S1 – SUP – Long Beach (Jul 1)
Orange is the new red. Canada Day 2021. Full circus at the 8:45 sailing from Horseshoe Bay, but made it on with a reservation. Quick stop at Cameron Lake – water was super warm – I guess 40 degree heat will do that. Ethan enjoyed the beef burrito from Porto Taco – said it was the highlight of his day. Lot of orange shirts including those hanging in the trees on Highway 4 west of Port Alberni. Did a few quick surf checks and campsite checks (for future reservations) but decided to set-up camp and opted to set-up camp and aim for the evening glass off due to the onshore wind. Lots of stuff open again – showers at Long Beach Campground and Incinerator parking lot. Seemed a treat to be there again – parking, rigging with a view! Not a big fan of more pavement and less green though. Not quite a full glass off (some of the onshore wind lingered), but the conditions were gentle, playful and fun! Warm water, sunshine and singular background south swell made for easy paddles out and clean, predictable chest-high targets. Slack high-tide seemed to make the wave steep enough to catch even when not entirely in the right position. Got one nice open three-hit right that made the whole day worthwhile. Not epic, but very nice! Great to back on the island again!
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S2 – SUP – Long Beach (Jul 2)![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51288228190_7f9e4bfb40_z.jpg)
Wyndansea. Second round same as the first, just a little rollier, windier, cooler, and frustrating – at first. Decided on a exploring Wyndansea after a round of surf checks – North Chesterman (flat), South Chesterman (only the pocket working), Cox Bay (modest and BUSY), Wick (confused and dumpy), Flo (parking lot circus). After exploring decided on Long Beach. Glad I start on my go-to board (AllWave 120 8’3” x 31”) as it was a challenging set-up and would not have been a fair baptismal ride on my new-to-me HyperNut 106 (7’4” x 30”). Looked good from the beach but the side-onshore wind and current was stirring things up and was combined with a mixed swell (direction and size). The wind started to puff up to the point I was headed in to grab a rig to SUP sail and then it glassed off. Time to try to the Hypernut – paddled out better than what I was expecting and was fun on the wave (allowed for a couple of late drops, agile, and had lots of drive in the mush even when the wave didn’t). Salmon burgers, French beans, and salad sunset dinner at the campground.
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