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===== All Seeds From The Same Watermelon =====

**Windy Wednesday!\\
allipp01** \\
03/23/16  #18859

It is now looking to be very windy this afternoon/evening with gusts projected to be above 40 mph.  I'm still going, but unless you're very very skilled you shouldn't be out there!

Having said that, for those who can handle, it's gonna be a blast!

**duncanhowat** \\
03/23/16  #18860

I'm seeing SCW in the afternoon, maybe a slight drop by 5:30-6. The 3 o'clock noaa update will give us the story.  From the south, which is better than south east. All the way into the harbor would be good. The lake will be messy also.  Talk later.

**allipp01** \\
03/23/16  #18863

Well, only Collin Smith, Eric Gerstl, myself and the two septuagenarians (Duncan and Bob M) showed up for today's downwind "race".  With gusts above 40 and an easterly component it was a bit tricky for the big D, but he came through strong as you can see here as he enters the harbor.

**duncanhowat** \\
03/23/16  #18864

Missed all my surfski buddies tonight on the bay, but I hear they had their own problems on the lake. That was 30 min of pure focus for me. Didn't think about work, taxes, elections, bombings, basketball, ( march madness on the bay) just the next wave and what might hit me from the side as I went thru fairhaven bay wind slot. But some outstanding rides,were had and with the double outrigger teams of Eric and Bob and Allan and Colin I felt quite comfortable. Outstanding fun, but one must certainly work up to those conditions.

**Reivers Dustin** \\
03/23/16  #18865

Quite the smackdown at Bloedel.  Unusual wind direction put more wave energy in there.  Lots of rebound off the north side wall.  Wind was temperamental.  As typical the boat launch didn't seem like much when we all put in.  But wind built and just past the float line it was really chunky munky.  I saw a green open rec. canoe put in and realized it was a day to be watching for folks in a jam.  Nobody was able to form a line at the start, so most folks just paddled upwind/downwind until they had enough.  It seems Brandon and Heather outwitted the scenario by going under the Electric Ave bridge so they could do sprints in that shallow lagoon.

But not me.  I stopped paddling so I could gawk at Roger L's re-entry, then keep an eye on Kurt (new guy in a "Blade" surfski).  Roger had to use his cat-like reflexes, but seemed to make his first remount stick.  Kurt was doing cowboy style remounts, but would rush getting his feet back in so would get really smacked by the first gust of wind and go over again.  Meanwhile your's truly decided to re-hydrate.  The wind was blowing surfskiers off to the downwind side.  Then the boat would fly downwind hard.  Kurt got smacked in the head hard at least once.   I got blown off again when I was transitioning from feet out to feet in.  It was nice to be sidesaddle and be able to rest after horsing the boat and paddle around during remount.

Kurt had a leg leash and mentioned that at one point he had both legs leash wrapped while boat was pulling hard.  Nasty scenario.  LB rafted up with him so things could steady down.  By then we were in that rebound zone not far from the shore.  I was using paddle-leash so not a risk for me.  But I like using leg-leash.  Need to think about this one.  Maybe another plus for the stern leash idea.  Meanwhile, Lance and partner were nearby in OC-2 so we had a backup plan.  But getting blown into that shore would have been nasty.

I didn't calibrate right for how big it was outside the log boom.  I've seen plenty of wind on the lake, but rarely this much wave energy in the upper basin.  I heard that the open canoe pulled out after doing some loops.  It was good that folks were looking out for each other.  At least I got the salt water washed off.

rd

**Nicholas Cryder** \\
03/24/16  #18866

I went uplake about a mile to scout the course, and it was much better than in the launch area which was getting loads of crazy rebound. But on the other hand, the wind gusts were pretty testing too, and after having my paddle ripped out of my hands for the third time, decided it wasn't safe to be on the lake any more (or fun) and surfed back in to watch the show.

**allipp01** \\
03/24/16  #18867

Another quick clip from yes sir day.

**Ted Scherrer** \\
03/24/16  #18868

Ya that's why I love paddling  Don't forget to caucus on Saturday

**Adam Resnick**

03/24/16  #18869

I was in the open canoe that Reivers mentioned (green Clipper Jensen 18 Stock). Thanks for noticing us and keeping an eye out.

We put in knowing that we were not going to make the loop, but it's a newish boat for us, and we figured we'd take a quick paddle to see how she handled. We are fairly experienced canoeists and we were comfortable with an upwind start close to shore, knowing it would be a short outing.

It was good fun for a while, but slow going upwind and with a decent amount of water coming over the bow. The gusts were insane. Stability was good, even on the turn, but it would have been a really bad day to swamp a canoe.

The run back to the dock was fast and fun. We were on the water maybe 15 minutes total. Probably made it 300-400 yards upwind of the dock.

See you all in three weeks, after I get back from vacation.

Adam

**dnjacobson79** \\
03/24/16  #18870

Good conversation regarding windy Wednesday (or any day for that matter!) options.  Couple of us have been doing 'slop intervals' throughout the winter on gusty days - loops on the last section of Wed night course on skinny skis with short DK rudders. In my mind it's the best test to see if someone is ready to cautiously chase winter waves.  Seems like conditions are best when it's blowing over 20, 40 seems to be the upper limit.  Worse case scenario is a swim would be 20-30 feet from shore.

It sounds like ocean paddlers around the world continue to have the conversation on what are safe paddling protocols when the wind is blowing as our sport is growing.  In South Africa for example, some of the top ski paddlers are having up & comers to the sport first paddle Millers Run in reverse (ie upwind) as a test they can handle ocean conditions.  Other ocean racing clubs in Australia require members to pass open water swim test to chase waves - talk about serious pucker factor in the PNW!

In the age of public media & youtube, it seems like group dynamics sometimes cloud good decision making.  It would be terrible if there was another fatality in our sport locally, but also it would a loss to our paddling options if rescue services (coast guard for example) get fed up with endangering their crews while rescuing people on the bay and push for regulation to prevent people from chasing waves in certain conditions.

Bottom line is that air & water conditions are not conducive to swimming during many months in our climate.  Chasing winter waves is totally a different game than being a flatwater speed freak or hitting the gorge in the summer in kiddie swimming pool temp water.  Many folks from a spectrum of sports (albeit backcounty skiing, climbing, whitewater paddling,etc) face the same group dilemmas; no one wants to tell someone they shouldn't be out, but it's worse when someone has to come to terms with the fact that if they had piped up and said something it could have prevented a tragedy.

I feel our paddling community has an important role in helping paddlers across the experience spectrum make good paddling decisions.  It's better for us as group to foster sound decision making than have an outside entity get fed up with us a make regulations for us.  Personally I feel if someone wants to chase waves in cool weather, first come prove yourself on slop intervals.

See you on the water - if it's blowing above 20, I'll be happy to take anyone out for a slop interval session.\\
-DJ

**John Rybczyk**

03/24/16  #18871

I know this has been brought up before but, it IS possible to be safer in the winter waves (summer too) by wearing a wetsuit.  I'm not talking about a 1mm neoprene shirt, but a warmer wetsuit like surfers wear, 5/3 at least.  These days you can find one that is stretchy enough for paddling, sort of.  It will be hot as heck when you're not falling in, but it will keep you very alive.  They are also very floaty, which is good too.  Worth it I think if you're newish to the sport, not racing and don't want to die. I still wear mine on a big winter day.

I remember once when I was starting out and definitely didn't know any better, I was blown off my ski by the dry dock in rough conditions that I shouldn't have been out in.  I couldn't remount...but I was wearing my surfing wetsuit. To make a long story short, I was essentially blown to Cornwall beach and spent 3/4 of the time in the water just hanging on to the ski, but I was perfectly warm.  I'm glad there wasn't much of an easterly component to the wind that day.  It would have been a long walk from the Nooksack delta.

The fact is that if you want to have fun in the waves, you're going to have push your skill limits at times. That, by definition, is learning.  But you don't have to push your safety limits as much.  Wear a damn wetsuit.  Get hot and stinky, but stay alive. Dues to be paid.  It's almost better in the winter because wearing a 5/3 wetsuit on a sunny summer day IS unbearable, but that summer water can still be dangerously cold.

I also agree with DJ about practicing in the slop.  One of my earliest recollections from riding waves on the bay:  I was out in scary conditions for me, barely holding it together, and I come across DJ, not paddling, broadside to the waves, just sitting there in his skinny ass boat, "Hi John, how's it going, nice day, no?  You doing ok?"  like he's out in the middle of Lake Padden on a calm summer day! He may have been eating a sandwich, I can't remember.  I couldn't even fathom how it was possible to do such a thing.

Johnr

**fennmako** \\
03/24/16  #18872

Both DJ and John make great points.  I paddled from Bloedel round the island yesterday in a 3/2 wetsuit.  Toasty warm.  Conditions were actually windier when I went out than they were when the racers got on the water, and honestly, were quite typical for a windy lake day with 1 or maybe 2 foot slop.  Yet I saw Nicolas, Bill and others flip in quick succession, all of which is fine and a great learning experience but also demonstrates the need to acquire a greater skill level perhaps.  Honestly, if one struggles in those conditions, you should not be out in the Bay in winter without proper immersion clothing, without a buddy/radio or in a boat that's too skinny.  I'm also not in favor of starting anything in the Bay after 4.00 PM in case something goes wrong and we lose daylight to perform a rescue.

Simon

**fennmako** \\
03/24/16  #18873

CORRECTION.  Apparently I misspoke in my earlier post.  Nicholas corrected me as he was actually switching out his seatpad, not falling out.  My apologies Nicholas!

**Nicholas Cryder** \\
03/24/16  #18874

Lol, love it.

**John Rybczyk**

03/24/16  #18875

Yes, me too.  That's what I was doing...changing out my seat pad!

johnr

**Michael Gregory** \\
03/24/16  #18876

All ski paddlers fall in.  So, get over it.  Wetsuits rule.  Leashes, PFD, and radio/cell phone are essentials.  However, the remount is a skill that is often neglected and a well practiced remount can save your bacon!  Mike G.

**Larry Bussinger**

03/24/16  #18877

For the younger /new paddlers, I'm usually at Blodell at 5:00 on Wednesday.  Please grab me and I can do a 10 minute "this is the first thing you need to know" class.  Kurt, the swimmer, did some things right, but was missing some basics too.\\
Larry B

**Reivers Dustin**

03/24/16  #18878

That guy Kurt has excellent balance and fantastic natural abilities.  Still has to put time in the bucket.  Isn't it great to be special and wonderful - just like everyone else?

Hey bra, we are all seeds in the same watermelon.

rd
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