Wednesday 6/17

[mikeyz]

Ok. Trying to keep this one short cause I got to work.

Wednesday started out by checking my email. I am on a mailing list for a 32ft yacht that one of the professors in my department races. Our longboarding friend Kenny (also my school mate) sails with this professor. They had a collision on their Tuesday night regatta this week and I just wanted to congratulate our friend Kenny for holding his composure because when a 6 ton sail boat broadsides another 6 ton sailboat at 5 knots it can’t be pretty. Here is an excerpt from the email:

“We had a "bump" and I'm sure there will be more info later, but I just wanted to comment on the level and disciplined reactions of the Skipper, the whole crew together, and Kenny in particular. All these decisions and reactions happen in what seems like micro-seconds and the whole event resulted in no injuries and fairly minimal damage (considering the possibilities). There was no panic or anger, just dealing with it. It seems the Skipper has trained us well.

Kenny was inches away from the point of impact and didn't flinch and then
helped to catch and rack the run-away main-sheet.”

I got the entire story Wednesday morning after our weekly department research meeting. After Kenny let me know what had happened we immediately started talking about windsurfing. I mentioned that it ‘might be blowing today out of the south’. Kenny said he’d be up for Canandaigua. I was slightly hesitant because I have a lot of work to do, but I figured I could fit in a few hours. We agreed to meet down there in a hour.

I arrived just as the wind had shut off, but I didn’t let it bother me because I knew it would come back (hellooOOoo its Canandaigua). I got set up with my trusty 7.0 and my 144L just as the wind returned. It was perfecto. A little up and down here and there to keep things interesting but I pretty much never came off plane.

Kenny was blasting on his long board. I need to try that thing again. Jim was down there. Another guy whos name I can’t remember. A girl I had never met before was on a long board. And finally at the end of the day Howie. Jim and Howie were on 6.5s

After I got my wind fix I decided I would experiment a little. After being overpowered on multiple reaches I decided I would just see what would happen if I put my 103L Synchro on the 7.0. In stead of putting a smaller fin on I just moved the mast base all the way forward. This did the trick. The fin was fine! I sailed hard and fast for at least 30 minutes. FUN!!! Not too long after the wind died and I headed into shore and began derigging. I had to get back home to do work, but Kenny and the longboard lady went back out. When I got home I check iwindsurf and saw that the wind returned. Around 6:30 I got a call from Kenny saying that he got blown off the water. NICE!!

So it was a pretty darn good session! I’m pumped!!!
- mike

[Windydoug]

Z-

Nice write up. Nice job keeping the windline updated as well. Kenny may be ready to do some short board sailing now! You looked good from the road as I was heading to Seneca. It made me say to myself "man I wish I was a Windsurfer".....oh wait, I am a windsurfer (giving myself the hang loose sign in front of a mirror right now). Man I'm awesome.....in other news....
Seneca was fun for an hour or so for me. Kinger scored right I have to imagine. Getting in on some of the higher winds were Windkid Bill, "Notkenny" Jones, and "fountainofyouth" Art. Shortboard Joe worked his magic 5.8 for a while before switching to 7.0, and Docheart Mark was getting some Gorge prep in as well. I stopped in Canandaigua to pick up an '08 7.5 Ezzy Infinity and arrived at 2:30 to find good conditions for that sail. I thought I was going to be over powered, but actually was quite comfortable for a solid hour. Read my other post for a review of my sail. Three or four kites were pumping up and down over at the chamber for the duration of our windsurfing time. The rains came around 4:30 and that was all for me.
See ya.
Doug

[ibex]

Hey Guys,

Glad to see you all are getting out and enjoying the wind! As soon as I get some thesis-stuff done, I hope to be out there too, and not just living vicariously through other's posts.

Cheers!

Shawn

[kelshipman]

Wed was pretty good for kiting at Seneca. I think I missed the sweet spot of the day, I got there during a lull, but still managed to kite for an hour and 1/2.

For a while the wind really picked up and I was very happy I made the trip.

I had been down near Conesus lake and was half thinking of trying to kite there. But I dont think the wind ever really settled in there. I wish there was a meter on that lake.

I also want to try Canandaigua, but it seems every time its blowing there, its blowing even harder on Seneca - so I always end up going there instead.

Kel