Just say "yes" to 5.0 !

CUSalin · Joined: 11 Mar 2001 Posts: 405 Location: Hood River, OR

Maybe not much today... but it's WIND! Beautiful, wonderful, WEST WIND! Yeah!

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

OK: YES to 5.0.
Why not? It can produce head-high swell way out east.
But mid-teens on flat water ain't 5.0.
You guys enjoy rigging @ 100 degrees; it's 74 here (indoors).

Mike \m/

Sylvie · Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 18

CUSalin · Joined: 11 Mar 2001 Posts: 405 Location: Hood River, OR

O.K., maybe 6.0... but I'm in the water Smile

pahtoe · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 21

Heck, say yes to 8.5 as far as I'm concerned.

I'm with Bill on being stoked for light(er) days. Last Sunday, before the stretch of doldrums, on the last gasp of westerly wind, which bounced up and down around the low to mid teens all afternoon, I grudgingly rigged up my 8.5 and my 130 liter--sweating, mumbling, thinking "this is just dumb; I should take up kiting" the whole time I was rigging. I was also wondering if I should rig smaller and work on pivot jibes, clew first, etc.

As soon as I got on the water, I was stoked for 2+ hours. I was planing probably 80% of the time. And if my skills had been better--which I'm convinced they were by the end of the session--I'd have been planing a lot more. I learned a lot about pumping, delicate and easy footwork in and out of the straps, optimum point of sail, and shortboard uphauling/waterstarting with big-ass sails. Pivot jibes and clew first next time maybe (though I got a speed jones that usually gets the best of me).

Looking out the window, I can't wait for work to be done (soon) and out in the 6.5 or better conditions--positively ripping. Wink

andymc4610 · Joined: 19 May 2000 Posts: 684

it was 5.2 from 8-11 at swell....good session.

CUSalin · Joined: 11 Mar 2001 Posts: 405 Location: Hood River, OR

Did two 6.0 sessions at Luhr Jensen beach. Haven't sailed that big in years, but it was worth it!

It's still hotter that sh*t in Hood River.

They're forecasting another 100 degree day today. Eeeeesh!

I think today I'll just rig a few cold beers.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

jimoakes · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 172

I say YES! I love to sail light wind. I was having fun on a 5.2 all day. I find it helps to adjust my attitude down a notch from a big Gorge day. I try to see how much I can do with very little wind.

Over the years I have seen that the sailors who say yes to 5.0 or lighter seem to excel in high winds too. I've seen many top pro sailors that began sailing in the Gorge. They all said yes to hours and hours of light wind.

CUSalin · Joined: 11 Mar 2001 Posts: 405 Location: Hood River, OR

Yup, it's all good!