First day at Corpus Christi

I finally was able to come down to Texas and join the Chicago squad on a windsurfing trip! Condition went from 130/8.5 in the morning to 90/5.8 in the afternoon. Got to try lots of gear ;)

Hatch

Had a little warm up session today at the Hatch before getting on the plane on my way to Corpus. Conditions were quite good, too bad I had to leave soon. Rigged 3,7, 20 minutes later came back for a 4,2, and 20 minutes later back for the 3,7. Yeah it was that kind of day. 

2016 season is on!

Welcome back! Yeah I've been slacking off. But here we are, it's 2016, my 10th windsurfing anniversary. Yeah 10 years and I can't still land a damn forward. Anyway, today was a pretty nice season opener at Stevenson. E at 25 knots. I was on 86/4.2, with my "east wind" 24 cm center fin. (I call it an East wind fin because it's massive and gets me back to the launch on East days when wind and river current go in the same direction). I was slightly overpowered, so I had do downhaul the crap out of the sail. There were three other windsurfers out, it was good to see other people!

Anyway, the season is awwwn! Can't be happier ;)

Weird session

Such a weird day yesterday. Got to Doug's at about 10 and it was already honking. The wind had a lot of North in it so launching on 3.4/72 was tricky. Once you got to the mid section you could feel the power. When you got to the Oregon side you got blown off the water. By noon I retreated to the Hatch, where it was 3.7 but gusty as hell. Ended up at 4 or so on 4.7, but never I felt dialed in. 

On a sad note, a SUPer is missing, he was last seen at the Hatch, his board was recovered. Hope he's well. 

Jones Beach

Nice sesh at Jones Beach/Nuke Alley today. The wind finally picked up in the afternoon, I had rigged to 6.5/105 combo and was too lazy to re rig, so I finished the session super powered up. Wind sensor was in the upper 30s when I left. The launch at Jones is weird: you launch from the Oregon side, and have to go through marginal wind til you get to Nuke Alley past the island (to the left in the picture). People launch on the WA side right on Nuke Alley, but the launch is just off the road, kinda shady...

Oceanside

First time out in the Oregon coast!! Wind was 20 +/- 5 NNW, rigged 5.3/105. Waves were 3-5 feet, gentle sets. Trudy and others were there. Great crowd, great place, I'm definitely coming back!

R2AK

Mark Dix, one of Seattle's legends in long distance windsurfing, is attempting to sail the first leg of the Race to Alaska event. Forty miles of open water through the Straights of Juan de Fuca: massive rollers, strong currents, killer whales, and two international freighter lines. After the crossing he will have to paddle upwind (no sailing in the Victoria Harbor) in order to reach the finish line. Go Mark!!!