Awesome day at Clinton lake Illinois, thinking about Rend Lake tomorrow! More details to come!

It took time. I arrived at 11:30 but the rain had ruined the wind. I waited til 2pm when it seemed to get slightly better. The sun was out and by the time I was on the water It was blowing real nice for my 5.9
On a personal note, talking about progress, I want to say it wAs a good day. I failed ALL my jibes. I am blaming it on the fact the last time I sailed was June 24th. However, I think I am growing in confidence
1- I tried jibing maybe 15 times
2a- I waterstarted 90% of the time

2b- I realized that sailing to the shore to beach start was a losing strategy. I got caught in a wind black hole next to shore. Wind was real week and blowing opposite direction of the dominant wind. Got stuck there 20 minutes. Had to swim with gears off shore to get back in the normal wind from where I water started. Bob can back me up, he had a similar experience
3- I “jumped” (emphasis on the quotation marks). Upon lending I got stuck in a nasty fin spin out for what seemed to last 20 second

I’m pretty beat up from yesterday not sure I’m going to try to sail it all today. If I do it will be at our small CC lake in St. Louis. But I had an awesome time yesterday at Clinton lake Illinois!!!

Good day at Clinton lake, KS too! They finally opened the road, so you can drive to the launch and don't have to walk down the road or through the woods anymore. I was on 5.3 and 6.2 most of the day.

I would share a photo from this day, but this forum really hates sharing photos. Why can't you just upload them directly??? What's with the tech from 2003?
Strangely, you can create an album and upload directly there, but even from within the site....won't cooperate.


PS: .....I suk at the interwebz.


{Admin clicked "Add File" & clicked "Insert" buttons}

Eric Raven wrote:

You can. It's easy. Here's how you put photos in posts as I did to yours above.


Click Add File button





Your file window will open. Choose your photo, click it. Then click "Open" button





File is uploaded. Just click "Insert" button. Done.





Attachment automatically appears in text box one space below the last place where your cursor was. All set. You can move it anywhere within the text box.

Boat Surfing, Wake Sailing! Fun day at the Marina. Looked grim when I got there. Rain killed off the wind. Rigged 5.8 with 108 FSW. Headed out with Bob - who left the Swim Beach to sail windier pastures. Bob went out on 9.2 with 124 Isonic. I was able to get on plane. Gust surfing. Bob was rippin'. I headed up to The Narrows. Wind had a lot of south in it. Which told me this wasn't the day's wind. This was still rain confused wind. Right when you want to give up is when you need to hang in there a little longer. Sure enough the gusts slowly got stronger and the direction took on a SSW. Bob went in the rig down to a 7.0. Sylvain joined us with a 5.9. We all had a blast. Not an Epic day. But good enough to give Bob a small taste of Clinton Lake. Staffan and Dr. Sepper made it out too. They tried their foil board. Rick was out on 5.7 after the Laser sail boat races. Great to see everybody.


Bloomington



Champaign



Decatur




16 of the day's 27 photos

See More Of The Day's Photos Here


Bob (7.0 sail). Me (5.8 sail)



Bob (7.0 sail)



Bob (7.0 sail). The Isonic rips up wind.



Sylvain (5.9 sail)



Sylvain (5.9 sail). Me (5.8 sail)



Sylvain (5.9 sail)



Sylvain (5.9 sail). Peeling one off.



Me (5.8 sail). Had to up-haul early on.



Me (5.8 sail). Is this thing still on? (blinking red light)



Me (5.8 sail). Some wind chop to jump out there



Me (5.8 sail). A "cigarette boat" was out. Has to be 40 some feet long. Goes 60+ mph. Loud. Makes you want to cover your ears when it goes by. But I killed a jump off its wake!



Me (5.8 sail).



Me (5.8 sail). How to surf up wind.



Me (5.8 sail). I'm getting better at rippin' boom to boom fast tacks.



Me (5.8 sail). Jibe. Note what they call the "Boomshaka" move. Also leaning into front strap - front heel off the board to drive the board into the turn.



'til next time!



16 of the day's 27 photos

See More Of The Day's Photos Here

Thanks Reid! Your voodoo is strong!

Reid, thanks for the great photos!!! Fun Day!!!