Aruba June 8, 2002 Trip - The real facts
June 8th: I don’t think anybody sailed this day.
June 9th: Sunday
Those in attendance included Scott, Eric, Andrew, Chuck, David, Drew, Joe, Larry, Carol, Doug, Danny, Jennifer, Mel
The conditions, cloudy in the morning, clearing late in the day. Top wind gust 37 mph and the wind meter says wind is running 20 - 24. Now that is what the wind meter reported all day. Actual conditions to the lay windsurfer were more like 0 - 30. (Does this sound familiar to any of you Atlanta boys?). Again, to the lay windsurfer, we did not experience flat water but more like the chop at Lanier without the big ramps. Everyone, myself included, had a difficult time in the morning session. In the water a lot 50% - 70% of the time. After a long lunch, things evened out a bit and I was able to pull off four jibes but I didn’t have the energy to keep going after completing the jibe, ( oldness I guess ). Chuck was pissed most of the day so he decided to do something he had never done before - he did the longest reach of his life from fisherman’s huts to the light house - probably 4 or 5 miles. He says he is going to do it again today but I don’t think I can hang on that long. More power to you Chuck! The day ended by me and Drew joining everyone on the beach for a sunset - bitch about what happened that day and of course some sailing simulation sessions. The only bad thing that happened on this day besides the cuts, bruises, launches and head banging, was that Eric went to the Vela refrigerator and ( so he says ) mistakenly grabbed Joe’s lunch. He realized his mistake when he took a bite of Joe’s P&B sandwich and immediately spit in on the floor. It comes to be known that Eric detests P&B sandwiches. Joe’s a good sport though, he decided to wait until just before the flight home to kill Eric.
All the locals were off work today and on the water. This place was extremely crowded. Many of us had to just drop into the water because of the oncoming traffic.
Equipment: David 117ltr - 5.5, Drew 144 ltr - 5.0, Chuck 100 ltr - 4.4, Scott 165 ltr - 6.9 ( way overpowered) can’t remember the others I will try better tomorrow.
My opinion - get beat up - in the water a lot - sail shakes violently from gusts - lots of crashing and burring.