Mojave at Cottonwood 11/21-24, 4.5, 5.7, 7.5, 9.8

[DimitriMilovich]

Wednesday 11/21 arrived to 5.7 about 3:00. Love sailing across that lake. With a 3 mile reach, it's always just far enough to be a little spooky out there by yourself in the middle, but close enough to made you go for it. Met some kiters at 6-mile from San Diego and LV, but they said no Utahns yet. Bucky and Gunnars had left the week before. Too bad, there goes my west shore beer stop.

Thursday was 6.5 in the AM, but I squandered it by going for a morning run through the creosote. By noon it had backed way off so it was formula gear for a while until it died off in the PM. Still a blast to be roaming the lake. Thanksgiving was pepper-crusted salmon with all the fixin's. Full moon camping.

Friday was even more northeasterly, and honkin: 5.7 in the AM, then 4.7. Nice swells in the middle, although a bunch of messy chop as well coming out of the NE. Then 4.2 early afternoon. That was time to quit instead of rigging down because it was getting just too spooky being the only one out on the east half of the lake with such a honkin' offshore and cold temps. Had water, powerbar, spare fin, screw, driver, and lots of spare line, but still didn't see myself paddling to shore easily in those conditions if something should break. Back out on the 5.7 afternoon before sunset when it finally glassed off. THEN it blew all night just as hard. Couldn't believe it. How can it glass off then start chargin' again?

Talked with the Hobie 18 sailor at 6-mile on one of my reaches over there (didn't get his name). This wildman tried to SAIL TO KATHERINE'S when it was 4.0!!! Evidently he does this all the time. Races cats, the wilder the condtions the better. Only this time he turned around halfway after he pitchpoled 3 times and got smacked down sideways once. Can't believe he can right that sucker solo in those conditions. Said waves down in the middle of the lake were 6' easy with 20-foot wide breaking crests turning to spindrift. He finally decided, "Well, maybe I won't go all the way. Maybe it's time to turn around!" Geez, think so? Deathwish? Damn good sailor, though. Makes us windsurfers look a bit wimpy. Same guy we saw this spring. Probably thinks he's doing the Worrell 1000 every time he's out there. Pretty impressive sailing, even if a bit crazed.

Saturday was best day of the session - waay steadier. 5.7 all day till 7.5 in the late afternoon. Just love that lake. Long reaches up into the channel, flat water jibes in the coves, then long, long 4-5 mile downwind reaches working the swell. Crystal clear days and moonlit camping. Wow.

Caught up finally with Scott from SLC who was camped at 6-mile and sailed over to say hi. He'd been there for 30 days... Scott did a hysterical riff on solo Hobie sailors in hurricane conditions, "Hey man, I got a can of tuna and I'll just spend the night if I can't make it back".

Lines at Hoover Dam going back were minimal, happily. Boulder City resupply: at the Albertsons shopping center in Boulder City you can get real beer at Al's, coffee at Starbucko's and Delaware-style eggplant parmigiana subs at Capriotti's sub shop to send you on your way north. Yahoo.

[RickHeninger]

Was tempted to come and join you sat. Dimitri. But we were on the short schedule! I am really curious as to how the wind on a north is at 9 Mile Cove. It seems that it would get venturied right there a little more and that the swell would have the entire "wide part" of the lake to build up.

Also, interesting to see the difference in wind strength between where you were and Katherines. If I understand correctly, you were on the east side of the lake across from C. Cove right?

[DimitriMilovich]

Rick, you sick boy,

Yep, we were on the east side. I think in the NE conditions, it's a little bit fresher there, but the main channel is still the strongest. I'm curious too about 9 mile, but a ranger I spoke with in the spring said it was 4WD only. 'Course it was also a fav spot of his so he might have just been trying to keep out us riff raff.

Seriously, glad you got some good wind. You clearly earned it. That's showing some great leadership from El Commodore del Windriders Loco. You're an inspiration to all, er, some of us.