Saturday at The Pond

[skymongrel]

At home in Penfield I watched the wind and clouds most of the morning while doing some chores. Finally I decided to load my small stuff in the van and head to Long Pond. Arriving at the pond there was a bunch of guys hanging out wind watching. I was surprised that the wind was light but in less than a half hour it started to blow. Rigged my favorite 5.6 on my 85 l. Mamba and got some nice rides barely hanging on at times. Equipment problems sent me in to shore to change my setup and I rigged down to 4.2 sensing a change in the wind strength. For the next couple of hours the whole gang (Doug, Art, Ted, Ken,Joe and Mark) ripped up and down the pond. It amazes me how quickly the wind can crank up at the pond. Legs cramping and blisters nearing the popping stage I finally called it quits a reached into my gear bag to find a lone Palauner Salvator double bock to celebrate a super session. How about a repeat tomorrow? Thanks go out to Art for lending me a mast as I certainly would have missed out and to Doug for helping me fill a hole in my awesome quiver of vintage sails ;D.

[Windydoug]

Hey Scott, I guess that quiver makes you vinatage fast. No school like the old school (at least that is what the old guys say!). Besides the third hand Sailworks 5.2 you've got is too new to be vintage...it was made in 2003. Ha!

I knew it was time to head in on my 5.8 when Scott was howling (speed and audible) by on a 4.2 (tight leach sail...that's vintage). I went with a 4.2 as well and had my first rides on Joe's (perhaps to be mine) Mistral SLE "Baby". It took some getting used to, and a lot of finess as most small stuff does but I think I like that board! The wind was certainly cranking, but was more south down in the corner, and more west towards the other side of the pond. Consistent the pond rarely is. Joe, Ted, Art and Mark all went sub 4.0 in sail size I believe and looked to be having fun. Ken rigged a good looking 4.0 Ezzy and got some rides, though he will say he didn't enjoy the *&^%$#@ing Pond. I admire him for heading out to his least favorite sailing site in the first place. Art and Ted both sported new gear in the form of a Naish board (Ted) and Ezzy Panther (Art). Everybody got wet today and crashes or missed jibes were to be seen by everybody. I'm wiped out, dead tired.
On the way out past the pond a lone kite was blasting out from the corner, pretty sure it was Jason with a grin on his face and glad to get some water time after a day of working. Judging by the current meter reading for Hamburg (45), I suspect the streats of Buffalo look more like Venice that streets...that is a big surge of water. Perhaps some floating hazards in Erie that the waves have pulled from the shore too.
Need to go drink my session beer and hit the hay, and advil bottle.
WD

[windkid]

Would that Ted possibly Ted S.(Smashfoot) Butcher? If so it's good to hear he's repaired and sailing again. That's good news indeed.

[skymongrel]

I thought it was a two Advil day...but I was mistaken. Sorry about the sail dis Doug, I was thrown off by all the mylar tape! ;D Actually I was gonna rig that one first but made the mistake of setting up next to Ken who was rigging big.

[jgordon]

T'was me on the kite indeed. Highly variable conditions were a handful at times but just happy to have gotten out for a little while.

Glad you all had a good day rippin' on ye old pond! J