Lac Ste Anne - Alberta Beach
Al's Report:
I don't know, it's a bit cool; I'll go if you go; Do you think it's warm enough? etc.
So finally Vadim and I convinced ourselves to go sailing at Alberta Beach. After all, it wasn't snowing. Harold wimped out, or something like that.
Turned out rather well. I sailed on a 4.8 sail and 85 liter board, overpowered at times until I couldn't feel my feet anymore. Vadim sailed his 5.6 sail until he started to cramp up. We had a couple of hours of great bonus sailing to end the season. Ross and Matt were kiting on smallish looking kites.
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| Al sailing his 4.8 at Alberta Beach - looks cold! (Thanks Vadim for the photo!) |
Ross's Report:
One last update. Kited 5 to 7m on Sunday and Monday at Alberta Beach. Too windy for foiling on both days. Temps were not terrible but still quite cool, about 7 to 8degC both days but sun was generally out which helped a lot. Decent swell since the wind was steady and lasted through both days.
On Sunday there was quite a crew of kites, about 8 over the course of the day including Matt and I. Monday it was Matt and I.....and two windsurfers, Allan and Vadim joined in for a few hours, Allan on his 4.8....keeping it old school before the cold got them.
I was hoping for a kite on Thursday, but the current forecast is too cool, snow in the Mountains, Calgary on the weekend, etc. It seems like without a very late year heatwave, that about wraps the local season up.
Surprisingly, it was actually quite a good season. Four windy trips to Keho/OMD, a spring drive to Camrose to watch the wind foilers (no kiting), a few great days at Pigeon on the water...and in the hot tub; lots of mornings or afternoons out at Alberta Beach, some late-year kite foiling, and of course the fall trip to Lac La Biche.
Thanks to Ted for keeping the blog going, to Brad for his hospitality at Pigeon, and Jim and Handre at Lac La Biche, and Brad for the organization.
Sorry that the kite crew never got out to Wabamun to visit. It may have been for the best, as getting one kite stuck in a 10m tree, is enough for a year.
See everyone on the frozen water, be it snowshoes, X-country skis, downhill or kite gear......coming soon to a locale near you.
Harold's Excuse:
I feel like I let down the team on Monday, but my rotator cuff was bothering me. Maybe it had something to do with sailing my 6.1 on the previous Tuesday when I should have been sailing my 4.7? Definitely falls into the “just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean that you SHOULD do something” category. Also falls into the “stupid” category. Anyway, I’m trying to make up for it by mountain biking every day. I plan to overtake Blaine’s mileage, but at the speed, I go, I had better still be biking when I’m 100.
Wabamun Lake - Jim's Place
Ted's Report:
I have made it a rule, that if people email me a report, I will post it, but I am not going to chase down the evidence on Strava, Garmin Connect, Facebook, etc, and try to piece together a report. I spend enough time on it as it is. In this case, however, I guess I will make an exception.
Sunday morning my phone started to overheat with all the text messages it was receiving. I'm not sure why I am on this string, but I am....
Jim S - Blowing solid 4.2, perhaps 3.2?
Jim S - White caps brilliant in the morning autumn sun, shore to shore.
Cynthia - I see that... just got up... we need to set up a rescue water craft...maybe just push the seadoo down by the lake on the trailer...and put some gas in it? Just getting a fire going here.
Kent - Wow. Looks windy windy!
Kent - I will have breakfast and head over.
Kent - Let me know when you all are thinking of hitting the water!
Cynthia - Cam is still in bed... I'm just making pancakes... I'm trying to work up to the idea... it looks cold. Maybe 11:30? If Cam finds out you are on the way I'm sure he will pop out of bed...
Kent - Later is warmer and I don't think this is an all day event. (Post liked by Cynthia!)
Kent - Txt me if he goes nuts and starts rigging.
Blaine - Good morning all. My car says 4 above. Not sure about windchill. Wear Skidoo Suit. (Post liked and laughed at by Cynthia!)
Cam - I'm just looking for my Skidoo suit!
Jim S - We've established a cold weather alert and assistance protocol.
Jim S - Get your butchinski out here!
Jim S - and into the lake... Really???
Unknown Number (587 xxx-x742) - I'm Coming! I'm Coming!
Presumably, they all got in the water, because the texts all stopped at this point!
I did see on Strava that Cam, Kent, and Blaine all had at least one session. I don't know about Cynthia, Cam, or anyone else.
Kent's comment was that "There was way too much wind for the water temperature!"
Blaine commented that he was overpowered on his 4.2 and it was a bit chilly - then "That's a wrap for this year!"
Dried Meat Lake - Ted's place
Ted's Report:
I sent some time Friday in my wetsuit, up to my neck, while taking out our dock and hoist. I decided then that anymore sailing this year would not be fun if there was any chance that I would be spending any time in the water.
The decision for Sunday and Monday was pretty simple. It was stupid windy - decided not to go.
My weather station is now pulled onshore and is partially sheltered behind some trees. It registered gusts of 70kph on Sunday, so it would have been quite a bit higher on the lake. Monday the gusts weren't quite as high, but the spread between the average and the gusts was greater.
Over the next few days (Oct 13 to 17) I have watched whitecaps on the water every day. Unfortunately, the temperature has also been close to zero, and while the water is still "soft" I felt no desire to get into my wetsuit and head out!
Call me a wuss... Maybe I missed it.... Looking forward to sailing in 2021. It has been a great year!
Epilogue:
As I write this, a week later, I look out the window and there are whitecaps again! Looks like 5.6m on my Stubby...... No.... I don't think so!
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| Cold Whitecaps! |
