Windsurfing Memorial Day

[Hans]

Looks like 'Middle Kansas' will be windy thru possibly even next Wed.  Some chance of rain tho.  I am heading out for Wilson Lake, KS tonight, ready for anything from 9.5m to 4.5M windsurfing.  Planning on sailing thru Monday if the forecast holds.  South winds so I'll be launching from the N side of the Lake from the southern tip of the Lucas Park Recreation Area as seen in this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCWmKLEDnm4

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/196678616

-Only 450 miles away (7.5 hrs)! See you all out there ;)

Hans

NOAA CAST:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.92843409820933&lon=-98.52968215942383

NOAA GRAPH:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.92843&lon=-98.52968215942383&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical

[Ben G]

looking good tomorrow. SE again so CC may be shadowed and l370 may be the place to go. I'm going to check out cc early afternoon. if no wind, i'm going to 370.

[chadonline]

I am getting ready to leave for CC...then maybe 370

Chad 

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[Larry Stemle]

Hans, hope you're having fun. 

You probably already know this but Tue and Thursday both look better in Lawrence.  And you may want to be there Wed since you don't have anything smaller than a 4.5!

Look forward to hearing about your exploits!

 

Actually it looks pretty good here the next few days.  Did anybody get out today?

Larry

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 4:35:16 PM UTC-5, Hans wrote:

[Ben G]

got to cc early afternoon. at first it felt decently strong but by the time I got on the water it was very weak so I just putzed around on the lake practicing tacking  and jibing. Jeff and Uta were there as well as 1-2 more windsurfers down the beach a ways. after a few runs, we were chatting on the beach about how the wind had died down and then out of nowhere (actually, it was out of the northwest) majorly strong winds come thorugh. I hop on my board, as did Jeff, and got a blasting run in across the lake. Turned around and started blasting back. Before reaching the shore shore I was overpowered and because the wind was still getting stronger, I couldn't get back up on my board so i swam back to shore with my gear. It then started thundering and lightening and raining. Rather quick change from calm to major thunder storm.

[Ben G]

I also borrowed a kayak (from a guy who was getting off the lake because of the storm) and gave Jeff a tow back to shore. That was a  mini adventure.

[Jeff in Dogtown]

It was indeed a mini adventure! Thank you for the tow. I kept debating whether or not to jettison the rig and just paddle in on the board, surfer style. the waves were getting higher and higher with white caps. Every time I tried to uphaul a wave would throw me off balance. The handful of times I actually got the rig up and ready to start, the wind just yanked it out of my hand with even the smallest amount of sheeting in. I don't yet know how to water start... 5 minutes after getting out of the water is when the really big stuff hit. Had it done that on the water I would have dumped the rig for sure. Lots of lessons learned in the relatively secure confines of Creve Coeur Lake. I would not have wanted to be caught in that offshore, elsewhere.

 

Now the fun part... Yes, the wind changed direction and picked up lots, seemingly out of nowhere. I went from debating whether or not to throw my 8M already rigged and ready sail on the board to being glad I still had the 5.7 on the board. I remember Uta being apprehensive and deciding not to go out again. A good decision for sure. Anyway, Ben jumped on his board and flew out into the lake. I jumped on mine too. It was a bit scary. I believe the wind actually picked up while I was accelerating. That was a strange sensation. I was a bit surprised and scared to find myself up on plane. Really, I hand not adjusted anything for that or even moved into position, the wind just sort of picked up and put me there. I went with it and it was exhilarating for a minute but I could not could not get back to shore in any controlled sort of way. That is the last time I try something that foolish. Also, I will never again be out on my board without a firmly secured multi-tool or other rigging aid. I'm also going to practice de-rigging and rolling up my sail at sea to put on board and paddle in.

 

Thanks again for the tow Ben.

 

Jeff

[Uta]

Jeff,

your other sail was banging against the fence, I release the boom tension. Hope it is still OK, the important part is that you and Ben, were OK.  Big swells and white caps OK, but big swells white caps and pitch darkness, like night time, maybe not so good. 

[Jeff in Dogtown]

Hi Uta,

 

Thanks for releasing the boom tension. I had let it out a bit before wedging it under the fence, but not enough. Next time I will stake it down too. I think it is fine but even if not, thank you for releasing the tension.

 

Next time, all that plus darkness means... listen to Uta!

[Ben G]

Bbest not to leave sails under the fence. too close to the road and bike path.

[Hans]

It was a good weekend of sailing out at WIlson, KS.  I drove Thurs night and sailed Fri, Sat, and Sun.  With somewhat lighter winds predicted and the fear that I would be too bombed out to work the rest of the week, I drove home Monday day without rigging up so I could return home at a reasonable hour.  Would have been great to still be knocking around KS this week too, Larry, but it would have been too many days away.  As it was, over the three days I sailed nearly 120 miles,  85% more or less of which was on a 106L board with a very downhauled 5.2 sail.   It was very good S to SE air, and largely sunny with temps in the high 70's and 80's..  Somehow Wilson Lake missed all the storms and there was only the occasional patch of cloud cover that blew through quickly.  The water was a very clear emerald green or blue depending on the time of day and angle of the sun, often it could have passed for the Caribbean or Costa Rica.  Imagine uncrowded, formed 2-4 foot wind-rippled emerald swell vibrating the top of the lake like some kind of undulating gossamer webbing, and as you cut planing s-turns across the tops and bottoms, you turn your head back to see the board's spray being blown sideways downwind, materializing vanishingly brief rainbows above the green water as the afternoon sun bends into evening light -ahhhh, this is windsurfing, you say to yourself, this is summer sailing at Wilson Lake...

Will try to post some video in a few days..

Hans

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/319168902

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/319168789

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/319168671

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/319168607

-maps look best in satellite view..

---

From: Larry Stemle <larry...@yahoo.com>
To: windf...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Hans <hansm...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 7:48 PM
Subject: Re: Windsurfing Memorial Day

http://forecast.weather.gov/ MapClick.php?lat=38.92843&amp; lon=-98.52968215942383&amp; unit=0&amp;lg=english&amp; FcstType=graphical

[Ben G]

holy shit that sounds awesome

[Uta]

Jeff,

went yesterday, it was good for me, probably too little wind for you. George and Chad were out using their big sails and a kite boarder left while I was arriving.  

[Jeff in Dogtown]

I like any wind Uta. Can't wait to go again and see everyone. If I get good enough by mid summer I will make the trip to Kansas like Hans. What an awesome description of the water there...