Da Meadow twice, once with Mustang

 The Tri-Fins were coming out.

 

The Cell phone pics are not the greatest; but they capture the spirit of the day.

 

Saturday, 11/25/10: It was the first "glove Day" for me. Cold, short and sweet at West Meadow. The wind came up hard; so the kiters called it a day. I hung on for as long as I could. But in the end, only managed two hours before my forearms gave out. I hung onto my 5.5 overpowered, and over downhauled for as long as I could, because I was too lazy to come in and rig down. It was interesting: the wind had a lot of west in it. So the south east corner,[notorious for clean waves with light wind], was actually the breeziest spot that day. WM was definitely the call. I was going to try RM5 again. But Mustang convinced me otherwise. Good call by Steve.

Mustang Steve, catching air at Da Meadow. Photo by Steve Domjan.

We still call him Mustang. Although for years, his preferred mode of transportation was a tricked out red Mustang.  Now he drives one of those boxy Honda Elements that look small, but you can still fit all your gear inside. {it helps that most boards are shorter today than they were in the 90’s]. He’s married with two kids, but he still has that Mustang; with a NOS system and ready to race. He is a high school teacher living in Long Beach now. So he surfs nearly every day it’s good. When we get together to surf at his local break, we refer to it as Camp Mustang. It’s not just that we are paying homage to the various Maui breaks. It’s because sailing, or surfing with Mustang; makes you better. He is always dishing out helpful, useful advice. Maybe he’s just a born Teacher. But every surf, or sailing session I have with Steve, I come back better then I was before. It’s like having your own private coach. If it was not for Steve, I would not be half the windsurfer I am today.

Steve at West Neck. Photo Pete Roesch

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Going for air at the Gorge

One more West Neck Pic, by Pete Roesch.

 Saturday 12/04/10: I was going to drive all the way out to Tiana. But heard from Jon that he and Mike B. were lit up on their 5. somethings.
I pulled off the LIE at exit 62 and went north to Da meadow. I arrived to a disappointing sailor, alternating  up and down between fully powered, and under powered on his 6.2. He was on the outside.

In the flats Jon & Mike were planing on their 5 inch fins, big flat freestyle boards and high 5 sails. I wanted to sail; so I rigged my 6.9 Ezzy, and the 125 ltr Angullo. I was powered from the start. Then as the sun moved closer and closer to the horizon; the wind speed increased. [I am getting just too much practice sailing overpowered!]. Again, we only had about one hour of sunlight left as the wind went ballistic. Not enough time to walk all the way back in, [yes, walk]; I don't feel like breaking another board on the sand bars; thank you. As it was; I did hit bottom once, and was treated to a ride over the handlebars. And that was WITH a weed fin. The only kind you should use at WM, unless you have an unlimited bank account.

So, I down, and out, hauled my 6.9 till the leach was so lose, David Ezzy would have had a coronary...and I sailed till I could see no more.

God, I love this time of year. My only complaint would be Sunset  at 4:28. If it wasn't for the short early days...Steve and I would be sailing right now.