2026-06-09 Wild Winds

 

Just a little bit of wind at Moiser in the morning!

I was up early as I had to meet a fellow in White Salmon, so I drove to Moiser and was the first one there arriving at about 9:30.  Another fellow pulled up just after I did and started rigging his windsurfer.  The wind was very strong with huge gusts - guessing 70-80kph.  I went out on my 3.5, Swift Board, and 909/375 foil.   At times I could barely hang on, but I made it work.  It was definitely survival sailing, but I did get some good wave rides in the big swell.  There were only a couple of us on the water - I pretty well had the whole river to myself!

I came in because I was getting pretty tired.  I rested for a while and drank some hot tea, and then went back to the beach.  The wind had dropped a lot.  It first I thought it was done, but then I realized it had just dropped to normal 3.5 wind....  It was actually a much better sail.  My only trouble was getting going in the lulls.  The board is so unstable in light wind it is hard to balance while trying to get going.  Again I had some good wave rides.  It started raining several times during my session - but I was wet anyway.  

Once again I was getting tired, and there were a few huge gusts, so I decided to call it a day.  As I was coming in to the beach there was a fellow trying to drift launch taking up the whole site, so I turned around and went for another couple of reaches.  I was pretty well exhausted by the time I got to the beach.  28km... not a bad day, but it was only 11:00am.

Ted's 3.5 and Swift board!

When I got back to the car Ross was there.  He had set up his board, but was humming and hawing a bit about going out.  Then it started raining!  I brought my board back to the car, and then we sat in our cars car and ate lunch.  The rain killed the wind, so Ross headed back to the condo to do some work, saying he may come back later.

As I was packing up, Kent arrived.  He told me he had been at the Hatchery but conditions had been "crazy".  He had sailed on his 3.9, but then switched to his 3.2.  The swells were big and glassy but the wind was huge gusts and huge lulls.  He didn't last long only 13 km.  Meanwhile at Moiser, the rain had stopped, but there still wasn't any wind.  Kent decided to wait it out and hope the wind would come back.  I headed back to the Condo to have a long hot shower!

Kent - waiting for wind!

Eventually the wind at Moiser did come up.  Ross also arrived.  Kent went out, but Ross decided the conditions were too extreme for kiting.  Kent had a wild and wooly session.  They then packed up and drove to the Event Site.

Blaine and Robert were there and had been sailing.  Robert had been out on his 4m wing and said he had some good runs.  After sailing, he pulled out his credit card and bought two new F4 wings, a 3.5 and a 4.5, as well as his fifth pair of booties (He had left his other four pairs at home).

Blaine said he had a pretty good session in very "LUMPY" conditions.  Jim Mudry gave him a ride up to the Hook at one point so that Blaine could practice without worrying about staying upwind.  He went out, but then the wind died, so he drifted home.  Overall though, he had a pretty good day, foiling both directions, and doing standing "taxi" jibes.  

Kent and Blain went out.  It was gusting from 16 to 70kph.  Conditions were a bit "EXTREME".  Some expert wingers were out both competing in a race and also doing big jumps and loops, but there were also many locals standing on the beach not going out and talking about how terrible the conditions were.  The pros were really putting on a show!

Dale cook gave Kent a tip that he has to move his mast track back a bit when sailing his 3.2 and that made a big difference.

Kent said Ross tried to sail upwind, but just couldn't... too windy!

Not exactly steady wind....

They both sailed late, not arriving at the house until half way through the hocky game - around 7:00.

Blaine arrived at the house around 5:30 in time to watch the hockey game!

We watched both the Oilers game and the Blue Jay's.  Much to Blaine's disappointment the Vegas Knights lost, but we both enjoyed seeing the Jay's win.

Definitely more Advil will be required tonight!  We are looking forward to more normal sailing conditions tomorrow.  Let's home the forecast holds.