2024-09-04 Easterlies at Stevenson

Ted after a great day at Stevenson!

Ross left for the airport at 7:30.  He has a job in Yellowknife and then needs to prepare a report, before coming back to join us.  We heard him close the door, but didn't get a chance to say good bye.  I hope he had safe travels!

Kent, Louise and I all left the townhouse at about the same time.  Kent drove to Stevenson, and I drove Louise to the Airport.  I dropped her off at about 10:45 and then met Kent at Stevenson.   

He had rigged 4.5, he carried it into the water, got the sail wet, then looked back and saw that his truck was wide open... damn.  Also the wind had picked up, so he carried his rig back to this truck and re-rigged to a 3.9.  Then the wind dropped, so he re-rigged again to a 4.5.  But then the wind picked up so he rigged the 3.9 again.  It was very close... I almost got out on the water before him, but not quite. EH Kent's input was "wtf TOTAL INABILITY TO MAKE A DECISION!"

Kent really enjoyed his sail.  He was on his 600 front wing and blasting.  He did 80 Km total distance and was really happy with the speed of the 600 wing.  (he told me that SEVERAL times!).  According to his Garmin, he also had a top speed of 155kph which may have been the foil out and catapult on his second jibe. 

I went out on my 99l board, 909 wing and a 4.5m wing.  I only rigged ONE wing.  I had a great sail for a couple of hours.  The wind started to lighten up, and I started having trouble pumping back onto the foil after my crashes.... I was done anyway and starting to make mistakes, so I went to shore, changed, and then sat in the sun, hiding from the wind, and ate my lunch.

Kent continued to sail and went way upwind half way to Home Valley.  A little after 3:00 I gave up on Kent and drove back to Hood River, where I picked up one of my wings at Air Time, found a hose connection for my pump, and bought a spare harness hook.   Kent's comment--- "I just got off the water and Ted turned around and left.   Strangers on the beach were noting what and asshole friend he was but I defended him...  NOT..."

Kent was just arriving at Ross's place when I pulled up.

We cooked a Safeway Pizza for supper and talked about our great day!

Brad and Blaine will arrive late tonight.  Jim, Cam, Al and some of the others will arrive tomorrow.  It will be fun to have the whole gang together again!

Kent "Painted" the river with his 80km!