8/31/25 J-Creek 7.6 Mistral 258 Death by washing machine ha

[DimitriMilovich]

When Craig says "dead, no wind", it doesn't mean there's NO wind, right? Or does it?

After working on my 30 year old course board gasket for what seemed a month, I HAD to take it on the water. I figured J-Bay Ross Creek - there's always some wind, right? Went out at 4:00 on a zephyr, sure it would pick up. Got about 1/2 mile before it quit. As in "dead, no wind". And that was that. What didn't quit were boat after boat after boat full of fun-seeking Labor Day ballast aiming to wake surf. Waves and more waves. And then some. I bobbed, and floated, doing the hula in all directions, and finally was able to weakly sail pump my way to within 100 yards of shore. To two paddle boarders, "Hey, trade you guys this cool sail, mast and boom for one of your paddles!" No takers, though one guy did offer me a beer. Two hours total and I washed in.

Yes, Craig means it.

(I looked later on the wind meters. PC Sailing did get up to 4 mph or maybe a gust of 6, but that was miles south of me... DC, however, did have some freaky 10-15 gusting to ~18 at the dam, but I don't sail DC until AFTER Labor Day...)

PS, my gasket worked. Daggerboard down is the way to semi-pump home...