That late summer warm west wind

Our current cottage visitors are from France and their son Marc had a great windsurf session here in 2015. He's now a windsurfing and sailing instructor in France with a welcome invitation to come back to the Launch Pad!

Mom Fabienne wanted to learn too, so after a morning of work and charity calls, it was off to the simulator. Unfortunately the wind kept building but she was very determined and then got her balance and steering under control on land. So upwind we went with the 3.5 and the Viper 80 and she started going. She did really well but the wind kept building and by the time she was downwind the waves were making it challenging. Fabienne did get a few tacks and got going in each direction. I'm sure she will get it all going in lighter wind...

Fabienne looking good on the simulator

Ready to head out in too much wind!

Underway

Another run

Last run!

I then headed out on the 6.2 and Freewave 116. I got going once but it wasn't enough. So then I tried the 7.0 and the Ray 122. Again, got going once but not enough (forgot to put the GPS on for that part). So I put my old aluminum boom on the 6.5 and headed out on the foil. That was enough.

I windsurfed for around two hours on the foil. I'm getting so comfortable going back and forth and upwind and downwind.

Lots of time and distance on the foil. Planing 41% of the time.

Just as I was done for the day the wind started building. I was putting everything away and enjoying that late summer feeling you get in the Gorge. That tired, warm wind swirling around you, healthy glow feeling from exercise and sun. And then it got windier and shifted to the west.

So I got out the 6.2 and the Freewave 116 again and had a great 22 minute session just as the sun was setting. It was magical - like I remember from years past but for the first time this summer.

The view before my surprise last session

Freewave 116 track (viewed from the west)

All done for the day and still windy!
Too bad I didn't have my weather station connected.

I'm going to need to repair the lower part of that old 1994? Neil Pryde 6.5 soon.

Another awesome beginner!

Hailey had seen the excitement of high speed windsurfing and was determined to give it a try. Even though the winds were stronger than I want for a beginner lesson, we just had 40 minutes until her departure from the island!

So we headed upwind in the boat and got her on the water. Amazingly, Hailey's great balance and determination to keep her front hand on the mast, meant she got going in each direction regularly. A few tacks, a few frustrating times with the sail on the wrong side of the board equalized her successes and frustrations.

Beginner Haley getting going for the first time.

Sailing - takes me away

Back in the other direction

Nice tennis save! (Thanks ABK)

A successful beginner heading back to the Launch Pad

At the end with the strong tailwind she was able to cruise right back to shore. What a great first session!

With the wind dying and the water a very clear and warm 22c, I took a cruise later around the old pier. The shape of it is interesting.

My path around the old pier in Key Harbour
superimposed on a 2013 Google image when the water was lower

I got out later in the day after some work calls for a light wind sail around the island. There wasn't enough wind to foil I did some upwind 360s with the 7.0, but not surprisingly, I didn't get a duck tack.

Light wind cruise around the island with upwind 360s with a 7.0

I took some time to add a few drawers in the shed to keep my windsurf tools organized. Looks like wind for tomorrow!

The sail and board loft

The Launch Pad

Four great 7.0m shortboard sessions!

Exciting to finally have a good wind forecast. So I headed out right at 9am for a dawn patrol session #1. 7.0m NP V6 sail on the Fanatic Ray 122. It was sunny and nice weather, but it just wasn't enough wind.

So I went and did work emails, and then headed out again at noon. #2. Now the wind was stronger around 15 knots so I was getting going reasonably well. It was my second time on the Ray 122 this year, and I was a bit rusty. I also forgot my watch so no GPS of that session. I sailed for around an hour, likely 20k or so, slowly getting more comfortable, tweaked my knee a bit, but hoped that I'd get another session later in the day.

Then the fun session. #3. Phillip wanted to head out with the 7.0 sail on the Techno 148. The weather was sunny and warm. While he headed upwind, his girlfriend and I headed to the point. Haley was excited to see Phil windsurfing, and also to try out her balance on the simulator. I gave her my standard lesson and was impressed by her tenaciousness and listening skills. She did very well in winds way stronger than I would normally choose for an introductory land lesson. Meanwhile, Phillip was ripping it up!

Go Phillip!

Blasting!

Haley looking ready on the simulator despite the strong winds

Is that 40km/h?

He wants to jump!

Phillip with spectators!

 Here is Phillip's GPS watch data. He hit 40.6km/h top speed!

Phillip's GPS trail

Phillip's speed chart!

After his session, I headed out on the Ray 122. #4. I had my waist harness on for this session, and sailed way better for over 80 minutes. I almost planed out of some jibes! And 5km long runs are very unusual. At one point I had been planing over 75% of the session. The high water and polarized glasses sure help. Then I hit a lull but was exploring new areas and didn't even care about slogging for a while.

My GPS graph with 5km long run!

Heart rate and speed data. Hit 47.9 km/h

Definitely one of the best days so far this year. My son out ripping. A potential new beginner. And over 50 km of sailing for me. My calves are going to be sore tomorrow!

Getting Rich back into windsurfing

My neighbour Rich seemed keen to try windsurfing again when I gave his son Adam a lesson. I helped them get a very decent used board and sail from a swap event at Boardsports in Toronto. Thanks Steve and Steve!

So when I brought the board and sail they had purchased up to the Bay, I was hoping Rich would take it out for an inaugural session. The weather co-operated with super steady and light 3-5 knot winds when Rich came over to collect the gear. I helped him rig it and he tried the simulator.

Rich getting comfortable with his (relatively) new sail

And the new (used) board for Rich and Adam

Rich's many years of teaching sailing meant he knew exactly what I was talking about during my quick windsurfing refresher course. I helped him launch from the point and off he went.

Rich looking right at home back on a board after 20 years!

Another student sailing away!

I had fun sailing and chatting with Rich!

He didn't fall in at all and gained ground each tack. We had fun chatting out on the water as the wind was so light and the waves were very quiet. He delivered his new board and sail right to his island. That is a first for me - teaching someone who makes upwind ground on a first session!

Tacking upwind and then a single long downwinder...

We all had a great chat back at the Launch Pad. I definitely have another windsurfer with whom to share those wonderful light wind days!

German beginner session #2

Another great day at the Launch Pad getting beginners out on the water. Konstantin was on the 3.5 and Veloce 328 and had a great session. His balance was again incredible and his sense of sail position and direction was super. He got a quick upwind tow into the 5-7 knot SW wind. Sebastian was on the 4.2 with the Viper 80 and after one ride upwind with the jetski got his form and had some nice steady reaches back and forth before heading back to the point and landing there.

Konstantin making it back on his 2nd session.

Ausgezeichnet!

They both were able to sail right back to the point which made me really happy. It was great to have wetsuits for them as the 22c temperature and wind over the water was just cold enough to warrant a shorty.

Uwe sailing the gear back

This little guy was hanging out on the side of the island

I finally got motivated to finish fixing and painting the window at the side of the shed, now the whole wall is white!

Finally finished painting around the window.

Jen found the perfect spot for yoga!

What a great week at the Launch Pad!

Ausgezeichnet!

I had a fun session with my cousin from Germany. I got going ok a few times on the foil in the 9-12 knot winds. For him it was the first time windsurfing since 2003. That was during his last visit to Canada.

Uwe back on board!

Uwe  from 2003 - I think that is "The Launch Pad" in the background!
Same sail number, much smaller board, likely the same boom!

A bit of foiling for me...

Foil tracks...

I managed to get my wife out on the simulator too later in the nice soft SW wind, and I think she looks great!

Wonderful!

More students and some Sail Chi

My German cousin was up with his sons and they were looking forward to some windsurfing lessons. The evening we arrived I headed out and got some quick foiling in which seemed to inspire them even more to get out on the water the next day.

German visitors!

Post foil sunset visit to the point

The next afternoon we got on the simulator and I gave my normal beginner lesson while their dad was out on the Fanatic Viper 80.

Konstantin headed out first on the 3.5 trainer sail and I put him on the newly redecked BIC Veloce 328. It is still a great board for beginners as its parallel rails translate the smallest amount of sail pressure into rewarding forward motion. He headed out, tacked a few times and got back without even falling in. Between motorcycle balance and helpful glider pilot understanding of "Strömungsabriss" aka "stalling due too high an angle of attack" he did really well.

His brother Sebastian did almost as well, only falling in once, tacking nicely, but needing a tow upwind toward the end as the gusty north wind started dying.

Post session snacks!

Afterwards, I finally put my "sail Chi" land simulator together. Just a piece of plywood with an old carpet on it, it makes practising duck tacks, boom boxing and other ABK light wind skills easy.

Sail Chi mast foot.

Here is the data from my quick foil the evening before..

Heart rate and speed increase after I pump the sail 12x!

Two nice long runs once I got upwind