's.

Tuesday afternoon I made my way down to the causeway. I could tell I hadn't been windsurfing in a while, the footstraps on my board were completely dry. Dino had been out earlier on his 8.4 and didn't have much luck. I rigged my 8.5 on the formula and launched on the north side of the island. Wind line said E 16 - 22 but it looked like 10 to me. I schloged a hundred yards or so, caught a gust and sailed to the Jensen causeway. I was pleased with that but then I pretty much had to schlog back. I went back to the causeway and decided to wait and see if it would pick up. Ron T. showed up and rigged his 10.5, it was still looking light with an occasional gust coming through. We headed out and I was nicely powered :) We sailed to Jensen causeway and then south under the Stuart causeway down to the spoil island. We had a good sail, I was glad I went back out.
The forecast looks bleak for the next week or so. Tropical wave moving over Florida providing much needed rain but not much wind.

A week of east wind!

This past week their has been a high pressure system off of Jacksonville that has created an east wind. It never blew as hard as predicted but it still made for some nice sailing. I always ended up rigging an 8.5 on the formula board and sailing out in the channel. Usually the tide was very low and the sandbar on the east side of the channel provided some very flat water. You could run for a mile up and down the channel, it was a blast. Yesterday I sailed from 1:00 to 3:00 and the wind was a little on the light side. Thursday I sailed after work and it was great! I was well powered, the only one on the water, very little boat traffic and you could really pick up some speed buzzing down the channel. Memorial Day was good late in the afternoon but the causeway was packed and there was a lot of boat traffic.

On Memorial Day Ron was sailing around Peanut Island near the Palm Beach Inlet. He got hurt while sailing past his boat.... he will have to explain. I am not sure but I think "Jack" may have been involved. He seriously injured his arm but it is healing up and he should be on the water in a few weeks.

Dino on the other hand has been noticeably absent on the water lately. Thursday he was on a plane heading to Traverse City Michigan. Yes there is a large windsurfing shop there but that wasn't the reason for the trip, although that is a nice bonus. The reason we haven't seen Dino is because he is getting getting married..... today! Congratulations Dino and Karen.

Cool front in May!!

On tuesday a cool front was pushing through which provided some strong west winds. I wasn't planning on sailing but after 2 phone calls from Brandon and 1 from Dino I headed down to the causeway. I rigged a 6.0 on my 118L bic and was nicely powered. Alex and Mike were sailing on the north side and Ron and Jon were on the south. I launched on the north and found extremely strong gusts just north of the island. I sailed south under the causeway several times and it seemed better on the north side. About this time Dino and Ron were sailing the north side and we went tearing north up the river. I ended up sailing on the west side of the channel north of the causeway and south of the sailing center. The water was fairly flat and the wind was unbelievable, I sailed their till 7:30.

Crowded at the causeway

I called the windline on Sunday around 1:00 pm and it said SSW 27 - 31. When I arrived around 2:00 I rigged a 5.2 on a 258 Axxis 88L and took off like a shot but then I hit a lull and it wasn't fun anymore. What I found out later was at 10:00 am it was blowing out of the south and it was very steady and as the day progressed it was clocking around to the west and was getting gustier. I ended up putting the 5.2 on my 118L bic and had some fun on it. I was suprised at how many windsurfers and kite boarders were at the causeway. Sarah and Frank showed up around 3:30 and Dino counted 11 windsurfers and 4 kiteboarders on the water and there was a lot of gear and sailors on the beach.