Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2

Mostly non-planing - a good core workout!

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

BAFing like the old guy that I am.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2

Much steadier wind...beautiful day....awwwwww!!

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2

Wind was all over the place. I did attempt and make 1 monkey duck which I hadn't done in a while. 

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

It's Autumn, and the winds in the corridor are acting appropriately. All over the place. OP'd on the foil, then UP'd on the freestyle except for the first few minutes. Glad to be able to breathe. The apocalypse will definitely involve not being able to breathe outside.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 3.8 S2 Dragon '17, 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

More swell from TS Beta. I drove and waited over an hour for the wind to come up. Almost left. Then it started to feel like enough. I thought awhile - worth carrying everything down the road for marginal conditions? (Beach parking was closed but I got a pretty close spot.) Ultimately decided yes. I rigged big. Suddenly the wind hit hard. After a few runs on the 5.2 I got frustrated being too overpowered to wave ride like I wanted. I rerigged to 3.8. Perfect! Fun waves head high or more with long rides. Strong current but luckily I just fell once and got up quickly. Rerigging on the beach with no shelter was nuts. Also crazy how the beach completely cleared out once the wind hit. From tourist Mecca yesterday to desolate off-season mode tonight. 

Board: Starboard Foil-X 145         Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek

Wanted to try the SC foil in no weeds. Big difference! Faster. Needs some tweeking. Mast base back 0.5cm helped a lot. I may mess with the rear stab angle after I get more time on it.

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Single digit AQI!  Instead of the literally off the chart unbreathable 500+.

Didn't sail yesterday at Hatch because it was too overcast and that freaks me out.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Maui Sails 3.5

Good vibe on the beach. Everyone was just happy to be outside in breathable air. We rarely sail Dougs...choppy, disorganized swell, but I still had a nice session. I feel like my swell riding has improved this summer. I am cutting back more agressively and getting backwinded, which results in falling right now. I also am trying to lay the sail down more and my mind keeps going to McFox telling me to act like I am going to do a DW360, but then pull it back up. Hopefully I'll get a few more attemps in before winter.

Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125, Starboard Foil-X 145         Sail: 5.6 Severne S-1 Pro, 6.2 Avanti Echo

Weedy and dying wind. First real trial with the SB Supercruiser foil was a disaster. I am not sure what to blame. Weeds, settings, not enough front wing area? LWF for the rest of the afternoon. Not worth the drive despite a gorgeous day.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

Gorgeous big smooth waves today! Tropical Storm Beta surf arriving. Going outbound was mostly powered, but some holes that weren't even a problem because the waves felt gentle, despite being head high. Current didn't feel strong and pointing was easy. Big long wave rides inbound that you could ride either direction. Only drawback was the beach was a complete madhouse. I was shocked to see so many people traveling to the beach with a tropical storm offshore and a pandemic. The water was even a madhouse, which I'm not used to, although I am glad to see the stoke. Every surf sport was happening, including unfortunately surf casting - I got hooked. Luckily just a surface wound. When I first pulled on the hook I was worried it was deep.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Maui Sails 3.5

That felt so good! It was such a relief to be outside exercising after a week of doing youtube yoga. Although I do believe the yoga strengthened my body in beneficial ways. It was still smoky, but bearable.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

Not quite the triumphant season opener I envisioned, but at least it was a season opener. The wind dropped after I rigged. Clear, pretty water. Weird day because it felt pretty normal, waist high sets at best, yet the town declared a state of disaster on the radio as I was driving home due to the predicted tropical storm or hurricane Beta. There is a cold front fighting with it. Who will win? I predict beach access will lose.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

Wind, swell, jumping ramps, sun, FUN!

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '? RRD WaveTwin 66         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7, '14 The Fly 3.2

First sess on the big gear, 2nd on the lil gear. Sick fun goodness. 

Trunk

Last west wind of the season? Probably not, but soaking it all in just in case. Next four days are east wind, time to head to le coast.

Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

Really good sess until I got ran into. Patched up the damage with ding stick, had a lunch, and went back out for an under-powered 2nd sess.

Crochet wetsuit

Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

First session was full on, absolutely fantastic fun! Except for the amount of people. Fueled up with Leisj made huckleberry pancakes. Second session the wind got up and down 50% planing, but was able to play more on the swell due to less people and not being too powered. Good day!

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Buck took the longer puppy sitting shift, so I got a nice session in. Perfect rig for the variable conditions. We have decided dog sitting is much preferred to puppy sitting.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Short sess

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

A gusty, choppy, shifty sesh. September conditions have arrived? Never a bad way to start the day though!! Headed up the mountain afterwards and was introduced to two new to me mountain bike trails on Hood!

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

Short sess.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

Lower key than the past few days but still a fun head high to over head wave, longer than usual and smooth on the outside. I think I lucked into one of the only straight hours where the 4.6 would have worked. They plowed Zahn Road, finally! I was able to leave without putting my car through the beach Olympics. And.....I see the first strong cold front on iWindsurf! Looks like another year with an early start?!! What an awesome September so far.

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Short sess.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

Beautiful!

Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125         Sail: 5.2 Severne S-1 Pro

Gusty goodness. Hands are toast now.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18

Overhead waves and so fun! Every day has been a sail size smaller and a notch bigger waves, and all equally fun in their own way. I sailed with the clew view for the first time in a while. I did a duck jibe and hit my head on it...made the jibe, though! There was an offshore accident overnight, and the smell of gas was really strong on SPID on the island, but luckily not on the beach. I was ready to leave rather than breathe in whatever was going on.

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Short sess. Washing machine chop.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Maui Sails 3.5

I was on the 3.5 and as silly as it sounds I should have been on the 3.4! But that said, the second half of my sesh when the wind got more managable and the swell cleaned up and the unknown people left the water was awesome!

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

A little over head and really fun!

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

Beautiful sunset sesh with the family. Our first beach day all together this year, due to the various closures for COVID and hurricanes. Perfect laid back, fun waves and a full moon rising. Juan says he can see spray flying on my cutbacks now. I've been focusing hard all year on improving my wave turns, and I can feel the difference, but it's neat to hear confirmation from someone who hasn't seen me in a while. Yet there's still so much to work on. Fun problems to have! 

Board: '19 JP 113 FWP         Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE

036 - Up a notch late out between the spoil and bridge all solo. Weedy, consistent and light chop except inside. Kiter got dragged into tail gate of truck two vehicles away. Harness hung in electrical wires and kite on roof of boat lifts. Several weeks ago RB got knocked out when a kite hit him on the head while on shore. Beware. 

Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.0

Fully powered, at times OPed, on 3.0! Beautiful, big swell! Just the best!

Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

All time classic The Wall day. Figured out (after how many flippin years...DUH!) how to dump the wind off the top of the sail when you're so OPd you just can't oversheet on the jibes. I'm pretty sure riding the swell on the foil allowed me to finally learn this. Maybe I'll come close to sailing like Lex Luther before I retire from windsurfing?

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

OP'd on the 3.7 in the jibes, so I came in and had a beer instead. Also to save my shoulder, which seems to be deteriorating. Is the end of windsurfing for me near?

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2

OPed on 4.2. 

Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125         Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo

Finally, 2 months since I last windsurfed! My hands lost all their calluses and could not go more than 3 hours. They were blistering and about to open up, so I called it despite the wind having filled in nicely. I am hoping for another single day trip in a few more days. Fingers crossed.

Board: '19 JP 113 FWP         Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE

035 - Out between the spoil and bridge, consistent with medium power. High water water, weeds all solo.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

I was so excited for the first strong wind in ages, plus the newly reopened beach. Then it was a complete cluster trying to access the "open" beach. After 2 failed access attempts and with time running short, I carried my gear 4/10 mile down the jetty (I know this because I mapped it later because it felt so effing far). All in one trip, walking into 25mph wind. I was tired before even rigging. More tired after the session, so it took me two trips to get back. Conditions were decent but overshadowed by the physical effort just to make it happen. I can still feel every inch of tendon in my arms.

Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66, Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

Great day after a day off watching 2 big dogs. First session on 66liter, second more mellow sesh on 81liter. Both super fun! My brace works much better with wetsuit. Yah!

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

Fun!

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Short sess. Choppy water. ew.

Board: '19 JP 113 FWP         Sail: '20 EZZY 6.4 ZETA

034 - Out between the spoil and bridge to stay. Teaser wind, long slough back. High water, weeds and solo.

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Purt sweet.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

Another gorgeous day at the Hatch. Nicely powered and nice swell.

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.2

Purposely didn't bring the foil so I woudn't foil. Plus, the wind was kickin all morning and was only supposed to get better. It didn't. Short shit sess after Laura eventually let me use the 4.2.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2, Maui Sails 3.8

Spent all day at the Hatch. Lots of sittin' around socially distanced chatting and about an hour actually sailing with about half of it non-planing.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Ben B sailed up from the Event Site to see us. Nice!

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Highlight was Ben coming for a visit!

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.2

Not gonna try any more tricks on the foil. Came too close to landing on the wing during a duck jibe attempt gone wrong. SAD!

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Late afternoon surprise. Made first backwind jibe, but none after that. 

Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

Really fun!!

Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

1.5 hours of pure bliss

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2

A short anniversary sesh.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

 Fun

 Trunky

This picture from yesterday pretty much sums it up:

https://www.iwasphotographed.com/Wind/The-Hatchery/Foiling-Frenzy-The-Hatchery-Wednesday-81920-645-images/i-69mNG6H/buy

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Surprising number of people on the water - mostly fanatic wingers - but one super sexy foiler in rainbow crochet pants!

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Yarn Crochet Pants

Check that one off my bucket list.

Interestingly, there was a 6 foot thread of turquiose yarn trailing behind me by the end of the sess. UNRAVELED!

Interestingly, the max size of my bucket list is 1. So the list is now empty.

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '? RRD WaveTwin 66         Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5

First session, 24mph on the freestyle.

Second sess, 27mph on the 66L.

Lit!

Trunk!

Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66         Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4

First session was mellow with a few gusts thrown in for excitement. Good opportunity to play on the swell. Second session was bring your A game sailing. Way powered, good swell riding and a bit of jumping and quite a few people. 

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Brass Trunky, Junky Trunky...Brass Trunky, Junky Trunky...Brass Trunky, Junky Trunky

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Could have been on the 4.2. I love sailing on these hot days where it is such a pleasure to fall in and no neoprene between me and the lovely river.

Board: Starboard Foil-X 145         Sail: 6.3 Severne S-1

It has been so long since I have been on the water, I can't even remember when it was. I just couldn't stand it any longer, so I just went. It was exactly as forecasted, but not enough to get up on the foil. I hate this launch site. It sucks having to carry a foil board up and down steep steps and rocks. I still don't know how to do it with any semblance of grace. My 4 year older new ride is sweet so far. I love it. I can't wait to take it to Corpus.

Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Legacy windsurf day! Lit! Junkster Trunkster! Clew first spocks! 

Junk in the Trunk

Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66         Sail: Maui Sails 3.5

Fun to be on the small board. Swell was good at first, then got a bit choppy. There were quite a few people on the water. Finally got my new knee brace and it felt really good - light and comfortable.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

Remarkably good swell for such a low water level and moderate wind.

FPants looks awesome when she ducks on the big swell fully lit like she's about to explode on a Toad.

PSB: Pfriem Hazy IPA on the Hatch rocks

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Very fun session. Made a backwind jibe on a small bit of swell and it felt really good. The wind was up and down, but some nice swell and plenty of room to play on it.

Board: '19 JP 113 FWP         Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE

033 - One tack out and stayed between the spoils and bridge. First half with moderate power then steady dropping for a long slough back. Only handful of kiters out.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

It was almost nukin' when we arrived. Oops! I only brought the foil board cuz it was supposed to be "light" winds. Changed to the little wing and rigged the 3.2, flew for a tiny bit, then called it due to lack of the go-go. Good thing though, because I noticed 2 cracks on the board. On land, one of the cracks started bubbling, then I saw a 3rd crack oozing and bubbling like a puss-filled infection.

PSB: Picked up a half barrel of Hazy IPA from Pfreim on the way home. The guy who brought the keg out and helped load it into Leijsz asked if the keg was for the van and do we have a kegerator in there. He said something to the effect of "that would have rocked my world if it were so!"

All August Gorge sessions so far have been "trunkin it with the junk in it". Peoples still be wearing the suits. Why? WHY?!

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Maui Sails 3.8, Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Cranking when we arrived, but quickly shut down. Rigged up and spent some more time on the water, but nothing to write home about. This river and town are the best though!

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

Perfectly powered on the 3.7. Afterwards, with a PSB on the rocks, we witnessed Ethan "Send-It!" Passant complete his first flying upwind 360, followed immediately with a flying jibe out of it. NICE! I wasn't even sure it was possible, as I never had seen Mr Ballz do one on video.

Did I mention it's SOOOOOOOOOOOO good to be back?

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Great to sail for a bit with McFoxyFox! The wind picked up for a while, so a combo of planing and non-planing. Started trying backwind jibes again on the outside and came close on one. Mostly I was just planing while on the nose of the board backwinded until I remembered you have to start the turn first before jumping around to the other side of the board.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

Fun, laid back, and just perfect. Only my second past-Hanna sesh because we have been stuck in this tropical weather pattern with no wind. It seemed too light to plane but picked up just as we launched. I sailed with Vanessa, Chris, and Olivier. We split the Rebel Toad sour cherry growler afterward. It felt almost normal to be socializing in the park again, other than drinking from under masks and staying apart.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.2 S2 Maui Dragon

I was on the water @ 7:15!  Got 2 spocks and waterstarted out of one. Solo sesh.

Board: '09 RRD Twin Tip 90         Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7

It's good to leave once in a while to fully appreciate once again the beauty and joy of this magical place that is home. 

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Maui Sails 3.5

Yah!! So good to be back! Loved every second!

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

Weird wind. Glad that McBuff and McFancy had a good late day sesh! Welcome home!!

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.2 S2 Maui Dragon

Took yesterday off. Was a big 40 mph day out East. Now I am rested! I perfect spock on 1st reach!  Worked on flakas.

Board: '19 JP 113 FWP         Sail: '20 EZZY 6.4 ZETA

032 - Didn't get the late pick-up so it was barely doable. The more easterly direction allowed for exploration among the spoils.  

Board: Starboard Flare 81L, Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon, 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Close on SK on the swell. I ended up on top of the board, board flat in the water, twice, did not get fin out of the water tho. Then 1 I got the board out of the water, it overrotated straight downwind!  Feet still in the straps, but didn't land it. Soooo close!

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

Very lite wind. Worked on Flakas. 1 duck tack.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard, L's Fanatic Wave Board         Sail: '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.2

OPd on the jibes with the foil. UPd on the wave board. 

Headed back to where we belong. 

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.2 S2 Maui Dragon

Worked on flakas.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard, L's Fanatic Wave Board         Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5, '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.

Did a lot of rigging today. First rigged the 4.8. Brought it down to the water and instantly knew it was too big without even trying it. Rigged the 4.2 and went out and back overpowered on the Slingshot. Rigged the 3.5 and was pretty much still overpowered but toughed it out. After a while tried the 3.5 with L's big wave board, but it only worked in the gusts and couldn't stay upwind. Switched to the 4.2, which was already rigged. This was perfect. Tried a backie. Big swell. My skeletal-muscular is going to hurt tomorrow.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

Did a lot of rigging today. Grrr. 3.8, 4.2 and back to 3.8. Exhausting. Very up and down!!  Worked on switch konos on the swell. Scott is giving me all of his tips, again, for the 100th time. One day it will 'click' in my brain.

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon, 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Pretty fun. Cloudy, but windy. Rigged down to 3.0 and then it died. Did a 2 hour bike ride after sailing, wasn't sure if my legs would be too tired to ride, but surpisingly, they felt pretty good!

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 Worldsail surge '05

Weird weather but I just wanted to get out. I enjoy non-planing sailing, but with the post-hurrican debris I was nervous about falling on something, plus with COVID closures of other popular spots, there are always an uncomfortably high number of people just milling about. So those things put a little damper on things. I did fill my gear tub with Hanna driftwood and will figure out some sort of art to make with it, so that will be fun.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '09 Reverb 5.2

It's funny how I used to think getting into the back strap while flying was difficult. hahahahaha

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon, 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Looked epic when i got to the beach. Got on the water and the wind was full of holes and no swell & few ramps, too southerly!! 

Went home and came back at 4 PM. Didn't rig for a while, 'cause it looked holey. Finally rigged @ 5 and went out and had a couple of perfect reaches. Strong wind & great swell, then holey and no swell.

I got one awesome swell ride on an Arly sized swell, out of no where, and got a couple of fun port shov-its.

Glad i went back. :)

Doug's was good most of the day.....

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon, 4.2 S2 Maui Dragon

Got a bunch of flaka spins, but popping before sail swing, so not right....

Board: '19 JP 113 FWP         Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE

031 - Launch in good shape with a little more sand. Out between the bridge and spoil island. Water still up maybe two feet so it was choppy with a lot of weeds.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon, 4.2 S2 Maui Dragon

Heat wave but windy! Could have been on 3.4 for a while. 1 duck tack. working on flakas.

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90, Slingshot Wizard 103         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Not a great first session - couldn't make a single thing, was in a funk I guess. Then I tried the foil board and at least got comfortable schlogging around on it. It lifted a few times but only for a second. Buck says I need to get more forward momentum before lifting to have better control. It was fun though and brought me out of my funk a bit!

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '16 NP Wizard 4.8, '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.2

2 sesss. First sess on the 4.2 cuz L had the 4.8.

2nd sess on the 4.8 was sweet and dialed.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

Fun freestyle day. 1 nice spock, 2 duck tacks, couple shov-its and 2 flaka spins. Probably didn't look like Edholm's flakas.

Had it all to myself! :)

Got a new Roxy 3/2 suit, McFancy. :) 

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '16 NP Wizard 4.8

Out and back once. Shlogged on the way out. Flew on the way in, with pumping. Lost the fly on the jibe and didn't feel like repeating, so jibed again and shlogged in. Not really digging the 5.2 Reverb, and we've been keeping the 4.8 rigged.

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon

Windy early in the AM. Went out on 3.0 and was quickly overpowered!  Got some fun port shov-its. Finally came in cause i was so over-powered & then it died shortly after. It came up late in the day again, but I didn't stick around for that. 

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '16 NP Wizard 4.8

Sweet unexpected sess.

I just realized my board and my sail are homonymous. Sick.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

Drove out to Arly. It came up late in the day & there were only 3 of us on the water. Fun. Worked on switch konos on the swell & got some fun shov-its.

Camped out.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L, Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon

Gusty at 1st so had big board. Very South, some nice Port shov-its.

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon, 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

I went down to do some freestyle and out of the blue it started blowing 3.0!  OMG. Thank goodness I put my small board in the van.

Not tons of swell & ramps. Got a some fun shov-its. Worked on some switch konos on the swell & just wasn't coming around with enough speed. 

Did tons of 360s in the straps. The inside was good for them. Smooth. Had a couple of body drag crashes that will leave a mark.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

Maybe my funnest 4.6 sesh of the year?? 6 duck tacks (50 for the year!) Spencer saw 2 of them. :) Some very good C 1st pop/slides. I had just the right amounto of power and speed. 

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Just enough to make a go of it. 

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

3.8 on a heatwave day! Some shov-its & couple good pops C 1st. 1 duck tack.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.2

Sweet sess.

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Great timing to get a nicely powered session after our drive back from Ohio. Had fun trying jump jibes and ducking. 

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

Pretty good freestyle day. Got 4 duck tacks and some good pop/slides on the clew 1st spocks that are only vulcans. Can't seem to get the rotation.

Worked on some shakas on SB. Overall fun day. Just watched clew 1st heli tack video. I have done them before on a giant board...

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5, '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.

Good to be back here after a fun trip down to the south shores of Lake Erie.

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon

Started out cloudy and and an 'Out East' set-up. Didn't really want to drive, so I waited for the clouds to pull back & went to The Hatch. Pretty fun. Gusty, but had it's moments. Tried 1 forward in a moment of calmer winds and was gonna try more, but the gusts were too big. Hard to get shov-its for some reason... Super smooth 360s in the straps on the inside. Lit sauce.

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon

Got to The Hatch @ 8 AM and it was already blowing over-powered 3.0. Damn. I sailed an hour anyways. Was OK.

Then I had the bright idea to go to The Wall, it was so fun, for a short while and then someone turned off the switch. Waited around all afternoon and then sailed a bit @ 6 PM, still was the wrong direction, so gusty. The Wall was 90+ degrees, it felt like Brazil....

Not much swell @ The Hatch or The Wall....

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

The wind didn't shut down, and the park stayed open. Win win! But with other parks closed, Oleander seemed extra busy. A few people were swimming there, and others milling about the shoreline. I was ready to leave and there were people where I wanted to carry my gear out, so I made a few passes and practiced some freestyle while waiting for them to disperse. Then the realization hit me. People need entertainment, and with everything else closed, we were becoming the entertainment. Because I was staying close, they were staying there watching me. I like to be lower profile. But I appreciate the predicament and gave them a nice wave and eventually got room to get out. We will get through this.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18

Enjoyed a possible last hurrah before beaches and parks shut down again tomorrow (although sometimes Oleander isn't included). I know there will always be an allowable way to launch. How big of a pain it is remains to be seen. The gulf will be a pretty big pain but it hasn't been blowing there lately anyway. Some ambulances have been going up and down Ocean to Shoreline with sirens on, and that's an eerie backdrop to the whole mood.

I read my trictionary and tried some Willy skippers. Landed on the board for one. Fell. There is no accurate wind meter for the bay anymore, and now that I'm sailing there a lot more I'm feeling that loss. The base read 18 and I was overpowered on 4.2.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

Fun Hatch day!  1 wet spock & some good pops for C1st Spocks. Sailed 3 hours. Started getting crowded @ 1 PM.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

5 duck tacks. 1 great pop for C1ST Spock!

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18

Fun energetic session and I sailed hard enough to be out of breath at times. I'm having trouble lately with my timing on outside duck jibes and jump jibes and am falling much more than making them. I think it's because I am not solid on the technique on the swell in that direction and have been a little overpowered these past few sessions. So I keep practicing. The inside ones are solid.

Board: '14 JP 93 FWP         Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE

030 - A bit more wind today otherwise like the last seven sessions, solo and 4.7 again between the spoil and bridge.

Board: Starboard Foil-X 145         Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek

F'ing hot day. I hate this launch for foiling. I miss Windy Point which has been closed since March due to C19.

I now always put my back foot in the straps. The control is so much better. I may need to visit position C on the SwitchFuse as I am starting to feel a little bit back footed. Wind was all over the place. I had to uphaul about half of my starts. One super strong gust while waterstarting pulled me over the front before I could get settled in the straps and I put a small dent and a crack near the front deck. Bummer. I sailed it back in and called the day.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

lite wind. 2 duck tacks.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

Sunset/darkness sesh from 8-9 because it's the time I had. Beautiful. Although felt a little ominous when some fish started feeding. 

Board: '14 JP 93 FWP         Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE

029 - Solo again out between the spoil and bridge. Lots of weeds, knee deep and smooth. 

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

Gusty, not so fun.Better @ Doug's. A few good rides.

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90         Sail: Vandal Reverb 5.2

I planed a bit. Mostly just enjoyed being on beautiful Elk Lake!

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '16 NP Wizard 4.8

Morning sess and afternoon sess too. Tried a bunch of 360s on the inside (port). I think I made one on the outside (starboard).

The people, they've not seen such things as foiling.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

1 duck tack. Soso sesh.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '09 Reverb 5.2

Had to work a bit to get flying, but it was good.

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

LWF. Didn't stay out long, but just long enough to make 2 more UW360s. One felt really good.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '19 Goya Banzai X Pro 4.2

Nice session with quite good swell on Grand Traverse Bay.

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90         Sail: Vandal Reverb 5.2

Not quite enough wind for me, but I got a few rides and it was fun to launch from a new spot!

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

Pretty marginal. Mani & Brad showed up and we did a bit of trickery. No duck tacks. :(

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

So so @ Hatch. Cloudy/gusty. Should have gone to Doug's!

2 Duck tacks though! :) 

Board: Angulo Triumph 81, JP radical wave 65L         Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18

I was taken by surprise at the level of wind because I didn't expect much. Went out on my flattened 4.2 and came in to switch to a smaller board. Still mostly overpowered. Glad I got a chance to practice on the little board in the summer, because I was rusty.

Board: '14 JP 93 FWP         Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE

028 - Another water level drop made the outside much smoother and a bit less wind with just a few big gusts and no lulls. Stayed between the bridge and spoil island and it was solo again. One more shot tomorrow before a week-end without much wind.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

Lovely late evening solo sesh. I keep practicing trying to jump jibe up a stiff swell to land riding down the swell behind it, and I'm killing the momentum by landing too far back on the board. I haven't seen this done here, but it's got to be possible, right? It works in my daydreams. I did get a lot of planing ducks (trying to improve smoothness) and a planing-into push tack that felt really good. Some 360s to remember how because I severely messed one up in the waves when last trying. We are under mask orders so I wore one while rigging/derigging. High-profile area and I want to represent our sport as responsible/respectful.

Board: '14 JP 93 FWP         Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE

027 - Plenty of everything today, water level is very low so there was smoothness outside. Got very close to the bridge area and returns were half to Pita Island and half near the spoil. Last two hours it ramped up big but only managed the first hour due to heat melt down. Solo again.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon, 4.2 S2 Maui Dragon

1st off CONGRATS McFancy for your upwind 360s. There is no doubt that they are hard to do!  Infact, in the straps is easier, since you don't get yanked off the board.  The principles are the same for the in-the-straps type, so get the non-planing version dialed in!

I had a super freestyly day today!  I took yesterday off, it was a strong out-east day. i am glad i rested up so that i had lots of energy today!!

I did 7 duck tacks, 30 for the year. I am definitely getting something figured out!!  

I really worked hard on my clew 1st spocks. Getting a much better pop onto the nose and sliding (sideways mostly, but at least sliding). I am super stoked!  Perfect freestyle day!  Also, it was so light in the AM that no one showed up except Brad & Mani. Alex is working.

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Just enough wind for LWF. I made 2 non planing UW360s! Especially the second one felt good! Thanks for the advice and encouragement McFoxyFox! Miss you too!

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Super strong 3.4 freestyle.

Board: '14 JP 93 FWP         Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE

026 - Whitecaps and weeds everywhere, choppy inside but not outside. Mostly between the bridge and spoil island, low water kept the chop down and wind was steady. Solo most of the time except kiters around the launch.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Well, i was lit on a a 3.4 again. Worked on my clew 1st spocks. Got 2 pops that felt better. 

Got 2 duck tacks! 23 total for the year. Definitely a bit tired after that session. Earned my ice cream.

Board: '09 RRD TwinTip 90         Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8

Finally got a little bit of LWF on the lake. I tried some non-planing UW360s. Came really close on one and hopefully will make it next time. Then the neighbor, who had tried windsurfing once 37 years ago, wanted to try so we put on the beginner board. He did pretty well, but ended up way downwind, so I sailed that kit back upwind and called it a day. 

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Got to the hatch early!! I sailed lit 3.4 with only a couple of other people! Where was everyone??

I got 1 fast, dry spock and 9 duck tacks. Some of the duck tacks were so smooooth. 21 duck tacks for the year. Got something figured out!!

Worked on starboard vulcans, can land on the nose, but not getting even close to grabbing the boom on the new side. 

Such a fun day.  

To top it off i did a 1.5 hour ride. 1800 vert.

What a perfect 4th of July!

Miss you McFancy & McBuff.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.2 S2 Maui Dragon

Had a fun AM sesh, was 2nd car in parking lot. I was on 4.2 and Brad was on 3.8 & Mani on 4.0. Haha!!  My sails have a lot of range!  Worked on clew 1st spocks. Tried PM sesh but was soso. Very busy on the water.  

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

Sky cleared, but still funky. Bit crowded on the water. NW Steve schlogged 1' upwind of me as I was trying to waterstart. PP almost caused Edholm & I to crash. We both had to abort and fall in the water to avoid colliding.  

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.8 S2 Maui Dragon

Took previous 2 days off. Was super windy out east and  didn't want to get spanked around in the big gusts on my 3.0. i need a 2.6!!

Today, bad wind. Bad call. Cloudy.

Board: '14 JP 93 FWP         Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE

025 - Very close to yesterday with more weeds but smoother outside. Made long round trips between the bridge and Pita Island. Solo again today. 

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

I had the best time my previous bay session but couldn't get into it today for some reason. I never fell in - a red flag meaning I'm not trying or improving. And it looks like now the wind is over for a bit. However, I washed every single piece of my gear and car the other day and left with it still clean, so there's an accomplishment. Such a civilized experience of parking on pavement, rigging on grass, and showering on a concrete pad afterward.

Board: '14 JP 93 FWP         Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE

024 - Water level dropped a bit so is was only light chop with some weeds. Solo today out to the bridge and back with consistent power. City/County beaches have a people curfew 8p-6a and vehicular beach access closed 7/1-7/11. 

Board: Starboard Foil-X 145         Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek

I almost did not go. Forecast was dropping, but I went for it and foiled. Am I getting any better? Errr, maybe? Flying jibes were not happening. I was handling the gusty wind better. I now put my back foot in the straps almost all the time. It is making my jibe set-up worse though.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

Better than yesterday. Waves still head high to over head, but with a little bit of mush factor. Full hour on the water and back to work by 8.

Board: JP radical wave 65L         Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18, 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

We were the fastest growing COVID-19 county of over 100,000 residents in the US this week, and people actually seem to be buckling down a little more, because traffic to and from the beach was light and the beach itself was much more water-sports-centric than the usual summer weekend free-for-all. Waves were over head and I was excited, but sailing turned out...rough. I rigged, the wind spiked, rerigged smaller, then just sailed sorta sloppy and never felt quite tuned in. I redid my outhaul while floating. Fin felt loose but it wasn't. I had a few solid wave rides but also a dreaded Packery sleighride. I feel exhausted now.

Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125         Sail: 5.2 Severne S-1 Pro

Excellent wind. These are the kind of days that reaffirm your love for windsurfing. I had to cut the second session short because my brain was baking in the heat. It took me about half the drive home for me to start to feel better. These one day trips are getting tough, especially with going back to work the next day.

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon

Blasting around on the 3.0 again. If i had a 2.6 I would have used it. Solid wind, tiny ripples and spray, but not much swell and definitely rough water.

Way better than yesterday tho. Lots of strong wind forecast for Mon & Tues.  

Biked @ 6:53 AM.

Board: Tabou Pocket Wave 69L         Sail: 3.0 S2 Maui Dragon

Way too strong. Therapist Steve overpowered on 3.2.  

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Got to the hatch for the lunchtime lull. Therapist Steve informed me that he had been on his 3.2. Yikes!

Wind was down, so i rigged 3.4 & freestyle board. Very up and down. Gusts were fun. i got another duck tack, worked on some clew 1st spocks & got a crazy good body drag. You would have liked it McFancy & McBuff.

Biked @ 6:50 AM.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

After work Sesh!  i was sooo powered on the 4.6, but too late in the day to start switching sails. Fun!

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.4 S2 Maui Dragon

Wow! Full on dawn patrol!  Was on the wather before 7 AM. When i got to the beach Phil Soltysiak & Kelsey were already there and rigged!  The sensor was only reading to 26 mph but ther wind was cranking, so rigged 3.4. Good call. Got a wet spock and so close on a couple others. Man, I was getting worked in the gusts. Bob showed up and took some photos. We will see what he got!  

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

Late day freestyle sesh with Brad. Did 1 more duck tack. Felt tired; may have been the heat? Was missing McFancy Pants and McBuff.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

It was windy enough when I rigged. Didn't last long enough. Also a strong current. I still stayed out 40 min and practiced. I uphauled once with just the mast! Maybe time to get an uphaul?

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5

Toasty day! Made my first dw360! Was flying all the way through 359º, then I plopped back onto the water just like a gentle kiss from Bailey. It's that last 1° that puts you back in contact with the water. The arc was tight! Probably too tight. Probably looser is the secret to keep it flying all the way through.

Figured out the secret to heli's on the foil. Move your back foot way out to the now windward rail right before flipping the sail or else you won't have any leverage to get/keep the sail upright after the flip.

Happily I didn't decide to mope and sit on the rocks after this happened:  Early on in the sess, the rig separated from my board in the channel while trying a duck jibe. The board quickly moved away from me downwind, while the rig and I were being swept upwind. Fuck! My u-joint broke! (this was the thought anyway). It's going to be a long difficult swim back, or I'll have to de-rig out in the water and get dragged back. Fuck! Laura my hero saved me by holding my board as I swam with my non-floaty rig toward her. Was able to get to kit-complete again and not drop into the Columbia the crucial piece that would have ended up as a plaything for the manatee and river otters. Sailed back to shore with only a hand-tightening, then borrowed from Brad the exact proper tool that was necessary to make that thing tight af. Brad has all the tools. 

Lesson learned: Always check the tightness of the bottom screw thingy on those silly 2-bolt mechanical u-joints (that are necessary for foiling) before rigging. And probably Loctite that mofo too if it's being a problem, as it has been. Gotta get some loctite.

Last sess in the Gorge for a good long unknown while. 

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18

Wave sailing is coming together for me more and more. I've realized I had a long "off" period due mainly to lack of strength. I had surgery in 2016, then some random injuries, then a whole year off for pregnancy/recovery, then a couple years of infrequent sailing due to juggling scheduling with working and the babies - all that added up to completely losing my fitness and not effectively regaining it. Balance came right back, but strength took consistent practice that I wasn't able to dedicate until 8 months ago. I'm now able to sail unhooked much more in the waves. I have the arm strength to get my hand way back on the boom, the core strength to steer with my body, and it's leading to much better cutbacks. I feel like I went to the wave clinic even though it never happened. Yet I still have lots of room to improve, so hopefully they can reschedule the actual clinic for next year.

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui Dragon

Well, i scored some 4.6 on a 'no-wind' day. i got 2 out of the straps duck tacks. i am very stoked!! 

Update: I went back to the beach and got another 4.6 sesh! Talk about score. I got 8 more duck tacks!  I think i have figured something out.  

Throw sail back, but not down. Speed helps.

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: Maui Sails 3.5

Quite the rip schlog wind pattern, but I was happy on the 3.5. Did quite a bit of ducking and swell riding. 

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 3.4 S2 Maui

Well, i went for a bike ride and then showed up @ The Hatch around noon. Was really up and down. Worked on a few Clew 1st Spocks, got one slide.

A few fun shov-its. Then it got busy with all sorts of river traffic & Father's Day traffic. Time to go.

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2

Rip schlog all over the place. The good thing is, once you have enough experience on the foil, you don't even hardly barely notice. 

I can see Washington from my house!

Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard         Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5

Made my first helitack! Not flying at the end of course. Does Mr Balz McBalzyBalls fly all the way through them?

Board: Fanatic Quad 81         Sail: 2019 Goya Bonzai X Pro 4.2

Mellow and fun!

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.2 S2 Maui

Well, i should have rigged the 4.6. Too much schlogging! But, since it was so rainy today, i am happy to get any sailing in at all. Day 28.

Board: '19 JP 113 FWP         Sail: '20 EZZY 5.8 WAVE

023 - Out between the spoils and back, slight chop and small holes. Didn't get the late direction change but it filled in well.

Board: Angulo Triumph 81         Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18

Gorgeous evening sesh watching the sunset while riding waves. A notch more powered than yesterday, so I was fully planing. But the wind is only picking up in the evening, so waves still have that smooth, light wind vibe. I saw my first squid while windsurfing!

I'm in this happy place where I'm loving and appreciating windsurfing as much as I ever have, plus loving life in general. I also love that this current board/sail/fin combo feels like the absolute perfect setup for our south wind wave days. 

Board: Starboard Flare 81L         Sail: 4.6 S2 Maui

Lite 4.6. Hot day, tried new blue suit. McFancyPants said it looked good on the water. :)