NOAA: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.








Clinton Lake Forecast








Looks like a good day for the Marina. S wind in the 7.5 to 6.5 range. And everybody's favorite direction, side-off, for down-the-line slash and bash! Water temp touched 77 F at the coldest part of the lake yesterday. Who's with me?

I’m planning on going.

I’m leaning Clinton as of now. I thought this direction is favouring West side , no?

Sure, we can do the West Side, Ady, I'm easy. Longer reach over there if we head up wind a little.

The whole length of the main pool, that would be cool on the big kit

The Clinton Lake Défi! It's always a little funky when you hit the Peninsula narrows and then it opens up. 4 mile round trip.

Now we need a drone and operator

Anyone have extra boom to rig 6.5 for day? Will bring your favorite beer!

Chris wrote: My small boom extends to 200 cm . If it’s enough you can have it.

Thanks, I’ll look at the sail in the morning to see what in needs. What’s your favorite beer?

Pics

Clinton did it’s best yesterday amid the circumstances and I still managed to get a very enjoyable session. Wind wasn’t much, I’d say it fluctuated between 10 and 25 mph from S to SSW direction, so the West Side appeared to be the best launch for the conditions . The day was remarkable first and most important because Cris has made a dramatic recovery from the last time I saw him and the swelling of his ankle is completely gone. His mobility has returned and despite being hugely under-equipped on a 98/5.8 he still managed to get planing.
The boom that I brought him was useless unfortunately and actually he has absolutely the same one-too short for the his 6.5, but I still got the Guinness he brought for me. Thanks again my friend!
Another memorable event was the “Defi Wind” style cruise I did with Reid. The distance between the west and east shores of the big pool is 2 miles, which makes it a 4 mil round trip. I could only plane maybe 60% of the time on my 110/7.5 and almost fell a couple of times when the wind came to near complete standstill , but I did it after all and even got a lucky gust to do a decent carve jibe at the east end and another to save me from getting trapped too close to the tree line. With a consistent wind this can be a huge long distance race fun.
We sailed until 3:30 doing short runs in front of the ramp mostly and then went to the lake spillway to drink the beer that Cris brought enjoying the view. The river that the spillway creates connects to other rivers and all kinds of fish travels up the stream to feed here. It was obvious it’s teaming with it and many fishermen and women were lining up the shore getting a guaranteed catch . Speaking of food chain I observed a small water snake desperately trying to swallow a fish too big for it’s mouth. It saw me and ran to hide in the rocks but didn’t let go of it’s prey.
I didn’t eat fish, but finished this fun visit to Clinton with a delicious pork chop, fries and a cold Sam Adams at the “Power Jibe” pub.
Not quite like the real Defi, but close



The takeoff



Some Helli tacking



Top speed 25/26 mph once in a while



Slogging with Reid trying not to fall during a long wind standstill



Buy Reid, see you on my way back



Honorary jibe at the east end



Trying to smile for the camera, but looking weird in the process



Some good old carve jibing






Done for the day



Spillway



Snake eat fish