2019 Spring Gorge Trip: 2019-06-14 Humbled by the River

Gerry and Blaine - watching the wind.....

Everything started as it should...

Jim and Cam arrived last night so everyone is now here except Cynthia, who is flying in on Saturday.

Jim, Blane and Brad were at Dog River when Bernd and I arrived shortly after 8:00. The others began straggling in over the next hour or so.

After telling a bunch of stories and solving most of the world's problems, we walked across the street to Bette's for breakfast. As usual, the breakfast was delicious but very filling.

Shopping was next on the agenda. First touring the shops downtown, and then Sailworks. Bernd checked out the E-Bikes at Big Winds. He really liked the $6,000 one.

Blaine and Brad were doing some reverse shopping at Sailworks - dropping off their 6.6 Huckers as a consignment. With their foiling, they don't think they will be using them anymore.

I bought a pair of new booties which were on sale at the Gorge Surf Shop. I am not sure what else was purchased but I am sure that the local economy felt the boost.

I do know that Cam purchased a new PINK wetsuit. The guys were commenting that he must be comfortable and "in touch" with his more feminine side.... I will try to get a photo....

Around noon, the windsurfers gathered at the Hatchery. It was windy - very windy.

Kent was out on his 3,8. Harold went out on his 3.2 and came back to flatten it. Blaine went out on his 4.2 - went part way out and then came back. I was hearing locals who had come of the water on their 3.2's saying they were going back to work until the wind backed off.

Kent - Lumpy Water - "Technical" Sailing

We all rigged, but most of us stayed on the beach watching for a few hours.

Mid-afternoon, the wind backed off - or maybe it was just that the lulls got bigger. It turned quite gusty and there were times when the wind was probably 10kph to 60kph. Everyone got out, except for me. I decided I needed to take some photos and video. It looked like really tough sailing.

Gerry went out on his 3.8 and made it work. He said that it was so windy on the far side that sometimes it was difficult to waterstart - never mind jibe...

Gerry - going up!

Jim rigged Cynthia's 3.7 and said he was blown off the water - although he did make a few reaches.

Kent called it "Technical" Sailing.

Harold

Brad

Blaine - Blasting

Jim was a tiny bit over powered...

Oops - Not looking good!

Explosion!

We packed up at about 5:30. Jim said he wanted to go foiling at the Event Site so we all went down to watch. Bruce Peterson had just come off the water - foiling on his 4.5. Bruce said he stopped because it was getting dangerous. Jim changed his mind and went out on his 5.3 and pumpkin board to Windsurf instead of Foil. He got a few reaches, but there were big lulls, especially in the middle of the river. At supper, he said that in the end - he Won. I assume that means he got home without getting hurt....

Jim - Rigging his 5.3 at the Event Site

Ross, Cam and Bernd went to the Bridge to sail. Bernd tried his 8.0 Razor sail, but it was too much so he came back in right away and went to Windance and bought a used 7.0 Prodigy.

Cam and Ross had a couple of sessions by the bridge. They had fun, but they said it was very punchy (the Kiter term for "Technical").