5/17 DC BWB 9 meter TT solo session

[peckdave]

Starved for wind this week, made a late mission to DC and amidst spooky clouds but no lightning or rain (and against doctor's orders a day after a cervical injection yesterday) I got to the beach with 12 and 9 meter kites in tow...looked super windy initially but it backed off enough that I pumped up the 12, and just as I self-launched the wind kicked back up big time. Fought like a tiger with 2 feet of depower trying to get to the water but after nearly taking a slide for life on the algae/slick mud section on my tiptoes, I did a 180 back to the launch area and made a highly sketchy self landing. Pumped the 9 and went out for an hour from 3 to 4, mostly lit with some 6 meter gusts and a few holes. As Craig predicted, at 4:01 the wind shut off and for once I timed it correctly and just made it back in. Never saw lightning and it only ever sprinkled a bit here and there. Overall worthy little session. Reports of warm water and shorties being sufficient at DC are a bit premature, I needed every millimeter of a 5/3 today (no gloves or booties, 61 degree air).