Roosevelet to Crowe Butte, eastern Gorge downwinder.

[biffmalibu]

Anybody done this? Where to land at Crow Butte Park? Eastern shore? Could be sickest downwinder ever, worthy of a shuttle.

Thanks.

[isobars]

As I drive to Roosevelt from the east scores of times a year, 75% of the time the wind starts at the bend a couple of miles east of Roosevelt. Heck, Arlington is normally a half-meter weaker than Roosevelt. I'd guesstimate that maybe 3 times out of 4, 3-Mile has no whitecaps when it's blowing 4.x at Rosey.

What sail size does one use for that?

I do downwinders every day, without shuttles and the right sail size. i.e., I rip upwind a few hundred yards, U-turn, go deep until the wind lets off just a little, then U-turn and repeat. All the action, little of the hassles of true downwinders. What it misses is the sense of adventure ... and the attendant risk of some serious schlogfests. If the latter is acceptable, the payoff could be big if the downwind leg is scouted well.

A few locals launched at Mercury Cove west of Rosey, came ashore at Rosey maybe an hour later. They had fun, but they've spent hours organizing the trip, shuffling vehicles, derigging, shuffling vehicles again, etc., and now their sailing day is over. The rest of us just windsurfed all day.

Different strokes.

If you try a DW east of Rosey -- it can be very good some days -- make sure of two things:
1. Watch the water to estimate sail size as you drive east to park your destination vehicle at Alder Creek or the Crow Butte Campground in the bay (your only legal options east of Rosey). Don't rig by Rosey's wind unless it looks quite SW and looks consistent as you drive back to Rosey after dropping off your destination vehicle.
2. Make sure the wind's not going to clock from SW to W during your trip, as it usually does in the PM. If it does, you're screwed unless you're on big floaters. I don't know how you make sure of that; a morning trip optimizes your chances.

If you catch the wind right, it can be a great trip. In the right conditions you may encounter giant rollers rideable for hundreds of yards, as one group claims they did on a nuker from just the right direction years ago from east of Roosevelt to Alder Creek (I don't know what direction that is ... surely not 270, maybe more like 250?)

Mike \m/

[karlos11]

I say, if it swells, ride it.