Wind on a "No Wind" day!
The forecast was for little to no wind!.. Ross and Kent headed to the coast for a few days - as the forecast there was for 25-30 and four foot waves.
We all did the usual Coffee at Dog River, and then walked down to the
Hood River Hotel for breakfast. The Hotel is more up-scale that Bette's...
Handre and Lazelle decided to drive to the coast, just to check it out. Handre said he had the best fish and chips he has ever had. (For someone who doesn't eat carbs - he sure eats a lot of carbs...)
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| Harold - happy to be on the water. |
We talked about biking and/or golfing. After breakfast, Blaine and I wandered over to the Gorge Surf Shop to talk to Bart. Bart agreed that the Coast had been the right call, but re-affirmed that you need a thick wetsuit to sail there. He then pulled up the "Hatch Cam", and pointed out the white caps. He suggested we go there and see what happens.
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| Big Air Jim - on fire... |
After a bit more talk, the we headed over. I got their first and rigged my 7.0 (my biggest sail). I headed out at around 11:00am, but it wasn't quite enough. I came back and put a big fin on my SUP, borrowed a compatible mast base from Rene, and then headed out again. It was sort of like driving a truck - but this worked. I sailed it for about an hour, as the wind began to build.
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| The big fin looks a little funny - but it worked... |
The rest of the guy's decided it looked windier at Swell City, so they headed up there. Blaine and Brad were first out of on the water - making it work on their 6.6m sails and big boards. I sailed up to Swell, and sailed with them for an hour or so. The wind continued to build, and soon I was planing and wave riding on my SUP. Not as fast as on a real windsurfer board, but very different and a lot of fun. I headed back to the Hatchery to switch boards, and then had another hour on my Nash board.
The other guy's finally admitted that the wind was going to stay and headed out. We sailed until about 5pm. Everyone was out. Eddy had a great day, as did Handre. Blaine, Brad and Gerry had fun racing each other across the river on their big gear. Blaine doing his duck jibes. Mike was fully powered on his 5.6. The guy's on the 6.6's were overpowered, but I think everyone thought the wind would die any minute so they were afraid to go in to re-rig. As it turned out, the wind wore us out - it was still blowing when we headed for supper. A VERY GOOD Day!
Most of the guy's went for Mexican - Big Air Jim, Gerry, Julie, Eddy and I went downtown to an Italian restaurant. Jim said it was one of the best meals of his life...
We got an email from Ross and Kent late in the day. They had a good time on the coast, sailing on mid sized sails.
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| Kent on the Coast... |
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| Blaine - chasing down Mike! |
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| Hucker - Hucker - Hucker |
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| Mike was dialed in... |
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| Mike - Jibe |
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| Brad - Cruising |
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| Rene |
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| Jibemaster Brad |
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| Al - heading out! |
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| Blaine - back to the beach! |
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| Blaine - a new kind of Duck and Dunk Jibe! |
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| Gerry had some great jumps! |
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| Mike - totally relaxed! |
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