2016-09-09 Stevenson

Bob's Beach -Stevenson

Big Air Jim isn't with us this year.  He managed to break his right index finger while trying to operate a table saw at home, just a few days before he was scheduled to leave.  Apparently, the surgery is set for sometime this week, so he had to cancel.  Not only are we missing the Big Golden Windsurf Van with the ridiculously big board rack on the roof, which sets us apart from anyone else here, but we also miss Jim's on-going commentary on everything from world events, to the latest gear, to his latest modification to his roof rack.

Big Air Jim - At home reading the blog...

We met at Dog River Coffee early and then went across to Bette's for breakfast.  (There is nothing like settling into the usual routine right away...)

Everyone thinking of Big Air Jim and his index finger....

Temira's forecast called for Easterly wind later in the day out West, so they guys headed for the shops.

I don't need any new gear, but thought I would follow Kent and Rene to the Sailworks shop. We were greeted like old friends.  It was fun watching Kent being talked into buying a foil for his windsurf board.  The foils are fairly new.  They look sort of like a small airplane that is mounted three feet or so below the board.  When you get moving, you rise up out of the water and sail smoothly across the waves.  According to Dale Cook (one of the best sailors in the world), they are fairly easy to learn on. And the big lure is that you can sail in very low winds - like 10mph.  Kent has visions of sailing 3 times per week at Wabumum.  Very tempting.  Of course they don't work at all in weeds, you have to be very careful that you don't hit anything with it, and Bruce Peterson (another of the best sailors in the world), said he got "worked" when he tried it.  Anyway, they are only $1,500, ($2,000 Canadian). Kent didn't walk away with one, but he seems well hooked....I understand he has even talked to his wife already, to get permission...)

We all drove out to Stevenson's and arrived around 11:00am.  It was windier than we had expected.
Gerry went out on a 5.6 and then changed to 4.8.  I was on a 5.6 and very powered.  Most of the guys were 5.0 or 4.8.  It was a great day!  Much better than we expected.  While there wasn't much wave riding, there were some decent ramps and lots of racing back and forth.

The guy's at Bob's Beach - thinking of Big Air Jim who is sitting at home looking after his finger...

I learned something on the water today.  Harold has always bragged that no one passes him while he is sailing.  I was on a Port reach and quickly catching up to Harold.  I had a choice of passing him on the upwind or downwind side.  If I bore off, I could pass him very quickly, but I decided to just cruise past up-wind. When I got close, he heard me coming and quickly started a jibe so that I couldn't pass....  Kent's comment is that no one passes Harold because they are scared to enter the jibing radius of death since he never looks before jibing.  Gerry can attest to being almost run down later in the day when Harold turned unexpectedly right into him...  I guess we will just have to crown Harold as the fastest sailor on the water - that is if we all want to avoid collisions...

The wind started to back off around 2:30.  We all came off the water and took our time sitting around in the warm sun, talking about the day and then eventually de-rigging.  Of course, a Panini and Lemon Aid was the call at "The Crossing", the local sandwich shop.

It was almost 5:00 by the time we had packed up and left.  Back at the condo's we had a few beers, Kent talked about foils and how great they would be, and then we walked down to 6th Street Bistro, where Kent continued to talk about foils.  I think that Dale has made a sale - maybe more than one...

Handre told us about his day.  He had ridden his mountain bike to the Rowena Lookout.  This is a fair ride on a road bike, but on a mountain bike - it is ridiculous.  He complained of being out of shape and tired - go figure...  That ride is not even in the realm of possibility for me...

A place saved for Big Air Jim at the head of the table, 6th Street Bistro

Dinner was great as usual.  We headed home and were in bed by 10 - all very tired.