2024-09-05 More Easterlies

Al joins the 7.0 Club!

Blaine and Brad greeted us when we got up.  They had arrived late last night, (maybe 10:30), but no one was up to greet them.

Blaine, Brad and Kent went to Doppio Coffee for coffee and a breakfast sandwich.  I left for Stevenson.  When I arrived, around 9:30, people were already sailing, and many were already coming off the water.  It was hard to judge the windspeed as the beach was in a bit of a wind shadow.  I eventually decided on my 5m wing with the 99L board and 909 front foil.

I could tell as soon as I got out that I was going to be over-powered - but getting out through the weeds is such an effort that I thought I had better sail for a while anyway.  I had a pretty good session for about 6km.  I am sure glad I have my harness for going upwind.  The downwind rides were fun.  I am amazed how the wing can hold together when it flaps so hard in the big gusts.

The others had arrived and were rigging by the time I came to shore to switch wings.  Al commented that even though he had come from Ritzville this morning, he still beat Kent, Blaine and Brad to the beach.  Vadim arrived a bit later.

I switched to my 3.5 wing and went out for a second session.  This time I was powered about right, and had a great sail for another 25km.  I was getting pretty tired by the end of my session, and then the wind lightened up a bit, so I had trouble pumping up only the foil.  I ended my session with two big slogs across the wind with many failed pumping attempts.  I was pretty well exhausted by the time I got to shore.

Al and Vadim were windsurfing.  Unfortunately both chose sails a bit too small and struggled to get going.  Al had one really good reach coming downwind back to shore at Bob's Beach.

Vadim switched to a 5.6 later in the day, and had a few good runs, but as he said, he was behind the curve.  He kept switching to bigger boards and sails, but the wind kept dropping as he did it.

Kent, Blaine and Brad all went out on 3.2 Flyers.    They all had a great session.  Kent sailed over 50km, and Blaine was close behind.  We all had fun sailing past and around each other.  Eventually the wind dropped, and they all had to slog back to shore.

I had lunch, and then packed up and left for Hood River.  Airtime had notified me that my 5.5 was repaired and ready for pickup.  When I got home, I laid down for about an hour - trying to recover.

Kent - trying to sabotage Blaine's foil!

Kent re-rigged to his 4.5 and went out again to do another 25km!  Kent is an animal.

Brad decided to sit and watch.  Blaine rigged a 4.5, and then decided that he would rather have a beer than head out through the weeds again.

Everyone arrived back at the house around 5:30.  Brad presented Al his 7.0 T-Shirt!  Congratulations Al!

We had a few beers and talked about the day for a couple of hours, and then headed to the Hood River Taqueria, (Mexican Restaurant up the hill), for supper!  The food was excellent, and the servings were too big as usual.  I think we all ate everything that was put in front of us!  Great day!  Early to bed.  Everyone was very tired from the day!

Toys on the Beach!