Mona 4/29/08

[witt]

I arrived just before noon and it was blowing about 18-22 so I rigged my 5.9 and went out on my slolom board. It was a little up and down at first but settled in quite nice for almost an hour then a bunch of clouds rolled by and screwed it up for a while. So I took a short break and sure enough as soon as the sun came back out the wind returned. This session was very nice and steady, on the edge of O.P.ed. I sailed from 1:30 to about 3. Got way upwind and scared the egrets out of there nests. Ken showed up and went out on his 5.3. Then Sarah and Linda on their 4.7's. When the wind clocked around to the southwest, it got stronger and gusty, but still windy. I'm trying to work up the nerve to go to Saratoga Springs today and see if the wind is worth the cold.I'll wait and see what Craig has to say first. Maybe see you there. If not, I'll see you at Brewvies tomorrow nite and the swap meet on Sat. Peace Tom W.

[Sarah Ranes]

Linda and I arrived @3pm to full on white caps, with Ken and Tom on the water. We rigged 4.7's and little boards as quickly as possible. About that time it backed off a bit....but that did not last long. 4.7 did the trick for the next 2.5 hrs. a little bit of schlogidge, a couple of times, but up and movin the rest of the time. Had some really strong gusts come through, but they usually did not last for more than a couple of reaches. It's the best swell I've ever seen at Mona, perfect little half pipes to play in. The wind seemed to change direction quite a few times, first SW then SE, which seemed like the best direction. I'd have to say it was my best sailing experience ever at Mona, fun fun fun.

The only downer was that after about 1.5 hr my dakine spreader bar, snapped in half.....yuck. I was lucky that the wind was good and I did a good down wind angle all the way back to the van, in one reach. Tom saved the day with an extra bar, and I was back on the water in no time, to more good wind, and fun. Thanks Tom.....

It was good to see Ken O back on the water, and still going very fast!

[RickHeninger]

Wow Sarah... It's because you're so hardcore! That's the first time I've heard of that... I haven't snapped one yet! Maybe someday! That would've been tough to get in yesterday w/out a spreader bar... I got to MM19 at about 7PM... Yeah, desperate first session of the year. And was pleasantly surprised with 4.0-5.0 wind until 8:15 or so. What a blast!

I use a reactor bar though. It wasn't a reactor bar right?

[Sarah Ranes]

I may go back to that. This is a Dakine with a roller instead of a hook. this is the 2nd problem I've had with this bar. When it was brand new, 2 years ago, the first day out, the roller itself said good bye as I was hooked in and sailing along at the Hackery. that was not fun either. Dakine did replace it for me.....but now 2 years later, it snaps in half. I will be writing them a letter, and asking what's up, and send photos. I will say that I used a reactor bar for 10 yrs or so and never had a problem. I do think I sail a bit harder now, but to snap in half is a bummer.....I'm not what you would calll a heavy weight. I would expect the bar to be tougher!

The only reason that I changed to the dakine roller bar, was because it fit better around me, it's more curved, and because the length of the extension to the roller was a bit longer. I may be going back to Reactor bar, and getting longer harness lines. Oh well that's life in the sailing world. I still had a blast.