Surfski Knowledge Base

Thurs barnacle run
Reivers Dustin

May 24 #29249
Giant tide swing for the 10am Tuesday run. Not much wind. Big air plus big tide for Thursday tho. More data for the poorly controlled experiment of our morning paddles.

beau whitehead

May 27 #29266
Pretty stellar run from Wildcat to Squalicum Beach this morning. Besides the eel grass, it was good the entire way, but especially fun in the usual spots by the red can. Major ebb tide really stacked them up out there. Shared a couple waves with Jaime K as we went through the Fun Zone.

Reivers Dustin

May 27 #29267
I got a chance to try out my re-entry in the new boat, in big conditions. It worked great to do side-saddle in the Flex. I did have complications: due to higher wind, I thought I would try a paddle to PFD leash (in addition to my normal stern leash). Sure enough the two leashed fell in love with each other. So I spent some time in the water trying to un-befuddle myself.

Typical scenario before the launch. A pile of guys standing around “Are you going?”, “I'm not going - too much clam spit in the water.”, “I'll go if you'll go.”, “ What would Duncan do?” “You are going to wear that?”, “I wouldn't wear that outfit to a porcupine wrestling match!”

It was Large. Wind was a little gusty, but they weren't knock-down gusts. Several folks downwinded (see Beau's msg). Those of us on the bunny slope did fine until we tried to get past the point towards the tunnel. Just too crazy. There were some runners from the S.E. but every few minutes some giant rollers from the S.W. These big sets were dang burly. Odd because the wind was pretty much a Souther. I do not remember seeing that kind of spewing coming off the rocks at Poe's Point. And the tide was so low it was hard to get into the wind shadow behind the point. If you tucked in then those monster sets would sweep through along shore where it shallowed up - and give a cheap thrill. As I would work my way past those on-shore rollers I would get about even with the point and just could not hold my line. I would fall off the wind - the rudder would not do much when boat speed dropped below 2mph. It would take a bit for me to get the boat turned and running with the waves. But dang wild once I got going. I was 12mph on my GPS and that's pretty close to the all time high for me.

It was my fourth lap when I swam. I had fallen off course and was stalled sideways. A comber swept through and I faceplanted. I know I was pooped out, so there's my excuse. Once I got seated sidesaddle it was easy to rest and ride like that for a while. Mike H. came by on his SUP and checked on me. He and his Nelo had something going on, but I noticed he went back for more.

It's a funny thing. I feel like I need a little bit of spice when I paddle. It was great to dump and recover, to have some wahoo going on. But not too much. Really nice that it is not that cold. Nice to be able to sort of select the level of waves. My last full loop I was venturing out where it was pretty big and feeling good. But first lap I was pretty dang careful. So here's the thing: I feel kinda old and that rocks. Like I can savor the juicy bits without having the whole enchilada. Love this sport.

rd

Reivers Dustin

May 27 #29268
oops, correction: Mike H. on his SUP. It was John R. on his Nelo that had a complication.

David Hooper

May 27 #29269
Thanks for the reports, Beau and Reivers. Hoping it holds out til I'm done with class at 5. Maybe some other working stiffs will be down for afternoon fun too?

Dave H

Denise Weeks

May 27 #29270
Talk about spice. Paul, Wilson and I went out around 10:30, only I ditched the Nelo and went out in the old (heavy) Fenn double with Wilson. Paul says maybe not the best idea to try out a new rig in big conditions, but how else can you get a real deal lesson from an expert? Going out in baby bumps just wouldn’t have been the same.

Heading out from Wildcat involved a lot of splash directly into my face. Every time Wilson paddled on the left, the wind picked up the water and rinsed me. Then there was the issue of the bucket filling up completely and making me feel like I was about to slosh out. But once I got into the rhythm and trusted that we weren’t going to roll over, and I learned to match my paddle stroke to Wilson’s, it felt pretty good. I couldn’t always see well enough to understand the turns he was making or the decisions to pause or go for it, but then every now and then I’d realize that I was following my own instincts about what to do and it just so happened that my moves matched up with his instructions. But mostly it was thrilling to link so many big waves and see how it’s supposed to be done. Given how heavy the boat is, hitting speeds of 24km/hr was pretty zesty.

Wilson may be offering this thrill to others as part of his coaching. Ask him if you’re interested. Maybe not on a super cold day—or if it is, wear a wetsuit and goggles.

Duncan Howat

May 27 #29271
Dave, I had to get a 19 test today in Everett actually got 2 and will be out there by 4:30 or so. With the big flood and decent wind, could be better than this am. But you know those old guys , no patience, go early , and gotta get home for the nap. D

Duncan Howat

May 27 #29272
PS, wind advisory stays up till 7 tonight so this afternoon speeds could reach 15 on the flood.
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David Hooper

May 27 #29273
Will look for you out there, Duncan, though maybe you'll be going too fast to see.

Dave H.

Paul Reavley

May 28 #29275
For our morning Wildcat run the wind and waves had a pretty distinct, consistent west component in them at the start. The wind was funneling into and sometimes swirling in the launch cove.

For me the first half was a pretty good day to work on my diagonaling to the left “skills”. After Chuckanut Island the waves started to do their usual increase in size - and as per usual particularly with waves with some west, at the Wall things got bumpy from rebound.

Eric Grossman

May 28 #29276
This is turning into the Spring 2021 Film Fes!

Dr G's entry, Beau's spit trick worked, how do you like the music?
https://vimeo.com/556408587

Reivers Dustin

May 29 #29277
kewl. Especially enjoy that I was not roasted in any way. rd