2025-09-08 Rufus - Jim Mudry Called it!

Blaine - a few weeds around the shore!

Kent got a message from Jim Mudry early.  The call was for Rufus.  Jim was heading there with his wife, leaving at 10:00.  Brad and Blaine went for coffee and bagels as usual, but moved their van so Kent could get out if he needed to leave early.

We all arrived at Rufus around 11:00.  There were people out and it looked windy, but not crazy.

Kent, Brad and Blaine all rigged 4.5m Sails.  Jim and Heidi arrived just as they were heading out.  Jim rigged a 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. for the two of them.  Heidi said that way they are all ready to go no matter what happens.

Ross sailed his 4.m Kite, and I rigged my 5.5 wing.  

It was hands down the best session of the trip.  There were nice, rideable swells, although not huge, and the wind was a bit up and down, but we were all foiling most of the time, and a bit overpowered some of the time.

We did most of our sailing either upwind or downwind, as it was very crowded in front of the launch.  It was interesting sailing because there were so many different kinds of sports all happening at once.  There was a single windsurfer, three kiters, a bunch of kite foilers, our three wing foilers, parachute wingers of various types, pump foilers, pump foilers with paddles, and one guy who looked like he had everything but the kitchen sink on this back with a backpack, foldable paddle, and a para wing.  All these different sports have take different tacks and/or reaches through the water, with the pump guys/gals coming pretty well straight down the river.  You really had to look in every direction all the time.

I think everyone had a lot of fun, especially when we were all downwind, out of the crowd, and sailing around each other.  We all had some great wave rides.  I was practicing keeping the wind down and turning back and forth on the wave switching hands on the wing with each turn.

Blaine

We came back to shore around 2:00pm for lunch and to take a break.

Our second session in the afternoon was good, but not as good as the morning.  The wind was a bit gustier and the swells weren't as lined up as in the morning.  There was a large thunderstorm which we could see to the West and North, over the crest of the gorge which was probably messing up the wind.  Brad looked at his radar and it showed a significant storm with hail.

Thunderstorm in the distance over the ridge

Kent said Jim took him further down the river and further up the river than he had ever sailed before.  At the end of the day, Kent sailed up to the Wall where he played around by himself for a while before heading home. He said he was pretty tired, and going upwind is easy - just hook in and sail with little effort!

Kent sailing the Wall.  (Red Dot off  the point towards the left 1/5 of the image).

Blaine sailed 71km, Kent 94, and I did 46 - pretty good for me!

What a day!

We took our time de-rigging, de-briefing and having a few beers.

Kickstand was the call for supper - good food as usual.

Early to bed - what a day!

You can see more photos on my Flickr site here.

Brad had a good day!

Ross - looking way too relaxed

Thanks Jim for a great day!