Almost Epic

9/24/12 Monday, Metro Beach

This was a no brainer the forecast was solid with no doubt of the small craft warning happening. So all had a day to plan for this one. This was the type of day that we all talk about thru-out the summer doldrums.
With SW winds to 20-30 at 1:00 I rigged the 5.0 and put it on the 100 liter to start.
Came in for a break at 3:00 and took out the 85 liter. I would say almost epic conditions for LSC, inside perfectly flat water with steady 5.0 winds. Outside were the biggest swell I've ever seen on LCS with steady 5.0 winds.
Fully powered for 99% of the time, how common is that at MB?
Something for everyone the hero jibebtorium on the inside and swell riding on the outside. Both were fabulous.
At least 15 windsurfers through-out the day with sail sizes ranging from 6.5, only Harry to 5.5, 5.0 for normal folks.

Weeds were not a factor in fact I challenged them blasting over and through the weed beds without a problem, Ha take that weeds.

Sail Time: 4.5 hours from 1:00 - 6:00

Gear: 5.0 with the 100 and 85 liter board

Conditions: Flatest water ever in the bay with good solid 5.0 wind. The biggest waves I have ever seen on LSC. Between Huron Point and the Island the swells were a surfable 4 to 5 feet.  

Weather: Air 60s water 60s.
Wind:  Solid southwest winds maximum of 20-30+. MB Weathertalker reported peak of 31 mph. 

Schooled: Hero jibes on the inside flat water and fun city in the outside swell playground.

Image: LSC Bouy data

Image: Actual MB wind data

A quickie early morning session

9/21/12 Friday, Metro Beach

A quickie early morning session at Metro Beach.
With south winds to 20+ I rigged the 5.0 and put it on the 85 liter.
An hour of solid planning from 8:00 - 9:00, flat water everywhere type of conditions even at the shoal. After an hour of pure Michigan fun got chased off the water by lightning and heavy rain which also killed the wind.
Larry showed up, rigged but then the lightning and rain came.
An enjoyable session but again way to short.

There was enough wind to plow over/through the weed beds.
Got my early morning pre-work session, I try to get at least one every season.
Also got out in the afternoon but the conditions for windsurfering were lousy not enough wind to to overcome the weed beds.

Sail Time: 1.00 hours from 8:00 - 9:00
Gear: 5.0 with the 85 liter board

Conditions: Flat water everywhere
Weather: Air 60s water 60s.
Wind:  Solid south winds maximum of 20-25 estimated.

Schooled: Succeeded on 2 attempts with the down wind 360. Not pretty but I'm getting them constantly.

A quickie late after work session

9/20/12 Thursday, Milner Beach

A quickie late after work session at Milner Beach.
With south winds to 20+ I rigged the 5.5 and put it on the 100 liter.
Slogged out past the point and caught the clean air where I had a quickie 7:00 - 8:00 session.
Finally after about an hour of solid southerlies got chased off the water by darkness I probably sailed a good 45 minutes after the sun set.
An enjoyable session but way to short.
I'm thinking I'll sail here more often with south winds. Less weeds but it is a 50 yard slog to get out.

Sail Time: 1.00 hours from 7:00 - 8:00
Gear: 5.5 with the 100 liter board

Conditions: Flat water inside small organized swell on the outside.
Weather: Air 60s, darkness, water mid-60s.
Wind:  Solid south winds maximum of 25 estimated.

Schooled: Sailing in darkness

Images:  
Video: I wish all jibes were this effortless

Nice after work session

9/18/12 Tuesday

Blue Lagoon was the call for today. The marine forecast called for 10-20 from the NW.

Got there at 3 and quickly rigged the 5.0 as others were out on 5.5s rippin it up.

Took out the 85 liter with the fun fin but to my dismay to many weeds to have a fun fin on.

Came in changed to the weed fin and sailed away for about 15-20 minutes when a lull hit.

Headed in and got the 100 liter board and use it for about a half hour when it really got light and unplanable.

Worked on some light wind tricks, I am working on the nose sink tack. Hitting them 8 out of 10 times.

Finally came in and decided to rig the 5.5 I don't know why the wind was dead.

Stood around with arms crossed talking to the guys when I noticed some rain squalls on the horizon thinking these could create some squally conditions.

Ok, again I went out did light wind stuff more nose sink tacks and sail/body 360s - easy stuff.

Finally at about 6:00 the wind kicked up as the squall line got closer - suddenly over powered on the 5.5 but with the flat water and organized swell it was almost perfect overpowered conditions. The wind was so strong at times I was pushing the sail instead of pulling on it.

Had about 45 minutes of full throttle sailing when it gradually lighten up and that was it for the day.

Sail Time: 1.50 hours from 3:00 - 6:30

Gear: 5.0 and 5.5 with the 85 and 100 liter boards

Conditions: Flat water, side shore to side on, small organized swell on the outside.
Weather: Air 60s, some clouds, water mid-70s.
Wind:  WNWwinds maximum of 30 estimated. .

Schooled: Nose sink tacks, sail/body 360s and downwind 360s

Images:  LSC Bouy

Video: During a lull in Da Action - Nose sink tack

An unlikely day of sailing

9/12/12 Wednesday

Milner Beach, Last week of summer 2012.

An unlikely day of sailing.

The MB weathertalker was a steady 6-10 from SSW but at Milner Beach there were south winds with whitecaps beyond the point.

So I decided to go for it. Launched at 4 with the floater board due to the wind shadow on the inside. The first 50 yards were fluky thus I was lucky I had the floater board. 

Not a bad session I didn't expect much, I was pleasantly surprised. Watching the GoPro footage I

had a 6 minute blast of steady planning with a hero

jibe on the outside and then 3 minutes of steadiness to head back in.

Probably the last day of summer shorty weather. 

This is only the second session of September.
And did I mention the lack of the enemy weeds.... I think they all blew in to the MB launch site.

Sail Time: 1.25 hours from 4:00 - 6:00

Gear: 6.0 with the109 liter RRD FSW board

Conditions: Flat water, side shore to side off.

Weather: Air mid-70s, Bluebird, water mid-70s.
Wind:  S-SSW winds maximum of 17 estimated.

SCS Harbor reported 5-12 and MB reported 6-10.

Schooled: Opposite side heli-tack

Images: Speed on the big board

Favorite Spot

9/1/12 Saturday

Arrived in Empire by 2:00 and quickly realized it was windy from the NE so I  headed to the Bay Street Launch in Glen Arbor. This is one of my favourite spots to sail on Lake Michigan's Sleeping Bear Bay.

Immediately I new what to rig just by the look and feel of the white caps and wind. The 5.5 with the 100 liter board maybe the 85 liter. Rigged and on the water by 3. Took off and enjoyed the next 3 hours with steady 17-25 mph side on with easy flat water on the inside and nice widely space swell on the outside perfect for jibing. It's almost a given the first few days of September I will normally get a good sail in at this spot. Possible compliments of some tropical remnants heading up the Mississippi River.
One other windsurfer up wind of me at the Homestead Resort.

Sail Time: 3.0  hours from 3:00 - 6:00

Gear: 5.5 with the 85 and 101 liter boards

Conditions: Side shore to side on.

Weather: Air mid-70s, Bluebird, water mid-70s.
Wind:  N-NE winds 

Schooled: Wave jibing and slashing.

Images: Boards of the day, Sleeping Bear point and Sleeping Bear Bay launch site with S Manitou Island
in the distance. Wind data from GT Light