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Why do lake sailors look old and tired at the same time?
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Darbonne



Joined: 27 Jan 2012
Posts: 252
Location: Farmerville, Louisiana

PostPosted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lake D'arbonne Farmerville, LA.

http://youtu.be/clQUgVpMY30

Not the greatest tacking, but I continue to practice and improve.
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Darbonne wrote:
It's very tiring sailing upwind to avoid being sucked over the spillway.

HAH!
Is that a metaphor, or reality? Either way, I can identify with it.

Mike \m/
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Darbonne



Joined: 27 Jan 2012
Posts: 252
Location: Farmerville, Louisiana

PostPosted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh it's very real. The only big open water on D'arbonne is down by the spillway. My favorite launch spot is right next to it. A NW wind blows straight at it. There is a floating barricade in front of it. I have had nightmares about having to pull myself along the barricade rope to shore. Hope it never happens. Most of the lake is full of stumps because it is flooded forest. Here is what it looks like behind my house during a drawdown. Slalom course from hell.


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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, one of our NM lakes has an unprotected spillway dead downwind. I've had nightmares about it, too.
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johnson_brian_j



Joined: 09 Jul 2007
Posts: 163
Location: Ventura County, California

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

isobars wrote:
You're describing virtually every body of fresh water and many salty venues. The "old" part is because so many kids are too lazy to get good at WSing, and the "tired" part is because we've had too much fun. Very Happy

Old and tired because, let's face it: In most places that are not on the ocean, plane-ably windy days are few and far-between. The only people who can just go whenever that rare wind does pick up, are retirees. Kids' laziness has nothing to do with it. They've just got better things to do than camp out on iWindsurf for six weeks waiting for two hours of wind. (Okay, this is a perspective from the northeastern United States. Things may be different elsewhere.)
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh yes they are.

Coachg
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boardsurfr



Joined: 23 Aug 2001
Posts: 1266

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

johnson_brian_j wrote:
In most places that are not on the ocean, plane-ably windy days are few and far-between.
Life's much better on the ocean, like Cape Cod. So far, I sailed 75 days this year (28 light wind, 47 planing). Excluding 2 weeks in Bonaire still leaves 42 planing sessions. I used my large sail (8.5) only three times; my biggest board for planing (117 l) four times. I actually did miss a number of planeable warm days for various reasons.

johnson_brian_j wrote:
The only people who can just go whenever that rare wind does pick up, are retirees.
Or those with a job that gives them flexibility to take off for a few hours. I'm still working full time (well, almost Wink) in software development. Friends who I see at the beach on a regular basis on week days work in construction or similar jobs.

Living close to a sailable spot at the ocean and liking sailing in light winds also helps. The people I see windsurf most often around here have either moved to Cape Cod because of windsurfing, and/or enjoy going out in light winds, too. Some make the long drive on weekends even if the forecast is bad, and are often rewarded with unexpected planing conditions.

This is another perspective from the northeastern United States. Life is good if you live 15 minutes from the beach and have the right job Smile.
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

johnson_brian_j wrote:
The only people who can just go whenever that rare wind does pick up, are retirees.

While there's a lot of truth to that, there are many methods working stiffs can also employ to catch many or most "Windsdays", even from considerable distances (our lakes were > 150 miles away, yet provided the vast majority of of our afternoon sessions). If that interests you, check out the last, long post on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/khxrfej .

Mike \m/
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

" The only people who can just go whenever that rare wind does pick up, are retirees."


To be honest, as a retiree for some time now, I sail far less than when I worked. Folks that work are far more dedicated to effectively using their time off. I use to drive 20K a year, and only I lived less than a mile from work, so almost all of my free time was focused on windsurfing. For years I racked up over a 100 days a year. Even though I lived in coastal community within a literal handful of miles from the beach, I would often drive to the most favorable sites to get the best conditions. These days I'm not so nuts about driving all over the place. When you think about it, life is what you make of it.
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spennie



Joined: 13 Oct 1995
Posts: 975
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The simple answer to the original question is:

Because we're old.

And we're tired.

Now I'm gonna go take a nap.

--Spennie, 58 on July 10th

_________________
Spennie the Wind Junkie
www.WindJunkie.net
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