Britannia

It rained most of the day, but fortunately stopped and cleared by 5pm. Hit the beach after work and had a solid hour or so on the 5.7 overpowered at times.  Hooked up the gopro clewview but the battery died. Sailed until dark. Marc was on his 12. Hit the shawarma palace afterward.

after work session

 

Rifle Rd

Marc emailed me on Saturday with a heads up for Sunday morning - some east wind forecast for the morning following by rain...constance bay or rifle road?  Although cold and apparently not that windy (in my yard), I met up with Marc at Rifle rd around 9am (he also required my expert kite launching skills).  It was cranking pretty hard and there was no rain.  Marc went out on his 9 and I rigged 5.7.  After about 15-20 minutes I traded in for my 5.0 and was perfectly powered for the next couple of hours.  Around 12:30 we'd had enough and the rain started (although the wind continued strong)...ran into Brent of B&B Surf.  Marc and I grabbed some sushi at Hockey Sushi in Kanata.  Overall awesome session despite the colder air.  Patagonia suit has been super warm.  Still trying the odd vulcan here and there...accidentally ducked the sail really early on a jybe and ended up sailing on the same tack clew first...then flipped the sail back...that was weird...and not as hard as I thought it should be.  Next time I'll try that on purpose.

just after 9am  - all rigged up - (camera phone is sucking)

Mississippi sup yoga

Nice fall day..light wind, paddled in Almonte and tried some yoga poses.  I didn't really want to fall in, so this made it a little more challenging.  I think it's more fun when you can fall in so you can find your limits.

baby crow

warrior I

Prasarita Padottanasana C (well at least my version)

supported head stand

Britannia

I couldn't make the drive to Lake Champlain on Saturday, (no one to go with and dog sitting duties) so Sunday's forecast for NW 15 knots was a little comforting ...arrived at Grandview launch (nobody there) around 1pm and the wind was too offshore.  Marc and Lisa were at Andrew Haydon Park and I thought maybe I could do a downwinder to hang out with them.  Tried Britannia - rigged 5.7 and launched from the main beach - maybe 2 other guys on the water.  Sailed over to AHP and sailed a couple of hours - buzzed by Marc / Lisa.  Air temp around 13C. 

duck gybe

Marc is downwind on a 14m

Grandview

I was supposed to go to Vermont with the guys for a mountain bike trip but I was unable to go.  At least I had Friday off and some wind came through 15-20 NW.  Launched at Grandview and sailed with Craig, Steve and Danny.  Sailed for a couple of hours.  I also got lucky and won a $200 gift certificate for Voile Libre while I was sailing!!

brought the clew-view along

Grandview

Some light northwest wind for the afternoon.  Dropped Liam and Roxanne off at bayshore mall and checked out Britannia, Andrew Haydon Park, and then finally decided on Grandview.  No one was there, so I had the launch all to myself.  Rigged 7.5 with Mike's Carve 123 and I was fully powered up for the next hour and 1/2.  Did a downwinder to AHP to see the kiters (no sign of Marc or Lisa), then tacked back up wind to Grandview.  It was then that I realized how far downwind I had gone, but it was easy to get back up as long as I was fully powered.  Second time this summer that I had a good session on Mike's gear.

SBX

Lisa and I drove down to meet Miro for a saturday session.  Wind started out light, enough for kiting.  We launched from the sandbanks beach (not outlet) and I rigged a 5.7 with my 9.2 SUP to try out the waves.  The waves were quick and close together, not quite big enough for wave riding.  Next I took the SUP out with the paddle and caught a couple of small waves.  With the wind, the legs get tired pretty quick.  In the afternoon the wind picked up and I sailed the 5.7 with the freestyle board, later with the 6.8, and then back to the 5.7.  The break was brutal with the on shore wind but I was surprised at how the freestyle board did in the waves.  We had supper in Picton at the acoustic grill.

SUP on the Mississippi in Almonte summer 2013

It's September and I'm just catching up...blog posts are falling way behind and I'm paddling too often to blog each session...maybe I'll just put a 1-liner just for the sake of future reference.

I've been paddling in Almonte as often as I can and bringing kids & friends,even dogs along when I can convince them.  The water levels started out pretty high and slowly dropped over the summer.  My new paddle kicks ass - it's just so super light!  My new wave board is fantastic and doubles as a board for Liam or a guest when they come along.  This board and paddle combo come to life in the ocean - can't wait for my return to some real waves.  To make things challenging on flat water I've been adding some yoga poses as I learn them.  I'm getting stoked about yoga now, especially the ashtanga style - I'm a beginner but so far it looks like years of fun and a great way to stay in shape.

OBX summer vacation - sailing, surfing, SUPing, SUP sailing, SUP surfing...

Another 2 weeks in Avon in the books.  I'm adding this entry weeks later so my memory is fuzy - but we scored pretty good wind, waves and weather for the trip.  We stayed right on the water in Island Creek a few doors down from Jim.   It was a tight squeeze with my parents and Mike's family all in the same house!  (my parents left before the 1st week ended)...but we survived the rest.  Memorable sessions included light wind wave riding on my new SUP.  I was very close to putting down some cash for a new kite, but the paddle board had my name on it.  It would be multifunctional and get me out on the ocean more often.  Got the kids out in the sound much more often than before (including Liam).  Phil and his friend Leah stopped by and sailed a bunch too.

light wind -ego beach with tabou sup, 5.0 goya

Phil

bro Mike on the left, me on the right

Alyson, Kyle

Corey!

Britannia

June 2 - I know I sailed this day...Marc was there...that is all...?   wish my memory was better

Britannia

Sunday May 26, 5.7  Marc

Rifle Road

Sailed with Marc, Lisa, Phil on a north wind. May 25th

Britannia

5.7 with Marc may 24 ..got shwarma after

Britannia - crazy west storm

Saturday  may 18th..guessing- wind was intense, sailed 4.6 banzai...waited out the storm in the trees (in the water at the shoreline - the water level was insanely high)...very cold too.  I think Pete and maybe 1 other guy sailed....no kites, it was just too nuts

OBX spring 2013 - saturday

Marc and Lisa showed up friday night, and the kiter gang decided to downwind it from the house to frisco campgrounds.  More northeasterlies and really cold now.  We packed up everything and dropped off the keys to the cottage and had our last session at the campgrounds.  The conditions were great (85 quatro fsw and 4.2)  and I had a great session trying lots of stuff - getting closer to vulcans at least.  Finally the kiters arrived (we were getting worried) and Lisa was spent.  It was a looong downwinder I guess.  That was it...hit the road non stop for ottawa.

Peter, Phil, Lisa, Miro

OBX spring 2013 - friday

More north east... it has blown all the water to the west... we have to walk 500 m just to get into deep water to sail!  It's gotten windier..using the 85 liter board and 4.6 bonzai.  Trying to convince Jim to launch on the ocean.  Talked to Andy at HIB and said he was going to sail after work at the frisco pier.  We headed down and there were a few guys out - reef warior casey was one of them.  The waves were clean due to the side-off direction but inside the break the wind was holey and patchy.  The cottages in front must have been responsible.  Andy showed up and caught some waves.  Jim and I went out..I spent some time in the rinse cycle with zero wind..finally got out past the break, but I was exhausted and cut my losses.

the frisco pier is missing huge sections

OBX spring 2013 - thursday

More north east winds...still chilly.  I think I sailed the 5.7 the whole time and the freestyle board.  It jumps great and the vulcan practice has resumed.  Hot tub got used a lot.  Miro arrived and got out on the water with us with his punch kite.

OBX spring 2013 - Wednesday

Finally some decent wind later in the day.  Started out 6.8 then 5.7.  NE and chilly.  shorty wetsuit.  Jim tried out his new Gaastra poison sails

OBX spring 2013 - sunday, monday, tuesday NO Sailing

Fearing a skunk...no wind on the horizon so I headed over to the ocean for a SUP session in the waves.  The waves were highly disorganized and it was a battle to get out passed the break.  Still, a good workout and I got my sea legs back.  A small whale had beached on shore - I was a little concerned that it might attract les sharks!

Monday...still no wind.  Headed over to the ocean for a session and it was even more rough than Sunday.  Another paddler was out, so I wasn't alone- he and I probably only got out past the break a couple of times.  Also, busted the leash...

Tuesday...light wind, Phil & Jim went for a quick paddle on the sound, then we messed around with Phil's kite.  Tried to get an ocean SUP session in but the ocean was ridiculous.  Wind picked up a little later in the day but died by the time we rigged.

OBX spring 2013 - sat

Arrived in time for the last day of windfest down at frisco woods campgrounds.  Me, Phil, Jim on this trip with a house on the sound in Avon (Park Place).  The wind wasn't that great but I just picked up my new 99 liter Goya freestyle board from Margaret at the Avon Sailhouse and wanted to test it out a little.  With a 6.8 and the tiny fin that came with it, I had trouble getting upwind, but I got to feel out the straps, volume   distribution and overall behavior. Seems to plane quick!  No wind forecast for the next few days.

light wind..can you even see the fin?