If Lake Ontario is broken, it's our fault.

[Windydoug]

We tore it up out there.......

The title probably overstates the sailing conditions a bit, it was 5.8-6.6, but when a NE wind actually delivers some strong wind it is way fun. Guys were killing it in the waves along the pier.

Montana beach saw all forms of water and wind craft. I think the early birds were the surfers as they did lap after lap out the pier, down the rocks, and ride in. One foot wind kid Bill was the first windsurfer on site and picked perfectly with his 6.5 Retro and saucy Thommen board. Short board Joe on his magic combination of 5.8 and 111L blue board , and Slim Jones on his trusty 6.5 Ezzy and comfortable 101 Carve hit the scene next. Tenacious Art Mayne rigged up his exclusive Montana Beach, Neil Pryde 5.8 and was scoring big out at the end of the pier.

Paolo, Lynn, Jason, Greg B., and Kel were getting it done in the waves on what I hear were 15m kites. Boards for those guys ranged from what I would call twin tip regular boards, to surf board style wave riders.

Personally I felt like I had the best windsurfing session of my life. Not the biggest wind, no jumping, but riding the swell on the way in and finishing it off in the waves along the pier with a bottom turn or two before jibing was heaven. I had to finish up my session as my legs started cramping from the few times I got rinsed in the waves.....they really do roll in in sets of three!

Dan Scorza arrived around 3:30 and rode a 5.8 or 6.2 and switched between his Starboard Fish and Carve. Gary was rigging up around the time I left, and the graph showed the wind held up. Rumor has it that newly crowned hockey champ Rick griffin entered from his secret location stage right on the other side of the outlet and was sailing his wave formula board (watch the 2009 Montana video to see what I mean).

I'm spent, typing this was hard...thanks, spell check...if I missed any, the trusty Forum editor at large, Joe's Wife, will surely give me the constructive corrective feedback I deserve.

Bill got some shots of me and a few of the others that I will get up soon.

Windydoug

[waterauthorityrick]

Doug asked me to give a write up on NE Ontario from Sunday so I will do what he says.

Interesting to read that Doug himself wrote "Personally I felt like I had the best windsurfing session of my life." when Scorza told me earlier today that he felt Doug's sailing at Montana was spectacular. Nice job Doug!

As mentioned I had unforeseen hockey games Sunday as Roch hosted the "National Senior Games" at MCC which is 50yrs and older. Lots of gray hair and Advil. Well the team I was on decided to continue winning when it counted all the way through the championship game.

After 2 beers to celebrate the win I called Scorza who was just rigging and myself driving over the bay bridge to see the wind was continuing. When I got home I checked the wind line and got permission to leave home for my third play time of the day included where the two earlier hockey games.

I questioned whether to go but checked the current weather maps and data which indicated the wind would stay. I choose 1 board, 1 sail, 1 boom. If it didn't work I would come home. Upon arriving I notice 1 kite (Miller) and three sails, once I was rigged and out on the water it was Scorza, Miller and me.

That Formula is a lot of board to handle so anyone can offer me a 110 liter board anytime they want it would make things much better. I spent much of the beginning session in the water (Jones would be pleased) Don't know if it was the 3 hockey games in 26 hours, the 2 beers post championship, the formula board or a combo of all three. I hung in there and conditions improved as did my skill, wish I could have been out there earlier when the whole crew was out especially the surfer dudes.

One advantage of using the Formula board in those conditions and making it work, the next time I'm on the smaller 87 liter board it will be effortless to slash jibes and wave ride.

Ice Authority Rick

[Windydoug]

Thanks Dan (Via Rick) for the compliment.....means a lot. The whole bunch of us does a nice job pumping each other up. I'll no doubt regress by the next time I'm on the water.

Joe and I discussed how we each felt nicely dialed in on our gear. While I was sailing, I actually found a way to be happy for the 30 minutes I got out on the same gear at Durand on Friday. It was a bummer of a session then, as Gary and I got every little bit out of the lightening wind but I realized in hindsight that I was able to dial my gear in and it worked perfectly on Sunday.
Ice Authority Rick, you need to visit Crazy Bill's Windsurfing Warehouse (a bit of a take on the old Madd Mikes in Boston....I've been there) for your new 110L board! Quite seriously, Bill has a screaming JP Super Sport around 110L that he is looking to clear out. I believe it was designed for the power sailing PWA pro's....does that match anybody around here?! It's a couple of years old and could be right up your alley if finned out properly. Could mean more water time for you.

Link to JP Website (Crazy Bill's doesn't have a website):
www.jp-australia.com/2009/index_old.php?id=43
check out the video of the board in action...
Windydoug

[Windydoug]

Here is a link to some excellent photo's by Bill and Ken. Ken had a cool vantage point out on the breakwall and Bill stayed beach side.

Link:www.flickr.com/photos/48453374@N02/?saved=1

Sample photo's below
Doug on a wave


Joe riding down a wave


Art jibing


Doug Jibing

[LessThan38Stickers]

interesting sailing today at ebay with a crew of 1 foot wonders, moustached ones, unemployed royalty, ticked off pinchers, and fin manufacturers to name a few. less than ideal conditions but as the season winds down guess we need to grab anything we can before we get the blades out. missing from the scene was a pe teacher who apparentley needs to spend more time practicing dodge ball instead of teaching it.

[gwind]

Thanks for keeping The Spirit alive. Pushing Summer here in Hatteras. Four solid sessions Saturday from early am 3.7 to in to the Sunset 5.3. That was a yummy bite of Life!

Sailed the longest, smoothest waves of my Life one late afternoon out at the South end past the Frisco pier. Sea So Silky Sweet!!

Star Light on the Waters tonight. Ahhh...

This should hold me for a while

[1footwilly]

It sure isn't Hatteras but we did have three days of sailing in a row. Friday at Durand that was a wonderful rainy blinding cold overpowered afternoon. The next day for me was a 5.8 afternoon at my friend's cottage, some pics of the cove below. The wind was out of the NW and the Cove faces NNE and as you can see there is a wind line but easy to reach. Sunday was at the bluffs right down the road, another 5.8 all day thing until Ted killed it with his R&D with his weed fin so I left. I'll also including a shot of my newest Girlfriend , Abigail in Hibernation mode.

[waterauthorityrick]

Well I know for a fact that Ontario is not broken but wondered if this website was though.
I joined a few guys on Friday in the wind driven rain at Durand and keeping my comments to myself for a few days until Dan Scorza verified what I was thinking. He mentioned and I agreed that the rain aside Friday was likely the best Durand day we have seen in our 25 plus windsurfing years. Everyone who was there was on a 4.8m sail and I believe a 4.2m would've worked just fine based on the 40mph gust recorded on the meter.
The inside had plenty of closeouts so you had to run off the wind to avoid getting washed. The outside had steep waves but no real setup so the jibes there had to be quick and tight. I managed a smooth set that allowed me 4 wave turns before having one last jibe to make it back out again. I wanted more but didn't find that sweetness the rest of the day, only 2 turns max.
Were the conditions that good or did it take me 25yrs of skill level to be able to enjoy the NNW direction. Don't think that there weren't any struggles out there cause Dan & I had our share. Dan pearled after backsiding a wave and he landing on his sail which blew a panel out. I got washed one time which took 4 attempts to get out thru the break and each attempt I saw easily 4 to 5 breaking waves that washed & rinsed me. But when one was atop the board it was big.
Lets hear from the others who were out there.

H20 Rick

BTW Lake Erie Video from Canada earlier this fall
www.star-board.com/AutumnWinter2011/news_events/read.php?threadid=9684

[1footwilly]

I sailed Durand that day too, and of course can not give an depth report like the H2O Authority but I did enjoy some time on my 85 wavecult which for me is a learning experience by itself. I was fine on my 4.5. I will admit to being a bit beat up out there but I rather enjoy that kind of thing, it's the inner masochist in me.
Yesterday, Wednesday was yet another 4.5 . 85 liter day but with sunshine and down the pike in Hamburg. Joe, Art, Ken, Buffalo Mark, Penn. Joe and his wife were there as was Steve, Greg, John and an older sailor named Peter from Hamburg returning to the sport after a twenty year hiatus. There were at least 3 other windsurfers who I didn't recognize. For me it was epic day, even managed to have a couple planing jibes on the new board. I thought the waves were fun but I will defer to the more experienced among us to analysis that....(Joe!) Ken Jones was stoked as he managed to get so close to Canada he swears he could smell the bacon. One thing for sure is we have had a lot of wind lately and it feels good.

[1footwilly]

Durand Durand....

The sun was out and so was the wind....out there maybe a mile. In any case Joe, Jimmy, Art and I sailed Durand today. I was on a 5.2 which worked well until late afternoon. Joe and Art opted for 5.2's too, which means either I'm improving or they're getting more cautious. The King Spin test drove my new RRD and promised he will publish his review of a 2008 board in a 2011 edition of Windsurfing Mag. I mention today for one real reason, despite the fact that any given day has not been ideal,,,,,there have been many given days on the water for which I am grateful to the wind gods just so they know...thanks God dudes.

[reno]

Really impressed with the video from Lake Erie, I'm glad to know someone can really rip out there, at least on the Canadian side.

[Windydoug]

Well I'm glad to see some of the local word smith's jumping to action and posting some updates about recent adventures. I have been missing sailing while I have been home recovering from a nice bell ringing a few weeks ago and have a sore wrist from that as well, so windsurfing has been out of the question.......
BTW in response to 1foot's post thanking the wind gods for the windiest windsurfing/kiting season in memory.....I must have something to do with it. In the spring I proclaimed that in my attempt to be a top notch dad to my son and new daughter (and a good husband to boot) that I will not be making the trek to Hamburg this year. What does Hamburg do? Throws double digit great sailing days our way. I recall that spring was decently windy........my daughter was born at the end of March....no sailing for the new dad for a while. As Summer arrives and my schedule gets more flexible for windsurfing, what does the wind do? Goes on vacation (except in Hamburg of course). Fall winds and frontal systems are sweeping through as fast as cars on the thruway, and what am I doing? Well first I had to go back to work and that put a crimp in windsurfing, and then I have this bummer of an accident that will not allow me to windsurf....so there you go. Am I the wind sacrifice? You tell me....

Anyhow, some of you have heard that I got hit on the head while doing a little tree trimming in my yard. Windsurfers by nature are do it yourself people, and confident in their abilities, so I thought with a little help from Joe I could get a few limbs cut out of my tree and save some dough for more windsurfing gear. Good rationale right?
Long story short, and the details are still fuzzy at best (I still have about 5 hours I can't recall) the limb we were cutting didn't release/fall the way we expected it to and I got knocked out for a minute or two, spent the night at the hospital, and the week out of work. Short of a sometimes sore neck I have recovered from the moderate concussion I got, but I still have a pretty sore wrist/hand that must have gotten hit or landed on funny when I fell over. I don't have any broken bones, but a good sprain that is going to take time to heal.

So I have been psyched to read about all of the wind adventures that have been happening this windy season.....that is a little bit due to me....right?

Keep the posts, wind, and good natured ribbing coming. If we don't then we lose a little of what we all have going.

We are the dance and its disappearance.

Windydoug

[waterauthorityrick]

Webster Park still provides epic conditions when "The Gales of November Remember"

Sorry if I stole the word "epic" from Jim Kings 22mph wind vocabulary and I know if no one else is at the beach the session doesn't really count, so count today out for me.

I spent the day texting many of the guys I thought would want to get out for at least an hour on Ontario and considering I am without a non-broken board I spent just as much time texting to find someone to loan me one. I was two blocks from home when Scorza returned my call with the use of his 84liter Evo but to late for me to turn around. I chose my very old Mistral red board (it leaks) but the heavy glass board was just what Gale needs to keep it on the water.

I put on my Kokatat dry suit for the first time and was a bit apprehensive about changing so many things on "game day" aka Gale Day. Dressed at home and went straight to Webster after confirming on line that the wind direction was West enough and got a sneak peek at the Buoy info. Wind speed at 3:00pm 35 knots gusts to 40.8 knots which for you car drivers is 40.3mph gusts to 47mph and waves 14.8 feet. OUCH! for me the heavy weight that's 3.8m meter sail size at least.

Not sure what "wall to wall white caps" means on the message line from Sunday, the meter data lists top wind average at 22mph but the Lake at Webster today had plenty of white caps with the tops blowing off sideways during given gusts.

I made one mistake when rigging with my boom which I found later but while going out I thought the boom was about to break in the front end but went out anyways. Keeping in mind that I may be in for a swim if the boom broke and that its would be dark in just under an hour I took it easy aka survival sailing.

Best Webster day of the year by far. Because of the shallow Lake level, the true West direction and wind speeds of 40mph the waves were very smooth and spaced very far apart. Wish I paid more attention to the adjustment of my boom which would have given me much more confidence in the conditions.

I ended the session after not being able to out run a large wall of water just about to close out and my chicken jibe was too late putting me in the waves wind shadow. I got crushed but was able to hold on to me gear in the twisted wash but got a bit spooked when my wrist was twisted in the boom during the tumble. Telling myself I'd better call it quits after just 45mins I headed for shore to the welcome of a couple happy witnesses who didn't need to call the coast guard.

Dry suit worked well
Red board sucked up more water
Boom needs some TLC
Wrist isn't broken just my spirit
to coin a phrase "I almost died out there"

H2O Rick

PS met a guy who wants to get into the sport and liked what he saw perhaps he will visit this site.

[1footwilly]

Just a nod of awe in H2O's direction. I did not have a small enough sail or large enough brass ones to dare Lake Ontario. Instead Jimmy King and I did the Westerly dance of fools on Canandaigua. A very comfortable 15-50 knots of pure fun. Jimmy opted for a 4.0 and I donned a 4.2 The 4.2 worked in the gusts but the lulls killed me, well almost. What they did was dump me in the liquid chill. Fortunately I know how to swim and water start with my hands held over my head the whole time, it's a Ninja thing. All in all it was a bit nuts but had some fun rides. The waves weren't the 14.8 on the big pond and coming in the chop wasn't bad at all. My jibes amounted to standing in waist high water counting my blessings and my fingers before another run. Jimmy "Mr. Clean" King fared much better than I did as you can imagine. Steve Howie dropped by in his white van. It was good to see him out and about. He was looking fine. Some surgery in the future for his shoulder and getting stronger all the time. Joe Herbert was there for moral support and some much needed technical advice as well. Rumors are building about Saturday at Durand....psst Doug.

[waterauthorityrick]

Finger Lakes? To bad for members of the wrong beach club.

Anyways you guys were likely trying to catch the south wind side of the storm and didn't want to head to the big pond.

What ever the reason was Wednesday don't miss Saturday cause I will. I will be out of town this whole weekend. Enjoy the wind & cold.

H2O Rick

[waterauthorityrick]

Well good forecast for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend mostly South West but I was busy Black Friday dealing with the Black Out at Best Buy. Seems the stupid wind blew some tree branches into the power lines and it burnt through the wire. oops sorry guys can't cut ALL the trees down.

Saturdays wind was very strong but still SW. I stopped at Long Pond to view the conditions prior to helping short-board Joe's boy with his trees. Very windy and nearly straight down the pond but the place was empty as expected with air temps hovering in the upper 30's
Did the tree job ,(good news no concussions)and headed home driving by all the sailing spots along the way.

Met Jason Gorden along the Bay on the Webster side we both spoke of the SW direction and he needed a fix real bad. I mentioned I was heading to Webster Park just to see the water conditions before returning all my tree gear to the Barn at Scorza's.

Webster was happening West wind cycling into the beach more than not. Cancel the return of the tree gear and head back to the house for my cold weather gear. Had a discussion with the wife regarding sailing alone, it was just a discussion and we will leave it at that. Checked the buoy report on the web and was amazed that the waves earlier peaked at 18.4 ft with gusts in the 40's.

I called Jason & Dr. Miller leaving messages on their phones who else would attempt these cold conditions and high winds? Right; almost forgot Ed Schmitt I sent him a text from Webster, "3.8m West winds come on out" The return text said he was skiing in Vermont.

Sailed about 2 hours (alone) however I thought one of the cars in the lot looked like Jasons which I found out later was him watching the action, he later went to Montano to fly his kite. I got hit by a rouge gust at one point that sent me over the handle bars hooked in and crashed my thigh into the mast. Suffering from a true hematoma the cold water was likely the best thing for the deep contusion but I had to get back to shore and call it a day.

Arriving at the beach (rocks) I see Miller who just pulled in, we talked but I didn't think he was going out, I for one was not going back out with the injured leg. It was still windy so I told him I would go out again so he could see how the conditions where. I sailed till my hands got cold and the wind lighted up and once I was back at shore Miller was rigging. I was finished but told him to use my rig along with his Evo I was using. He needed a bigger sail seeing that the conditions backed off so I helped him rig a 4.2m. That guy sailed only one other time this year and he went into the Lake in the cold and high winds (he spends most of his wind time with his kites) what a trooper (Dr.)

I video taped him the best I could trying to stay warm as the sun was setting. I will send the short clips to Doug for editing and posting in a day or two.

H2O Rick