2025-09-03 Foiling on a No Wind Day???

Kent - Running on Empty!

Kent and I left Ritzville around 7:30 thinking that the forecast was nothing so why rush.  All was good until I took a wrong turn in Pasco and toured  the town before returning to the highway.  I had been listening to the climax of the fourth book in the "Thursday Murder Club" and thought Google was telling me to keep right when it was actually telling me to veer right...  I  usually pause my book when I have some turns coming up, but the book was pretty exciting....  Anyway, Kent waited for me at Roosevelt.   

It was eerie when he pulled in and the place was entirely empty.   The river was way up, all the way to the stairs, and it looked like not many people had been using the launch.   The water was very calm, but it looked like there may be the occasional white cap on the far side.  Kent got excited.

Empty Parking Lot - no one there....

We headed off again with Kent saying let’s stop and Maryhill, maybe we can sail!  As we turned to go down the hill to the Maryhill park entrance and across the bridge, there was a flurry of traffic and I ended up about 10 vehicles back and behind some big trucks.  I guess Kent was joking about stopping as he blew by the Maryhill exit leaving me playing where’s Waldo for a grey truck.  I didn't see him turn in, but he could have while the traffic was blocking my view.  Do I turn in or not?  Eventually I spotted his truck way up ahead on the bridge....  The water was like glass, so I can see why he wasn't anxious to stop...

As we got close to Hood River, the river didn't look very exciting and I didn't see anyone on the water, but Kent pulled off at Moiser.  He really wanted to get out on the water.   There was one Kiter out and a guy rigging a 7.5m Windsurf sail.  In a panic Kent rigged his 7m and big front foil thinking he would at least get wet.  I went back to the Moiser store and bought a sandwich for lunch.

I got back as Kent was almost finished rigging.  I rigged my 99L board, 945 foil, and got out my 8m wing.  I almost beat Kent out onto the water...  got to love wing foil's.

Kent

We both had a pretty good session, but the wind kept increasing and it wasn't long before we were both over powered.  My darn watch went to pause mode and I didn't notice it until it so half my session wasn't recorded...  I guess it didn't happen.

Ross joined us and went out on his 5m kite.  He had a good session, but then re-rigged to his 4m.  When the 4m became too much, he decided he had sailed plenty for the day.

Ross

We both came in to re-rig.  Kent went to his 6m and 800 wing.  We went back out again and were immediately over powered again - the wind just kept coming up.  We both stayed out for about another hour.

I came in exhausted.  Kent changed to his 5.2 for a short session, but was way over powered, so came in and rigged is 3.9.  There was almost nothing left in his truck.

Kent went out for another hour or so.  He said the wind settled down and he had his best session ever.

I took some photos, but the wind was better upwind and on the other side of the river, so I didn't get many.

Ross mentioned that he had forgotten to bring beer for the de-rigging session, so after packing up my gear (and putting my bike back on the rear of the van), I went back up to the Moiser store and bought some beer and chips for the boys.

Ross and I sat in the shade while we waited for Kent.  He finally limped back to the truck looking completely beat!  He had foiled almost 100km using 2 wings and 4 sails.  What a day.  He collapsed on the grass.

Almost everything in Kent's truck was on the grass by the end of the day!

We had a couple of beers and talked about what a great day we had.  It was even better because our expectation at the start of the day was for no wind at all.  Ross and I sat and watched Kent de-rigging everything and trying to fit it all back in his truck...  Wings and Kites are so easy.....

We ordered Thai for supper and Ross made a salad.  What a great day to start our week.

Kent

Kent - Great Day!

Ross

Moiser Bat Box

Note from Al back home!!!

Harold, Vadim and Al were in a funk about not being in Hood River with the guys so we headed to Brad's place to stand around on big equipment trying to get planing.  Then the switch turned on at 4:30 for some 4.8 sailing on his small board for Al, while Harold and Vadim stayed with 5.3 and 5.6 sails.  A great day for us!