Stay connected in the wind. This forum is for anyone who rides the wind, winter or summer, on whatever board suits their fancy. Share the stoke, find out where people are going, ask any question, share your discoveries, and discuss any esoteric idea you may have related to the pursuit of wind. Please keep it positive.
It was a solid 15knts plus between the bays on White Bear yesterday! On a 5 to 10 kts NNE this will happen on White Bear. The hobies were hiking, the keel boats were reefing and Jim, Doug and I were the ONLY ONES THERE!!!
Let's remember that sailing big stuff is socially acceptable in Minnesota! A session where you can plane for 2.5 hours, back splash, head dip and arm drag feels pretty darn good in a season where the wind hasn't been great. We were all smiles on the beach last night and that was just what the doctor ordered!
Brush the dust off that 9.0 and come on out! You and the other people in your life will be happy you did!!!
Glad to hear you got out, Peter. I got your message, but I was in the air on the way to Duluth for a "grand experiment".
I wanted to see if I could pack my kite gear into a plane, fly to Duluth Sky Harbor on the lake, land in whatever wicked crosswind was coming off the lake, and get a session in. I got everything in the plane, and could probably do it with a second kiter on board w/ gear.
All pretty much went as planned, except the wind died after I got out for 15 minutes. That, and I wouldn't want to land there in any more wind than the 15-20knots I got at the time. There was some wicked turbulence during the last 100 feet off the ground from the sand dunes and trees. It was a sweet setup, though. Landed, got out of the plane, walked 100 yards out and over the dunes with wetsuit, kite, and board, pumped up and went out.
Oh well. You've reinforced an old adage with a new spin. "Don't leave wind to find wind."
Peter...sounds like a great day on the water, and I can't agree more, these larger sails with lighter framework, have really broken down the need for high wind since so many of the tricks we challenge ourselves to can be done on these and more easily transitioned to the smaller sails when the stronger winds do come.
Coach, sounds like you still had an 'exteme' day of it, even though the wind died. Very cool experience. We were always trying to get Mike (NWA pilot) to fly us to the Dakotas, but just never got it organized. I always was amazed by the way planes landed in those strong crosswinds...definitely a 'full attention grabber'.
I had my 9.6 in the car ready to head that way but something came up and I couldn't get there. I was with you in spirit and I'm glad to hear somebody was sailing yesterday. See you out there next time.
Ian and I were riding around the lakes and there were a few sailors out on Calhoun. Jay was ripping on a board that looked wider than it was long and a sail that towered above him, though he was ripping and there wasn't a cap in site. It looked like a lot of fun. Amazing new gear.
