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Post by Windydoug on May 31, 2009 21:45:03 GMT -5
"Until today I'd never sailed less that a 4.0 on Ontario"- Jim King prior to de-rigging his much used 3.3. Kinger Wave-riding  Ed blazing toward the Bluffs  Taking it all in were: Kinger, Joe, Mark R., Bill, Ken, Ed, Keith, Art, Dave B., Gary, Doug, Rick, Dick and Trevor Miller. That should be the entire list. It doesn't matter if you got on the water or not. Whether you conquered or survived the day, if you got a closer look at some great lake front property, or if you are hearing that blasted stop sign in your sleep, E Bay was a site to behold! 3.3- 4.5 were the sail choices for the day. 4.5 early on for Windkid. Ed had the most water time by far (and air time too). Kinger, Dick, and Rick were ripping it up as well. All did sample the local water source on more occasions than normal however. It was a day to challenge yourself, but it was also a day to play it safe. Sometime around noon the west wind kicked it up to eleven (obscure Spinal Tap movie reference), and most of us got off the water. A couple brave souls did some survivor sailing while the big dogs put on a great show. It stayed that way for the better part of the afternoon until it lightened a bit and sent Art, Joe, Trevor and I back into the water. Unfortunately it lightened a bit more and 4.2 on an 87L board wasn't working anymore. The day was done, and the wind had gone NW. I took a walk down the "beach" a good half mile or so to the East, around the point you can see from the launch. It goes on a few hundred yards further until the shore dips south to Dutch Rd.. The shoreline is steep, wooded, and impassible from there. Hopefully you'll never have to see it. I shot a bunch of video today, and got a couple photo's of Kinger and Ed. check out the photo page at rochesterwindsports.com Rick sent me a screen capture of a kiter on the Sodus weatherbug cam. I'm not sure how to upload that. Windydoug |
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Post by da Shmuck on Jun 1, 2009 8:40:10 GMT -5
Convinced I could sail the big pond with my 4.0 on my reconfigured (changed to single rear footstrap) 100L after an incredibly enjoyable 5.5 session at Hamburg on Friday was yet another in a long list of "lessons" dealt to me by this most wonderful activity.
As you may all remember this would be my second attempt at 4.0 sailing and with a properly downhauled sail and my new tamer single strap board I was ready for school to begin.
The first lesson I learned was that when two of the best sailors in our region are crashing while jibing you might want to reconsider what you are about to do.
The second lesson was originally experienced by Bill but I just couldn't wait to get in the water so why bother with that silly zipper thing on the drysuit. Once well off shore I decided to take a nose dive in to the swirling pond like subsatnce called Ontario. To my surprise the water temp was a bit colder than I ever imagined. That feeling of cold water cascading down one's back is the reminder that the silly zipper thing really does serve a greater purpose. A quick waterstart and beat back to shore was all it took for this wounded sailor to get the zipper zipped!
Since I still hadn't experienced up close and personal what the lake really had to offer this day, now zipped I dove back in to the mouth of the gnarly blow.
A few meager attempts of actually sailing found me to be a bit more to the east than originally planned. As I rolled on to shore I marveled at the basketball sized boulders that seemed to be swimming along with me, my board, and my sail. As the shorebreak slammed me time and time again on to the beach Mark was kind enough to lend a hand and pull me from the rinse cycle I was so enjoying.
The third lesson was that when you are already far east of the launching spot you don't say "I think I'll just sail out and head back to the launch." Yeah sure, DA.
How thoughtful of the park planners to actually build a beautiful grassed "relief" park another 1/4 mile or so further to the east. As I once again enjoyed the rinse cycle attempting to find solid footing I was pleased to notice a well worn path right up in to the relief park. I set my rig well back in to the park and enjoyed the 1/4 mile walk down a country road back to the launch site. I decided on that walk that drysuits really aren't the best walking attire.
The fourth lesson of the day is that when you get washed well down wind and decide to take the road back to the launch you might want to leave something on the shore to let your friends know that you are not still out floating face down somewhere in the pond.
The most important lesson learned this day is the lesson we all have learned time and time again. And that lesson my friends is that we are a band of brothers and many thanks go out to Bill and Doug for hiking almost to Fairhaven in search of their lost brother.
Once I returned to the launch Joe alerted me that Doug and Bill were looking for me. I drove back to my "relief beach" and ran out to the shore to wave my flag of surrender so that Bill and Doug might see me from the far east reaches of the shore and realize that I am no longer floating. Thanks guys. Sorry it never occurred to me to leave a sign of life along the shore.
Another attempt at 4.0 sailing and although a failed one at that I have again gained some much needed knowledge. I look with excitement to the next time I get to go back to school.
Good-day all
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Post by windkid on Jun 1, 2009 10:33:14 GMT -5
I have a few confessions to make. For one, Doug and I were looking for Ken's 101 Futura, if by chance we found his swollen corpse, well I quess we would have had to 911 the bozzo. Also the only one to make it to Fairhaven was the fleet of foot Phys ED Teach Doug. I was too busy slowly descending the stairway on the cliff to keep up with Doug's nimble rock hopping jaunt.
One thing I am proud of is I took Mr. Ed's advice and ventered out on the Kingster's Maui Woowie Naish, all 70 liters of it's wicked nervous ride....truth was it was fun, I might have to rethink the board. Sorry Mikey. It sliced through the waves like butter and just was begging to leap, turned on a dime too. I even had one d**ned luckly Jibe on that slippery slipper, sweet!
There is a rumor spreading that downwind Jones, aka "Big Stick" "Ontario Breath" and official Temperature guage for Lake Ontario is considering spreading his magic to the Gorge.
Three cheers for that idea....let's see how much peer pressure we can mount!
wk
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Post by mikeyz on Jun 2, 2009 9:15:15 GMT -5
You guys are a bunch of wackos! I was close to tears while reading Ken's post and it wasn't because I was stuck at my parents' house missing out. The tales of raging conditions, heroic sailing, and Doug and Bill's purported selfless acts of brotherhood. Then Bill chimes in that "Doug and I were looking for Ken's 101 Futura". What a jerk! haha. I almost died of laughter.
Where's the wind? How's that L. Ont H2O temp? I don't have a dry suit these days. 39 degrees is a little cold for my double bagging trick. In the past month I have only had one decent session, I have been missing out BIG time. Karma must be connected to my sailing.
- mike
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Post by Windydoug on Jun 2, 2009 11:44:20 GMT -5
More photo's added on the photo page, as well as the first video of the year.
Thanks Windkid!
Our free Flickr account has the ability to have to small (file size) video's uploaded a month. The Pay site allows 500mb. Cool video of Rick carving on the inside, shot from Bill's still pic camera. Scroll down to find the video, it has a little play arrow in the bottom left corner and can be viewed a little bit larger if you click on the photo first.
Enjoy!
WD
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