2023-06-15 The Gathering

This old guy was at the Event Site and looked like he was enjoying the day!

Louise and I were out of the house by 8:00 and I got her to the airport by 9:00.  We had really enjoyed our trip down and the few days we had here in Hood River.  It is too bad we didn't get her out on the foil, but we had some great bike rides, which I think she likes just as much.

On the way back I stopped at Sailworks.  Dale had prepared a shopping list for me of new foil gear.  So many options.  And of course everything is just a little bit better than last year's stuff.  I did take out a demo 940 front wing - we will see.  Great guys, it is really fun talking to them.

Brad and Blaine arrived just after I got back to the house.  Everyone was getting their stuff organized, and we put a bunch of stuff in the "basement" which we won't be using (for me, that was some of Louise's gear).

We all headed to the Event site.  The wind was gusty, but we all had a great day.  Kent was on his 3.2m sail and sailed 60km.  I think he was the "winner".  Brad was on his 3.5, and Blaine was on a  3.2.  Ross went out on his 4m Kite and worked his way upwind where the wind was stronger until he couldn't hang on anymore.  Handre went out on his 4.7 windsurfing, and then re-rigged to a 4.2.  He had a great sail was making a lot of his jibes and was the last of us off the water.  

I started on my 4.5m wing, then switched to front foil to a 940 demo and as I was going to go out it looked like it had picked up a bunch, so I re-rigged to a 3.5 wing.  That was a mistake.  I went out and struggled, and only got on the foil twice.  I came back in, took a break, then switched back to my 899 front foil and my 4.5m Wing, and went out and had a really good sail.  I did 20km for the day.

Big Jim Cornish arrived just as we were all finishing.  We sat on the grass in the sun having a beer and de-briefing.

After a complicated decision making process, we agreed to ride down to 6th Street for supper.  When we got there, we realized it is closed Tuesday - Thursday.  So... we rode all the way up the hill to the Mexican restaurant.  Good thing we all have E-Bikes... well everyone except Kent - but he needed the exercise anyway after only doing 60km today.  The food was excellent - and I think we all ate to much.

Great day!  Looking forward to the rest of the gang arriving tomorrow.

Handre


Dale Cook - Always looking good!





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