Utah Windriders Association

Finally a classic Spring day at Grants. When I got there the wind was already picking up dust off the road. On the water at 8:45 on 6.0 and wind reading 25G28. Perfect for screaming reaches into the SE corner. Took a short break at 10:00 and rigged the 5.2. By then it was 26G+30’s and had clocked south. I was tail walking for at least 10 yards every trip across. The little 86L Sonic race board, all 12 pounds of it, was willing to scream across the lake fast enough to handle the gusts or I would have been on the 4.7. Still, wind was as smooth as I ever sail in, especially during the 6.0 sesh. With only 3 mph between the average and gusts, that is as good as it gets. Usually a 6.0 sesh is 22G28 on the Grants meter. However, my freestyling buddies would have been on 4.2’s due to their +100L boards. Quit at 12:00 with a huge smile on my face but no arms left. Tons of fishermen and campers but all the campers were in the campground thank goodness. Temps started at 55 and ended near 70. The hot sailing made up for the frigid water.

DC was the flip side of Grants - on and off, and exceptionally gusty even when it was "on". Fun to watch the kiters repeatedly cluster at their launch when the wind backed off, then disburse out onto the lake when it picked up again. I did a fair amount of slogging but also got some really fun rides on my usual 7.0M/138L set up.

Ken & Jimmy,
Happy to read your sailing reports. I knew you guys would be on the water if anyone was going to be. I am close to joining you but would like the water to warm up just a little.
Duane