4/12, Pelican UL, 6.0, 85L

[kenonstott]

I love after work sessions. I was expecting to be sailing in a snowstorm based on the weather reports. But it was nice and sunny and 10 degrees warmer than Monday. The wetsuit was fine. The wind was reading 20 to 22 on the jetty. Usually that would be 5.3 weather but, after the 1-hour swim last fall, I rigged a size bigger to make sure I got back. Perfect ripping winds on the new 6.0 and the little Sonic. It started loosing some punch around 5:00, also opposite to the weather predictions, so I folded after 1.5 hours, plenty long enough for the back. Following back surgery, I am going to have to be a more finesse sailor. I made all the jibes but I muscled the sail through one and I could feel some definite back pain in the area of the incision. This was the second big-smile session of the year. One other sailor joined me and spent the time practicing his waterstarts. I am glad I learned waterstarts in shallow Rush.