You boys were right. You said from the boat ramp it looked like I broke my record up there. It didn't feel like it, but you guys saw something. I hit 35 mph a couple of times. A new personal best. I was on 4.7 with max setting with 95 L and 27cm fin. Not the best conditions. Very gusty. The 4.7 wasn't digging 20, and it didn't like 40 either. And not the flattest water like I've seen other times. I'm renaming the spot Pelican Cove. Wednesday's wind might have been better up there. 180 degrees made it hard to get close to the flatter water farther up wind. Plus there were 50+ American White Pelicans that dropped down from Canada that were at the shoreline of the back of the cove and I didn't want to disturb them. I don't know how many pelicans it would have taken to kick my ass, but I knew how many they were gonna use. That's some handy information right there. On my first run they had to have a flyover to check out this big ass pterodactyl going by. Then they settled back into their spot. Ramps straight from the launch had Chris's name on them. Rich got to try his 4.7 on the FSW. Don't think he could have made it to the wind-line at the Marina with that kit. I got off the water around 3:30. We drove over to check on Glen. I was going to re-rig and sail with him. I was still in my suit. Glen was already off the water. Wind looked more off shore than Wednesday. We all had a fun day. Those pelicans are a warning. They're waiting here for the next big cold front to shoot them down to the gulf.


Bloomington



Champaign



Decatur





11 of the day's 17 photos

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West Side launch rigging area. Chris set up base camp. Unload and them park in the non trailer parking.




Pelican Cove. I'm standing up.



Pelican Cove. I'm standing up.



Is there flatter water up there? What does it look like. This is flat water for Clinton.



50+ pelicans - count'em. Having a fly over to check me out and then settled back in.



Rich (4.7 sail) Me (4.7 sail) Warm up. Haven't hit the after burners yet.



Rich (4.7 sail)



Rich (4.7 sail)



Rich (4.7 sail)



Boom! Hit 35 mph a couple of times. Looks smooth and easy. It isn't when you see the video. More speed to tap with the right conditions.



The ramp. You can stand up in front of it. Puts you right in the action. 'till next time.




American White Pelican

"The species also has the second largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California condor."

Breeding, migration and wintering map.





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I saw on windy.com that you guys were gonna get it too. In Kansas City, we had gusts up to 49 mph recorded at KCI airport, which is about 10 miles from Smithville lake (where I was sailing that day). It absolutely nuked! I was on my 77 litre gorge board (18 cm wave fin) + 4.0 for about an hour, till I broke a footstrap. Then switched to my 86 litre RRD FSW + 4.5 for the next 2 hrs, then to my 90 litre freestyle board + 4.5 for another 1.5 hrs......I was spent! Here's a picture of one of my better shuvits. First time I've gotten big enough swell to really boost: scary....but fun.
https://windsurfillinois.com/index.php/photos/1222-eric-raven/photo?albumid=228&photoid=6469