Short and sweet

While closing up the cottage for the season I headed out to see if I could get one last session in. The rain and clouds had cleared and a strong but gusty WNW wind was blowing.

I rigged up the 4.7 first and then it looked like it had backed off. Then I rigged the 6.2 as backup. But as I walked my Skate 108 out it looked windier again. So I grabbed the 4.7 and walked all the way to the point of the island and launched with the 4.7. I basically hopped on the board, was planing immediately and had a great comfortable run.

Short and sweet session on Georgian Bay from Canadian Guy on Vimeo.

I headed back and forth, slogging a fair bit but also doing some nicely powered transitions including carving and duck jibes. My first vulcan attempt was pretty good, it is easier to do with a 4.7 than a 6.2! The second vulcan attempt was a hooked in disaster!  You can see both attempts in the GPS map trail. My GPS didn't get a signal till part way through my first run, but you can also see my jibe close to shore where I found a recently submerged shoal.

GPS trail - two vulcan attempts, one jibe on a shoal. Map facing west into the wind.

Great wind, a bit gusty. First frost the next night.

The water was insanely warm at 16c for October 8th. I was comfy in my new 4/3 wetsuit and compared to last year's Thanksgiving session I actually didn't mind falling in. I can't recall another Thanksgiving that was so warm - and searching my blog since 2010 I can find only one other October entry back in 2011. Nor can I find any other days in the last 6 years at all where I windsurfed on my 4.7 at home.

Happy about my luck! Thanks Jen for the photos and video.

Top speed was 46.9 km/h. I only sailed for half an hour. Looking at the chart I spent most of the time slogging, but the times I did get planing were worth it.

Top speed 46.9 km/h. Lots of slogging but still worth it.

A wonderful way to end the season (12 sessions at home in total) and the gear is now stored for the winter. I'm off to Maui for the AWT in a few weeks.

Gear is stored for the winter now.

PS, Congratulations to nice guy Canadian Phil Soltysiak who came in 5th in the Professional Windsurfing Association 2016 freestyle rankings. I posted about him - and Martin Van Oochten in one of my first blog posts in 2010!