2024 Sailing Season: 2024-09-06 Viento with Bruce

Brad and Blaine enjoying lunch after a great session!

Yesterday, Bruce challenged some of the guy's to meet him at Viento State Park for a sail before work at 8:00am this morning. Brad, Blaine, Kent, Ted, Cam and Big Air Jim all accepted.

It turned out Bruce had arrived at 7:30, did his 60.1km and was off the water by 8:40 so he could get to work by 9:00. I only saw a glance of him. Kent was able to get up and sail with him (if you call it that) for a few reaches. Wow, is he fast.

Bruce was on a 6.0. Kent went out on his 5.2 and made it work for the day - 110km. What an animal.

I was on my 5.5m wing, big board and 899 wing. It worked perfectly for the most part. The sailing was very easy compared to the last couple of days with relatively flat water and fairly steady wind. I worked my way up to the bridge and sailed there for a while, and then did S turns back down the river and then went back to the bridge again. This time, Blaine, Brad, Kent and Cam were all up there so it was fun sailing with and around them.

Cam was on his 5m Wing and small front wing, so he went REALLY FAST when he was going (which is what he was trying to do), but had to work really hard to pump back up onto the foil after each of his many spectacular crashes. He said they were waterski style crashes, where the board stops behind you and you just skip off the water.

Blaine went out on a 4.5. He did well until his arms started cramping up. He went back to shore, re-hydrated, and then went back out on his 5.2 and had another good session. Both Brad and Jim were on their 5.2's. Both were blasting back and forth. I tried sailing close to Big Air Jim, but he was so focused on where he was going that I couldn't get him to smile or say hi! Next time, I might just have to run into him to get his attention... NOT......

We sailed until about 12:30 in increasingly light wind. I thought I might make 60km today, but the wind gods had other ideas. I came in at 58km, slogging my last two reaches. I'm glad I came in because the wind just continued to rapidly drop after that. What a great day.

Everyone came in about the same time. There weren't any big waves, but everyone had fun. It was nice to have a bit of an easier day after all the high wind of the last week.

We ate lunch and de-briefed at Viento until about 2:00. Then everyone headed to Sailworks where the shopping began. Kent had a tear in his 5.2 but Dale thought that the sail needed to be replaced. That prompted a review of his whole quiver. In the end he bought two new sails, and will probably buy a mast (he says he won't, but I'm betting that by the end of the week he will).

Kent NEEDED to upgrade is 5.2 and 4.5 Flyers

Cam bought a new mast and fuselage, and is demoing some new foils, and Andreas is demoing some new foils as well. Big Air Jim was also looking, but.... maybe tomorrow. Cynthia was not even there and she bought a 2.7 sail and mast. While we were there, Brad presented Jim Mudry with an honorary 40-20 Tee Shirt, officially welcoming him to the 6.0 club!

Al and Vadim Went to Stevenson. Al got out early on his 5.6. Al had hurt his ankle a couple of months ago, and it is still giving him trouble. After a few reaches, he had a big crash and hurt his foot again. Damn. He made it back to shore, and was able to de-rig and get himself home, but has had it on ice all afternoon. Vadim gave him some special Russian cream to put on it which we hope will help. Cam had a look and said it is safe, and may work.

Vadim also went out on a 5.6. He had some good reaches, but unfortunately the wind started to die on him, so his session was relatively short.

Andreas was at the Condo by the time we all arrived back there. We had a few beer and talked about the day, our purchases, world politics, and new gear trends.

As usual, no one was making a move or making a decision about supper. The time ticked by... Eventually someone made the call for 6th Street Bistro. As usual, the food, company, and service was excellent. Early to bed again! Everyone exhausted from the day!