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Upside Downwinder

Reivers Dustin
04/12/09 #6054

We got all we could handle those few of us that did an Easter downwinder from Larrabee. Everything looked just about perfect from the parking lot at Marine Park. Not too gusty, just steady. Not too cold. Nice and quiet in the bay for a good pull-out. We didn't see any smoke on the water.

When we crawled out of the drop car at Larrabee it looked a little bigger, but we weren't ascaird. The plan was to exit the little bay at the south end and work westerly enough to clear Whiskey Rock and Governonr's without having to crab around in the rebound near those rocks. Then we would turn downwind and let 'er buck.

It was a little bigger and more gusty than we expected. We worked hard to stay together, but that's hard when it's that big. Whenever you catch a big set, you've stepped on the elevator and you don't get off between floors. DJ stayed in close to the shore and could tuck into the lee of the occasional bay. But the water in there was sloppy - I'm not sure I could have kept the sunny side up in there. I have a phobia from my Speedster days of getting trapped against a windward shore. So I cheated out, maybe too far. They were monstrous waves out there. If you didn't drop in when one came by, then you found yourself up to your armpits in foamy with no stability at all.

It was really tough to turn East so that you could make land at Marine Park. I ended up paddling upwind a couple of times in order to tack and jibe my way in. Today nobody was totally over their head. But I guess it was a little close to the 'no fun' zone.

The moral is the same as usual: Get the paddle plan into each person's head. Try hard to stay together. Be aware of your situation (try to keep a visual on everyone). First Priority: keep your own ship. It's nice to assist and support, but each paddler must be capable of self rescue. Each one must know their safest course.

I am so happy. That was best of the year for me.

Larry Goolsby
04/12/09 #6056

Reivers was sugar-coating it a little. There were times when the nose of my boat would be sitting over a gulley over 6 feet deep, then a bigger wave would rise up behind me and send me plummeting into the chasm. I often buried the nose right up to the cockpit. The worst area was off the Wall and Chukanut Bay: there were 2-4 footers coming out of that bay (Strong SE wind) and intersecting with the big southerlys. This created mayhem for 1+ miles and quite often I would be getting a ride and then get hit on the side of my body by a bigger wave. We were just on the edge of the 'uncomfortable zone'. When we passed Post Point, the waves were still huge and evened out. As usual, these were the best rides. I took advantage of the lack of chaos and paddled as fast as I could down a particularly big wave, only to get blown over by the wind. Shaun swam at the same moment I did so maybe he experienced the same thing. Nice day despite the pucker factor. BTW, hit 12.4 on the gps going against an ebb tide.
LG

kathleen petereit
04/12/09 #6058

We had the same conditions here and the guys were in the “ no fun ” zone for a good portion. Survival mode. I had my trusty wing attached and was in “ ecstatic mode ”. I got a feel of what the elite guys and girls must experience. Pure adrenaline fun catching waves every which way and carving nicely. Stopping to wait for the gang, absolutely stress free. Ron even said he will try the wing the next time we get 30 knots. I will never be elite so I would rather attach the wing and have fun when it's that big out….and actually enjoy riding big ones without thinking I might perish out there ! The guys did well though not dumping. I saw Derek teetering on the edge and Nathan said he almost went over a few times.

Larry did you and Shaun have a hard time getting back in ? Derek said there's no way they could have remounted, it was too mixed up and they would have had to swim in to shore, unlesss I helped them. Having the wing makes for a great safety boat.

Kathleen

Reivers Dustin
04/12/09 #6059

On the outside line it was really big. I've been in and out of my boat in that and it's not really too bad if you are properly organized. For me, I have to get my butt down in the seat side-saddle, then I'm bomb-proof. The next step is to get all the lines untangled, get the paddle right, get my bearings before swinging feet back over on each side. It's very tempting to get in a hurry and muck up the sequence.

Over on the inside line where DJ was, I'm not so sure. That crap is like those old robot bulls they used to have in the cowboy bars. It rocks so hard you bounce outa your seat.

It really was fun. I have never heard Shawn howl at the moon that way. Pretty cool.

Larry Goolsby
04/12/09 #6060

I took 2 tries at remounting and Shaun took 4 or 5. Good practice for a rough water remount. Gotta say that when we were in the worst of it, none of us went swimming. Shaun and I were the only ones in drysuits so maybe we subconsciously let go. We must have relaxed a bit when we were in site of Marine Park and allowed Mother Nature to have her way with us. I need a few more of these Atomic downwinders under my belt so that I can look Neptune in the face and say 'Not today'.
LG