Tuesday - drove back down, it does take right at 8 hours, maybe a little less.
Wednesday - Pretty lite wind, but a couple of 16 meter kites were flying at Sunset Beach Park, guy with wind meter said it was blowing 10 to 12 mph, I tried my 12 meter kite and was able to ride but not stay up wind, so would make a couple of passes, then walk back upwind, then do it again. Time on the water.
Thursday - real lite wind, but a few bigger kites were trying to kite at Sunset Beach Park, I went over but did not pump up the kite, it was around 10 mph. Just hung out.
Today, Friday - The forecast was not calling for much but in the afternoon it was around 10-15 then 15-20. I sailed my 12 meter kite and really had a fun time. Although I thought my kite was alittle big at times, most kiters were running 16s and 14s, with a couple of Flysurfer foil type kites in the 18-19 meter range.
Forecast for the next few days looks good.
As I've mentioned before, I do like this place.
Gene
Gene Mathis
As compared to "I really love this place" for Hatteras. Is there a hidden message in this? :?:
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Saturday - Another fun afternoon on the 12 meter kite, 15-20 mph, warm and sunny.
Randy, I have had some great times at Hatteras and I do love that place, but Tarpon Springs really is pretty nice. It's not as windy as Hatteras, but I'd never consider moving to Hatteras, Tarpon Springs?
Forecast looks good for tomorrow, but may get some of rain/storms.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Guess it takes a while to fall in love, eh Gene? I'd happily move to Hatteras, or FL if possible.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
SUNDAY! - What a day. It blew 20-30 from the South all day.
In the morning, I briefly kited on my 9.0 meter kite, but didn't feel comfortable. I was a little overpowered and Sunset Beach was crowded with kiters.
Then, Windsurfed from noon to 6:15 at Fred Howard Park. I started on my 4.5 on the 86 liter (and 115 liter,) then 5.2 on the 115. Good day, but should have been better. While the 4.5/86 liter worked, it wasn't really super powered. When I finally rigged up to the 5.2, it was sweet, really loaded up. Patrick Kirkland ran his 5.2 all day. The water was still almost totally flat, it was warm, and no storms until I started derigging at about 6:30. And what a storm. I had broken down both rigs and had everything at the trailer but not loaded when it hit. It was raining buckets, lots of lightning popping all around, some hail and wind gusting up to 49 mph with 2 un-secured boards. For about 15 minutes, I sat in the parking lot in all that mess holding down the boards. It was kind of scary. See the spike on the wind graph around 6:30 - http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=114&siteID=1308&Isection=Last+7+Days
Two lessons learned -
When in doubt as to what to rig, rig the bigger, you can make the bigger sail smaller but you cant make the smaller sail bigger.
When you get off the water because you hear thunder and there's dark clouds, break down and load your gear before you stand around shooting the breeze.
Anyway, great day, lots of windsurfers and lots of kiters. And the forecast looks good for the next few days.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Monday and Tuesday - Kited on the 12 meter kite. Each afternoon it blew around 20+ from the west (ideal) and the water still stays flat. It really is the great place to work on kiting.
I am really having a fun time, I guess I love this place too.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Hey Gene! Thanks for the updates and please say hi to Patrick and Margie for me!
Mimi
Ditto that.
May your water be smooth and your winds be swift.
Wed and Thurs they were forcasting nothing and thats what we got.
Friday they were forecasting 15-20 knots, we got nothing. Well, almost nothing, around 10 mph. As it was my last day down, I took out the 12 meter kite anyway, (no other kiters or windsurfers to be seen.) I tried my directional floaty surfboard type kiteboard which allows you to ride in lighter wind but you have to jibe it to turn, which I haven t figured out yet. It was just enough wind to keep the kite in the air, but I was able to get up on the board and go but had to go way down wind and sign the kite to keep going. It was blowing from the south and I launched from Sunset Beach Park and almost ended up at the Fred Howard Park causeway. Then the wind was so light it wouldnt keep the kite up, sooooo, long walk back, through the shallow water. Anyway, time on the water, good practice, drift launch, lite air flying and relaunching, etc. It was kind of a bummer for the last day, but GREAT TRIP!
I LOVE THIS PLACE!
Gene
Gene Mathis