8/6 Yuba 4.0M 102L

[Shawn Henderson]

The day started in search of flatter water because of the forecasted high winds. I tried to do Mona, no swell, but she was blowing offshore. So I moved on to Yuba. Lots of caps and swell as big as I have ever tried. At least it was side-shore I thought. So its 5PM Me and Yuba. Yuba won. I was the only person on the lake… ok in the lake. Bloodied, bruised, battered, humbled and humiliated. I suspect I was overpowered, but I couldn’t stay up enough to say for sure. My session ended up being all you can eat waterstart practice. On a positive note I was successful maybe 5 times at getting up on the board. But I couldn’t keep it together once on a plane (scary fast!) Plenty of free comedy for the rednecks who were feeling down watching their trucks and fifth wheels get sandblasted. It’s a good thing I went with the side-shore. I was only able to stop the destruction when I washed up on North beach. It was a long, LONG walk to my car into a 40mph sand storm. By the way, how do you de-rig in nuclear wind? I thought it would be best to secure the sail first, after all it is built to catch wind, only to find that my board can fly too. Those Angulos must be tough because it appears to be ok despite bouncing down the rocky shoreline. So here I am, I have sand between my teeth, my eyes hurt, not to mention my confidence and pride. I guess all is well, I made it home. I think I will try Yuba again when she is in a better mood. It was nuclear and I got exposed.

[Leo Chan]

Shawn, we all have to go through this type of session to know that you really want to do this type of sailing only in flat, salty water with lots of sunshine and a drink with umbrella waiting at the end of the session.

The wind condition in Utah, when blowing strong, requires someone with expert skill to tame it. I found that I can handle much stronger condition in the ocean or the bay. But not in Utah's lakes. We should plan a trip to South Padre in November.

[tjacques]

Shawn
That was always my thought, "Humbling" Just when I thouhght I had it figured out I would get pumbled. Then I went to the gorge, where I got really pumbled, but after a few years of that I got good.Then high winds were a joy that you craved. Yea the angulos are tough mothers. Stick with it shawn, high wind sailing is hard to do if you do not do it all the time.Glad you are making good use of your equipment.

[DaveHubbel]

Way to go for it with what you had. In my experience having a 100 liter board as opposed to a 70 liter board in 3.5 meter wind is almost as impossible as having a meter too much sail. And then on top of that you did not have a 3.5. I sailed maryhill once years ago with a 3.3 and a standard 8'10 slalom probably around 100 liters and got lifted straight up off the water about 4 feet from wind under the board, just silly.

[JimSouthwick]

One approach to derigging in nuclear conditions is to do it in the water (I frequently derig in the water even in normal conditions.) At the beginning of every session, I put a buoy in the water to tie the board to. That way, the gear never sits on the beach and, hence, never gets flung around by unexpected gusts. Derigging in the water is much easier than derigging in a howling gail on the beach - no wildly flapping sail for one thing. Just be careful not to let the mast float away or sink while you're rolling up the sail.

[John Dubock]

dude! I watched Rick Henninger do the same thing (from the safety of the road, in my car). I think his sail blew apart as he entered with water, might have been the same day the boat near him sank. Great try, nothing beats the Walk of Shame. When you see a Black Wall to the South at Yuba, find shelter, as the desert next door is not kind. Ask Mike Rossberg about the Triathalon Tornado day, winds so strong from the West, offshore that we thought we were in the movie "Twister". Big Wave Dave and I were ten yards apart, holding rigs down and the sand was so thick I could hear him, but not see him. Thats when you realize your body is a 7.0 sail and missing a universal joint ...

[Sarah Ranes]

Shawn, with your go for it style, you will pull it all together soon, and be enjoying those conditions. At your size, a 100ltr board, in 4.0 conditions, is not only tough, but scarry. You probably learned more than you think, you did, so just keep trying. That's great that you got some water starts, in those conditions. Hope to see you at the Sulpher Creek Campout.