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The wind was great today, but I didn't have a great day. That is awfully depressing, because I had looked forward to a good strong day for about six weeks. Over the last two months I've had a lot of commitments and wasn't able to sail when it was windy, and it wasn't windy as often as usual, either.
The wind was very, very consistent, which is rather rare for Bird Island and when the wind is N/NE. It was raining steadily but not heavily. First I went out on my 6.6. John B.'s anamometer read 15-19 knots, but he went out on his 5.5 and was totally powered, so the 6.6 was the call, and it was a bit much to handle! The first couple of runs were okay, as I was fresh and my protective glasses were clear. After a couple of runs, though, the 15.5 inch fin was too much, and my glasses were fogging and spotted with rain. I came in and took off the glasses and put in more outhaul. The outhaul part I did in the water, near shore where I usually do things like that. This time, though, I could barely touch (in what is normally about belly-deep water -- that's how high the water is).
One run without my glasses was enough, as the rain was pelting my eyes and causing my contacts to move around. So, I came in and put on a baseball cap, along with my old Protec helmet (because I can wear a cap under it). That was a lot better.
I was still getting worked on my 15.5 inch fin, though, so I came in to put a smaller one on. A couple of weeks ago I lost a fin screw and the replacement, I now find, only works with the 15.5, not the 14.5 or 12.5. I tough it out, but am rapidly tiring. I finally come back in, build up the too-long screw with some washers and put on my 12.5 inch fin. Much better, but I'm still overpowered (though the wind doesn't SEEM that strong). I came in and rigged up the 5.4. By now, I'm come in about 6 or 7 times and that's been sapping my energy more than anything (and my full wetsuit, which I'm not used to wearing).
The 5.4 was much better. I was in better control and just really, really going fast. This was to be my undoing. After about 15 minutes of ripping, I head into a jibe at full speed + 2 and lost control and wiped out. I think I spun out backwards and caught a rail, but it all happened so fast I don't know for sure. I was going about as fast as I've ever gone, though. I skipped across the water a few times and tumbled and came up disoriented and with my head hurting. Something happened to my left ear, so I just waterstarted (after a short swim to my rig) and went in to wrap it up. I wasn't sure what I'd done, but I suspected a blown eardrum, so I didn't want to push it.
[It turns out that I was right, a Monday morning doctor visit tells me I have a hole in my left eardrum so I'll be off the water for a few weeks]
[reading April 2008 update: turns out I was off for about 5 months because my doc botched the patch on my blown eardrum.]
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