Epic Mother Superior - WE BETTER GET A STORY Randy!

[Dave Z]

Web cam is in the right direction and it's EPIC:

http://134.156.98.1/lakecam/


Randy better post a report

[Randy]

It was a great trip. We arrived Thursday at 4:30 at the end of 21st street and it looked to be mid 5M, but it was hard to tell with the wind being out a ways. The launch was a little gnarly. Had to swim about 200 yards out to get to the windline and the water's about 35 degrees. Came in after a hard 20 minute session to rig down to 5M. Launched from the point where the wind was coming in. The waves were breaking 4' and you had to time it with the rocks to make sure you had enough water. Went again for about thirty minutes with the 5M, but it was now blowing 4M. Some of the swell was a good 12', with rides that went forever. The only problem was the wave was moving so fast, you traveled so far, and then needed to work back upwind in some of the most varied terrain I've ever been in. Came back in and Davin swam out to take my rig. His feet froze from the swim and the cold took its toll on him. He went for a short sesh. I spent about another 30 minutes finding the new meaning of "wound" and finally figured enough is enough. We derigged and I went to Lester to watch some surfers taking advantage of the big rollers coming in.
Had great food, beers and a wonderful party watching The Wild win, and woke a little hung over and soar to 34 degrees and rain. I went to Lester at 8 and saw more surfers, but the wind line was way off shore...way too dangerous to sail. Went back to Davin and said we should probably bag it...just too cold and too much rain.
On my way out of town I wanted one more look at the big surf, so I went to Tott Lot. The big surf had already eaten another 50' of ice. Decided to drive out to the point, just to see if there were any openings, but the ice went the whole way. Just when I was ready to give up, Jim Jacobs (Chip) pulled up next to me, loaded and ready to go. He said they were getting readings from their house on the point of 40-45mph. We decided to sail the bay by Sky Harbor. Chip said we could not launch where the planes approach, but we could sail in there. We rigged 4M, the rain let up quite abit, and we had a great day speed sailing some massive gusts. The water was at least 15 degrees warmer on the inside. For a minute I thought I was sailing Maelaea Bay.
Funny how Mother Superior works. I had resolved to not sail today. What are the odds a fellow sailor would meet up with me, one ready to sail and a local at that who had the inside scoop? It was a great day...we went to Grandma's for lunch and talk of the epic sailing sessions we've had on this lake. For sure...it's a lake that deserves tremendous respect, but it's some of the finest sailing in the world. With all the wave action, we're predicting all the ice to be gone my Monday.
It's so cool to feel all the water energy in Duluth from the surfers and kayakers. It's such a great town... Just when you think you're crazy for doing what you're doing you see people walking around in t-shirts when it's 38 degrees, one of Davin's roommates was reading a book in a hammock at that temp and slept outside last night...didn't think anything of it....surfers on the water at seven... sooo coool.
I can hardly wait for getting the whole posse up there for a good 5M session from Tott Lott.

[Joe Vanderscheuren]

Randy, I read your review on the safari to superior. I'm inspired for a trip to the great one. Let us all know when your planning to go, and how to get where your going. I'v always wanted to sail in Duluth. Joe