Marysville Again! Fourth time this fall

11/11/12 Sunday, Marysville

A beauty of a fall day, 60+ degrees bluebird sky and decent 5.0 conditions with south winds whipping up the river.

I rigged the 5.0 and on the water by 3:00 with the 85 liter JP.

Not an ideal wind direction but it worked.  Found some of the nicest swell of the season in the middle and generally lighter at the jibeotorium.

Most sailors sailed 5.0 to 5.8.

Good to see some of the Cass Lake crew out there, Scott and Glen were tearing it up. Jeannie and Brian got the best of it and then the rest of the local crew gave it their best.

Could be the last session of the year for me with the water getting into the 40s and the early sunsets, plus a leaking dry suit may make for the season’s final session. At least it was on a good note with comfortable conditions and a good crowd.

Completed the evening with a visit to the Junction Bouy down the road for happy hour and dinner.

Sail Time: 2 hours from 3:00 - 5:00

Gear: 5.0 with the 85 liter board

Conditions: St Clair River sailing as good as it can get

Weather: Air 60s water 40s.
Wind:  South winds maximum of 10-30+

Schooled: Swell slashing and duckin the jibes

Images: Wind data of the day (St Clair Airport)

Video: October 25 Jibe clinic at MV and Millard's warm and windy in the river November 11, 2012

Compliments of Sandy

Milner Beach 10/28/12

Decided not to head up to Lexington with gusting north winds at 40+ and air temps in the low 40s.

It 's way to cold for me to even consider windsurfing but the temptation was there.

Got some help from Keith and Dave as Keith was all gung-ho to sail.  We met up at Milner Beach and Keith rigged and I watched him go out and figured if he can survive I could.

I was hesitant but since I had someone to sail with I'll give it a try.

Rigged the 4.5, 85 liter combo and headed out to fluky overpowered one second and then to lite the next second.

Winds were flopping between north and northwest slightly off shore and it made for fluky conditions on the inside.

Dave showed up and ended up on his 5.5 and Bic Astro Rock.

Overall not my type of day, to cold with fluky winds and shallow fin scrapping water  levels.
Keith made the best of it with a decent session for him on his 5.5

Sail Time: 1.0 hour from 3:00 - 4:30

Gear: 4.5 85 liter board

Conditions: Fluky 4.5 conditions some decent swell  with a lot of confused swell

Weather: Air lower 40s water lower 50s.
Wind:  NNW gusty winds maximum of 10-35

Schooled: Survival sailing

Pre Sandy, Blue Lagoon, Saturday 10/27/12

On a cold grey late October day full of household chores to accomplish. I was surprised to see the sun come out and raise the temperature up to 52 degrees. With a stiff northwest wind blowing it was time to head over to Blue Lagoon. Once there I found Harry 6.5  and Steve 6.0 sailing.

Rigged the 5.5 with the 100 liter board and was on the water by 3:00 sailed non-stop to 4:30.

Fun session but difficult on hands with all the coldness surrounding them

Sail Time: 1.5 hours from 3:00 - 4:30

Gear: 5.0 with mostly the 100 liter board

Conditions: Blue Lagoon with mostly onshore winds to 25

Weather: Air lower 50s water lower 50s.

Wind:  NNW winds maximum of 15-25

Schooled: Just blasting conservative style.

Third time at this once a year sailing site

 

 

Marysville Again! Third time this month

10/25/12 Tuesday, Marysville

Formally know as the once a year launch, this year has been different with a lot of warm southerly winds and good timing with the work schedule. South winds that funnel up the river and intensify creating some great river sailing. Other launch sites today were to lite for windsurfing so Marysville is the natural call.

Another beauty of a day 70+ degrees bluebird sky and decent 5.0 conditions with south winds up to 30.

With S winds to 10-30 I rigged the 5.0 with the 100 liter RRD and 85 liter JP and was on the water by 2:30.

Mostly planing conditions with a jibe clinic on the launch side flat water and some decent swell to play on in the middle. 

Eight of the local crew showed up, Ric, Mike, Keith, Craig, Millard, Gerry, John and myself.

Sail sizes ranged from 5.0  to 6.5 for the big boys.

Sail Time: 3.5 hours from 2:30 - 6:00

Gear: 5.0 with mostly the 100 liter and some use of the 85 liter board

Conditions: St Clair River sailing at it's best 3-4 swell at peak with ripple flat on insides.

Weather: Air 70s water 50s.
Wind:  South winds maximum of 10-30+

Schooled: Jibe clinic on the inside

Images: Wind data of the day (St Clair Airport)

Video: You Tube "Hero Jibe Clinic"

Video: You Tube Millard's "4 days at Marysville"

Dawn Patrol at Metro Beach scores a session

 

10/18/12 Thursday Metro Beach

This is the way to start your day!

Early morning session at MB - the van was still loaded with wet gear from MV 16 hours ago.

Checked the forecast and local conditions all look positive for an early morning session at MB. Radar showed rain heading to the area so had to get going before the rain. Hopped in the van and headed out at 8:30, no breakfast just a couple of cups of coffee to get me going.

Sent out a message that I was headed out and needed someone to join in the fun.

Got to the launch site and knew what to rig immediately, with the WT reporting  a steady 23 from the SSE, I rigged the 5.0 with 85 liter.

Perfect call - on the water by 9:30 with steady winds and super flat easy to sail conditions. Sliced through the weed beds like they were not even there.

As time went on the rain came and winds increased and changed directions from SSE to SSW.  Sometimes way overpowered - a 39 mpg gust reported by the WT but most of the time perfect 5.0.

Finally wind slacked off slightly so I came in to take a break. Harry showed up a we discussed the conditions, he went home to get his gear. I went back out to finished up my session with rain and strong SSW winds. Sailed another 45 minutes before it started to slack off. Came in and Keith was rigging his new.. 6.5.

I derigged in the rain and headed home to shower up and go to work. A great way to start the day!

Hope every one else had as good of day as I had. I heard the sun came out later in the day with good winds reported.

Sail Time: 2 hours from 9:30 - 12:00

Gear: 5.0 with 85 liter board

Conditions: Fairly flat conditions, rain and south winds from 20 -39 mph.

Weather: Air 60s water 50s. Cloudy and rain
Wind:  South winds maximum of 20-39 mph 

Schooled: Speed sailing in flat water with speed ripples and easy hero power jibing at the ends of the speed runs.

Image:  MB data

MV Again

10/17/12 Wednesday, Marysville

Late in the day decision, Metro Beach with light unsailable winds, the forcasted small craft warnings never developed.
Decided to head up to Marysville for my second session there in less than a week.

Strong south winds to 30 with sunny warm temperatures I couldn't pass this up.

Got to MV by 3 and several  windsurfers were already there.

Craig on his 5.4 said it was not quite enough so I took his suggestion and rigged the 5.5 with the 100 liter.

On the water by 3:30 and had a good 1.5 hour of steady, that is for MV, south winds with both sides filled in for flat water easy  hero jibes.

Five of the local crew showed up, Mike, John Z, Craig, Millard and myself.

Sail sizes ranged from 5.4  - 6.0

Almost a duplication of the last MV session except slightly lighter winds and swells.

Sail Time: 2 hours from 3:30 - 5:30

Gear: 5.5 with 100 liter board

Conditions: St Clair River sailing at it's best with 3 foot swell at peak.

Weather: Air 60s water 50s.
Wind:  South winds maximum of 10-25 

Schooled: Hero jibes on the inside flat water and fun city in the middle with the river swell playground. Some heli-tacks
and backwind sailing attempts down a waveface.

Image: St Clair wind data

October as it should be

1011/12 Thursday , Metro Beach

Another October day with a guaranteed forecast. SW winds to 30 with sunny warm temperatures.

October is living up to it's reputation

With SW winds to 20-30s I rigged the 4.5 with the 85 liter JP and was on the water by 2:45.
Mostly planing conditions with the shoal showing what it can offer, nice smooth swell nicely spaced apart.

Most of the regulars showed up.

Sail sizes ranged from 4.0  - 5.5

Sail Time: 2.5 hours from 2:45 - 6:00                     

Gear: 4.5 with 85 liter board

Conditions:  Some times overpowered on 4.5 but held on and enjoyed.

Weather: Air 60s water 55s.
Wind: Southwest winds of 10-30+ 

Schooled: Hero jibes on the inside and swell slashing on the outside

Image: Forecasted winds, Data from Metro Beach and Belle River

Once a year sailing at Marysville

10/9/12 Tuesday, Marysville

The wind forecast looked good south winds to 30 with sunny warm temperatures.

Had a day to plan for this one so no excuses.

With S winds to 10-30 I rigged the 5.0 with the 85 liter JP and was on the water by 3:00.
Mostly planing conditions with some decent swell to play on. 

Six of the local crew showed up, Chris, Mike, Keith, Craig, Millard and myself.

Sail sizes ranged from 5.0  - 5.5

Sail Time: 2 hours from 3:00 - 5:30

Gear: 5.0 with 85 liter board

Conditions: St Clair River sailing at it's best 3-4 swell at peak.

Weather: Air 60s water 60s.
Wind:  Gusty south winds maximum of 10-30+ 

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

Image: The crew

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

Something to write home about

Metro Beach , Friday 8/31/12

Finally a write home about session 95 degrees hot and sunny and marginal winds well at least enough to barrel through the weed beds. Flat water hero stuff inside of the weed beds and small chop on the outside.
Only second session of August.
After several failed attempts to fill in some blog space this month there has been nothing, nothing to write home about.
Most of the regulars were there about 6 windsurfers and a few kiters.

Sail Time: 1.0  hours from 3:00 - 6:00

Gear: 6.0 sail 101 liter RRD.

Conditions: Side shore to side off , winds of 5-25.
Weather: Air mid-90s, Bluebird, water mid-70s.
Wind:  SW - W winds 

Schooled: Lot's of hero stuff. Worked on the push tack, needs more work to pull it off.
Images: Typical wind data of the day.

Double Header MB and BL

8/5/12 Sunday

Thursday and Friday's forecast promised big winds all over the place for the up coming weekend.

But as we often know early forecasts change and usually not in our favor.

On Sunday by 11:00 I was rigging a 6.0 at MB with SW caps appearing all over the place. A few minutes later fully rigged and on the water it died out, squally winds I'm guessing.

So went back in waited it out for awhile and by 12:00 it perked up directly from the west. Went out and had some fantastic runs in the overpowered 6.0 conditions. The flat water in the small bay was the flatest I've ever sailed in so being overpowered was a fun thing. I was able to produced some long wide drawn out fully high speed planning hero ducks on the inside.

Sailed that way for an hour before the NW became the predominate wind direction.

Time to repack the gear and head to BL.

At Blue Lagoon by 2:45 where I found the crew fully engaged. I rigged the 5.5  and back on the water by 3:30 only to find wacky winds and chop. So many boaters partying -  their parked boats caused a wind shadow and the chop was horrible due to boats traveling in the water.
Finally about 5:00 it switch to a more solid NW, boats were leaving and the small swell and northwester wind became organized and steady. Almost perfect 5.5 until 8 pm when I had to drag myself off the water fully drain of energy.

Sail Time: 6.0  hours from 12:00 - 8:00
1 hour at MB and 5 hours at BL.

Gear: 6.0 at Metro Beach and 5.5 at Blue Lagoon with the 101 liter RRD.

Conditions: Side shore to side off at MB, winds of 5-30 the flatest I've ever sailed on at MB. At BL side to side on with flat on inside and slight chop on the outside.

Weather: Air mid-80s, Bluebird, water mid-70s.
Wind:  SW - NW winds 

Schooled: Plenty of hero ducks, downwind/upwind 360s. heli tacks, swell slashing.
Images: Typical wind data of the day, Lagoon scene late in the day.