2022-06-23 Event Site Again

Cynthia blasting past Cam

Today was almost a repeat of yesterday, except people are getting slower and slower to get moving.

Kent went to Sailworks to complain to Dale, because even with his new racing front foil wing, Dale still blew by him yesterday like he was standing still.  Dale advised him to lower his boom a little, but mostly, to just suck it up, sheet in the sail, and go faster!

I picked up the two new Slingshot wings that I was looking at yesterday - they will work much better for Louise! 

Handré - fueling up for the day!

I then went to the hospital to visit our friend Lester (a kiter from Calgary who I have met several times kiting in Cuba).  He was mountain biking yesterday, and long story short, he had a heart attack and had to be taken to hospital.  He is OK, and is in good spirits.  He will be going to Portland in a day or two to have a blockage removed.  Hopefully he will then be as good as new.  He describes things now as an inconvenience - not an emergency.  He is not quite out of the woods, but almost!  Lucky that it happened near a parking lot (easy ambulance access), and that his friends made the right decisions to call the ambulance!

Kent and Bernd - waiting for wind!

We all congregated at the Event Site around 11:00.  We learned that today marks the 'End of an Era".  Blaine and Brad had both consigned their Stuby Windsurf boards at Windance!  They have some older stuff at home, but that pretty well ends the windsurfing era for them!  It makes me wonder about my Windsurf gear, but I am not ready to pull the pin on it quite yet.

The wind was supposed to pick up by noon, but it took a little longer, so once rigged, we sat in the shade and enjoyed the beautiful day.  It was a hot one!

Bernd, on his 10m kite.

Eventually the wind started to pick up, and people started heading out.  Sail sizes ranged from 5.2 to 6.0 for the Windsurf Foilers, 5m for Wingnut Cam and 5.5m for me.  Andreas was out on his 8, not sure about Ross, and Bernd sailed his twin tip with his 9.5.

Blaine having fun!

I spent some time taking photos of our group, and also of some kids (the Maui racers), jumping off the pilon next to the spit.

Maui Kids having fun!

The wind started picking up after an hour or so and we all came in and re-rigged down.  Cynthia went out on her 3.8, Cam moved down to his new Duatone 4m wing, and I went down to my 4.5.  Handré went out on his 5.2 and Stuby Windsurfer.  He is the only one of the group who has Windsurfed this trip, and this was his second session!  It is good someone is keeping up the tradition.

Big Jim - Having fun!

We had a good session, until the wind started to drop again.  We all got back, but several of us had to slog home, although I did get a gust just as I was reaching shore, so I was able to pump up onto my foil and blow past Cam on the way in.....  Nice!  Even Kent was slogging back, although like me, caught a gust so foiled the last few hundred meters and came in to the beach looking like a pro!

Handré after his Windsurf Session!

The wind dropped to almost zero, but that didn't deter Dale Cook or Bruce Peterson, who came down for their usual 5:00pm session.  They can go in almost nothing.

I ran into Wyatt Miller, and his girlfriend Zaira, who run Pro Windsurf in La Ventana.  They  both recognized me, and we had a great chat.  I introduced them to Kent and Cam.  Kent, Lorna, Louise and I will all be going to their place in March next year for a couple of weeks, and Louise and I will also be going there in November.  We are looking forward to it!  They are great people and extremely friendly!

We continued to slowly de-rig and pack up.  At about 7:00, Bruce and Dale came back.  Dale actually slogged a little bit, but Bruce, who was on his 8m sail continued to cruise around, going back upwind and blasting through the sailboat race that was happening on the river at about twice the boat speed.

Dale Cook - after a light wind session!

We walked over to the Ferment Brewing Company for supper, and sat outside.  Excellent.  While there, Bernd and I ran into Dave, Chris and Mike from the Keho group who had been sailing with Lester.  We know them from our Cuba trips.

Another late night - probably 10:30 by the time we got to bed.

Blaine - foiling through another jibe!

Bernd

Cynthia






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