Day #32 on the lake

Max Temperature 84 °F / 28 °C
Wind Speed 5 mph / 9 km/h (NNE)
Max Wind Speed 20 mph / 32 km/h
Max Gust Speed 31 mph / 50 km/h

The forecast was iffy and Bob H. had errands, so I planned on staying off the lake; but when Monte called around 2:45, I was dying to get out there. We met at Hamilton Creek 30 minutes later and I rigged 9.5/AHD as the whitecaps blew over near Bear Island. Monte has a BIC Wing with a nightmare boom, so I figured I would quickly leave him in the dust.

Nope. He got on the water before I did. I caught a gust and waterstarted, then schlogged for 30 minutes. Not only was Monte faster (except for the 2-3 short runs I had), he went upwind really well. I wish I had brought the Superlight so I could have better taken advantage of having someone to sail with.

Oh well, I'm sure glad we got out. It was a fabulous day.

Day #31 on the lake

Max Temperature 89 °F / 31 °C
Wind Speed 1 mph / 4 km/h ()
Max Wind Speed 16 mph / 26 km/h
Max Gust Speed 22 mph / 35 km/h
Max GPS: 23.4 mph

I got to Cook at 12:30 and saw Robin F. on the water. With his only sail being a 4.5, I wasn't surprised by his lack of speed, but he seemed to be doing well.

I saw some good wind as I rigged 9.5 and AHD, but it was much lighter by the time I hit the water. Winds were shifty, but predominately east as Robin and I worked toward the end of Bear Island. The trip up there wasn't really worth it and we headed back toward the beach, but I saw a good gust coming and stayed upwind waiting for it. I'm sure glad I did, I had a great 23.4 mph run back to the beach... and that was my one run today.

Bob brought his new 8.0 kite to the beach, but it only got rigged and wet, never airborne, as the wind died.

Day #30 on the lake

Max Temperature 73 °F / 22 °C
Wind Speed 9 mph / 15 km/h ()
Max Wind Speed 15 mph / 24 km/h
Max Gust Speed 22 mph / 35 km/h

Wunderground got it right when they predicted the best wind before noon. Bob H. called just after 9am and said he was heading out, so I scarfed down some oatmeal and hit the shower. he called back before I pulled out of the driveway to say Hamilton Creek was going off!

I got there to see him coming in to switch from the 9.0 to 11.0, which surprised me as it looked good in front of Bear Island, but I took his word for it and rigged 9.5 and AHD.

We sailed for about two hours, me in a shortie and Bob in swim trunks. I fell twice and my head got cold even though the water was warm, so I came in to grab some nourishment, but it was getting light as I got to shore. Bob followed me in a few minutes later and we called it a day.

FALL IS HERE!!! :)

Day 29 on the lake

Max Temperature 93 °F / 33 °C
Wind Speed 6 mph / 12 km/h ()
Max Wind Speed 13 mph / 20 km/h
Max Gust Speed 24 mph / 39 km/h
Max GPS: 22.6 mph

I got to the lake around 11:10 and rigged 5.5, thinking it might be too much. Bob H. arrived 10 minutes later and I went out to see if the 5.5 was going to work as it had let up a little.

I had one great run and one just *okay* run, stayed out for 20 minutes, and then came in to rig bigger. I was not going to make the same mistake I made yesterday of staying with too small a sail.

The 9.5 and AHD were the right call and Bob sailed his IMCO/11.0. We did some drag racing and I took the lead in the gusts, but he has the sub-planing advantage. I sailed up to the bottom of the entrance to Hamilton Creek. I had planned to get to Anderson Road boat ramp and take a break; then when the wind freshened, I would do this big downwinder back to the beach. Unfortunately, it got light once I got up there and it was going to take forever to get to the boat ramp, so I took the first good gust and had a nice broad reach half way to Bear Island and then it died.

I did a dead run past Bear Island, aiming for the end of Cook, but caught some gusts before I got there and took a ride toward Seven Points. I sailed about half way to the swimming beach, saw my ride home coming down from the bridge, and thought I better take it, so I turned and headed back.

We sailed until about 4:00 pm and just as we were about to get in our cars, Monte D. and then Jamey R. showed up. I helped them rig and watched them both sail. They both have the basics and are ready to rig bigger and try harnesses.

Man, it was humid on the beach, but there was almost no boat traffic. YAY!

Karla is back from Aruba

I think Hurricane Felix arrived the day she was supposed to take a lesson, but she did get out one day and had a ball. She and her sister both took a lesson, although it sounds like the outfit was more of a tourist thing than a real windsurfing place. Anyway, now she knows what good wind is like!

Day 28 on the lake

Max Temperature 88 °F / 31 °C
Wind Speed 2 mph / 6 km/h ()
Max Wind Speed 14 mph / 22 km/h
Max Gust Speed 23 mph / 37 km/h

Bob H. and I hit the water around 1pm. It blew great as I rigged the 7.5/Fanatic, but I had a lot of schlogging the first hour and came in for the 9.5 & AHD. I had a headache and decided not to rig the 9.5, instead taking the 7.5 and AHD.

That was a decent combination as the water was pretty flat. Bob was on 11.0/IMCO, but could not keep up with me when I caught a good gust and went way upwind, past Goose and Bear Islands and almost to Hamilton Creek.

I had a good couple of hours up there, but saw that the wind was going to die and headed for the beach. Bob also saw the dying winds and headed in.

Half hour later a new guy, Robin, appeared with a new Nova 165 and a 4.5. He was still sailing in the rain when I left.

It was a nice day and tomorrow calls for S 10-15!