August 30, 2008 - Windy at Home

It was supposed to rain all day, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Fairly cool at 15c, but winds around 30km - gusting to 50. I sailed on my 6.6 Hucker and Free Board. The best sailing was probably early in the morning, but I didn't like the thermometer (5c). I went out around 2:00pm and sailed for a good hour. The first 1/2 hour was excellent - then the wind started to vary quite a bit in both strenght and direction. Good day - some very fast runs in relatively flat water. Spencer had his buddies out on the Jetski while I was sailing.

August 9-17 - Family Gorge Trip

Louise, Spencer, and I made the trip to the Gorge for some windsurfing. We stopped at Silverwood on the way down so Spencer and I could try the rollercoasters. We sailed four days out of 6. Roosevelt, Swell, Hatchery, and Bob's Beach. Mostly on big stuff, which was fine for Louise. She had a great sail at the Hatchery, which is a very user friendly place when it's not nuclear. The weather turned very hot - 105c, so we cooled down by stanging under various waterfalls. Poneytail Falls, Horsetail Falls, Punchbowl falls, etc. We even went Rafting on the White Salmon Monday. Very exciting going over the 12 foot waterfall!!
All in all - an Excellent Trip. Photos are at http://flickr.com/photos/iamted/sets/72157606933603490/

August 2, 2008 - Double Dip

What about that - twice in one day. The wind picked up in the early afternoon, so I went out again. Still gusty, and the wind was still trying to find it's direction, but many good rides and a few really powered jibes. (other jibes complete - but standing on the board balancing it underwater waiting for any kind of gust). Good Practice and still lots of fun.

August 2, 2008 - Two days in a row.

Woke up this morning to the sound of wind. It was a bit cool - 20c, but good white caps. I rigged my 6.6 Hucker. Of course the wind seemed to drop off as I was getting ready. Wind was very gusty. Lots of good reaches, and a few well powered jibes, but lots of standing around too. Some reaches were - Lay in water waiting for enough wind to waterstart, yank out of water onto full plane, plane straight up the lake, slow down and stop, have to balance with front foot ahead of mast track 1 foot under water, then full plane, then go blasting into a jibe, only to find no wind at all during sail flip, and practice submarine again coming out of the jibe. I was out for about 1.5 hours. Overall - very good sail. Lots of practice with wind from varying angles and speeds.

Ted

August 1, 2008 - Just Happened to Catch it!!

Man - May 18, since the last decent wind here at home - 2 1/2 Months.

It was breezy all day, but not really enough for windsurfing. Louise called me about three in the afternoon to tell me that the lake wasn't capping...

I finished things up at work and then did a few things in town before heading home. When I got to the top of our hill, the lake was white.....

I changed, rigged big - 5.6 and went out. I was totally over-powered in very steady wind for about 20 minutes. Great sail - good jumps, good waves (Not gorge waves).

Then it just quit. Fortunately I was near the edge. Within an hour it was glassy.

Just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Good practice for our Gorge trip next week.

July 11, 2008 - Slog

Not sure if I should count this one or not. Decent winds during the day. My buddies were out at Pigeon and Wabumum. I got home late, rigged my 6.6, and got out on the water just as the wind dropped off. I slogged most of the way across then realized I still had my Wedding and Engineering rings on. I dropped in the water to tie them into my watch strap. Got back up and slogged back. I did plane the last 100 meters or so as a big thunder storm approached. Put the gear away in the rain. Hey - I got wet!!!

Day Three - Wow!

I think I have had more windsurfing at home this month (May) than I had at home all last year.

Today I sailed on my 6.6 Hucker. It started off very solid with a few (out of control) gusts. Very good for almost an hour. Good ramps and a few decent jumps.

I asked Louise if she wanted to sail, but she said she would just watch today. She found a sheltered spot by the beach and took some photos...

I blew my back footstrap out, so had to go in and re-insert the screw. When I went back out, the wind had picked up a knotch. I started getting the hang of jibing in "way-overpowered" conditions. Just commit hard (anti-intuitive) and the sail gets light....

Great sail. Max speed 47.8km/hr - not bad in the big chop. I sailed about 20km.

Then it stepped up again and became very gusty. I was tired, and Lou wanted to go to town, so I put everything away. My wind meter was registering gusts of 60kph and lulls of 7kph.

All in all - a great day.

Two days in a row!!

Two days in a row! Unfortunately I couldn't get away from work until 5:00. I rigged my 6.6 and "free" board. The first few runs were great (40km+). Slogged in the lulls, particularly on the near side, but had some good runs and good starboard ramps.

The wind shut off fairly quickly around 6:30. I slogged back and had to swim for a bit - then a short "walk of shame" - but fortunately no one was there to see.....

The temperature was warm enough that I rigged and de-rigged without a shirt on. Pretty amazing for the middle of may!! 26c today. Forcast is for 31c tomorrow....

Calm water when I de-rigged.

May 15, 2008 - First day of the year!!!

Well - the Ice came off the lake last Wednesday. I probably could have sailed that day, but I was down (and even at home) with a very sore throat and flu.

Today, Thursday May 15, 2008, was an exceptional day. The forecast was 40 gusting 60.

I went out on my 5.6 HUCKER. I sailed from 3:00 to 5:00pm. About 1/2 the time the wind was about right, 1/4 the time I was slogging, and 1/4 the time I was way way way over powered....

Some good port ramps, and a few swells that were almost rideable...fun on starboard playing up and down the swell most of the way across.

All in all - a great day - 2 hours sailing, no breakdowns, and lots of sore muscles...

Now I should go and take my medicine......