6/22 Evanston

[Jason Klein]

was puttering around the house today, checking the sensors on and off. iKitesurf forecast tables had wind coming up late afternoon in Evanston, and around 3:30 the sensors started to say the same. Packed up the car and made the hour and 5 minute drive (actually closer than Lincoln beach from PC). Arrived to 15 mph winds in the parking lot, and set up the 15 waroo. Only other sailing-type person there was windsurfer Lane, whom i had met last month down at mona. Good to see you again. Headed out right about 5pm and was treated to winds in the 15-low-20's out on the water. Kind of up and down, there were some 5 minute runs hanging on for dear life, and other times just barely able to stay up on the board, but mostly in the high teens. My wind meter strapped to my car showed an avg of 15 for the hour and 45 i was out, with a high gust to 32. There is a cove near the boat dock with a small pavillion next to the shore. Launched a jump in there and heard a lot of oooohs and aaahhhs, so i did that everytime thru - fun to have a peanut gallery screaming on every jump. Headed in when the wind lightend up a bit, at 6:45. My only other time kiting there the wind shut down when i was out in the middle, which lead to a rather long EVA, and i didn't want to do that again.

The launch is a little tight there for a self launch, but there's enough room, you just have to be careful. I didn't run into any problems. I think overall, Evanston is is a good place to kite. There is often wind up there when there is none here and the drive isn't too bad (from PC, anyway). The water is definately colder, not sure what the altitude is there, but probably 6k+. I wore a drysuit and was sweating most of the time. a 5/4 wetty would be fine, in a 3 wetty, if you got stuck in the water for an extended period, you'd probably be cold pretty fast.

[Craig Goudie]

Good guess. it's about 6825. Glad you got some rides.

-Craig

not sure what the altitude is there, but probably 6k+. I wore a drysuit and was sweating most of the time. a 5/4 wetty would be fine, in a 3 wetty, if you got stuck in the water for an extended period, you'd probably be cold pretty fast.