Looks like a good day to better our speeds. Wind S to SSE in the 5.8 to 4.2 range. I'm thinking The Corner and let's top our speeds. Water temp has warmed up from 52 F to 57 F at the coldest spot. Could add 10 for the Corner. Still bringing cold suit. Air temp could hit 70 F. Who's bringing their GPS?

Clinton Lake Forecast

I'm planning to be out. But:
The Mascoutin portion of Clinton Lake including the campground, boat ramp, day-use area, archery deer hunting area and hiking trails will be closed to all visitors beginning Monday, November 9 through Saturday, November 14 due to a special hunt for disabled firearm deer hunters.
I sailed the Marina yesterday and water was fine but hard to get out with the South wind

Beat me to it.

Maybe we can launch off The Road. Thoughts?

We can try it. Might be hard getting back home sailing upwind that close to shore?

Yeah, and it could gust near 45 mph. Maybe we should just do West Side and be on the safe side. Damn, I had this whole day scoped out for a record.

I looked at West Side yesterday too and it was a simple step off ramp and you're in the wind.

Had a good time, my son came along and did some skateboarding. The wind made that challenging. Rich and Reid sailed from the West Side launch as well. We had a guest from the far side of the lake, Rick sailed with Reid on the south side at Reids speed freak dragstrip, they were moving.

Video grab by my son. 4.7 sail

What looks fast and feels fast is not necessarily fast. No new record. Maxed out at 34 mph. The morning wind is way under forecast. Wind looked great as I headed my way up to the speed cove. Right as I got up there it faded. Peak base wind was around 11:00. I stood up at The Hook and turned off the GoPro. Base wind at Decatur dropped to 17 mph. And I wondered what happened to the wind. That's when it started to rain a little. Damn rain. Wind came back later but not the same. Tried some runs. You never get the same day twice at Clinton. Different wind texture and a few degrees in direction changes everything. Never got a blasting gust out of the Cove like last time. This time the wind was coming over the dam. I could broad reach down the dam port side. But too much washboard to really let the board rip. Rick came up from the marina to check out the secret spot. Chris and Rich were blastin' and jumpin' down wind at the ramp and using The Cliff funnel. Water temp was 58 F.


You have to ignore the storm gust in the evening.

Bloomington



Champaign



Decatur




9 of the day's 19 photos.

See More Photos Here


(4.7 sail, 95 L) The speed cove. No wind.



(4.7 sail, 95 L) Welcome to the washboard



Rick giving it a go.



Rick heli-tack.



Blasting with Rick



Hey, he's getting away..



Time to reel in Rick. We were side by side all the way to the tree line. He headed back to the marina.



Heading back to the ramp. No wonder Rich didn't take the Volar out and went with the FSW. Really easy to bury nose in this. These ramps had Chris's name on'em.



'till next time.




See More Photos Here