[Paddlewise] yellow eyes/white knuckles(sailing trip report)

I was having a little off list chat with Mark earier and he was so kind 
to remind me of my remarks about getting up early and breaking camp to 
avoid the wind.:-) He went on to say if I used a sail more(my words, not 
his)that I might advoid the rush. I had to smile when I read his words, 
as he is right of course. Wind is only a problem when we fight it and not 
use it.
Anyway, this is a trip report from early this spring, long before anyone 
else starts using the local lakes. I had written it for a couple of my 
paddling buddies, so it is just a quick report, intended to only keep 
them abreast of my simple overnighter and the test of a new sail I had 
just finished sewing. I enclude it only to show Mark that even I can take 
advantage of a early wind. :-) That and to show a small window of the fun 
a sail can add to kayaking.
Please also don't get too excited about reading into the part about the 
wind and all. Inspite of what the words seem to say, my only concern was 
not getting water slopped on a camera and a 2M radio that was unprotected 
on the deck. The "boat" was a folbot super. 2000+ miles and going strong.
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Just got in and got the boat unloaded and thought I'd check the e-mail
"quickly". 87PW!!!! Thought I write a quick line about the trip. I see no
sence in writing a normal trip report, seeing as how we have all "been
there, done that".

Had to be back here this evening so changed my plans and went to the ft
instead. Glad I did.

Parked at the same place and water was still high. Wind out of the SE and
light. Paddled for a few minents then put up the sail and was rewarded in
just enough wind to push me along at a clip faster than I was paddling. I
didn't realize how fast I was going until I passed a bouy at close range.
Whow! That thing fairly flew by.

Exploried the north side of the lake and even got out acouple of times to
hike.(losts of extra time with the sail) Lots of white pelicans, ducks,
cormerants, and great blue herons.

Set up camp in rock canyon. It is the last major cove before you enter
the pecos river. Nice spot, but the wind seems to blow there all night.
It didn't disappoint me.

Picked the perfect spot to sleep. Really compfortable all night. Awoke a
million times during the night and was seranaded by great horned owls and
coyotes. Each time I opened my eyes, I could look toward my feet and look
straight at the north star. I just watched the big dipper do a half
circle in the sky.

Morning was really foggy. Everything was dripping wet, but the wind was
quite and the sun burnt the fog off with the first rays.

I forgot to mention that I watched a mule deer feed while I climbed the
ridge to talk to Roxie(HAM radio). I also scared up a "poor will". Only 
the second
one I've ever seen. They were special to the indians.

As I walked a short distance from camp this morning, to "do my thing",
emagine my supprise, when there in the clay and sand, was the fresh
tracks of a mountain lion. Yep, while I lay there looking north, just to
the south of my head was something watching me! I lay my knife beside the
tracks and took a few pictures.

As I paddled out of the cove this morning, in almost no wind, I noticed
the color(of the water) to the west change. The wind was going to come 
early. I had
planned on heading up the river some, but the wind changed all that. I
raised the sail and started out across, and down lake.

Amazing how fast a placid looking lake can change! In no time the waves
got higher than my boat and the tops were blowing off them. I was in the
middle now and the only thing to do was to hold to a course that would
hopefully take me upwind slightly of the pickup. The spray skirt was on
the forward half and I was trying to decide on what to do about getting
it back the rest of the way. Also the sail was full size and I would have
reefed it, if I would have known it was going to do this. As I thought on
 this, I just zoomed along and noticed that I was staying dry. Every now
and then I would catch a wave just right and start to surf it. Then I
would fall in its valley and wallow abit. The waves were coming at my
starboard side with just a tad of rear quarter.

About 3/4 home, and just getting the hang of steering with a combunation
of the sail and rudder, here comes a jet ski. It is blasting across the
waves like a mad man, jumping like crazy and heading straight for me! I
was thinking, "now what could this idiot want?"

Pulling up just short of a collasion(I wasn't going to alter my course),
I saw it was the "ranger". He was coming to "save me"!! I told him I was
fine and didn't realize that it was bad out. He said they didn't like
small crafts out in a blow like this. I thanked him and said I'd be
alright.(I had just barely luffed the sail)

By now the wind(apparent?)was coming more from the north than the nw.,
and I was almost running with it. I decided to blast by the pickup and
pull into the shadow of the island to take the sail down.(besides, there
was this girl on shore watching me) :>)

To my supprise, on the lee of the island was a , a, yes, it was a bright
red coleman canoe!! It looked like a viper or one of those white water
canoes, from a distance. I believe they called it a something "X"??? They
were from CO and this was their first canoe and the first day on the
water. They had got caught in the wind and almost lost it on the rocks
trying to get around to the lee side.

I got my sail down and they followed me back to shore. Nice folks! The
canoe had some really nasty gouches sp? in the bottom, but he didn't seem
too worried. "said it was really strong stuff" I took picture of him and
his canoe and he did the same with mine. He had never seen a folbot and
said he never even heard of them. "his wife said she knew of one, and
that the people had sunk it after tearing out the bottom on baricles"
These people must not realize that ANYKIND of hull likes water better
than rocks and stuff! :>)

Well, that's about it. I now know that the darn thing will go MUCH faster
than I can paddle. 18 mins across, from the extreme north west end of
lake to the camp. Would have taken me 40+ mins, and that would have been
constant pumping.

Need lee boards, so I can play in all directions.(and hold a course
better)

Need to finish unloading.

Aleut gets to go next.
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Pretty boring by real "sea" kayaking standards, but it sure is quite and 
peaceful in this neck of the woods.

James, where the season has just started.


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