We missed you today Doug. With a - 4.2 ebb flowing out of the Sooke Basin into what I estimate a 20 to 25 knot wind out of the SW we got to play in a sustained standing wave just off of Whiffin Spit. Michael Jackson brought his plastic Sirroco out to what the family calls "The Farm," and we launched from the bottom of the hill into the receding tide. I almost called Michael in the morning. Our weather station on the roof was recording 15 to 32 knots out of the S. But, I figured the winds would slacken by the time MJ arrived. I used my back up Werner (Dr. Gori Veckian) Paddle just to stay familar and to spare the foam core carbon fibre from the rocks. Combined with a new helmet that fits, pokies and the knife like edge of the aforementioned Dr. Veckian I suspected I'd be spending some time under water. My first static brace worked off side. Then the next, on side, failed and down I went. Set up and back on top. Notes to self, change paddle angle by rotating wrists inside those pokies, leave the brain bucket in the water even though it feels like a sinking ship, until the last possible moment and stay calm. Back out into the standing waves for some surfing. Waves were steep with a very short frequency making it hard to get on the face and stay there for the ride. Most of my best rides came from the edge of the the big ones. From there I could get on the face throw in a correcting stroke and still stay on the face. Right on the green wall any sort of correcting stern rudder would mean you'd slow just enough to let the wave slide away under you. >From there we headed into the rock gardens that were being pounded by wind waves from Juan de Fuca Strait. Careful timing was key. We worked our way out past Simpson, Company and finially around Possession Point. Lots of driving rain smacking us right in the face as the winds out here were likely a sustained 25 knots. We rounded Jackass Rock and cut in for the phony water treatment plant at Silver Spray. MJ lead the way down the surge channel to the beach at the end. He got bounced side ways once and I thought his greenland stick was going to get turned into fire wood, but he threw in a nice correcting stroke and sailed on in. I decided speed was my best friend and raced to catch the wave and ride one breaker all the way in. Hot tea, light lunch and back on the water. The winds had slackened and MJ broke out the sail. Major envy as he surf sailed back and I paddled, surfed, paddled, paddled, surfed, paddled my way back home. Threw in another on side skulling brace coming off a wave and once again got to do a recovering role. Ditched the pookies and had no more trouble until back on the beach. After a number of roles I tried MJ's stick. Very nice on side. So over to the off side, minor ice cream head coming on, bad idea, paddle not right, recover sweep up on the other side. Got to shore, out of the boat, land won't stop moving, dizzy. Recover and lug boats back. Great day. My apologies for the poor smelling, someone kilt my spel checker. Gordin Warner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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