Post by Windydoug on May 18, 2009 10:34:17 GMT -5
Yo guys and gals,
Sunday teased everybody on the big lake for sure. From reading Ibex's/ Kel's etc....wrap up on Saturday I was bummed about missing a great session. I need to see some monster Kinger air time. Family called however.
Sunday:
I arrived at Durand to find everybody derigging and ticked at the wind gods. Joe, Ted and I remained for a time and despite an 18 mph wnw reading at the meter the wind wasn't coming in. I headed to Montana to check the kiters, and wind and sure enough it was reaching nicely in to shore. Looked good. The direction was doable with a small upwind walk to clear the pier. The Bay must have been sucking the wind in, while Durand was bubbling/doming. I opted for a drive to Webster where Joe told me he was heading.
Getting out at Webster Park:
At Webster Park Joe and Rick were discussing the conditions. Rick had been out on his 6.3 nicely powered since noon. Ted arrived and we talked it over. Having had their fill of the cold lake and unpredictable winds and accepting the day for what it had been, we all agreed to head home (while Rick blasted back and forth). About a mile away from Webster Park is when I had my Windkid moment. I remember Windkid telling me about a session he had in challenging (wind,water, and temp.) conditions when it would have been just as easy to go home, and still be happy. I had my gear with me, I was looking at good wind, and I wasn't going to get better if I at least didn't give it a try.
I returned to Webster as Rick was rigging down to his 5.2. I rigged my 5.8 pretty flat and watched Rick head out. He was "making his 5.2 work", so I felt good about my 5.8. Ricks parting thoughts were "don't give up", in regard to getting past the Pier. I manage to clear the Pier by about 30 ft. and was stoked. The conditions were challenging. Mostly the water was disorganized, and the "wave" sailing was unfamiliar. I managed though. My forearms quit on me pretty quickly from the mitts I was wearing, and because I was not sailing relaxed. I sailed about 20-30 minutes and headed in to stretch things out. That's how I "got out" at Webster the first time.
Getting out at Webster Park pt. 2:
A photographer had arrived and the glory hound in me decided to give it another shot. Mistake. Fatigue killed me and I got rinsed attempting to get past the pier. I was in deep (gulp) and things were not looking good. I was getting pushed toward the break wall. I got within about 10 feet of the break wall and managed to get my feet on the ground. The rebound of the waves and some swimming/running toward the creek kept me from getting totaled on the break wall. I got to the shelter of the creek and that is how I "got out" at Webster park the second time. I am now 2-2 lifetime at Webster Park. Got out twice, washed behind Pier once, washed in to creek once.
Long winded post......thanks for reading.
WD
Sunday teased everybody on the big lake for sure. From reading Ibex's/ Kel's etc....wrap up on Saturday I was bummed about missing a great session. I need to see some monster Kinger air time. Family called however.
Sunday:
I arrived at Durand to find everybody derigging and ticked at the wind gods. Joe, Ted and I remained for a time and despite an 18 mph wnw reading at the meter the wind wasn't coming in. I headed to Montana to check the kiters, and wind and sure enough it was reaching nicely in to shore. Looked good. The direction was doable with a small upwind walk to clear the pier. The Bay must have been sucking the wind in, while Durand was bubbling/doming. I opted for a drive to Webster where Joe told me he was heading.
Getting out at Webster Park:
At Webster Park Joe and Rick were discussing the conditions. Rick had been out on his 6.3 nicely powered since noon. Ted arrived and we talked it over. Having had their fill of the cold lake and unpredictable winds and accepting the day for what it had been, we all agreed to head home (while Rick blasted back and forth). About a mile away from Webster Park is when I had my Windkid moment. I remember Windkid telling me about a session he had in challenging (wind,water, and temp.) conditions when it would have been just as easy to go home, and still be happy. I had my gear with me, I was looking at good wind, and I wasn't going to get better if I at least didn't give it a try.
I returned to Webster as Rick was rigging down to his 5.2. I rigged my 5.8 pretty flat and watched Rick head out. He was "making his 5.2 work", so I felt good about my 5.8. Ricks parting thoughts were "don't give up", in regard to getting past the Pier. I manage to clear the Pier by about 30 ft. and was stoked. The conditions were challenging. Mostly the water was disorganized, and the "wave" sailing was unfamiliar. I managed though. My forearms quit on me pretty quickly from the mitts I was wearing, and because I was not sailing relaxed. I sailed about 20-30 minutes and headed in to stretch things out. That's how I "got out" at Webster the first time.
Getting out at Webster Park pt. 2:
A photographer had arrived and the glory hound in me decided to give it another shot. Mistake. Fatigue killed me and I got rinsed attempting to get past the pier. I was in deep (gulp) and things were not looking good. I was getting pushed toward the break wall. I got within about 10 feet of the break wall and managed to get my feet on the ground. The rebound of the waves and some swimming/running toward the creek kept me from getting totaled on the break wall. I got to the shelter of the creek and that is how I "got out" at Webster park the second time. I am now 2-2 lifetime at Webster Park. Got out twice, washed behind Pier once, washed in to creek once.
Long winded post......thanks for reading.
WD
