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The forecast for today was great, but I ended up with a lot of client work that needed to be done right away and it started to look like I wasn't going to make it out. Man, was I one testy dude! We had a club meeting scheduled for the evening, so I knew I couldn't get out late and sail until dark. PANIC! Finally, about 2pm I was able to get out.
I got to Grassy to see that it wasn't blowing as hard as I thought it would be. Mike was on his 4.7 and Richard B. was on his 5.0, as was John. This would normally mean that I would be on at least my 5.4, if not a flat 6.6, but everyone was on the beach and said they were overpowered and they all said I should try the 4.7, so I did (4.7/32, Carve 111). By the time it was rigged I was really regretting it, but I went out anyway.
I slogged out about 100 yards, hit a puff and the rest is history. I think the 4.7 must be more like a 5.5 because it has a motor on it! I was comfortably powered and chasing and sailing with Mike on his 4.7 and Richard on his 5.0. The weird thing? The day before, in 20 knots, Mike was on his 4.7, Richard his 5.0 and I was on my 6.6!!! Now it's about 5 knots higher and I'm cruising on my 4.7. I don't understand it, 4 knots difference and almost 2 full meters in sail size. Both days, I felt fine.
I'll say this, though: that 4.7 is fun to jibe. I had several of my best jibes ever today. Just flat out screaming coming in, during and coming out. I almost panicked once when I came out of a jibe on a full plane and was off bouncing along the other way before I could get into the straps or harness. Man, what a feeling. It's a huge difference to jibe it compared to a bigger sail.
Man have I become a pussy. Air was high 70's and water mid-70's and I'm still in a full suit, and a warm one at that! I used to wear shorts in the depths of a Montana winter and sweat in snowstorms, dammit!
The wind died after about an hour of BAFing fun and drag races, but it was worth it. I no longer was about to bite anyone's head off for saying "hello"!
We had a club meeting, too, and it went over pretty well. Some guys from Dallas were in town and came to our meeting and shed some light on a few issues. We had a lot to cover and it seemed like everyone had something to say. It was really great, because the sailing scene seems to be coming to life here and people are excited.
Check out the event calendar if you plan to come to Corpus.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ccwatx/cal
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