The wind is definitely in summertime mode now. We've seen strong winds the last several days. On Wednesday it was mostly 4.5 sailing but there was a period when I went out on 4.0/77L and was well powered. Like Speedy said in one of his comments, the crowds are out in force at Kanaha. Tons of visitors, tons of locals and racers and and kid's camps. It's easy enough to get away from the crowds by heading up wind to Uppers, but you gotta sail through the crowd first. Still not nearly as crowded as the Hatchery or Event Site in the Gorge though.
Yesterday turned out to be a pretty sweet day. The wind was a bit up and down at times. I initially tried 5.0 but it was a little much. Went to 4.5, but the wind dropped down then so I decided to go back to 5.0. My plan yesterday was to sail upwind from Kanaha to Sprecks to meet up with my better half who was giving a lesson at t private launch just upwind of Sprecks. With the 5.0, I had no trouble at all motoring upwind. The only trouble was trying to refrain from not playing in the waves. Somehow yesterday and the day before we've actually been getting some occasional down-the-line sets, about shoulder high, at Uppers and Camp One. Mostly the waves have been wind swell with backside riding, but every few minutes a nice set comes through that you can get a few bottom turns on. Sweet!
Anyway, got up to Sprecks where the wind was a bit strong. The swell outside the reef at Sprecks was big, clean and sweet. Rolling into the reef there, you can get some really clean backside riding in and some great ramps for jumping. After playing around there for a bit, well overpowered by now (wind was easily 4.5 for me at that point) my arms and legs were begging for a break so we rode the swells down to Camp One, and took a break at the Sprecks Wind Cam beach.
After a brief rest it was back out to play in the waves.Got lots of back side riding and a couple of bottom turns in on the way downwind to Kanaha. Lots of fun, riding so much out of the harness on the waves and too big of a sail was taking its toll on my arms. Great fun though!
Lots of pro action happening at Kanaha too. Micah Buzianis testing Neil Pryde rigs. Robby Naish out testing some race gear. Makes me wonder if he's going to compete in the US Nationals here in August. Or, maybe he's just out testing. Who knows.
Looks like another beautiful day here again today. Forecast is for more of the same today and slightly lighter winds for the weekend.
Shot some more video the other day, so once I get some time to edit it, I'll get some more video posted ... soon.
Yesterday turned out to be a pretty sweet day. The wind was a bit up and down at times. I initially tried 5.0 but it was a little much. Went to 4.5, but the wind dropped down then so I decided to go back to 5.0. My plan yesterday was to sail upwind from Kanaha to Sprecks to meet up with my better half who was giving a lesson at t private launch just upwind of Sprecks. With the 5.0, I had no trouble at all motoring upwind. The only trouble was trying to refrain from not playing in the waves. Somehow yesterday and the day before we've actually been getting some occasional down-the-line sets, about shoulder high, at Uppers and Camp One. Mostly the waves have been wind swell with backside riding, but every few minutes a nice set comes through that you can get a few bottom turns on. Sweet!
Anyway, got up to Sprecks where the wind was a bit strong. The swell outside the reef at Sprecks was big, clean and sweet. Rolling into the reef there, you can get some really clean backside riding in and some great ramps for jumping. After playing around there for a bit, well overpowered by now (wind was easily 4.5 for me at that point) my arms and legs were begging for a break so we rode the swells down to Camp One, and took a break at the Sprecks Wind Cam beach.
After a brief rest it was back out to play in the waves.Got lots of back side riding and a couple of bottom turns in on the way downwind to Kanaha. Lots of fun, riding so much out of the harness on the waves and too big of a sail was taking its toll on my arms. Great fun though!
Lots of pro action happening at Kanaha too. Micah Buzianis testing Neil Pryde rigs. Robby Naish out testing some race gear. Makes me wonder if he's going to compete in the US Nationals here in August. Or, maybe he's just out testing. Who knows.
Looks like another beautiful day here again today. Forecast is for more of the same today and slightly lighter winds for the weekend.
Shot some more video the other day, so once I get some time to edit it, I'll get some more video posted ... soon.
posted by Jeff at
8:17 AM
3 Comments:
Yes but at least at The Hatchery or Swell City you don't have to deal with young kids who will jibe in front of you without looking.
By
Anonymous, at 7:57 PM
Right... because it's the older ones who do it.
By
Anonymous, at 7:24 AM
I think not. Do you really think that these kids less than 10 know the difference between port and starboard and who has right of way? I bet most Gorge sailors do, and I'd rather deal with this situation when dealing with an adult rather than the fear of running over a small kid.
By
Anonymous, at 8:35 PM
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