8/21/24 Tues. Wingville lightness, 7.5, 111liter, 42cm

[DimitriMilovich]

Looked to be a 7.5 day at Wingville, with 7:00 wind of 17g22 which seemed fine, but didn't last an hour, though there were some brief rides. By 8:00 it was 15g20. Dang. Long faces on the wingers driving by and the 5 other sailors suckered into rigging a bit optimistically - John, Patrick, Mike M., Josh and Mike E. 4 or 5 wingers went out, but it wasn't great for them either as it dropped.

Loosening outhaul, downhaul, and switching in the magic Spitfire 42, I was able to get 'er planing as it perked up at 9:00 gusting to 22 once more. What didn't help was the competing wind directions coming out of both upwind corners. Just as you got going on a good clip across our vast lake, you got headed. As the rocks or beach filled your vision it was time for tight and hasty jibes while you milked the last bit of the planing. Tricky day, but I'm counting it. Josh and Mike were doing some cool lightwind freestyle, with Mike butt-sailing around sitting on his board holding his sail by mast and foot. Much hilarity. They'll count it too, I'm sure.

Horned larks starting to flock a bit on the fence line. A flock of glossy ibis circling south just east of Grantsville town. Is there weather coming or just some more wind?

PS - The first part of the road has been under construction the last few days where you turn off the main Grantsville town main drag to go south to Wingville. Better to turn south just before the Chevron and run that road past the residential areas as far as possible then over again to the two-laner.