Empire Beach Compliments of Irene

Saturday, 8/27/2011 Empire Beach.

Forecast called for North winds compliments of Hurricane Irene.

About 4:00 it finally came through with side shore wind and swell I rigged the 6.0 with the 101 RRD. Sketchy conditions on the inside but perfect on the outside eventually the inside filled in with hardly a white cap to be seen, making for excellent smooth swell surfing just aim the board off a wave and one quick pump got you going effortlessly, but beware of ending up downwind very quickly.
Biggest windsurfing crowd of the season at Empire Beach with Duke showing up to enjoy the conditions.

Session: 4:30-6:30 Gear: 6.0 Ezzy Panther, 101 RRD .
Conditions: Another easy sailing session with rare side-shore wind and swell
Weather: 70s, sunny, water 70 degrees.
Wind: To 25 from North

Schooled: Effortlessly wave riding.

Image: Beach looking toward Pt, Betsie

Only 2 -3 days like this happen per year at MB.

Wednesday, 8/24/2011 Metro Beach.

Loaded the van with everything, the forecast looked promising 15-25 from the SW with temperatures in 80s. Forecast held true and it was a great day. Rigged the 5.5 Ezzy SE at 2:00 and sailed it with the 101 RRD until 5:00 in mostly steady south winds up to 25. The water was unusually flat for the wind speed and direction. At 5:00 re-rigged the 5.0 Ezzy as the wins switched and turned SW along with an increase in wind speed.

Biggest windsurfing crowd of the season hopefully signaling the start of the windy season.

Session: 2:00-4:30 Gear: 5.5 Ezzy SE, 101 RRD .

Session: 5:00-8:00 Gear: 5.0 Ezzy 84 JP.

Conditions: Easy sailing warm mostly flat water.

Weather: 83 degrees, sunny, water 70 degrees.

Wind: To 30 from S-SW

Schooled: Flat water hero jibes, helitacks and 360s.

Image: LSC Bouy

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Monday, 8/22/2011
Empire Beach, Lake Michigan.

All I know is it was a great day at my favorite sailing spot even though the forecast called for 5-10. I was all set to complete some honey-dos when the wind clause kicked in totally unexpected.

SW warm winds at 15-25 appeared out of nowhere churning up the swell for a fine day of riding the swell.
Rigged the 6.0 Ezzy Panther and the 101 RRD at 12:45 and sailed solid until 4:30. Some overpowered moments but no way was I going to waste time to re-rig. Breaking waves on the inside with nice swell on the outside.

I've only had 1 bad day here in 15 years of sailing and that was an onshore westerly 25 plus day. Learned a lesson that day.

Session: 1:00-4:30 Gear: 6.0 Ezzy Panther, 101 RRD
Conditions: Fun breaking swell on the inside with large far apart swell outside.
Weather: 72 degrees, sunny, water 70 degrees.
Wind: Estimated to peak of 25 SW.
Schooled: Riding the waves, hero jibes on the far apart spaced smooth swell, helitacks and attempts at riding the swell backwinded.

Bat Street Launch - Favorite Spot

Saturday, 8/13/2011

Sleeping Bear Bay, Glen Arbor, Lake Michigan

Another cold front passing through brought some decent northeasters to Sleeping Bear Bay.

Started our with the 5.5 Ezzy and the 101 RRD and soon after went down to my 85 JP.

Nice side shore location with flat water on the inside and fantastic well placed large swell on the outside.

First use of the 85 liter board in awhile it felt so good to get on the small board especially in the outside swell great fun riding the swell.

Session: 3:00-6:30
Gear: 5.5 Ezzy, 84 JP
Conditions: Small organized swell on the inside with large far apart swell outside.

Weather: 72 degrees some sun, water 70 degrees.

Wind: Estimated to peak of 25 NE.

Schooled: Riding the swell, doesn't get much better on Lake Michigan,

It's been awhile and I feel the aches and pains

Wednesday, 8/10/2011, Blue Lagoon.

Finally a cold front came through and the forecast held true. The biggest crowd of the season appeared at the Lagoon. Good to see some folks I haven't seen in a while.

When I arrived a few were in rigging bigger up from their 5.0s rigging to 5.8s.

I rigged the 5.5 with the 101 RRD and got on the water by 3:30. It worked perfectly blasted off from the shore and enjoyed the next 4 hours of non-stop action.

Session: 3:30-7:30

Gear: 5.5 Ezzy, 101 RRD

Conditions: Mostly flat on the inside with unusually small swell outside.
Weather: 75 degrees sunny, water, 75 degrees.
Wind: Estimated to peak of 25 -30 WNW-NW.
Schooled: The downwinder 360. A least 30 tries with my average dropping, some tips from Chris helped as I finally got the wind angle figured out.

Images: St Clair Buoy and mid-360.