11/21/2012 DCAB

[Jon Manwaring]

Choices: Ski or Kite. I picked kiting and was REWARDED BIG TIME. A nearly perfect 10M day on the SX. Arrived 12:30 ish to a sunny day 58 degrees and gusts to 25 mph at the parking area. Luckily, I tossed in the 10M at the last minute. Rigged up and experienced a rather HOT self launch with a 30' butt skid. Smooth ground so no issues. Water is way up, almost to rigging area. Could tell the 10M was plenty. Depowered about 6". and took off. For almost an hour it was full on very nice 10M slightly depowered, nice rolling 1 1/2 to 2 foot swell. Then the sky got much more cloudy and overcast and wind slowly backed off to where I was fully out and had to work the kite, wind also seemed to have a bit more West in it. Around 2:30, Hands were cold so came in. When I left around 3:15 you could have ridden 14-17M with no problems. Should have gone out for a 2nd session.
JonMzee

[JimSouthwick]

Similar conditions up at IB. I too recorded a peak gust on the beach of 25 mph, but it seemed stronger on the water; my 7.0 was a handful even rigged flat, my 6.0 just about right. Air temp was pretty pleasant, but the water is starting to cool off; I got a reading of about 47º F.

[Jon Manwaring]

Thanks Jim for posting the wind speeds. It really parallels with what I've felt on the water. I looked up wind several times to see if you were out. Didn't spot a sail, or I would have come up. Sorry to have missed you. Very pleasant afternoon. Sorry to see it end. Looks like perhaps some fresh snow over the weekend. I was out at PCMR for the last 4 days. Fun to get out but that's about all.
JM

[Kenny]

You two are a couple of polar bears!

[JimSouthwick]

Thanks, Kenny, but I'm well aware that I, at least, am not even in your league in the polar bear department.

Jim