Mojave Oct 20-22

[Josh Shirley]

Well, Mike Egan and I left Saturday morning 4 am and arrived at six mile cove around 2 pm. We sailed for about two and half hours on a south west wind. Both Gunnars and Bucky were holding down the beach. The local rangers have Mike on their radar so after getting harassed some they said we better stay off the water Sunday because of the forecasted 60 mph wind. After some discussion we headed over to Katherine's landing and set up camp. As soon as we climbed into our tents the north wind hit and it hit big. By 1:30 am Mike's tent exploded and we had to unload the car so he could sleep in there.
Sunday we head over to cabinsite point to check out the carnage. A couple from California were out on 3.0 and 3.5 and another individual showed up and sailed 3.3. We waited and watched for a couple hours since our smallest was 4.2 and then I decided that I was ready to be beat down. After a lot of down haul and out haul I was rigged and my flying carpet tiga hit the water for the first time this year. My first half an hour was pretty scary, then I got everything lined up and adjusted right.
For the next four and half hours I planed 50% of the time and hovered the rest. The swell built up real nice on the west side; many many airs that put the fear back into me. Oh did I mention the air temp was in the low 70's and the water was about 72. Mike came out a little bit later with a 4.8 hucker and a 95 liter wave board to get smashed up for a while. We finished the night with fajitas in bullhead. We knew Monday would be good but less wind. So by 10 am the California couple was out on 4.0 and 4.5. So I rigged a tight 5.2 and Mike 5.6. I had a lot of screamers and my first hour was nothing but 4.7 wind. I was convinced by the lulls that 5.2 was a better choice for the day though. The swell didn't really want to set up so it was basically flat DC chop speed racing.
We sailed until 3:30pm packed the car and hit the road to get home by 1 am. By the way Salt Lake is cold dangit.
Three days away, three days of great wind, and great windsurfing. Hopefully in the first week of Nov will repeat.

Check out the sat photos:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/23/wildfire.ca/index.html#cnnSTCOther1

[Mike Egan]

Its cold and work is not as fun as sailing.

[Ralph Morrison]

The local rangers have Mike on their radar so after getting harassed some they said we better stay off the water Sunday because of the forecasted 60 mph wind.

So let me get this straight, you couldn't go out windsurfing because the wind might pick up? Boy I would have gotten in trouble if I was there. Would they have handcuffed me and taken me away?

[Josh Shirley]

Well, whatever his opinion was it worked for us. I think we only saw two boats come up the channel that day. Keep them boats out of my way. No voodoo chop.

Ok I have marninated enough in good windsurfing memories to start planning for the next mojave trip. I think a few people have said the first week of November. Sounds good to me.

[Marty Lowe]

OT

Would they have handcuffed me and taken me away?

Hey,...I saw you on the news the other night.

No handcuffs were involved there...
That's good..

(Story about Canyon's Ski Patrol Union)

-Marty