10/13 DC SBB 2:30 to 6:00 9.0 Retro 157 SB Free Formula

[Steven Nyhus]

Another great afternoon at DC. Started of on a 7.5 and just didn't have good power. Went back in a rigged the 9.0 and used that till about 5:30 well powered and overpowered some of the time. There was a good group of people there and everyone was getting some good rides. Around 5:30 Carl showed up on his formula board and probably a 11 or 12 M sail. He was in the area just long enough to run circles around everyone. I last saw him heading for Island Beach (I assume that is where he launched from). It looked like everyone else was on 7.0's to 9.0's. Great afternoon!!

[Carl Christensen]

Island Beach was filled in by about 3:30 with only Paul and Angie out. It's was real easy to rig because by this time of year everything knows where it's supposed to go and you seem to get it right the first time. Plus it was still t-shirt and flip flop weather. My shortie was still enough.

The wind was air mail expressed from southern utah and still warm. Suddenly it seemed enough to justify a dam run. An occasional reflective flash off a sheet of contoured mylar up by Sail Boat Beach showed that sailors were ripping it good in the distance so that was all it took, I locked in and headed up.

There were at least 6 riders blasting across the draw when I got there, is that about right? It's hard to count in there because people just ricochet around the gap so fast you can't keep track. John D and George W were among the usual suspects. The wind was puffier than at Island Beach. Some of the puffs were kinda strong, as Steve noted, and not ideal for kiters. It was good for sailing though, making the downwinders deep and fast back towards Charleston. Some of the reaches were so deep it seemed like I would never have to turn.

These days seem like they just won't quit. Good turnout of sailors including at least one who seemed to be learning fast.