2024 Sailing Season: 2024-06-15 Sailing in the Rain!

Ross's new board!

My Journal pumped up with a memory from five years ago today. We all had a great day with lots of wind. For a trip down memory lane, check it out here - 2019-06-15. That was one windy trip!

I got to Sailworks before 10:00. John and Big Jim were already there.... John was buying a new (to him) 130L North Pacific Board.

I had a good chat with Bruce and then Dale about the front foil I had tried over the last couple of days, and ended up buying it. It is the 909 Medusa Pro Sabbfoil. The website says "It is a Medusa PRO... but most importantly, it is Balz Müller's signature model for Sabfoil." How can I go wrong! Also, Bruce said it was his last one, so I am glad I didn't wait any longer!

Blaine with his new Flyer

Blaine arrived and picked up his new 5.2 Flyer FR. Big Air Jim, Cam, and Cynthia arrived shortly after I did. Jim also bought a new 5.2 Flyer FR and Feather Light Mast! As Dale was putting it together for him, he also explained that it would be a good sail for Cynthia when he isn't using it!! He needed it because Blaine had bought the same thing yesterday! Blaine had upgraded because his old 5.2 looked old. (he found out it looked old when he partially rigged Brad's sail which looks pristine and then had to rig his old bag of a 5.2)

Dale - setting up Big Air Jim's new sail!

To say that Kent was pissed, when he found out about both Brad's and Jim's new FR sails and masts would be a huge understatement. How could they do that without at least letting Kent know what they were doing... I don't know if that means there is a new sail and mast in Kent's near future - but probably. Then Kent approached Jim about his purchase, Jim said he just figured he had just bought a new $2000US Sailworks Hat... (Kent is sure that the new sails will be better than his so he will have to buy, damn. At least Kent can blame Blaine for the spending!)

The Sailworks guys must love it when we come down.

Dale told me I should get some of this grease to protect my foils...
He warned me it would be expensive. I checked on Amazon and this
little container is $58.00!!! Not sure it is worth it.

The Forecast was mixed, with clouds and rain from Hood River west, and very windy out east. I hate to say it, but with our foiling we now try to avoid the really high wind instead of chasing it! Maybe part of it is also all of us getting older (and Louise would say smarter!).

We took our time in the morning thinking the wind would be better in the afternoon. We procrastinated too long as it turned out.

Vadim told me he was finding himself all alone, as he is the only windsurfer in the group. He went to Doug's and had a pretty good session on his 6.5.

John and Big Jim went to the Event Site, but it was cold with rain squalls coming through, so they ended up taking a rest day.

The rest of us went to Moiser. When we got there, it was sunny and windy. All the locals had been sailing for a couple of hours, but had come off the water as a squall had just come through.

We started to rig, but then noticed some big rain clouds coming at us from the west. It started to sprinkle, and we could see more rain coming, so we stopped rigging, and then sat in our cars to wait it out.

When the rain stopped, it still looked windy, so we rigged and went out. Kent said we should all stay close in case the wind suddenly increased or decreased. Kent was first on the water because he already had his gear down at the launch site, and I was right behind him, then Cam and Blaine and Ross. Kent and Cam immediately headed way upwind where the wind was a little stronger. Blaine and I stayed close to the launch site!

Blaine got a good session - but not the best of the trip!

The sun came out, and it was really nice for a short time. I had a pretty good session - although short! It started to sprinkle for a while and then started raining hard enough that it was hard to see. It looked like a wall of rain was coming at us from the West, so Blaine and I headed to shore. Then the wind shut off - almost completely - no whitecaps at all. Ross managed to limp in pumping his kite all the way.

Kent - slogging his way back!

I de-rigged an put my gear away (wet). It looked like there was a bigger storm coming, but it dissipated before it got to us, and the sun came out again.

The wind came up a little bit, but not enough for me. Cynthia went out and foiled most of the time! She ended up with more mileage than Kent. Kent was pissed again!

Cynthia had a great session in the light wind, and sailed more km than Kent!

Big Air Jim went out, but slogged out and back.

Cam was caught. He had been upwind (down current) when the wind shut off. He was on his small board, so he couldn't even stand on it to slog back. He basically swam across the river and then walked back through the rocks on the shore. It was a long session for him.

Cam had to swim back...

Ross tried to go out again, once he walked out to chest deep, he decided there wasn't enough wind so came back in.

We took our time packing up, but were still done in time to get back for the hockey game.

Wow, what a game! Brad, our resident Oilers fan/expert had a great time! Edmonton won 8-1. It was fun to watch. The condo was full of energy - everyone had a great time! Handré brought in Pizza, and Ross made a salad.