It's all about the rain. Potential S-SSW wind in the 5.8 to 4.7 range in the afternoon. 4:00 pm blow. Will be watching Storm Radar in the morning.












Clinton Lake Forecast







Marina will be the spot. Will give updates.

Thanks Reid! I’m planning to join. Looking for your updates.

Update: Storm Radar has the rain just missing the lake to the north as of right now. We might get grazed, but the heavy stuff is definitely to the north.

Storm Radar Forecast - 12:00 pm



Storm Radar Forecast - 1:30 pm




SailFlow 4:00 pm CST

Screw Wolf, I’m heading to Clinton!

I'm loading up and heading out.

Below average day. Storms all around and just slightly brushing Clinton, but without a drop of rain while at the same time it was a downpour in Bloomington. Unfortunately it messed up the wind making it shift direction several times and keeping it down to nothing for a long while. The storms moved out eventually and a bit of a breeze started coming from the right direction so we started rigging up, me-a pessimistic 7.5 and Reid-an optimistic 5.8. The rest is a lot of shlogging dotted with some planing gusts now and then until the last hour or so when it became steadier and gave me the good workout that I came for. Almost did the 2 board ride during one of the long shloggs, but the moment my foot touched the deck of Reid’s board my board nosedived and I fell .
7.5 or not I had a nice day out in a board shorts weather while all Hell was loose in Chicago, so it was a good decision after all.
The only picture I was able to pull out today /too busy at work/

My camera battery died before the wind becoming steadier so the pictures are all from before that when we mostly goofed around and “socialised “.










Almost stepped on Reid’s board but mine nosedived


Can’t spare you the mandatory jibe scene

Early bird would have gotten the worm. If you'd been rigged and ready with a 4.7 at 9:00 am. That approaching lightning would have freaked ya out though. We did get grazed. No rain, but storms got close enough to even turn the wind out of the NW and dropped the temps 10 degrees. Then the wind started coming out of the east. Then back to SSW but not back to the strength of the morning wind. I chased Ady's Green Machine with 7.5 up to The Narrows on my 108 FSW with 5.8. I saw Dr. Sepper down wind. Not sure if she was trying her foil or real windsurfing. We all had a fun day.


Bloomington



Champaign



Decatur




14 of the day's 42 photos.

See More Of The Day's Photos Here


Me (5.8 sail). Welcome to the Marina. Beginner Cove.



Me (5.8 sail). At The Narrows. Looking back at the Marina Takes forever to get up here.



Me (5.8 sail). Getting that harness low.



Ady (7.5 sail). Me (5.8 sail). The speed record holder is a blur on the water.



Ady (7.5 sail). Me (5.8 sail).



Ady (7.5 sail). Me (5.8 sail). Let the schlog racing begin.



Ady (7.5 sail). Me (5.8 sail). He's still smiling. Like Ady said he tried to put a foot on my board and his nose went under. Now's my chance to open up a lead



Me (5.8 sail). Found a ramp.



Me (5.8 sail). Going for a Vulcan.



Me (5.8 sail). Found a puff to duck jibe on.



Me (5.8 sail). Ripping into a Fast Tack - getting better. (See foot work and hand exchange sequence in album link.)



Me (5.8 sail). Jibe.



Ady (7.5 sail). Me (5.8 sail). Love this shot.



'til next time!



14 of the day's 42 photos.

See More Of The Day's Photos Here

It takes a considerable effort to stall a 7.5 and keep a balance with it over a not so floaty 110 to let Reid catch up to you with his “girly” 5.8. I miss Chris and especially Rich in days like this on Clinton.

Ady wrote:

Sounds better with this photo.

Well, the little slogging dot downwind was me indeed. I wished I had brought the foil gear! But no, I came with my hopes really high and fought on my 85 liters (the only board I brought!) until I had to accept defeat. I was happy to see at least Ady get on the plane from time to time