Swim. Went to
West Beach to check out the out-of-season wind bomb. Arrived to find manageable fun-size waves and 6m-4.5m kites out, but it seemed really light on the inside (and measured about 15 mph). Rigged 4.5/92 but wind backed to almost nothing just after my first launch and I was eventually rolled off and swam in. Wind rebounded once the cloud line pushed inland, but never settled in close to the beach. I would launch, feel like you just about made it out to the wind, rolled off by breaking wave, swim in, walk up the beach, and repeat. Felt like I spent more time swimming (and protecting my rig from the shore break) than sailing. Just after I derigged the wind bomb arrived and getting off the island was bit of an adventure with spray on the water crossing the Deception Pass Bridge, power lines swinging around, trees trunks twisting and branches getting ripped out of trees. Half expected to see Dorothy. Glad when I made it back to the calmer conditions on I5.
Pre-Session OSRGallery (better for mobile devices)
SlideshowRedemption. As I drove north on I5 I had resigned myself to just taking a sunset look-see at White Rock East Beach and forgo checking out
Birch Bay until George's text arrived (windy and small waves). Prefect timing as I was at the second Birch Bay exit! Arrived to see George taking to the water with his surfboard. I scrambled to rig 5.3/115 and get out there to enjoy the mini-peeling waves. Sideshore to sideoff wind (gusty at times), jumping in both directions, organized lines of water (over the large flat reef), mini-down-the-line rides to port, and hints of a point break. This is close to the holy grail of DTL I have seen locally. Wind was stronger than I thought and there was Eel Grass, so came in for a quick pit stop to grab 4.5 and stubby weed fin - much better. At the very end swapped back to the 5.3. George (surf), other (SUP) and myself (windsurf) enjoyed the sunset session well into the twilight and derigged in the dark. Super fun to actually be able to sail and bonus of clean face mini-DTL rides, even if the set-up was 'backwards'! Many thanks for sharing the session George!
Gallery (better for mobile devices)
Slideshow