The wind was predicted to be 20-30 knots all day but with a thunderstorm in the middle so I figured I would get two sessions in, one before and one after lunch.
My morning session started on my Fanatic Freestyle Wave 116 and the new Idol 5.6. I was sailing ok but the board was definitely too big for the wind which was now generally over 20 knots. My wife nicely took some photos with her cell phone. I hit 45 km/h though on one run back into the smooth water near shore.
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| First part of the session on the 5.6 Idol and Free Style Wave 116 |
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| Blasting at 45 km/h |
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| All good and thanks for the cell phone photos dear! |
So then I tried something I’ve been wanting to do for some time and got out my old Axxis 272 from 1998. It is so different, narrow and fast feeling. A smoother ride and way easier to point upwind. But it definitely took some getting used to. I can’t believe I used to have my footstraps so tight though! Once I got the hang of it, it was fun heading up into the big waves out by Dokis island. I did wind up hitting 51 km/h.
Since the wind was still building and now touching 25 knots I pulled out my oldest board, the poly plastic Tiga 257 and my new 4.8 Idol on an old standard diameter mast. The footstraps were all degraded and also too tight, but I quickly got a feel for it again. What a comfortable board to ride. Smooth and buttery since it weighs so much and because it flexes too! It felt slow and comfortable and I was having fun slashing down some wave faces. When I headed back into shore I was amazed at the speed I was getting. My wife had brought out the camera with 400mm lens and got some shots.
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| Involuntary jump! |
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| Getting comfortable |
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View from the launch point before it got really windy
The old learner board is still there! |
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| Ok, what is my speed? |
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| On my way to 52 km/h |
I hit 52 km/h on a soft ancient board with an imperfectly rigged tiny sail. I guess being comfortable on the board let me really sheet in and scream downwind in the increasing wind. I was starting to get tired so I sailed back to the dock on the Tiga.
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| Taking the Tiga back in after sailing on it for the first time this millennium? |
Then I luckily found a lull in the wind and sailed the 5.6 back in on the Axxis as the wind was still building.
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| A story of 3 boards and increasing winds |
After three 30 minute sessions I was done and ready for lunch and some email catch up. Of course the hydro was now out due to the increasing wind across Ontario.
Later in the afternoon I put new footstraps on the Tiga and rigged the 4.8 on the proper mast. It was so windy now and had shifted to the west so I could launch right from the dock.
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| The oldest board and newest sail |
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| Let's give this a try.... |
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| Launched right from the dock |
I hit 54.4 km/h as the wind had increased again! But suddenly and just 10 minutes into my session the wind was shearing the tops off the waves and I was barely able to hang on. I sailed back to the dock as the winds started hitting 35 knots. I debated for a moment about rigging the kids 3.5m sail but decided against it.
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| Short session and last run of the day hit 54.4 km/h |
Then the wind really started!
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| Smoke on the water |
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| My new wind gauge and overacting wife! |
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| Serious wind 15 minutes after I came in |
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| Oops the old learner YPSI windsurfer is gone! |
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| Leaning into the wind |
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| What a beautiful launch spot - but 35-40 knots is too much wind for those chairs |
While derigging and putting things away we saw two rattlesnakes under the windsurf locker doors. The wind had them a bit confused apparently and seeing them both was a bit unsettling for me. It was now getting to the point where it was hard to walk, waves were exploding on the shoals and the water everywhere had a layer of mist above it from the intense wind. A neighbour recorded 47 knots (87 km/h) at his island. We headed back into the harbour in the boat and called it a very exciting day.
The next day I took this shot of the 3 boards I'd sailed and enjoyed each one in a different way.
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| Three very different boards - 2015, 1998 & 1994 |
This was a lot of wind for September. I'm hoping for one or two more sessions like this one later in the fall!
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