2025-06-13 Friday the 13th - Great Day!

2025-06-13  Friday the 13th - Great Day

Sitting back and watching the action!
Harold, Blaine, Kent, John, Brad, Big Jim, Big Air Jim, Cam, Travis, Robert

Once again we had a windy forecast - pretty much the same - 26mph to 29mph all down the river. 

Once again, Kent slept in, and Brad, Blaine went to Dopio's for coffee and breakfast.

Once again, we gathered at Sailworks.  Big Air Jim and Cam both had store credits, so.....

Bruce gave Kent a free "Next Generation F4" tee shirt.  Kent told Lorna about the shirt saying it was a little expensive but came with some great foils so was well worth it!

Once again, it took forever to decide where we were sailing.  Finally Blaine made the call - the event site.

Once again, we all arrived at the event site, looked at the water, and then hummed and hawed about whether it was good enough.  

Maybe we should go to Luhr Jenson - no Blaine doesn't like the launch.  Maybe we should go to the Event Site - no Big Jim and John don't like that site.  Maybe we should go to Moiser - No Kent wants to sail with all the other guys for a change.  Finally we all agreed that the event site was the choice for today.

Ted, Waiting for the wind to settle down...
(Thanks Rob for the photo)

The wind built over the next hour or so and was stronger than forecast, but also gusty and shifty (changing direction), and the waves were generally a mess.  Blaine and Kent were the first out.  

I think most of us had a pretty good day, but I don't think it was a comfortable day for anyone.  Cam and Travis said they had fun riding the waves between the Green and Red Buoys.  Most of the foilers were on their 3.2, although John was on his smallest, a 4m sail, and Big Jim was on his 4.5.  Harold, the only windsurfer was on his 4.2.  I sailed my 3.5 all day, although switched from my 88L board to my 99L board for my second session so I could make it through the lulls.  Kent put on over 40km winning the distance award again today.

Blaine, Big Jim and Brad - good day!

At the end of the day, both Dale and Bruce showed up.  Dale went out on his 3.5Wing and 88LCPP Board.  Bruce looked at the messy wind and waves and said he would give it a miss.  That says something.

We got back to the townhouse around 6:00.  The call was for Mexican for supper, but...

Once again everyone sat around, then someone opened a beer and all momentum was lost. No one could decide when to go...

There are two versions of what happened next.

1)  Kent's version.  He finally decided he would have a shower and clean up, because it didn't look like anything was going to happen soon, and when he got back downstairs, everyone was gone - he had been abandoned - again.  (Well - Harold was still there, but only because Harold needed Kent to give him a ride.  Kent said it reminded him of a few years ago at the wall, where he was actually abandoned.

2) Everyone else's version.  Blaine was tired of waiting so told everyone he was going next door to roust the troupes so we could make the move.  Kent then went for shower.  Blaine came back and said now everyone was waiting for us, so we left.  Kent knew where we were going and would catch up, but we weren't all going to wait for him - or sure as hell someone else would want a shower and then someone else etc....  We were all hungry!

As usual, the service was prompt and friendly and the food was excellent - if not a bit too much!

Big Air Jim, Cam, Brad, Kent, Robert, Ted, Travis and Harold.
Thanks Blaine for taking the photo!
Hood River Taqueria

Another great day!  Early to bed - it is supposed to be windy again tomorrow.

On a completely different note, yesterday I forgot to post a photo that Blaine sent me of the "Ice Cream Celebration" at Dairy Queen after the Oilers spectacular comeback Thursday night!

Harold, Kent, Blaine and Brad
Celebrating the Oilers Victory!