2012-06-17 Blown off the water... Almost

Wow!  What a day! 

Temira's website said that in Arlington they were issuing "Dust Warnings".  The forecast was for very windy weather staring late morning in the East.  Roosevelt Beach park was the call.

Of course you can't talk Big Air Jim out of his morning coffee at Dog River.  But when Andreas and Ross came by and said they were heading out, a scramble was initiated like we haven't seen yet on this trip.  No Bette's!  A quick bite at McDonald's, a stop at Safeway to pick up rations for lunch, and then off to Roosevelt Beach Park.  We arrived to a very full parking lot around 10:30am.  The trees were rock'n and it looked very windy.  

It was definitely with some apprehension that we rigged.  Many of us had not been out in high wind since last year.

What a Fathers' day present - 35mph, big swell, warm weather and a grassy rigging area and good friends.  (Not as good as family, but I guess we will make due.) 

Cam - just a little over powered...

Wind report - average 35mph, gusts to 48mph, with lulls at 30mph
Pretty steady from noon to 5pm.

Most of us were on 4.2 sails or smaller.  Big Air Jim tried his 4.6, but quickly realized his error and came back to rig down.  In the afternoon I was sailing my 77 litre Acid, which is a very small board for me - one that I only use a few times a year at most (none last year).  Even then, I was over powered most of the time....still - lots of fun.

Big Air Jim - ready for take-off

Cam - ready to Jibe

Andreas - showing off - as usual...

We're not sure what is going on here....
either a wardrobe failure, or he is really happy going into this jibe!
(We're guessing a wardrobe failure...)

Mike was having fun!

Gerry - coming back to the beach for a well earned rest...

Big Air Jim - had a good day (as usual!)

The boys - having lunch and watching the action....

Brad - drying off his sail on Blaine's shirt...

Cynthia got to sail with her Dad on Fathers' Day which was really special.
She then showed him up, by being the last one of our group on the water!!!

When we got back to town, we met up with Al, who sails at Cooking Lake.  He flew in today and will be staying and sailing with us as well - so now we are 18!  Good thing we have three condo's.

For some strange reason, everyone was quite tired when we got back to the Condo - so early to bed.  Looking forward to more wind Monday!