Grantsville, 4/22, 6.0/85L, 6.9,135L

[kenonstott]

I saw 25mph at Grantsville Res. when I got up and off I went. But by the time I got there Jim was standing there with his wetsuit on wondering why it died. By 8:30 there weren’t even planable windlines for big gear. That is very unusual for Grantsville as the best conditions of the day are usually 9 to 11. I was disgruntled and settled in to do some reading followed by walking around the lake. By then the wind was north and there was some rain. It didn’t look very promising and Jim left. But Grantsville can pack a good southerly in the afternoon before a front passes and by 12:30 the wind switched south again and started slowly building. It was good enough for some nice planers on the big gear (my biggest sail right now is the 6.9). A little after 2:00 it blasted off with windlines near 30. I grabbed the 6.0, which was still rigged from the morning and tried to the make the best of the wild wind figuring it would die shortly. I promised myself I wouldn’t sail that overpowered until my back has recovered but it seemed like a long shot to stop and rerig. I would have never made it without the little 12-lb 85L Sonic (Glen at Windsurfing Direct says I may have the only Sonic 85 in the US). It was 4.7 conditions for 15 minutes then perfect 6.0 for 15 minutes and back and forth for 2 hours, sprinkling the whole time. In spite of the wild winds in the SE corner, I only got blasted off the board on one jibe. The winds were still going good when at 4:00 I realized the wind, rain, and low 40’s temperatures had caused all the fishermen to leave. My hands were getting cold so I bagged it having to take down 2 rigs and pack with the wetsuit on. I had to wait 4 hours and endure sailing in cold sprinkles but I got 2 hours of Gorge conditions so I am smiling. Grantsville is still blowing mid-20’s while I am writing this but I had nothing left.