05/05 DC

[JimSouthwick]

Big (but pretty gusty) wind by DC standards; gusts as high as 36 mph in beautiful downtown Charleston, probably higher on the lake. Numerous kiters at BarbedWire, at least 2 poleboarders at IslandBeach, and 2 poleboarders (George and me) at CharlestonBridge.

[John Freed]

Jim... I sailed IB from about 2:00-4:00, on my 6.5 m / 109 L. Probably could have been on a 4.7 20% of the time, 5.2 20% of the time, 5.7 20% of the time, 6.5 20% of the time, and/or a 7.5 20% of the time... was it similar for you guys at Charleston? Are you guys sailing Charleston because it's so close to your house(s) or are you liking the wind, launch, etc. better up there?
John

[JimSouthwick]

John,

Charleston is a bit closer to my house (George's too) I think the wind may be a bit steadier there (Carl disagrees) and when the water level is high, it's easier to launch from a buoy than it is at IB (important to me but not to George.) And I enjoy the upwind beat to BarbedWire follow by screaming reaches back to the launch.

Sounds as though the conditions were similar at both launches today. George was on a 5.6, I was on a 6.0, and we were both alternately way over- and way under-powered.