Kona Lanes

Maui winds switched directions on us today, from the normal NE trades to SW Kona winds. Winds started cranking early. For most mortal windsurfers, Kihei was the place to sail today. I stopped by Kanaha around noon and no one was sailing. It was ugly. Dead near shore, cranking outside, gusting over 30, big sloppy, messy wave. So, the choice I had was to either go sail Kihei, which can be fun on a SW Kona day, or head up the coast to Hookipa to watch the action at Lanes. I chose the latter. A half dozen sailors were out and putting on a show. Only the exceptionally good need even attempt to enter the water.

Sets were mast-high+ at times and rarely smaller than logo high. Robby Naish and Kevin Pritchard were among the participants in the event.

Despite the high surf and high wind, the most interesting site of the day was watching a windsurfer try to tow in a tow-surfer, not from a rescue, but to launch him on a wave. We watched as a tow surfer jumped with his board into the water and started paddling out, right in front of Lanes. At the same time we saw a windsurfer launch from Hookipa with a thick bright yellow rope attached to his harness (from what we could see). We watched incredulously wondering if they were really going to try to tow surf behind a windsurfer. Sure enough, they tried. Never made it up, but they tried and even made it back to the beach alive.






Also got some video of the action today as well. Here's the first. Kona Lanes video.