2018 Fall Gorge Trip: Sunday - Foiling Frenzy, Kiting and Windsurfing

Interesting clouds at the Event Site!

Today was a bit more organized than yesterday. It started with Dog River Coffee, and then Bette's for breakfast, although a select group decided to go to the Cafe at Dirty Fingers Bike Repair for breakfast.

After breakfast, the Foiling group (Ted, Kent, Rene, Big Jim, Big Air Jim, Blain, and Brad) went to the Event Site, the Kiter group (Cam, Eddy, and Ross), went to the bridge, and the Sailing group (Gerry, Al, Mike, and Harold) went to the Hatchery.

Windsurfing Group (Old Guys - Future Foilers....)

Harold, Mike, Al and Gerry went to the hatchery. It started out with big rigs, but then the wind picked up. They all had a good session. Al wanted to point out that he was on the water before Harold this time. Gerry was on his 5.6 Hucker wishing he was on his 4.8. Harold was on his 4.7 wind, Al was on his 5.5. They had no complaints! Great sail - sorry, no pictures.

Kiting Group (The Dark Side)

Cam, Eddy and Ross went over to the bridge and had a good sail on 9 and 10m kites. The kites have great wind range, so even though they wanted to rig down, they didn't need to. Sorry - no pictures.

When Jim Mudry and Kent went foiling up through the kiters (see below), Ross tried to chase them, but as the wind increased as he went further west, he needed to back off - he needed his 7.0.

Foiling Group (The Cool New Wave Flyer Guys)

The wind started out light. I went out on my 7.0 Flyer and was the fist of our group on the water which is very unusual. Kent is turning into a Foiling Wind Snob and was "Saying No to 7.0", until Bruce Peterson came down and was anxious to rig his big gear and go out. Kent followed me out and had a good session on his 6.0. Brad, Blaine and Big Jim were next out - heading out, just as I was finishing my first session.

Jim Mudry took Kent on another adventure, this time up to the Hatchery.

I had another session and then decided to take a break for lunch. The wind picked up around 2:00ish, and then really picked up. I could have been windsurfing on my 5.6 or smaller. My choices were to pack everything up and go to the hatchery, just rig and go windsurfing, or sit and wait. I decided on the latter.

Blaine

I went out to the end of the point with my camera to take some photos, but Brad and Blaine were hanging on and heading to the beach. They were still doing well in the strong winds and I was able to get a few shots. When they got back, the only one of our group still on the water was Kent and he was way upwind out of sight. I was going to pack up my camera when I saw Big Air Jim starting to head out. I thought "this should be good"....

Big Jim - got up on the foil,
but I was lake taking this photo on his last reach into shore.

Brad said they told Jim that it was very windy and he shouldn't go out, but Jim doesn't recall. He was focused.

Jim headed out and did well until he exploded by the red buoy. With his shoulder injury, he has a hard time clearing the sail and also has trouble climbing onto the board. Why he isn't waiting until after his shoulder surgery to learn a new sport, none of us know. He managed to drift down to the point on the sandbar. Big Jim and Rene walked out to help him carry his equipment back, but just as they were getting there, Jim headed out again. Jim got going again but had a similar result on the far side. This time, however, he was able to waterstart and get back. He even foiled a good part of the way. Great Job Jim. You got out and back in conditions that were keeping all of us off the water! And I got a photo of you foiling!

Big Air Jim - Full on Foiling

Kent and Jim arrived back at the beach with another story of survival. Kent says he now appreciates how much energy the rest of us are expending having to climb on our boards and uphaul or waterstart every other reach. I guess the overpowered conditions, combined with the big swell were "challenging" for him. They said they were going through the Hatchery where people were blasting on sails smaller than their 5.2 flyers. It was a real learning adventure for Kent. He said that Jim showed him that you have to ride waves totally differently when on a foil - going at an angle to the wave, rather than turning down it. I am not sure I will ever need that piece of knowledge, but I can always hope.

It was windy enough that even Jim Mudry almost lost it coming in...

Blaine - hanging on in the big wind!

The wind lightened up later, and most of us went out again. We were all off the water by about 5:00, except for Kent, who had to go out for a final session. It is no wonder he is getting so good - time on the water!

Kent - foiling through another jibe!

The steadiest wind was actually between 6:00 and 7:00, but we were in de-rigging mode.

Supper was a bit of a gong show. The call was Sixth Street Bistro, but the first arrivals were told it was full and there would be an hour wait, so they left. I arrived a few minutes later and was told that the guys had been there but had left. As I was unlocking my E-Bike the manager came out and said that if I could find the group, that they could now make room.

I went looking for the guys and found Blaine walking back to his van. He told me that everyone had gone to Pietro's for Pizza. I rode down to Pietros and guess what - none of the guy's. It then dawned on me that Blaine must have meant Double Mountain. Sure enough, I finally found them. Cam, Big Jim, and Gerry arrived at Sixth Street Bistro just after my adventure and were welcomed in - apparently the place was almost empty.

Another Great Day! Looking forward to more sailing tomorrow.