Healthy Whitewater - It took me three attempts to get out on my second go.
The last time I sailed it was a pretty serious day. While I was driving to the beach I called the airport and the wind phone said SW @ 26. I thought “Perfect 9” but it turned out to be so much more windy. The next day I heard a discussion on the radio about how it was some meteorologic condition in which the jet stream is forced much lower than normal. So it resulted in a really strong surface wind. Gusting to 40 for most of the day.
Needless to say I was way over on my 9. That wouldn’t be so bad but the surf conditions were also pretty serious. I was a bit freaked out when I came in to rig down to my 7.
Smallest Wave of the Day - One second after this photo my chicken loop quick release pinged off and my kite went away. Bad timing.
I had a brand new bar in the truck so I switched to it when I rigged my small kite. Seemed like a good plan and I felt much better on the water with the 7 than earlier. The surf was up and it took me 3 attempts to get out but still I felt a lot better.
Then on my first run in I picked off a really small one for my first bottom turn. I figured I would ease into it. Turned out to be a decent move because as I turned toward the wave my chicken loop quick release pinged off and my kite just went away. I was still attached to the safety but there was no way I was relaunching in those conditions. Fortunately I didn’t really get worked too bad. I got lucky. I made it in without further incident but I felt like today the ocean really kicked my ass. Looking back now I should have gone back out but at that time it seemed smarter to call it a day.
