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The Miracle of Christmas..... (and mysteries of the Bay)
Larry Goolsby
12/23/11 #11825
This morning at 10 am, seven of us showed up at Marine Park to find flat water and cool temps. The bay cam said that the wind was coming out of the north at 3 - 4 mph. We set out toward the south and as we neared the point, a warmer south wind picked up and the waves began to build. Just like Christmas morning, we were over anxious to jump on a wave and head north. DJ, the first to cave in, didn't even make it to the tunnel. The rest of us made it to Clark's Point before Morris talked us into giving up our goal of reaching Govenor's. By the time we passed the Number 2 buoy, the waves were fast and friendly. We surfed into the bay about another mile before turning and heading back to the beach. I felt guilty for doing such a short paddle, but as we looked back out at the buoy, the waves were all gone. It was like a miracle! Twenty minutes later, DJ came paddling up from the south, sweating and grunting, killing himself on the flat water. Remember DJ, the early bird doesn't always get the worm (you dolt).
LG
Reivers Dustin
12/24/11 #11826
It was strange how the waves came up, then died.
When I showed up there was a stack-o-waves in a narrow band out by the buoy. But those went away before we got in the water (before some other sleepy heads showed up).
Also, it wasn't heavy wind. There was a light breeze from the North inside the bay, but a steady 10 mph from the South once you got down around the point. I was thinking it was the tide, but based on our surfing speeds, it wasn't really that. Because My GPS shows holding 10 mph runs for quite a long time on those waves. I don't have no idea.
But this morning is heavy air. The hourly wind model shows S.E. wind in the danger zone (at and above 30 mph) just in Chukanut bay and Bellingham Bay. But it drops away to mild at about 1:00pm. I'm thinking about bringing my R. Maybe just little loops.
Never really know what your gonna get.
rd
Reivers Dustin
12/24/11 #11827
It was a bit scanty of paddlers at 9am. Until I fell off my boat. Then it seemed like most of the Whatcom Paddlers gang came over to watch me hoist my buttocks out of the water. Pretty funny stuff. David S., Peter M., Debbie, Elaina, Dean, Roger, and a bunch of laughing seagulls all watched me flip my boat over getting the leash unwrapped. All my crap stayed together (I even kept my hat on). I tried to jump in too fast the first time and had to re-organize. But didn't get messed up, just felt me hands cool down a bit.
That sure is a lot of work.
But the waves were just plain righteous. It was flat when we headed south, then kept building. It was kinda getting towards borderline heavy air, but stopped at maybe 20 mph or so. We turned at Governors and it had us all howling and sporting around by the time we got back to Post Point. Roger was testing out his new Sport. Dean was working a Swordfish (trial boat). David was testing out a V-10. MG was cranking up his new V-12. The Wall was a bit technical - good training.
Some waves were getting into the 'Jolly Green Giant“ stage. I had brought my R, but thought it would stay flat and rode my X out in the briney. I would rip it up downwind for a while, then go back up and get behind folks and do a little show-off thing leaning the boat. God gave me a spanking for being an idiot. I was broadside and a big one foamed up and swallowed me sideways. It was nice to have Debbie and Peter come by in case I needed to lean on the bow of their boat to get in mine. Later, out of the water Debbie smiled and said, “pick the wrong boat?” hehe. guess so. Although I don't know if I could have rode through the teeth of that booger that got me anyway.
It was a ripper this morning.
rd
kathleen petereit
12/26/11 #11831
Well we've been havin' some good waves up north here too. Ron on the OC1 and me in the R rode some kick ass waves this morning in 20 knot SE. It's great having him on the OC1 because we are the same speed and never get more than about 30 meters apart. A couple of quartering arm pit high waves hit me broadside and filled my ski up with water but the trusty R handled it well. Was glad I had the drysuit on ! Ron almost went over a couple of times. Most of the way was just fun riding though.
Kathleen
