Utah Windriders Association

Arrived around 12:30 to 10-15 mph S winds but they increased to 17-21 so I rigged a 5.5. In retrospect, I should have rigged my 6.6 because the wind tended to fall off and got "holey" as the afternoon progressed. Rode my Exocet Kona longboard and had a fairly decent time. (It's nice to get upwind in sub-planing conditions ! ) One guy tried to fly a 12m kite, but there wasn't enough wind. Jim Southwick was there and I thought I saw Dimitri and Grant. When winds were best, there were probably 6 sailors on the water.

I arrived for my first sail ever at Jrdanelle about 4pm (Deer Creek was dead..). I rigged a 6.6 Hucker and used a large 139L board with a big fin and planed about 50% of the time for a two hour session. Unfortunatly, I left my 9.0 home but the sailing was still satisfying!

Earlier in the afternoon, it was howling! After an impromptu meeting at DCIB, Pete Larson, Dimitri, Grant, Judy and I concluded that DC was unsailable; the wind was coming from every possible direction, particularly S and SSE:

http://homepage.mac.com/jsouthwick/PhotoAlbum88.html

It seemed as though Jordanelle, with a more North-South orientation might be better, so Pete, Grant and Dimitri headed up there, and I derigged and headed home. At that point, John Dubock relayed a call from Dimitri saying that it was 5.5 at J-Bay (thanks guys!) so I redirected. Full on white caps when I got there at 1:30; held up my windmeter and got a reading of 30 mph almost immediately. Grant, Dimitri, Pete and several others were ripping, as was Carl on a 7.5! I rigged a 4.5, and had a good time in the gusts but struggled in the lulls, which gradually became more frequent.

The take-home message for me was that, yes, J-Bay is probably a much better bet than DC when the wind is out of the S or SSE,

Sure would be nice to confirm the J-Bay hypotheses. A weather station would be nice. The cam helps. The DC/JB dilemma remains a factor on the south pushes. Was there wind in Charleston when there was none at Island Beach?

Carl-
You posted under my name again, you turkey.

DCJIM wrote:
It seemed as though Jordanelle, with a more North-South orientation might be better

The take-home message for me was that, yes, J-Bay is probably a much better bet than DC when the wind is out of the S or SSE,

jason morton wrote:Sure would be nice to confirm the J-Bay hypotheses.

Jordanelle is my home lake. I've been saying the above for years to anybody willing to listen. Here's what I've experienced.
When the forecast is for southerly wind in the Park City area then it will probably blow at Jordanelle. What I've found more times than not, is that the wind will pick up around noon. If you get there just as the wind is starting you will notice it has a SE or SSE direction to it. It will be weak and holey. The wind will shift more southerly so it's coming right over the dam. This is when it picks up and is the steadiset and strongest. If the front is strong it could be good for most of the afternoon. If the front is weak it will be good for one or two hours. As the front gets closer the wind clocks to the west and becomes holeier.
If the wind has clocked to the west and is still strong I think Deer Creek will be better at that time. I've seen some wicked spinning puffs come off the west hillside. You go about 40 mph for ten seconds and then nothing.
What I've described is the typical scenario. I've seen it pick up in the morning and shut off by noon or not pick up 'till mid-afternoon. But more times than not the above will happen.
If you're there and it's windy, decide on a sail size quickly and go out. It might not last very long.

oops.