DCBB (Bridge Beach) 4/28

[JimSouthwick]

Everybody and his dog knows that you can forget about sailing DC when the wind is out of the north, right? I've always thought so! But the north wind started cranking early yesterday AM, and by 11 I just had to take a look; figured I could always continue on to J-Bay. Pretty puffy when I got to Bridge Beach (aka Charleston) but, hey, we are talking about DC. Thought about rigging my 8.5 but settled on the 7.2 because (1.) there wasn't anyone else around and (2.) there were quite a few whitecaps on the far side. Slogged briefly on the first reach out, but then the gusts started coming through stronger and more frequently, and for the next 2 hours I was VERY powered up most of the time. Was this a fluke, or have north wind days at DC been getting a bad rap? Water temp in the shallows is now up to 55. There is still quite a bit of vegetation sticking out of the water, but it's easily avoided, and depth was a problem only up by the mouth of the river.

Mike Hill stopped by as I was quitting and mentioned that he was going up to Strawberry for one more kiteskiing session. I tagged along. On the whole, not a great idea. Very gusty north wind and Slurpy snow with vegetation sticking up everywhere. But we did get a few rides, and any day when you get a double counts as a keeper.

[Jon Manwaring]

OK, DC JIM,
Time your kite on the water. Call me when you and Mike are ready to get down and dirty, or should I say MUDDY at RUSH. DC is not the best place to learn the Dark SIDE.
JON M