Saturday, March 1, 2008

Party At Carmines Island

March came in like a lion today at Carmines Island. Fifty degrees F and about 25 knots from the West. I'm sure we set a site record for number of riders in attendance; 4 windsurfers and 3 kiters, plus Chris Coyne taking pictures and a bunch of local lookers-on. Not bad for a dead-end road in a piddling rural county in the middle of winter. Representing the windsurfers were Glenn Woodell (left), Keith Knight (middle), and me (right). Jeff Shipman showed up later when the wind died.



Glenn Woodell is SO the man.



Keith Knight was cool for driving all the way up from Hampton to sail at our little spot. He was killing it out there with his 5.0 sail and Starboard Carve 80l. His blue nitrile gloves even matched his board. This duck jibe didn't go quite as he planned, though.



I had a good time with a 4.25 sail on my F2 Style 250. And I totally planed out of this jibe... NOT.



The kiters there were Paul Dovel (the guy with the orange volvo), Macke (pictured, can't remember his first name), and another guy from Richmond (can't remember first OR last name).



The kite guys were riding 9 meter kites at the very edge of control when they started, but then the wind died down a lot and they got dialed in better. When I left they were hooting and hollering in perfect kite conditions.



I'm aspiring to get lots of dissertation work done tomorrow and Monday, but I have my eye on Tuesday for a big Southeast Wind "party" at the York River Seafood launch.

11 comments:

Paul Richardson said...

I'm so frickin jelous! I heard it blow through the trees while I glassed the nose of my board. Now, it's sand and fill... It won't win any board beauty pagents...

Outdrsmn said...

You all looked like you were having a good time out there. Next time I will bring my gear. I'm pretty sure I will get thrashed if it is in similar conditions. No pain no gain, right?

Chris

Catapulting Aaron said...

looks like a pretty killer sesh!

Roboshredder said...

I wish I could have stayed longer. When I left James was still ripping it up.

James Douglass said...

Yep, it was a righteous session. I'm especially stoked that it was recorded for posterity through outdrsmn and roboshredder's photographic efforts.

I'll see you dudes on the water again soon. XD

Matt Whalen said...

James, these are the best pics yet. You gotta get together with these cats again.

Anonymous said...

In the Netherlands the conditions were very good from january till now, with very high winds on the first of march. The location where I surf is not at sea but on the lakes. But als high winds that day on the lakes 35+ knots.

James Douglass said...

Matt- Thank, man. Yeah, I gotta get out there again and do some photo-worthy stuff for the blog.

Niels- Glad to hear you've had good wind this winter, too. It seems like windsurfing is very popular in the Netherlands! I hear Dutch women are attractive, too. Maybe I should move there.

Waterturtle said...

James, Great to see you guys scored. We're getting some of that wind down here in NC. Perhaps we'll see you in OBX in April at Windfest!

PeconicPuffin said...

Looks like a great day!

Jimbo JimmyJamesJimbobbin'...in your jibe photos, shredding photos etc your nose is often high out of the water. Gotta keep the MBP on during those jibes if you want to fly out!

See you next month...

James Douglass said...

Puffin Michael- Ah, yeah, MBP. Maybe I can work on that in the Pamlico Sounds at the windsurfing blogger summit. :)