Last Launch Pad session of 2021

It was supposed to be windy all day long so I was happy to arrive at the Launch Pad at 3pm and get on the water at 3:30… The wind was 20 knots from the west and the rain and hail squalls were south of us but made for a spectacular view.

Excited to go shortboarding

Booties on for 10c water

Great views of the storms south of us

I unpacked the Skate 108 which I’d already put away for the season! I didn’t think I’d actually get in a shortboard session during our 48 hour closing visit. I was tempted to rig the 4.8 but decided since the wind would likely eventually taper off, to take the already rigged 5.6 Idol.

The wind was 8c and the water 10c. I was happy I decided to wear booties, and the 6/5/4 hooded wetsuit kept me very comfortable. The water was nice and clear again so it was easy to see the shoals. For a few minutes I saw a nice rainbow, so maybe they aren’t so rare?

I started making my way upwind and stopped and restarted my GPS watch which was actually working - just showing weird info. So the total session would up being 30 km in 75 minutes. Max speed was 45 km/h and I was planing for 77% of the time.

I did make a few duck jibes and had a few decent planing jibes, but most jibes were short radius slow jibes to help make my way upwind. I tried one carve 360 and one Vulcan; neither were successful. I was wearing booties and thinking if I’d landed the Vulcan I’d need to be like Andy Brandt and wear booties forever?

View from the west - navigating the islands

Post session weather report

I caught the windy part

Some nice long runs in the 2nd half.

While derigging I noticed that the Idol needs a new batten. After 4 years of being constantly rigged all summer (and one 2 week session in Bonaire), it definitely takes its toll on battens.

We got the place closed up for the winter - I left my 4.2 rigged to try on the snow - and my 2 inflatable wings are up there - hope to try those with skates again.

Shutting down the island (and the wind)

We were out at the Launch Pad in the morning shutting things down for the season. The NE wind was gusty and less than the last few days. 

I figured it would die as soon as we got there but after an hour of being teased by 10-15 knot gusts I decided to head out on the 6.5 NP V6 and the Techno with the 76 cm foil.

Of course then it really dropped off.

The wind died right when I headed out

Still a nice tour around the island enjoying the clear water

Air was 10c and the now clear again water was 12c. We finished tasks enjoying the sunshine for the rest of the day and were treated to a nice sunset. There may be one chance of a session next week but that will be it for the Launch Pad this year…

The sun is setting pretty far south now

Smells like low tide

Strong NE winds were on tap. After some more stair construction and a charity conference call I headed out to the Launch Pad. 

The wind meter was showing 14-20 knots so I took the 5.6m Idol sail and the 140 l Stingray with the 99 cm foil. (I wanted to wing foil but knew the gusty offshore wind would make it hard to get back upwind.)

I headed out from the dock and immediately got planing on the foil. The northeast wind was relatively warm at 10°C. However it was blowing all the water down to the southern part of the Bay! The water level up here had dropped so much that the normally submerged algae on the rocks was exposed for the first time in several years? It certainly smelled like the ocean when the tide goes out.

My neighbour’s dock today…

It was super gusty and I was glad I was on a windfoil and not a shortboard windsurfer or a wing foil. I stayed dry for 32 minutes and was getting ever more comfortable in my jibes. I did then eventually started falling and getting colder, especially after a good duck jibe attempt. 

Lots of time on the foil during the first 1/2 of my session.

10°C air and 12°C water meant I was good in my 5/4 wetsuit, hat and booties but didn’t need gloves. 

The wind rose that iWindsurf creates out of the data it gets from my Tempest weather station shows how rare NE winds are. The data is from Sept so I’m interested to see once we have a full month of October data.

I did 13 km and then headed back for a warm shower and a few island projects including repairs to the makeshift sailboat dolly assembled out of old windsurf parts.

Hope it works this time…

Another nice sunset would end the day

It is cold now

This was really the first fall session for me. Hood on, booties on and cold fingers. But the 6c NE wind was too strong to ignore, so I headed out with the 6.5m NP V6 with the Stingray 140 and 99 cm foil.

Thanks Jen for the photo

A quick 13 foil in the cold

Lots more foiling than non foiling jibes

The wind built during my session to the point where I was contemplating getting out a short board. The water was 15c after all. Instead I walked out to the point and took down the flags I’ve been flying there since before the Hatteras crew arrived.

Overall 47 minutes and 13 km. 6 days on the water in my 6 days up here. No wind in the forecast for the next while and 0c at night. I’ll likely be wearing gloves too next time I’m out.

Wonderful last day for the Hatteras crew

We woke up and the conditions were sunny and calm as the weather had predicted.

Calm morning after the epic SW Tuesday

Jamie headed off on his fully loaded Seadoo leaving 4 of us to see what the day might bring. After another great breakfast we headed out to the Launch Pad to assess.

It was almost glassy so the decision was to have another go wake foiling on the small 105 litre foilboard. The water was still 16c and the sun was beaming, so everyone was toasty in thin neoprene. The bay was calm so we covered some good ground out to Dokis island and back.

Steve did some great toe side riding, Bryan definitely learned a lot from his 2+ hour windfoil session the day before and Chuck amazed us with another wakeboard style launch up onto the foil. It seemed that 16 km/h was about the ideal speed for the boat.

A nice little 1.5 km wake foil back to the Launch Pad

16 km/h or 8 knots works nicely

After my nice long ride back it was time to derig the guests’ gear and tidy up a bit. We also had a proof of concept practice putting my Seadoo on the trailer for winter storage.

The island clean up didn’t require much effort

Everything was slowly packed up and we grabbed a nice leftovers lunch at the cottage before saying goodbye and next time…

“The Ride Home”

The foilboard gets the passenger seat!

First ever kiters in Key Harbour!

Wow, what an amazing day. Shortboarding, kiting, windfoiling, and wingfoiling all happened at the Launch Pad. 

A highlight for me - kiters enjoying the Launch Pad!

The SW wind came as predicted building to a solid 15 knots by noon. We got out to the Launch Pad and I quickly got Jamie ready with the Tahe 148 board and his 5.8m sail. He headed out and was getting a few planing runs by pumping quite nicely.

Jamie getting going

I set Bryan up with the old Techno 148 (yes, same board as the new Tahe 148) but this one with the 76cm foil under it. It was nice to see Bryan being the first person to ever rig in the nice grassy flat of the septic field.

Yes, a grassy rigging area at the Launch Pad

The 16c water and 16c air had everyone comfortable and ready for a long session. The process to launch the kites was interesting to be a part of; the first time I’ve ever had kites being rigged at the Launch Pad. Chuck decided to get his kite ready and then leave it moored to the rock using my handy rock ring. I think I’ll have some more of those available next time!

Ready to launch the first kite at the Launch Pad

Chuck’s kite

It’s up!

Kite just chilling

The Kite parking system

Getting Steve’s kite ready

Chuck heading off - first kiter ever in the harbour!

After Chuck’s kite was ready, it was Steve’s turn to get rigged. After a brief complication with Steve’s kite bar it was time to get Chuck out to the water. He took off a bit far inland and BARELY missed the granite downwind of the point. He cleared it though and got going across the harbour. After 3 runs it was clear there wasn’t quite enough wind to keep the big guy upwind. I rushed down to get the Seadoo and collected Chuck on a shoal in the harbour and took him way upwind to Mann Island so he could drift launch.

Steve ripping!

On the way back to the dock it was clear that Bryan was having a great session learning the foil. I got some shots without dropping my phone in the Bay!

Bryan getting comfy on the foil

Steve was also ripping nicely and making his way upwind, and Jamie took a break from his windsurf session to go up on the Seadoo and help Chuck launch again.

With everyone on the water I pumped up my 6.0 Echo wing and headed out on the 140 Stingray and 99 cm foil. I was able to race upwind, quickly passing Steve and joining Chuck who was now finally having some good runs in the wind out toward Wedge Island. Steve got up there and started scooting between the islands - just like I’d shown in my morning map briefing.

My session was great with some of my first ever switch stance initiated wingfoil jibes. I went 18.5 km in 90 minutes. Bryan was out for 2.5 hours! 

Bryan’s amazing windfoil session!

My wingfoil track

I started falling more later in my wingfoil session..

Steve’s session data!

All our sessions ended and it was clearly lunch time. By then it was 18c and we were sitting comfortably outside eating delicious leftovers - and having first beers!

A nice warm lunch!

It was then time to try a few other things. I went out on the 105 l Starboard with the 6.5m NP V6. I was sinking up to my knees but was able to slog it back to the dock but didn’t get up on the wing. Chuck took the 7.0 NP V6 on the Techno with the 76 cm foil. He and Steve exchanged some “Starboard” challenges on their way out. Then Steve had a great session on the 6.0 Echo wing on the 140 l Stingray.

My slog back to the dock on the 105 litre board

I eventually went out on the 7.0 V6 with the 140 l and 99 cm and also had a good last session.

Nice to be back foiling on my Techno

My last session

Foiling with the 7.0

I got lucky with some loosening screws though!

Steve ripping on the wing

Steve impressing everyone by pumping
all the way into the harbour

Steve’s wingfoil track with some great wing jibes

The wind chart for the day. Solid SW for 8 hours!

After all those adventures it was time to kick back with some Baja fogs for the crew. 

The gear got stowed in case the wind would sustain through to Wednesday. 

The gear stored for tomorrow?

We celebrated a FANTASTIC day with a steak dinner out on the screened in porch and a call to Australia.

Heading back

Heading into the moon

Steak dinner!

Mmm.

Then we had banana boats and another round of euchre before heading off to snooze.