2012-09-13 Ditto on Steroids

Easterly at Stevenson.

For those who thought yesterday was a windy easterly - today upped the anti.  Jim asks - can you spell "Smoke on the Water".  Handre said he was sailing behind someone and it looked like he had exhaust coming from the back of his board.  The tops were being blown off the tops of the waves.

But first......

Handre said yesterday was his best sailing day ever.

Big Air Jim said that yesterday was the best day he had ever had at Stevenson, and then Today is the best day he has ever had at Stevenson!

The forecast was for great wind, but when I checked the Stevenson's "Bob's Beach Cam" at 8:00am, just as I finished breakfast, my first impression was that it wasn't great.  Here is the photo.

The wind was only showing 22mph, and if you look closely you can see Gerry and Eddy standing on shore looking at the water.  When I arrived a half an hour later, I realized that there was a big wind shadow just off shore, so the wind on the water was much higher than what was showing on the meter.  Later in the day, the wind shadow filled in, and the readings were a lot higher.

The boys checking out the conditions before their next session...
(Really - they are just trying to build up the courage to go out again...)

Did I say that today was windy!  The far side was extremely windy.  Lots of attempted jibes which ended up in explosions.

Kent had a lot of fun!

Handre going for a Jibe!

Oops...

Kent Lays it down!

Big Air Jim was going FAST!.. His best day ever at Stevenson - twice in a row...

Kent - doing a Lay Down Jibe...

Eddy found a great place for lunch just a block from the Sailing Site!
Excellent sandwiches and Lemonade!!

I was on my 4.2 all day - and over powered most of the time....

Wow - what a day!

A calm day in Hood River....

This photo was taken at the Event Site in Hood River - only 15 miles from Stevenson.  It was blowing 30mph at Stevenson, but here the water here was glassy with almost no wind....  Hard to believe!

The forecast doesn't look great for the next couple of days.  Rather than wait around and hope for marginal wind on Saturday, most of us are leaving tomorrow (Friday) Morning.  Ross and Kent are planning a bike ride Friday Morning, and will probably leave on Saturday.  Eddy will try to get another kite lesson in before he heads home, so he and Gerry will also probably leave on Saturday.  Al was in Portland today with his family, and will also be staying a bit longer.

It has been an amazing trip, with way more wind that I ever expected, based on the marginal forecast when we left Edmonton.  I think our arms are all a little longer, and most of us have many sore muscles....

Looking forward to June!!!!

Ted