Day 50 of the 2017 season: Lexinton and first DW of the season.

TOB:  1st 8:30 - 11:00, 2nd 1:30 - 2:30, 3rd 3:45 - 6:00 (DW from Port Sanilac)
Gear: 1st session 9M, 2nd session 11M Z1, 3rd session 11M Z1 and TT
Water conditions: Clean swell at Lexington, some good clean swell on DW
Wind: 20-30 from NE
Weather: Party sunny, mid 60s 
Highlights: Fun Lexington day not an epic day. Up/down conditions with a mid-afternoon lull then nice and steady for a DW from Port Sanilac.
Clean swell and well spaced in some spots. Flat water slick near the jetty although gusty conditions inside.
Fun downwinder from Port Sanilac to Lexington with Chris, Craig, Aaron, Mike,Sean and Jeffery.
Some good clean waves and a lot of dirty waves.

Downwinder Stats: Total miles 24.2 - moving time 2:02
Speed, 12.1 average - peak at 23.9 mph

Port Sanilac Data from sailflow.com

Day 49 of the 2017 season: Empire beach quickie morning session with big swell conditions

Highlights: It certainly was a challenging launch with the onshore wind and breakers.  I launched and rode beyond the shore break, then I headed north up the coast as far as possible so I could do a carving downwinder.
Very rare conditions for me here at Empire beach rarely do I ride here with an almost on shore WNW wind. Big disorganized swell on the outside and big crashing well defined waves on the inside and the inside started 100 yards out. Very much fun carving the inside breakers, but the opposite direction from what I'm use to.

TOB: 9:00 - 10:30
Gear: 11M Z1 kite and TT
Water conditions: Big shore break due to WNW winds almost onshore winds
Wind: 12-25 WNW almost onshore conditions
Weather:  mostly sunny, low 60s

Rarely do I see breakers and sand churned up 100 yards out.

Day 48 of the 2017 season: Sleeping bear point, the forecast didnt materized, it finally did after I left

TOB:  1:00 - 2:00 short session
Gear: 11M Z1 kite and TT
Water conditions: 
Wind: 12-25 NW switching to west
Weather:  mostly sunny mid-60s
Highlight: One of those days I've been waiting for a long time. NW winds at Sleeping Bear Point generally produce perfect, clean 3-4 footers. Rigged and launched slightly east of the point where the perfect setup for wind direction and riding waves are. Played for a few in the waves there then I decided to head up wind to the pointe. On my way there the wind switched to west and things got messy, wave and wind direction wise. So headed back to launch area thinking I could play in the perfect conditions there, well the west wind was shadowed by the dunes and that produced fluky conditions. Ended up being a short session...got a message later from Pete that it did pick back up from the NW.
Note: Need a northwest for this launch to work...I'll get it next time.

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Day 47 if the 2017 nseason: Point Betsie only site with enough wind for a 13M session

TOB: 4:30-6:00
Gear: 13M Z kite and TT
Water conditions: small sideshore swell
Wind: 12-20 mph and higher SSW side on
Weather:  mostly hazy, upper 70s
Highlights: Fun session, boosting with the 13M in overpowered conditions made for some nice floaters. Heading upwind to do some downwind carving on the outside swell, all was fun.
4 others kiting on 12M to 14M kites, TT and surf boards.

Frankfort wind data

Day 46 of the 2017 season: Caseville Epicness

Fun session well worth the drive, 4 hours plus of TOW with some massive jumps and wave carving. Clean swell setting up perfectly for olling both heelside and toeside. Fully confident in the toeside ollies now. I mostly stayed near breakwall where the cleanest waves were. I ventured downwind twice where good carving swell could be found.
It may be a slow season with sessions spaced far apart, but wow! The sessions have been well above average.
About a 12 to 20 kiters ripping it up. And it was good to see Devon establishing a baseline for himself. More improvement needed for him but give him time and he'll get there.


TOB: 10:30-1:30 and 2:30-4:00
Gear: 9M Z kite and TT
Water conditions: clean swells at breakwall break and some nicely spaced swell further down by the beach
Wind: 20-30 and steady
Weather:  mostly cloudy with occasional sun
Highlights: 11 days since the last session at Bliss beach. 

View at 4 o'clock 

Caseville wind data

Day 45 0f the 2017 season: Bliss at Bliss Beach

Forecast wasn't promising but I took the gamble. Chris, on a row of 4 days and Larry being a wind magnet and the fact that I've never been to Bliss Beach. All this led me to drive the 2.5 hours one way.

Beauty of a venue

TOB:  11:00-1:00 and 2:00-4:00
Gear: 11M Z1 with TT
Water conditions: 2-4 foot SW swell
Wind: up to 25 from SW my estimate
Weather:  mostly sunny mid 70s
Highlights: Great venue, side shore easy launch, (although beach is tiny). Took an upwind run to the pointe break, played in some small swell there and an added bonus - a slick on the lee side of pointe. Did 2 Point runs, number 2 was lighter winds with a less swell and the slick wasn't as good.
Classic day at secret spot, with Chris's family, the Rustofers, 4 other kiters and 6 windsurfers.

Chris on his 9 with his strapless, Larry foil boarding on his 9, Debbie on her strapped board with her 9, me on my 11 and TT. Nearly 4 hours With 2 trips to the point break and a bonus slick on the lee side of he point..

Day 44 of the 2017 season: AN EPIC day at Metrobeach and Harsens Island

Started at Metro finished at HI.
An unusual day with winds you normally see in October. Up to 40 MPH hanging on to my 11M at Metro Beach, then a wind switch and off to HI for a 6.5 session that lasted 2 hours. I would say this was a day as good as it can get in the local waters of SE Michigan.
Five non-stop hours at Metrobeach and then added 2 more non-stop hours at HI.

TOB: Metrobeach 10:00 - 3:30 - Harsens Island 5:30 - 7:30
Gear: 11M Z1 and 6.5M LF with TT
Water conditions: 2-4 foot LSC chop
Wind: up to 40 from SW-WSW
Weather:  mostly sunny mid 70s
Highlights: marathon sessions

Metrobeach from 10:00 - 300 and HI from 5:30 - 7:30