2021-08-10 Windy in Alberta!

Wabamun Lake - Cam and Cynthia's place

Cynthia's report:

I was in town this morning when I got a call from my Dad saying “it’s windy”. Cam and Katie were sleeping. The kids are old enough to stay home alone, so I left them my Visa card ( for Madeline to pay for her haircut) and drove to the lake.

When I got there Dad had a 4-5 rigged and it was very windy. I rigged a 3-7 and both of us went out on foil boards. We did one reach and realized it was way too windy for our equipment.

While we were re-rigging a neighbour came over with his friend Val…. At first I thought it was Harold and Blaine but it turned out to be a neighbor we know and a guy who neither of us had met before. Val said he used to windsurf on the ocean and hadn’t gone in a long while… he wanted to take his 5-0 Gastra and 95 l Quattro for a rip. We told him that it was too windy for the 5-0 and offered him an old 4-2 of my Dad’s, but he wanted to use his own stuff so he went out on his 5-0, meanwhile, I went out at the same time on my 3-4 with the 256. I decided it was a real windsurfing day. My Dad wisely decided to watch for a bit…

The inevitable happened ….our new friend got to the middle of the lake and found that he could not sail without spinning out.. My Dad and our neighbour Randy went to rescue him in our blue fishing boat.

Meanwhile, I was wound and having a great time on the 3-4. I even made 2 or 3 jybes…. Although it is much more difficult with a regular fin.

I was still keeping an eye on my dad and the rescue operation when Cam joined me in the water with the 3-7 and his foil… he has little interest in finning, so I’m sure he was quite powered up, to say the least. He had no trouble going straight upwind which made it a bit difficult for me to sail in close proximity. He probably had a 1.5- 2 hour session before having to pack up and head back to town for his 7 pm shift. He will be a bit tired by the time 4 am comes and his shift winds down tonight. The photos are of Cam…. Near the end of his session when I was taking a break for lunch.

After Cam left and our new friend packed up, Dad and I went out for a second session, this time it had come off and dad had to go back for his 4-5…. I was still on the 3-4 so I went back for a foil board and we had a nice mellow session. It was slightly more mellow for me since I was on such a small sail and the wind had come off a lot but we had a good session.

I am home now having come back to the city to find dinner waiting on the stove. (Cam has mad skills in addition to foiling and emergency medicine)

The kids were home when I arrived and even shared some candy with me… I haven’t yet checked the visa statement. 🤪😎luckily they are pretty responsible so I don’t anticipate any issues.

I hope everyone had as much fun as me today!

Cam

Neighbour Randy, and his friend Val

Red Sky at night!

Pigeon Lake - Brad's Place

Ted's Report:

I arrived at Brad's around 11:00. Harold was already there and rigging, but Brad was waiting for the wind to settle down. Harold rigged his 6.1, but then re-rigged to his 4.8 before heading out. Al and Blaine were next to arrive and Vadim, Mike, Ross and Tim all arrived over the next hour or so.

Brad and I were going to go "finning", but Blaine talked us into foiling. Brad lent me his 790 wing as he was on his 679. It is a lot smaller than my 1100 wing, and more suited to the windy conditions. Blaine was on his 4.5 Flyer, while Brad and I were on 4.2's. Brad and Blaine headed out first and were way upwind by the time I got out. After my first reach, way overpowered, I decided I had better make my best efforts to stay downwind close to home because it could be really difficult to get back downwind in the overpowering conditions if I got too far upwind.

The wind was up and down, so sometimes I was quite comfortable, and at other times I was terrified. Survival Foiling to say the least. I sailed for just over 20km and was starting to make mistakes because I was getting tired, so I decided I had better head in.

Blaine came in shortly after I did, and at first, I thought that Brad was with him, but Brad was nowhere to be found. Blaine said that Brad was going too far upwind, so he bailed and came home. We spotted Brad way off in the distance close to the west shore. We kept a watch on him, and eventually, he made his way back. When he got to shore, he said he was very happy to be home! "I Survived".

"I survived"

Al went out on his 4.8 and then re-rigged to his 3.8. He said it was the third time he has used his 3.8 in Alberta this year - very unusual! Tim went out on a 4.8 as well, and Vadim held on to a 5.6.

Tim said the conditions varied from 4.2 to 6.0. He got way downwind at one point, but then the wind picked up again and he easily made it back.

Ross was on his 5m kite, and after a great session switched to his Kite Foil. Mike was out too, but I don't know what size.

After a break, Blaine and I headed out again for another session. Blaine had re-rigged to a 4.2 sail without cambers, and he said that made a real difference. My second sail seemed much more controlled than my first. Perhaps I was getting used to the windy conditions, or maybe the wind had dropped a bit.

I think everyone had a great day! Mike was the last on the water, and we were arguing about who would get out of the hot tub to help him land his kite when he pulled his safety release and did it himself.

There was some socializing in the hot tub and a couple of "soda's", before everyone de-rigged. I left for home at about 6:00. Blaine, Brad, and Ross were still solving the world's problems when I left.

It looks like it will be windy again tomorrow, and maybe Thursday as well - Wow!