Gorge Trip

[waterauthorityrick]

I think this is very exciting and should have been communicated as a post a long time ago. A few of our local sailors are headed to the Gorge for some well awaited wind and sailing.

Retired Joe is leading the pack and leaving in his truck by the end of this week with a month long stay in a house he rented in Hood River.

Others joining him throughout his stay are Mark, Ted, Art and our own administrator himself Doug. I only hope Owen recognizes his dad upon his return home as an actual Gorge sailor.

We will be able to follow the status of their trip by viewing the web cam at the Hatch

www.hatchcam.com

H2O Rick

PS and while your all enjoying the trip please remember to "SEND WIND"

[Windydoug]

Nice! The water Authority giving us a nice gust of wind to build up the trip.
I actually was reserving my gear today. I have three shops on the line. Big Winds, Isthmus, and Windance.
Big Winds is obviously the most well know and carries 104 different boards in their rental fleet, so even Ken could sail a 140L in 3.7 conditions.....sorry Ken couldn't resist.....although rumor has you blowing off doors with your Futura....no pics yet though.
Seriously,
I'd like to rent from Windance $350 for board (Goya 84L Custom Wave or One, 4 Ezzy sails from 3.5 to 5.2. TWO skinny masts. What makes me apprehensive is the lack of a 5.8 or 6.0. I know they say no to 5.0 out there, but ah...I don't. I am going out there to windsurf, not bike when the wind is still good enough for 5.8.
Isthmus does a board, 3 sails, 1 mast for $320, but I don't know a thing about RRD or Quattro.

Big Winds has the best selection of everything, but no Ezzy sails. I don't want to take a couple days to figure out dialling in sails I am not familiar with. Though Sailworks is great and the Naish sails look pretty sweet. I'd probably be on a JP Freestyle Wave, or Starboard Kombat.

I'm probably going with Big Winds, but does anybody want to weigh in?

BTW, the trip is still open for anybody that is interested. Accomodations are $250 per week. I'm not the one signing anybody up though. It'd be cool to see some of you guys out there. Bill, Ken, David? Once in a lifetime experience............unless you're David who still has the perfect windsports life!

Chris Klazner and Steve from Long Pond are doing their own Gorge trip next week.

Windydoug

[waterauthorityrick]

Doug,

I'd go with Big Winds that sounds like a great deal, especially 3 masts. If you are concerned about the 5.7m sail being absent from the quiver pack two sails for the flight, then you have everything without going back to the store. If you have to go back to the store they let you take anything else that is there and not on reserve for anyone else. I think the Kombat would be the way to go for you, but be sure to stay away from the full WAVE boards in the Gorge they don't work well. I rented a JP wave Pro that wouldn't get up onto a plane to save it's life, I was so unhappy with it I brought it back and didn't pick up anything in return. I stayed on my Red Board for the last two days of the trip.

H20 Rick

PS Will trade Tree Work for Gorge Trip

PSS Will work for Wind.

[chris]

Leaving Sat at 6AM for week.

Staying at a house in Lyle Wa right on the river and across the street from the sandbar(one of the best kiting locations in the gorge). 2 mi from Dougs Beach. $500 for the week fully furnished, wireless internet, sleeps 4.

www.gorgehomerental.com

For those of you who know Trey he's going to be there as well as a friend from North Carolina. He used to be a tackle for Virginia Tech. He's 6'6" and has been working out and just got under 300 lbs. Can't wait to see him on a 5.7 in 30 mph.

Thanks for the rental info Doug. I haven't reserved that yet.

[waterauthorityrick]

Talked with Trey last night, they hadn't sailed yet on Monday so he was enjoying a few cocktails on the porch and taking in the view. Chris was crossing the street to give his kite a late afternoon session.

On Sunday they all were at Windance picking their boards & quivers for the week and the one good thing about a Gorge trip in June is that most of the rental gear still is packaged in the original wrapping. All their gear is out of the box new.

They sailed 4.1m- 4.8m at Dougs and had a blast (I guess one would on the first day there) Trey was impressed by one sailor who did a "double forward" right in front of him.

Their North Carolina friend did not have such a good time. In short, Doug's beach was over his head, Trey said he was missing for over an hour until he showed up drinking a beer, he drifted down river on a 5.4m and had to get a tow back to shore and that didn't go well when your dragging a sail and 300 pounds yourself. So he diconnected the rig and left it (remember new everything) and made it back to the rocks with just the board. His attempt to climb the rocks with the board didn't go well in the wind so he left it along the rocks to blow in the wind. The story has it that everything was finally recovered but damage was heavy, we'll get the real version once the boys log in. Trey says their Carolina friend will be spending alot more time at the "Event Site" The poor guy must of felt like he was at Webster Park when he was used to sailing at Canadaigua or Hatteras sound for that matter.

H20 Rick (wish I was there, roaming reporter)

[Windydoug]

Thanks for the updates Rick. THATS what the forum is for! But I have to add, now I have that first time Gorge scare back in me. Also, last minute addition to the trip is Windkid! That's right, and epic tale of Sprouts growing in a harsh environment. Bill is psyched to be joining the group. We are both on the same flight heading out, and leaving within an hour of each other on the way home.........makes things easy for our Gorge host (AND NEWEST RWS FORUM MEMBER....) Shortboard Joe. I have to believe that Joe being on the computer is a little like NYS Relay phone for folks that are deaf. Joe says it and toots types it........

[waterauthorityrick]

Wild Bill & Windy Doug, nice match up.

Who is going to drive to Fair Haven while your gone?

With your luck it will blow 3.5m 4 out of 8 days.

Currently the wind is light again for the early morning at the Hatch.

I would like both Wind Kidd & Doug to journal everyday they are there. It will be great to hear about how they like it.

H20 Rick

[waterauthorityrick]

Tuesday's Gorge update:

Light wind for the Windsurfers therefor they stayed in and watched DVD's for six hours and when I spoke to Trey I could tell he was sipping drinks throughout those six hours. He was very upset with the forecast being wrong so Wednesday he is planning on skiing on Mt. Hood (should be 4.0m during the morning with his luck.)

Chris rode his 8.0m kite most of the day from the event site kite launch, he was a bit intimidated with the closeness of the other kiters, he said Lynn and him get somewhat close at Durand to each other but not that close. (that's the Gorge waters for you, hundreds of other people to watch out for) Chris was heading out for another late evening ride across the street from the house.

H20 Rick (until tomorrow)

[forcasty]

I am predicting incredible local winds the week of July 9 -16. Should be atleast three solid days at Durand one at Seneca and ofcourse always in Hamburg. Tighten up the quiver gang. This one's a no brainer.

Working Stiff

[David]

I'll second that. Hamburg should nuke at 43-52 and durand should be perfect 19-22 nw with 3-5 swell. I'm taking some vacation days!

[waterauthorityrick]

Wednesday's Update from the boys.

The plan of snow skiing Mt. Hood in the morning did take place. They also sailed the Hatchery afterwords I don't know the specifics regarding sail sizes.

I phoned them 7:15pm (their time) and didn't get an answer which in the Gorge is a good thing because it means everyone is still on the water. I got woke up just after falling asleep at home around 11:15pm (our time) from a bunch of psyched guys who snow skied, sailed both the Hatchery then Doug's until 8:00pm "they had a good day". Trey mentioned he was overpowered on a 5.2m at Doug's so that was all I could muster up to question him while in my bed.

Bad news for Friday's forecast with an East wind for the day (back-wards light wind) It is even bad for the Wind-fest event to be held Fri & Sat. So knowing this the guys need to wake up Thursday and sail their brains out.

H2O Rick

[waterauthorityrick]

Just received a text from Trey

He says it's blowing 3.7m at Dougs.

I replyed;

Sail till you bleed cause there will be NO big wind on Friday

H20 Rick