Full Moon Rising Riding

[Randy]

Wow! The best wind of the day when the full moon was coming up and the sun just going down. Truly a night I'll never forget.

[Geo]

Turned into a NOOOKER w/ gusts to mid 30s. We were on big kites and unintentionally rode the elevator a few times.

The coolest part: sailing in warm conditions with a big red sun on the west, and an equally big red moon on the east with peach colored water on each side.
Was laughing and humming to myself (yes, I am deranged) both because of how silly overpowered it was at times, but also that with the gusts comes the mellower tweener wind, too.

[Tighe]

wow yeah what an amazing experience. I've waited decades for one of those. What a great evening of riding. W-NW is some of the best at Waconia. Great ramps, brilliant blue sky, shimmering waters, hot air....then the sun dropped to the earth. The haze in the air created the most vivid crimson sunset as the wind cranked up another notch. Lit on 11s and 12s we were reaching for the sky like pogo sticks....boing. The wind kept raging. Then the moon appeared, dark and and subtle, just over the horizon. The amazing fade from dark blue overhead down to the hints of the sunset treated you on your path out and the rising moon treated you on your return. For a short segment of time the path back to shore was rather dark and landings were a bit uncertain. The wind kept raging. Then, as the moon rose above the haze of the atmosphere we were treated with another gift. The relentless wind had set up nicely combed swells, wide open and smooth. OMG. Thank you thank you thank you. Soon it was bright as day. Each of us were connected to the moon by a trail of shimmering waters, from our board across the water to the moon. White caps were vivid, as was the spray off of our boards. Warm water splashed against bare legs...oh to be in shorts one last time...nice. The wind lined up perfect to have the kite dancing in the sky with the moon. Stopping and letting the kite hang overhead, while sinking into the warm water, and taking in the visual...wow, stars pierced the dark sky overhead, lights from the small town of Waconia twinkled, the water rocked you, and the wind raged on.

What a magical experience. I've wanted a moonlight ride for years, having only had them in the winter. Wow.

thank you thank you thank you

[Kevinousdigian]

What a fun afternoon and evening! Here is sunset at Wac. That may be you Tighe coming down from a jump (greenish Rally).

sunset.JPG (36.41 KiB) Viewed 6491 times

[BestKiter]

tighe go into poetry.

[baskinT]

great description from Tighe. agree with BestKiter. Geoff, Peter and I joined the moon serenade from the Belair beach. Would have been more fun, but glad I was not out there with my 14 when the gusts start picking up. Took 50 minutes to untangle my lines from weed and knots after a very brief session (newbie kiter here .

anyway, beautiful words from Tighe. hope to get more winds at the Weekends... (can only wish)

[jrjohnson1]

I also want to thank Tighe for his writings, great vivid descriptions that perfectly capture the mood. With all the knowledge & insight he continuously offers.... we're sure lucky to have him as part of our kiting community.

[Kevinousdigian]

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words but I haven't seen a moonlight picture that can replace your poetry Tighe.

I think there was about 50 people on the water at different times yesterday about half kiters and half windsurfers. Everyone grinning. I'm finally coming off the adrenaline rush from last night. More wind coming this week but not as strong as last night.

[bscheig]

Tighe's post is great. The 5 of us on the water did indeed have a magical experience. I have been wanting to do a moonlight session for at least 15 years (windsurfing OR kiting). Can check that one off the bucket list. But want to do it again!

[Randy]

Thanks, Tighe. Captured beautifully. You have "great-fullness".

[Tighe]

nice play on words there Randy. There really is a sense of fullness following these epic sessions. I've said many times before that the tank has been refilled, and that is what it feels like. The satiated feeling gives a great sense of content, that we truly have enough.

ride on

[Prof Marc]

This picture is similar to others; I snapped it with an iPhone around 7:30pm last Monday. Shows Tighe boosting in front of the setting sun.

--Marc