2024-09-10 Multiple Sessions

 

Brad, Kent and Andreas

We had a bit of a slow start again today.  I rode my bike up to Sailworks, because Kent wanted to buy a new mast base.  When I got there, Andreas was there looking at foils.  He had "scratched" the demo foil which he had borrowed.  The Sailworks guys were good about it, but Andreas felt bad, so bought $980 worth of other foil stuff.  Blaine and Brad were also there, and before long Cam and Jim also arrived.  Jim bought a 4.5 flyer FR. I am not sure what the rest of the guys purchased, but I'm sure Bruce did pretty well.  My contribution was only $50 for a set of harness lines.

Blaine - Aggressive Jibe!

From there, I rode down to Promotion Wetsuit.  They are closing their retail store on Saturday, so everything in their shop is on sale.  They will continue to offer an on-line service, but they won't have a retail presence.  I purchased a new 2mm wetsuit similar to the one I have.  I like their products, but I can't seeing myself buying one on-line without being able to try it on.  Only $119!

The call eventually was to go to the Event Site.  I got out first on my 4.5 and 899 foil.  It is SOOO much faster rigging a wing board than a windsurf foil board!  I had a pretty good session for about 10km.  Then the wind lightened up, and I REMEMBERED that I had NOT yet paid for my PARKING, so I came to shore.  Big Air Jim was just going out as I came in.  He had some pretty good reaches, but had run out of wind like me.

Kent and Blaine

Cam was busy re-rigging.  He had rigged a 4, but then figured the wind had lightened up, so he re-rigged to a 5 and Jim Mudry's demo big front foil.  He then went out, but was way over powered as the wind had increased, so he came back in to go back to his 4 and a smaller foil.

Vadim went out on his 5.6 Hucker - and then later in the day was on his 6.5 - making it work.

The wind seemed to pick up, so I went out again.  I had some good runs and turns, but then the wind started to lighten up again, so I headed to shore.  My shoulder was starting to bother me from all the pumping - trying to get up on foil.

Brad

Shortly after I came in, the wind continued to lighten up.  Some of the guys were up by the hatchery so the wind lasted longer, but eventually it died there as well.  Everyone made it back, except Cam who was sitting on his board, in the barge lane, thinking about the big swim to get home.  We all finished our lunch, and there was still no sign of Cam.  Jim got his binoculars and started walking towards the hook to see if he could spot him - then Cam sailed home.  The wind had come up a bit, and Cam was able to pump up onto his foil and eek his way home.

We sat on the beach for a couple of hours, and then the wind started to come up again.  I decided to stay on the beach and rest my shoulder, but the rest of the guys went out and had a great session with much steadier wind than in the morning.

Both Ross and Andreas had a couple of good sessions!  Andreas described barely making it back after one of the lulls, but he made it right back to the beach!  They spent most of the day up at the Hatchery.

Vadim and I went out onto the point to take some photos and video.  Brad, Blaine, Kent, Jim and Andreas accommodated us by doing multiple jibes in front of the point. Vadim made a video of Kent and Blaine sailing together which you can watch here.

Big Air Jim

Everyone but Kent sailed until after 5:00 and then came in - very tired.  Animal Kent stayed out longer.

At the end of the day, Bruce and Dale came out.  Bruce was on his 6m sail, and Dale was on a 4.5m Wing.  Both made it work.  It was amazing watching Dale pump his 4.5m wing and sinker board up onto a foil in almost no wind.  Once he got going he headed straight down the river - amazing!  Both of them.  They are both so much faster than almost everyone else on the water.

Andreas - A different foil every session!

Kent tried to chase Bruce for a while when he came through and was "on the same planet" as far as speed was concerned but slower in the jibes.  Bruce gave Kent the best compliment he could, when he said "Kent - you are not slow!".  Kent told us he had an off day - he only travelled 97km - and for the third day in a row - Andreas went faster than him.  

We had the usual discussion about supper with mixed opinions.  The result was Kent, Blaine, Vadim, Brad and I went to China Gorge; Cam, Jim and Andreas went to the Three Rivers Grill; and Ross got takeout from the Thai House.  

We ended the day with ice cream and the last of Louise's Chutney back at Ross's Townhouse.

Wow - another great day!  You can seem more photos on my Flickr site here.

Kent - Hiked out and Blasting!