Winduro clinic

Today we had the Winduro clinic. Winduro is an annual "race" (more like an endurance feat than a race) here in Seattle. The idea is to circumnavigate Mercer Island, on Lake Washington. The guy who is standing up next to  the board is Mark D, the dude has done this course more than 100 times, more of them solo. He is going over safety, strategy, and how to sail under not one but two highway bridges. This is like nothing I've done before, darn, up to this point I did not know how to tack a long board.  I try to keep my mouth shut and listen. So the Winduro is on, for the next 4 weekends we are on wind watch, waiting for South wind 15 to 20 knots. I'm just hoping to get to shore, any shore, in one piece. 

Storm session

A storm rolled into Seattle and brought South wind, rain and thunder. I went to Lowman to check it out and it was blowing enough for the 10.4. The thunder was East of me, so I gave it a shot. I sailed for 2 hours in great conditions. I am finally getting to know the 10.4 and how to tune it. The long board is still a mystery though, it goes upwind like nobody's business, but I can't handle it well in stronger winds. Today I ordered some stuff to re-do the deck, which is slippery as hell, not good when you're tacking a huge sail. Speaking of tacks, I need to get them dialed before winduro, because I bet it'll be a long board event... 

I better get used to low visibility, or get a marine radio in case I get lost out there, no joke!

BTW the season is on in Chicago. Check out Montrose going off!

What makes a session?

Someone gets out of work at 6:30. He drives through traffic to the beach and gets there by 7:15. He's on the water by 7:35 and sails until sunset. He de-rigs under the moonlight and goes home. That is what I did today in 12 mph wind out of the North. I glided out and back, and being out there made me happy. So that as a session for me, and a great one! I launched at Lowman again, found a spot to rig right there on the beach, perfect. There were two guys on a Laser who just got out of the water, there were other people having a drink and watching the sunset. It was quite a scene.

October is coming, and so is winduro, I better get my jibes tighter on the F2 if I want to make it around Mercer island.
In other news, the guys in Chicago are getting ready for the best part of the season, more to come about that. 

Sunset at Lowman