My last session of 2020 turned out be a wonderful way to start planning for 2021. I had lunch conference calls, so I had to get out early in the day. I started my session at 9:30 am; the earliest in the morning I've sailed this year. Luckily it was already unseasonably warm.
The wind was 16 knots, tempting me to look at using my FreeWave 116. But I decided to go with the Techno 148 and hopefully not spend much time slogging through lulls in the wind. I took the 7.0 NP which is starting show its 15 year? age.
It was the perfect combination. I tacked upwind out of the harbour and then started planing. I had my seat harness on instead of my waist harness and just sat back, blasting back and forth, slowly making some upwind ground. That board is so easy to ride! I was being very cautious on my jibes so I only had one real planing jibe. But I didn't fall in for over an hour and forgot to send an "I'm having fun" GPS message. By the time I got back to shore after 32 km and an hour and 15 minutes, my wife was a bit worried.
I was in my 5/4 suit for the 12c air and with the water back up to 10c from the record warm November weather I didn't even wear booties.
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Post session #75 smile!
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No need for booties when the water is 10c
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12 c air and 16 knot winds
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GPS trail - with one planing jibe
one floating balloon garbage pickup
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Planing most of the time, 4th jibe kept some speed!
Lots of tacks just after the halfway part
Then some speed runs at the end hitting 47 km/h |
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I did have one sketchy moment as I windsurfed
over this hidden shoal - as the water starts going
down again I'm going to need to be more careful! |
That gear and an early start to the day has me excited to set a goal for a 100+ km day next year. And with 75 sessions in a busy and complicated 2020, 100+ sessions might just be a possible goal year with more time, the 99 wing and hopefully better skills.
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Pretty consistent wind at the end of my session
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I de-rigged a few more sails and then went back to attend to work and emails. At dusk I was back at the island to de-rig the rest of the sails and secure the Launch Pad for the winter.
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It was even windier and warmer at dusk; a record for Nov 10th? |
With no trips on the horizon, none of the gear is coming back to the city.
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| Shutting down the Launch Pad sail locker |
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The sun sets on my 2020 season
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| Sunny and even windier on Remembrance Day |
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Some very nice wind out there but the gear is all packed up.
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See you in 2021
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It's always a sad day to put the gear away for the season.
ReplyDeleteA bit sad to be closing for sure, but it has been a satisfying year, all things considered!
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