2021-06-17 Day Three in a row!

Lac Ste Anne - Alberta Beach

Harold's Report:

Well, Al and I arrived at Alberta Beach at about 10AM, just in time for a squall.  We looked at the rain,  the wind, and the maelstrom on the water and asked “what do we rig for that?”.  For me, the answer should have been my 3.2 (yeah, I have one of those) and my 74-liter Starboard, but I rigged my 3.7 and my 85-liter board, and Al rigged his 3.8 and his 85-liter board.  There was sufficient power...

Once the squall died down we were fine on the 3.7 and 3.8.  Extremely gusty so you really had to sail it (lots of micro-adjustments), but lots of big swells to ride.  Al discovered the bigger smoother swells near the pier and hit some jibes.  He’s stoked.

We quit about 2:15PM due to sheer exhaustion. 

In the meantime, Vadim showed up.  The wind was backing off so he sailed his 5.6 Hucker.  Still lots of wind, so he blasted. 

Over in the kid’s section, there were two or three kiters.  Ross put on a show for us.  I love the way he rides the swells back and forth into shore.  Al tells me he was even jumping with his strapless board (and landing it). 

Kiter - not sure who.
(I am sure someone will let me know..)

Another great day here in The Gorge North.  We definitely missed Brad’s hot shower!

Al's Report:

I did move up to my 4.2 sail after the first hour on my 3.8.  It was pretty "interesting" conditions for that first hour!

Ross's Kiter Report:

Ok...Kiter input.  Location: Alberta Beach

Arrived about 1100.  Windy again, no foils, not small enough kites to be foiling.  A bit of rain early on arrival so discussed life while the rain tracked east....no use getting wet putting a wet suit on!  

Depowered 7m but pushing 5m, some swell and a lot of chop a result of the shifty Alberta wind.  Mike joined in about 1300 on his 6m.  Wind backed off about 1430 to chase the windsurfers off, and then shortly after we saw their vehicles depart, right on schedule back up to 7m.....4.2  finning for you mast holding types. Held like that until we ran out of steam, myself at 1700, and was still blowing hard when I had packed up.

Mike seems to be loving kiting the higher winds and riding a directional board....plus no playing like standing rigging.....that's the things that hold masts up on boats.

Mike

Seems like everyone had a good time regardless of where they were.....except Matt, he had to work.  Sorry Matt.....

Thanks to Vadim for the Alberta Beach photos...

Dried Meat Lake:  Ted's Place

Kent's Report:

Sounds like we all had lots of wind...

Foils and Sails Everywhere!

My input on Pigeon....

Brad has an awesome system with a bouy placed, so that foilers know how far to walk out and I think the day went without any ground strikes!   

The wind was amazing.   Brad and I rigged 4.5 and 4.2 in the sun and had an awesome hour of totally overpowered foiling.   Straight upwind and straight downwind.  Brad was on his big wing and 4.2 and he was making jibes in some massive wind gusts. "Kicking Ass and Taking Names"...   

About 1:30 I looked downwind and saw a sail.   I had no idea where Brad's cabin was at this point but figured it must be Ted and Blaine so I buzzed downwind to say hi….   For the next hour, I would sail upwind to where Brad was sailing, and then drop back downwind and chase Ted and Blaine.   Lots of fun until the wind died down at around 2:15…

Kent - late for his meeting!

Awesome day….   Best ever….

Ted's Report:

I arrived at Brad's just before noon, and a couple of minutes after Blaine.  Brad and Kent were already on the water.  Kent was on a 4.5 and looking very overpowered.

Blaine rigged his 4.5 and small wing, and I rigged my 4.2 and big 1100 Moses wing (the only one I have).  Blaine was first out.  When I got to the water, the wind appeared to be dying, and I almost went back to re-rig, but then Blaine got going, so I decided to head out.  

I was glad I didn't switch to a bigger sail.  There were lulls, but most of the time, I was very powered on the 4.2, and sometimes it seemed to be too much.  It was a new experience in the bigger waves, (bigger than at home on Dried Meat Lake).  It was mostly a mental thing - just ignore the waves and fly above them, but I did foil out a few times.  

Ted after a 20km Session!

I sailed from about 12:30 to 3:00, when the wind started to die.  I had a couple of slogging reaches at the end, and then one foiling reach back home.  I jibed and started to head out again, but then turned around and came back.  It was a good thing I did as the wind died after that.  

Kent was leaving as I got to shore - he had a 4:00 meeting and was late.  

I ate some lunch and then joined Brad, Blaine, in Brad's hot tub where he generously served us some beer and snacks.  I do appreciate Brad's hospitality, and especially his hot shower and hot tub!

At about 4:00, I started packing up all my gear and was headed home by 4:30.

Kent and Blaine - Great Day!
Thanks to Brad for the Pigeon Lake photos...




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