2024 Sailing Season: 2024-09-03 Wind and Fire!

Louise and I started our day at Sailworks. Jim came out into the parking lot to meet us. We were chatting, when I noticed smoke coming from the bush between the CAT parking lot and the highway. We went over to look, and sure enough a bush fire had started. We ran back to the shop. Bruce called the Fire Department, while Jim and I grabbed some shovels. We started trying to put some dirt on the fire, but it was obviously a losing proposition. The fire was too big already and spreading with the strong wind gusts.

Then a green truck pulled up on the side of the highway and two guys got out with fire fighting equipment including a hose and fire suppression liquid. How lucky. It turned out they were a forestry truck that just happened to be driving by.

The Hood River Fire department showed up a few minutes later and set up with a couple of hoses and some big equipment. They thought they had the fire out, and then Louise said she heard some loud crackling, and suddenly the fire burst up a large tree. WOW! The fire department made quick work of it, but WOW. You will see the big burnt tree by the parking lot! It looked to me like someone had a campfire and didn't put it out because there were some well burnt sticks right where the fire started. Lots of excitement. It made my purchase of a new fuselage for my foil system seem insignificant....

Ross decided to sail at Mosier. He went out on his 4m Kite and had a great day in very steady wind.

Louise and I went to Luhr Jensen park where we found one of the last parking spaces. We sat and watched for a while. The wind was 10 gusting 50. Everyone coming off the water was commenting about how terrible it was. It wouldn't have been fun for Louise.

We went for a walk, and then had lunch at the Mexican food truck, The food was great, although there was a half hour wait from when we ordered until when we got our food.

The Windsurfing Trade Show was setting up at the Event Site, so Louise and I walked through. We met Bobby, a fellow we had met a few times at Pro-Windsurf. Bobby has spent the last two years developing a new foil system for Slingshot. It is finally in production and is being introduced this week at the trade show. The One-Lock system. The foil sections all fit together with a clamp system so it is very quick and simple, with no screws or tools involved. Very slick!

He called his wife, Sophia, and she came over to say hi. She is pregnant and due in November. Great to see her!

Ted, Louise, Bobby and Sophia

When we got back to the beach, the wind had settled down, but it was very windy. I offered to set Louise up with our 2.5, but she decided to pass. I went out on a 3.5 wing and my 909 foil and had a great session! There were a few lulls, but usually I was fully powered. A lot of fun.

Kent arrived as Louise and I were packing up. He had set his alarm for 5:00am, but woke up at 3:00am, so he got up and left. He arrived in Calgary early so missed all the traffic and made great time - only 14:45! He rigged a 3.9 and went out to sail. I took a few photos of Kent and then headed back to the Town House. Kent said he was over powered, but held on for three hours.

Kent - ready to sail after a 15 hour drive!

We saw George twice again at 'Luhr Jensen'... the second time he had just finished sailing with his grandson, Max.

Ross, Louise and I were hungry so we decided not to wait for Kent. We ordered Tai food for supper, and we ordered a dish for Kent so he could eat it when he arrived. The food was excellent. Kent arrived just was we were finishing. We had a lot of fun catching up!

Early to bed. Ross and Louise are leaving in the morning. Ross will be back on Sunday or Monday.