Utah Windriders Association

Got off work a little early and on the grass at about 3. There were already a critical mass of sailors willing in the wind. Josh, Jim, Sarah, Ken, Mike and Scott were already there. Carl and Tom arrived as the wind switched and filled in from the north. It was quite warm with only a convertible. The wind pretty much stayed up for multiple sessions. Must be first of the year gear glitches. A fin with non matching screws, a euro base and actually a full rig all went out to needing parties. Its always good for your Karma as I occasionally reach into the bucket. Overall, as good as it can be on a north utah lake. I tried my new skinny 460 and liked it but it did rig loose up top and had to pull some outhaul more than i usually do. Great company. Tom got some shots (taken with the same camera that will be at the Jazz tonight and in LA (hopefully). I think we put in some miles today if anybody posts their gps. Everything just worked without much tweaking. Nice session. I gave it an 8.5 out of 10 because I never give 10's and it could have blown the whole time. Sounds greedy... sorry.
Rob Smith

Sarah and I got there by 1:00 to a sailable south wind. With the strong north to south pressure gradients, that didn’t seem possible. We waited until 4:30 for it to switch. Even on a regular day it would switch before then. But the day of bizarre weather was saved by some great north winds until sundown. I had similar equipment problems as Rob; trying to switch fins from board to board and having fins with both metric and English treads to baffle someone trying to get on the water. Pelican is the only park I know wear the sprinklers come on during the day. If the stuff that got on my windows from the sprinklers is what we are sailing in maybe we had better find some better water. The reeds which have been such a problem so far this year were thankfully nearly gone. Some great wind and lots of good company. Reading the blogs about the battle going on in Hawaii, I really appreciate our Utah group.

As Ken said it was confusing....to show up to south winds, since everything was north, before I left work. Ken and I sat and chatted, for a couple of hrs.....before, many hopeful,pole people showd up to sail yesterday. I started out on a 7.2 and 136, for about an hr before OP'd. Then tried the 106 with the 7.2 for a couple of reachs...still OP'd. Then I rigged 5.4 w/106 and it was just right. another maybe hr and half, till the sun was close to going down. Rob I had about 25 miles sailed, showing on my gps. I'm sure Jim H. probably doubled that. Carl and Ken got the speediest guy on the water honors. It was fun to have so many out. We even had Scott, who is coming back to sailing, after many years. Bummer that he broke his boom first night out, but I think he will be back, after he buys a new boom.

I'll bet that Carl is putting lot's more equipment in his van this morning, after missing just a few parts last night. glad we could get him on the water!

Solid first day of the season. SMOOOOTH wind. Sailed 9.8 the first session on my 135, then Rob's killer 6.5 to christen my new Carve. It really made my day. Once I get in tune with that one it'll be very fun I can tell.


Weeds and reeds were only a mild annoyance. No carp collisions either.


Could have checked my quiver a bit more carefully before driving out though. Fins, gotta have the right fins. Actually just gotta have any fins. Probably should load up the rest of the sails too. yuk yuk. Thanks to Sarah and Rob.