6/30/24 Sulphur Creek 6,0 / 5,0 115L and 85L

[GrantMc]

Arrived at lake just before 11:00. A gentle SW breeze of about 10 mph was on the water. Expecting higher wind, I rigged a 6,0 and hoped for the best. At 11:20 a good burst of wind came across the wind and I went out. Sailed perfectly powered for at least 90 minutes with only a few short holes in the wind. I had the place completely to myself (almost all boats were blown off the water early) until other riders started arriving around 12:30. Around 1:00 bigger and bigger gusts started coming through and they finally blew me off the water. Even though the gusts had really picked up, the holes had gotten a lot bigger, too, making my next rigging choice more difficult. I finally settled on a 1997 Sailworks 5,0 and an even older no-nose 85L board (all borrowed gear from my dad's museum of windsurfing gear, as my small stuff is in NC). By this time (1:30?), there were four or five other windsurfers and four kiters on the water. At times the (non-twist top) 5,0 was perfect, but mostly it was Mr. Toad's wild-ride with intermittent huge lulls in the wind. It was not easy sailing. I eventually ditched the 85L board and used my 115L, so I could at least float during the lulls. A 95L probably would have been the best...or maybe just some slightly more modern gear. Why was the no-nose design such a big deal in the 90s? Man, what a terrible design that was. Rigging area is like heaven! Water temps were good (full 2/3 wetsuit). All in all, it was a beautiful, fun day with some screaming, ear-to-ear ginning rides, a few white-knuckle, smoke-on-the water nukes, quickly followed by knee-deep slogging.