Perfect Mellow Cruising Wind
Despite forecasts for trades yesterday, the wind had other plans. It started out looking really good, with winds around 20 by noon. However, when we got to the beach around 1:00 the wind was dropping and continued to drop. Within an hour or two it had gone to virtually zero and then shifted to light south winds. Bummer.
Today was another absolutely beautiful day here in paradise, clear blue skies, warm temperatures and winds slowly building. By 2:00 it was sailable 5.8 for me. It was absolutely perfectly powered cruising weather today. Not much in the wave department so it was just a matter of cruising around in the beautiful Maui waters. The wind was incredibly steady and consistent. No obnoxious gusts and lulls to fight with, just steady warm wind.
The excitement of the day was provided by none other than windsurfing legend Robby Naish and young ripper Kai Lenny. Awhile back, Kai, age 10 or 11 and already part of the Naish team, had been spotted sailing off of Kanaha on Robby's shoulders. Well, Robby apparently wanted to get that on film, so windsurfing photographer Darrell Wong came out in helicopter to shoot little 70 lb. Kai clambering up on top of Robby's shoulders, holding on to the mast and sailing along. And, we're not talking slogging speed here. Robby was fully powered on his 6.6 once the wind kicked in.
I watched from shore for a bit with Kai's dad, Martin as he videotaped this. Amazing to watch the control that Robby had in dealing with a 70 lb kid crawling all over him and his rig. Later, I worked my way upwind to where they were sailing and shooting. Sailed by them and behind them a bit. Kai would climb on Robby's shoulders and sail along holding the mast, while they sailed along fully planing. He'd also stand on the lee side of the board at times and I watched several times as he stood on the leeward side booms. There were a few splashes where Kai would fall off backward. Robby would pull off an incredibly tight tack, sail up to Kai who would climb back onto the nose of the board, then crawl up again. Fun stuff. Very cool to see the all-time legend of windsurfing having fun tandem sailing with a new up and comer. Watch for photos of this in upcoming windsurfing magazines and Naish ads (if I hadn't left my camera at home I'd have gotten the scoop on all of them!).
Anyway. Very cool day of sailing. Nothing epic. Just mellow stuff. But everyone on the beach was exclaiming afterward how fun of day it was - pros and amateurs alike.
Today was another absolutely beautiful day here in paradise, clear blue skies, warm temperatures and winds slowly building. By 2:00 it was sailable 5.8 for me. It was absolutely perfectly powered cruising weather today. Not much in the wave department so it was just a matter of cruising around in the beautiful Maui waters. The wind was incredibly steady and consistent. No obnoxious gusts and lulls to fight with, just steady warm wind.
The excitement of the day was provided by none other than windsurfing legend Robby Naish and young ripper Kai Lenny. Awhile back, Kai, age 10 or 11 and already part of the Naish team, had been spotted sailing off of Kanaha on Robby's shoulders. Well, Robby apparently wanted to get that on film, so windsurfing photographer Darrell Wong came out in helicopter to shoot little 70 lb. Kai clambering up on top of Robby's shoulders, holding on to the mast and sailing along. And, we're not talking slogging speed here. Robby was fully powered on his 6.6 once the wind kicked in.
I watched from shore for a bit with Kai's dad, Martin as he videotaped this. Amazing to watch the control that Robby had in dealing with a 70 lb kid crawling all over him and his rig. Later, I worked my way upwind to where they were sailing and shooting. Sailed by them and behind them a bit. Kai would climb on Robby's shoulders and sail along holding the mast, while they sailed along fully planing. He'd also stand on the lee side of the board at times and I watched several times as he stood on the leeward side booms. There were a few splashes where Kai would fall off backward. Robby would pull off an incredibly tight tack, sail up to Kai who would climb back onto the nose of the board, then crawl up again. Fun stuff. Very cool to see the all-time legend of windsurfing having fun tandem sailing with a new up and comer. Watch for photos of this in upcoming windsurfing magazines and Naish ads (if I hadn't left my camera at home I'd have gotten the scoop on all of them!).
Anyway. Very cool day of sailing. Nothing epic. Just mellow stuff. But everyone on the beach was exclaiming afterward how fun of day it was - pros and amateurs alike.
posted by Jeff at
8:41 PM
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