June Wind and Waves

No doubt about it, Maui spoils you. As a windsurfer living on Maui, you become accustomed to being able to sail a lot (except December through February when it can get pretty sketchy). But, get an injury that keeps you off the water for more than a week or so, and you start to go through withdrawals and remember what the rest of the windsurfers in the world go through. I'm on week number three of an injury-imposed windsurfing sabbatical and it's starting to take it's toll on my sanity.

I was managing ok, desperately grasping a slim tendril of sanity for the last few days as the trades kicked back in. But today, an anticipated late-season north swell arrived. WAVES!!!! Oh you cruel bitch! How am I supposed to stay sane with wind AND waves!!!! (I'm sure all you non-Maui windsurfers are crying rivers right now at my sob story.) I get the report from my better half that it was pretty nice 4.5 for her (that would be 5.0 for me) in the early session (11:00) at Uppers today, with some nice waves and hardly anyone out. The wind apparently picked up later by a half a meter or so. Wow, 4.5 and waves - in June! These are conditions that make the HotShots section in Windsurfing Magazine. Hookipa must have been fantastic.

I thought about going down just to get some photos, but I just couldn't subject myself to the torture. I settled on a trip to Costco instead (about a mile inland from Kanaha) where it was blowing 5.3 in the parking lot. I was so desperate I rigged a cardboard box on my shopping cart and cruised around the parking lot, terrorizing tourists, in my make-shift land windsurfer. Caught some sick air off of a VW Beetle, though the landing was a bit harsh on the ankles. Jibing was a bit tricky. Gotta figure out how to rig a mast and boom on that box. Trade winds are supposed to increase the next day or two. Might get strong enough to rig down from my Maui Pineapple box to a Kraft Cheesy Mac box. Sweeeeet!