Yeah, it was absolutely beautiful out there today. Although it was cold 42-43* but because, it was totally blue sky and sunshine... that felt MUCH warmer than if the same temp, with overcast or way worse... RAIN.
Sailed between 1 and 4 pm... in winds from 10 to low 20's. Mostly 15 to 20... good white-caps shore to shore. The lightest wind was in Jay's cove, but it was still fine there. Just stronger in the middle and the west side of the Sound, near Vashon Island. On windonthewater, if you avg out Alki and SeaTac and Pt Robinson... I think you get a very accurate wind picture for the 3-Tree Point area (at least in today's northerly's).
He's light and I'm heavy, that's why we chose the vastly different boards. And for sails, I'd say that my old 8.2 race sail is more powerful, with more low-end grunt... than his newer 8.5 race sail. But that Jay's newer sail would handle higher winds better, and go faster in those higher winds. But those extreme's didn't happen today. My 8.2 was fast and powerful and comfortable all day, from the light 10-ish stuff (some times near the eastern shore) and in the low 20's stuff (middle and west side)... and great for my 200 lbs. Jay being light, was a bit faster at times... his sail seemed to be working good for him too.
I certainly could've been on my 130 L GS board most of the time out there. But in the holes... and on the east side of the Sound... I'm glad I had the comfortable flotation of the race board. But that's the great thing about raceboards -20% of the time today, I sailed it like a longboard, and I didn't spend any time floating in the water, or slogging and just trying to balance, when it was lighter wind. But 80% of the time, I sailed it like a slalom board: daggerboard swept back, in the footstraps... and enjoying the amazing views of Mt Rainier looking one way. And the Olympics, looking the other way :)
I sailed 34.8 miles.
Top Max speed was 25.2 mph.
(Board... and sail... and alum boom... and harness lines and mastbase, all from '93/'94 :)
(Mast from approx '06 (I bought it used) which is nice... but doesn't match with the sail very well.)
 
I would've been happier if we'd stayed closer together. I don't have nearly the excellent winter sailing suit that he does, and was not carrying a cell, or anything. If I would've been out there alone, I would've had the cell. But because, it's his "home turf", and I was just visiting... and it was so sunny (good visibility)... I figured he'd keep an eye on me :)
But it's 3 miles across, shore to shore... and because of my wetsuit, I didn't want to fall or spend any time in the water. So, I sailed fast and fun, but conservatively. I often went far across to the other side, looking for flatter water to tack or jibe in. Anyway, all this worked... but I was going fast one direction, and he was going fast another direction. And once you're 1/2 mile apart, you can't find each other. After sailing 1.5 hrs, I was going to head in. I was nice and warm. But then, I saw him still out... so, out I went again. Then at 2.5 hrs, I hadn't seen Jay for a while ( I was always looking)... still was warm, and started to head in. Then saw his sail out in the middle. So again, I thought, COOL, he's still out here. So, I'll make another reach as well :)
And then, I lost him again. But I knew, that I'd seen him... and he couldn't have gotten by me. So I kept, flying along, in the same direction. It was SEVERAL minutes before I saw him sitting on his board, he was still 1/4 mile away and very hard to see looking at the blinding sun, low on the winter horizon. Just a bit more, and I was there, dropped my sail, and heard the crappy news. Broken Mast !!!
We were absolutely in the very middle. Right in the shipping lanes. Right where 2 HUGE ocean going freighters had passed by in the last 45 min. Both of us kept looking hard north and south, while he talked to the Coast Guard on his radio.
25 min later, they were there :)
Jay was fine and warm.
I had been getting cold from the time I sat down.
After it was clear, he was on the CG boat and his gear was secure, I started back for my launch on the north tip of 3-Tree Point. Although cold, I made it back fine. The sun had not set yet... but was getting close.
My fingers and toes were numb as I de-rigged.
But so happy, Jay made it in fine.

YAY, for the Coast Guard !!!

And, Jay's very smart. He lives right there, so sailing in the Sound by himself, is his normal routine. But doing that has great risks, compared to Lk. Wa. (And geez, look what happened to Ivo... in the Lake.) Anyway, Jay has spent the money to help mitigate the great risks, with winter sailing suits and accessories, and carrying a radio and flares.
CRAP, can still happen, like today at 3 pm... but today it worked out, cause of his smart preparation :)
 
And for me... Shoot, it was just another care-free sailing day :)
INCREDIBLE weather, AMAZING views or our awesome mts. so close by... beautiful, easy water, nice swells in the middle, smooth, fast. All smiles on great equipment perfectly matched to the sailing conditions :)
Greg -  
 

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To: NW-WINDTALK@yahoogroups.com
From: jay_odonnell@...
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:11:27 +0000
Subject: Re: wed noon report -- a most excellent day w/bonus Marine Radio Test!