Montana Beach 6.8.16

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    • #3494
      windydoug
      Keymaster

      The show started late, and the wind was very dress rehearsal-ish, but plenty of people got out on the water.

      Tough call (well, easy for some, but not me) whether or not to go to Montana or Webster Park for windsurfing.  The wind was WNW in the 20’s and touching in at Montana with a lot better odds if you under powered.

      Joe H. and I rigged up 4.8 and wave boards to head out.  Dan S. arrived on his bread and butter Fish and a 4.8. The wind seemed gusty from shore, but the meter was showing 25 gusting 30.  Hiked the beach up to Marges to launch, passing a bunch of kites including Jason, Chris G., Thao L., Doug C., Greg, Lynn and Doc Miller.  A sight to behold was the first foil board I have gotten to see in person.  Lynn is the proud owner.

      Kites were getting upwind pretty well, so we launched, and proceeded to slog to the wind line.  slog to the wind line….finally getting some good puffs on the outside.  After a turn some more slogging, a bit of planing, some adjustments and then an eventual drift to the Webster side of the IBay outlet for Dan, Joe and I.  The wind pulled back and we were lucky for a gust that came along that got us upwind a bit from the metal break wall.  Rick greeted us with a nice “welcome to Webster” smile.  Joe doesn’t like to stand around when he’s windsurfing so he immediately set about getting across the outlet.  After a hike with gear, Joe and I were lucky to find a jetski guy who pulled us across quickly.  Nice!

      Ted B. had arrived in the meantime and was on his new floaty tri fin 106 Fanatic ripping on his 4.7.  The wind was back.  I didn’t believe it all the way so I re-rigged to a 5.8 and a bigger board and road the gusty winds for another 45-60 minutes.  It was my first real session of the year, and felt that way.  I sailed tense and had sore forearms as a result.

      It was great to get to rip with Ted, Dan, and Joe.

      As I rigged up I thought how I wished more of the windsurf crew was around, especially thought about Scott….and then he arrived as we were rigging.  He had eyes on the whole crew with his binoculars for much of the evening, and gave me the bump to go for my 5.8, which was the right call.  Can’t wait for that guy to heal up.  I hear Art got out at Long Pond the day before, great.

      I also spoke briefly with new to the area Thao, he had his first session here. Nice guy.  Welcome Thao.  A photog with a huge lens was around as well.  I left a bumper sticker in his window, we’ll see if he contacts me.

      See ya all soon,

      wd

      • This topic was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by windydoug.
    • #3497
      Scott
      Participant

      I was great seeing you guys sailing on Lake O! It was an incredible moral boost for me to watch all the action and I also realize its important to go through the mental routine of sail/board size decision making even thought I can’t sail yet. Also, lots of fun seeing the big boys going for the swim of shame (which I enjoyed myself last Fall)!

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