Dave got planing!

It was super special to get poker buddy Dave out into some real wind. And to get myself sweet sessions before and after. And to score a free Mistral superlight old school board. Here’s how the day went:

First time planing for Dave!

I knew the wind was supposed to be solid all afternoon. SW wind backing to W as the last of the showers went through. Dave had proven to be a solid windsurfer on Friday afternoon, so I was happy to suggest another windsurfing session and he was game.

Since I'd been itching for another windy day since the gale 6 days ago, I headed out to the Launch Pad first to get my fix. It was perfect 18-21 knots plus bigger gusts for the 5.6 Idol and Skate 108. I was having fun and Dave and Jen got some nice photos as they came out in the boat. (Which I hope to turn into GIFs at some point.) The weather was 16c air with 17c water, a few scattered sun and rain bits, but generally overcast. I was fine in my 2 mil long leg wetsuit.

I tried several Vulcans, none of which were a success but it felt great to try them again. My max speed at the end was 50 km/h which I think is a record for this year. I started going upwind and finally got to the waves on either side of Wedge island. They were forming nicely and were fun to ride. On my way south on one run I hit a wave so steep the only option was to jump - I got some good air and this time didn't land the board flat - but instead landed my nether regions rather painfully on the return to the surface of the water. Ouch.

At the end of my 1.5 hour session, I planed right into the channel next to the island. It is fun to do that, but I'm guessing it will be harder to do when the water levels start going back down. Here are Dave's nice photos of me.

Little chop hop! (Will be a nice animated GIF someday)

Blasting toward 50 km/h

Middle of my Vulcan attempt...

My 5.6 Idol / Skate 108 session - view from the southwest.
You can see the wind shifting from SW to west as I head upwind.
Nice wave rides lower left corner

Session speed chart - worth the slogging and short tacks at the beginning.
Flying on my last two tacks in the flat water back to the Island.

All smiles sailing back to the dock

Wind conditions as Dave headed out - 30 knot gusts!

Next it was time for Dave to go out. With the wind so strong, I picked the 4.2 m Ice and the Viper 80. I put the rear footstraps and the Deviator on for Dave since he would be using the harness and I wanted to minimize his catapults. I sailed it up to the point in the crazy waves which even had me completely blowing a tack and falling into the water. I had fun though sailing it, and got it up to 27 km/h.

My speed chart for the 4.2 sail and Viper 80. Dave got it planing too!

I met Dave at the point. We chatted and went through scenarios. I figured he had 50/50 odds of being able to even uphaul in the waves, and imagined even if he could, he would be blown downwind onto the old Key Harbour coal dock ruins. Well he launched and then got going on his first run after just one fall. I was whooping with excitement for him and then went back to get the Seadoo.

He had made it all the way across and I watched him do a few more runs. It was super challenging in the middle of the harbour where the waves were biggest. So I tried towing him upwind holding the sail on the Seadoo like I normally do in light wind. But it was hard to steer and suddenly the sail was flipping through the wind, knocking me sideways. I was just able to fall off and barely kept the Seadoo from tipping right over by pushing it back upright as I headed into the water. I climbed back on from the back and we were able to go very slowly upwind with me holding the board and Dave basically swimming next to it.

He did a few more excellent runs and then sailed right back to the dock. What a superstar in the the massive wind and waves. He said he'd never actually planed on a board like he did! Here are the photos.

Dave heading out - defying my calls to look at the horizon - not his feet!

Way to get it planing Dave!

Heading back to the point

Nice form and speed

Those are big waves

Seadoo chase boat

Perfect "tennis save"

And the last run to the Launch Pad dock

After taking Dave back down the river, it was still windy but had also cleared up completely. I put on a shorty and tried the 4.2 Ice on the foil. The first time for me ever using such a small sail to foil. It was awesome. 

With a sail that tiny on the foil, I didn't really use the harness as often. I was able to get upwind angles near 45 degrees (in the clear wind in the channel between Wedge and Mann islands). So I made it upwind really quickly and was able to play in the large waves that had built all day.

Upwind then playing in the waves - view from the west.

Foil speed chart - some good long runs and jibes with decent speed too.

While the chart shows some good speeds through some of my jibes, I was pretty uncomfortable doing them. I think it was the size of the rolling swells that kept my balance from feeling stable. But again, it was the first time ever foiling in that much wind. The downwinder at the end and wave rides were super fun. Occasionally I would just hold the mast and float downwind on a swell marvelling at the foil and neat new wave riding sensations.

I heard later that Geoff and Quinn had canoed down the Key in a record 1 hour 40 minutes with the strong west wind behind them. More about the old school Mistral superlight I was given in a future blog. Dinner with Jen and a nice sunset on the island capped off a wonderful Sunday for me!