Kites at Tsawa, late afternoon session on 7. 5m and twin. Overpowered , was nice to see sun go down in open patch. I think is the first time I kites in hail, was wondering for a while why is the rain so hard on my face ha ha. Last kiter finished round 5pm....some 9m kiters jumping big till 3, no wingers.....
Total survival on 67l and 3.5 sail. Either too much or slog in lulls. Shore break was crazy. I've never seen such big swell crashing at Locarno. Not easy to get out on windsurfing gear. I patiently was waiting for smaller wave and then race to water before next big wave crash. Few people had hard time getting out. Had sail and board that l've never used before, had to come back and adjust harness lines, straps on board and outhaul. Spend more time on beach than on a water.
First checked out Acadia, waves looked great but impossible to launch with high tide. Went a little further down just east of dog beach. Difficult launch still with big shore breaks and floating logs everywhere. Went out on 3.4. Felt like 10-45 knots and shifty, way overpowered at times and too little to even waterstart at others, super frustrating. Lots of debris and logs everyone made sailing sketchy. Did two reaches and found a safe spot to land down wind. Kicking myself for not making the early morning call at boundary bay.
Does anyone have any intel on Iona Beach, wonder if that could work on a high tide day like today. Someone flying out today took this around 1.30
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Had some great Iona session in the past, they seem to have clamped down on kiting there over the last few years though. You get some nice waves set up, not big maybe waist high at best but lots of fun. High tide launch is ok because you can launch in the grass in front of the toilets.
Ferry terminal was really good today. 7m-9m kites with everyone boosting big and have a ton of fun. So much stoke from everyone as they came off of the water. Was blowing good from 12:00 til dark.
Plenty of power with the 6M at English Bay. 400 meters off the beach the wind was pretty good but closer to shore it was stupid gusty and tons of logs rolling in the break. Probably could have kited longer but took advantage of a break in the debris field for a safe landing.
Had morning commitments so arrived at English Bay about 2 pm - Micheal had already checked Acadia and Upper Acadia - he was pumped at the size of the swell but said both were unlaunchable with windsurfing gear (high water, logs and shore pound).
Same story at Dog Beach plus super gusty wind and sideoff wind shadow.
Stopped at kite launch and rigged but plugged plug after Michael failed to get going (puffy wind left him at the mercy of the shore break) and all who had been out were thankful to be back on the beach saying it was more work and risk than fun. Rolling gusts (feast and famine) and reports of lots of wood everywhere was the final straw that keep me off the water.
Took at quick look at Jericho in my way by but not a fan of the chop at that spot so took a pass.
Disappointing not getting wet today, but still nice to be outside and see the energy of the storm in person.
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