Clouds over La Ventana Bay – something is brewing

Campers at the RV Park are preparing to move to high ground and shelter from the wind.  Several people left yesterday heading north in hopes of completely avoiding the storm.  Arriving early in La Ventana for the winter can be a dicey proposition since hurricane season doesn’t officially end until the first week of November. 

Several years ago Nancy and I were here the end of September when Hurricane Marty passed over La Paz only 30 miles to our west.  At the time we were in our trailer which we had moved off the beach and placed behind an 8′ concrete wall which we thought would block the wind.  We found out that when the winds are blowing over 100 mph, an RV is not the place to hide from the storm.  It was a frightening way to learn a lesson about the fury of Mother Nature.  The experience helped us in our decision to build a house built of steel and concrete with steel storm covers on the windows and doors.

Two days before the storm; blue skies, and great fishing.  Nancy with her Dorado

Since the first of October, we’ve had a few light wind days for big sails and kites, however last Friday we did have a taste of good sailing with a day of 4.7 – 5.2 and small swells.  One good thing is that the Dorado (Mahi) fishing has been outstanding.  We’ll keep you updated on how the storm affects La Ventana.  Good sailing, Gary & Nancy

David has been focusing on a draft forward design for several seasons.  This results in a sail that locks the draft in place, giving it an extremely light and balanced feel.  The reason behind this is simple; the draft stays where it’s designed to be.  If the draft moves in a sail it causes instability that you’ll immediately feel.  It’s especially noticeable in strong gusty conditions.  In a non-draft forward sail, when a gust hits the sail the draft typically moves back and results in uncomfortable pull on your back hand.

Draft Forward Design

The Ezzy draft forward design begins before the panels are sewn together.   Instead of sewing the straight edges together; each panel edge is carefully cut to a designed curve that when sewn together creates the desired draft shape along that panel.  It’s a challenging and labor intensive way to make a sail, but David Ezzy wouldn’t do it any other way.  It’s easy to see the draft forward design after setting the downhaul.  But setting the outhaul correctly is critical in keeping the draft where it’s designed to be.

Rig The Boom

Attach the boom at the desired height and lift the clew end of the boom and use the three strings at the clew to set the correct boom length for light, medium and high winds.  The picture is a 5.0 Panther.  Please notice that the minimum outhaul required, even for light winds, is 6 cm.  I’ve heard sailors say, “I just bag the sail out for more power”…please don’t do it.  The draft forward design requires at least the minimum outhaul.   As shown in the picture, the difference between the minimum and maximum outhaul is 3 cm.  Even at max outhaul the sail will still have noticeable draft, however from the leach forward along the battens it will be more flat than when set for full power.  Always pull the clew to the inside of the boom.  I’ve found that for the Gorge I set the downhaul once and then adjust the outhaul as needed as conditions change.

Another great season winds down here in the Gorge, and we’ll be heading to Baja soon.  If you’ll be in La Ventana this winter stop by the campground on a windy day and take a Panther for a test ride.  We’ll keep you updated on the Baja lifestyle.  See ya on the beach, Gary & Nancy

La Ventana Sunset

Helen from Denver decided she needed to add a Panther 3.7 for Gorge trips.

Sail Selection:  Although these tips center on the Wave Panther, they also apply to other models and years of Ezzy Sails.  First, before selecting a sail, know yourself (height, weight, strength, and skill level are all factors to consider before heading out).  Each of us has developed a personal style of sailing that helps us enjoy and sail comfortably…sailing relaxed is much more fun than fighting the conditions or your rig.  I’ve found that long time Gorge sailors have learned what sail to use and how to rig it for certain conditions.  Using myself for an example, I’ve found on a full-on Gorge day, I’ll rig a smaller sail with near maximum downhaul and use the outhaul for tuning the power I want.  The Gorge seldom has steady winds, and the difference between the lull and gusts is usually: lull X 2 or even greater.  So when iwindsurf shows an average wind speed of 25, lulls 15 and gusts to 35, that’s not unusual.  Being a lighter sailor (158 lbs) I’ve learned that sailing a little smaller sail is much more comfortable and fun.  It’s also taught me to be more efficient since a smaller sail is better for me in the high winds, but not in the lulls. But other sailors rig big and pray for the lulls.  Consider your personal preferences and rig accordingly.

Setting The Downhaul:  If you check the downhaul numbers printed on the bottom of the sail you will notice that the difference between minimum and maximum downhaul length is only 1 cm.  Always adjust the top strap or the length of your extension so that maximum downhaul brings the pulley as close to the extension pulleys as possible.  David has designed the sail to be rigged in this position for best performance.  Set the downhaul before attaching the boom (the exception to this rule is the Infinity) and watch the leach between the 2nd and 3rd batten from the top of the sail.  The looseness will travel from the leach towards the mast as you increase the downhaul.  It’s important to understand the wrinkle doesn’t travel in a perfect arc centered between the battens.  Focus on the three downhaul marks in the center of the panel and watch as the wrinkle moves from and through the light, medium, and high wind marks.  The correct setting is when the wrinkle touches the mark, not above or below it.  The #1 question I get on the beach is, “what does correct setting look like?”  It’s a fair question, and here’s the best way I have found to see it.  Place the sail on a flat area with the tip of the mast and the two top battens touching the ground.  Then gently lift the mast base up and down while watching the downhaul marks.  Lifting up and down will let you see how far the looseness extends in as the short leach batten moves up or down through the marks.  Most sailors find that setting the downhaul near the high wind mark works best for the Gorge.  If you like riding a more powered sail, set it toward the middle mark.

I’ve found that setting the downhaul is a once a session proposition,  I then tune the power I need with the outhaul.  The outhaul setting is crucial to enjoying the balanced smooth power the Wave Panther is known for.  I’ll cover that in Part 2, but here’s a tip for setting the outhaul.  If the Panther ever feels heavy or unbalanced…increase the outhaul.  This also applies to the ‘07 and ‘08 Special Edition Wave.  See ya on the beach, Gary & Nancy   

iwindsurf wind graph for August 7

I was at Doug’s for 3 of the reasonable days this past week and connected with several sailors who had heard about the new Panthers and Freewaves, or had already added them to their quivers and just wanted me to check how they had rigged their sails (I’m more than happy to do it).  Monday I met Laszlo who sails the Gorge in summers and southern California the rest of the year.  His go to sail for the Gorge is a 4.7 Wave Panther, which he says, “felt completely comfortable as soon as I left the beach and feels very light and balanced”.  When not sailing in the Gorge he sails Topanga, Leo Carrillo, and County Line in southern California.  It’s down the line wave sailing and he’s planning to get a 5.2 and 6.3 Panther Wave for the lighter conditions created by winter and spring clearing winds.  Laszlo loves sailing and is serious about his time on the water.

Laszlo sails the Gorge and Southern California

I meet a lot of sailors who make the trip from Florida each summer.  The Gorge is definitely the gathering place for summer windsurfers.  Monday I met Hot Rod from Key Largo who sails Ezzy SE Waves and was anxious to try the Panther and compare the two sails.  “It definitely has the Ezzy wave sail feel.”  After making a few reaches the wind kicked up a notch, but Hot Rod stayed out and was having a blast in the building swells.  Later he said, “Normally I would have changed to a smaller sail, but with the Panther they have a lot more range than the old SE.” 

Hot Rod from Key Largo loves Doug’s Beach

I always enjoy talking with sailors who sail other brands and share what they like about their sails….then take out an Ezzy.  Bob from San Francisco is a great sailor and has been on his current brand for 12 years.  He took out a 4.2 Panther for a long test ride in the building swells and ramps.  Back on the beach he shared his impressions of the Panther.  “The conditions were really up and down, but the sail handled it very well.  It depowers well on a wave, but still has the power for going big off the ramps…fun, fun, fun!”

Bob sails an Ezzy for the first time.

Ezzy Airtime at Doug’s Beach

See ya on the beach, Gary & Nancy

Rock Creek Launch 

Rig your sails in the shaded grass area behind your van and walk through the tunnel access under the Interstate to the launch area.  Launching and sailing here is user friendly compared to many Gorge sites that can be damaging to both equipment and sailors.  The Columbia is nearly a mile wide and there’s a  6 mile straight fetch to the west, which can give sailors some swell and great ramps when it cranks.  Barge traffic isn’t an issue since they pass near the Washington shore.

Parking area with rigging behind the cars on the right.

 Windsurfers are a diverse group of enthusiasts and I always enjoy meeting and talking with sailors on the beach.  Today was no exception with sailors from Colorado, Florida, New York, and Wyoming joining in on the fun on the water.  John from Colorado had just purchased a new Gorge quiver of Panthers moving up from ‘98 Ezzy Waves…yes, the Ezzy reputation of durability is based on fact.  John’s impression of the Panthers: “Much lighter,faster/easier rotation and effortless water starts”.  He also added Ezzy RDM masts which his daughter and wife love.  Hey, when you’re married to your sailing partner, it’s always good to make sailing more fun and enjoyable for them. 

John with his new Panther.

Neil is a teacher from New York and has made the cross country drive to the Gorge for several summers.  He doesn’t own Ezzys, but was more than willing to put them to a test and share his impressions.  I’m always interested in feed back from non-Ezzy owners; it’s also helpful for David Ezzy in his quest to design and build the perfect sail.  Neil’s years of sailing the Gorge have helped him develop a smooth and powerful style.  After 45 minutes he returned to the beach and shared his thoughts:  “Very nice sail.  It has a better low end than mine, and with just a little pump I’m gone.  For a wave sail it’s got a good top end and goes up wind well…great for on-shore conditions.  On the wave face it seems very soft and forgiving.  I’m very impressed and would have to say it’s the perfect wave sail.”  Thanks to Neil, John, and everyone else for sharing a great day on the water at Rock Creek.  If you’re looking for some elbow room and a friendly place to sail, give Rock Creek Park a try.

Neil’s a Gorge regular from New York.

The good news is that the heat is gone and the winds have returned.  The last two days have been 30+ at eastern sites from Dougs Beach and beyond.  I’ll post a report on my Dougs demos by this weekend.  The wind is blowing, get out there!  See ya soon, Gary & Nancy

July in the Gorge is prime time for sailing.  Just count the number of empty parking spaces at the Hatchery on a windy day…there aren’t any!  I did a rigging clinic with some sailors which was at 10:00 am and had to park across the highway in the over flow lot.  Last week with temps in the 90’s the summer pattern of wind in the central Gorge was in place.  From The Hatchery to Dougs the winds were 20-30 for several days.

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall swells

in a single bound…our Saskatchewan sailor on the Wave Panther. 

 I met a fun group of Canadian sailors from the prairies of Saskatchewan who were here for their annual windsurfing holiday.  Doug was excited to try the new Panther and took out the 3.7.  It was quite entertaining listening to his buddies’ critique his moves on the water.  The Canadians I meet on the beach always seem to be having a great time.  Doug was impressed with the balance and power of the Panther, “I liked the older Ezzys I’ve sailed, but these are definitely a sweet ride, I love them!” 

Ed is styling on the 5.2 Freewave at Dougs Beach.

Another sailor on his annual trip to the Gorge was Ed from southern California.  He put the new Freewave to the test at River Front Park in Hood River.   He found the power and range of the new Freewave to his liking.  His 92 liter board and the 5.2 were perfectly powered in the gusts with enough float to get through the lulls.  It’s only one reach across the river to the swells at the White Salmon Bridge…and much less crowded than the Hatchery.  The City of Hood River has done a great job of adding access with a dedicated swimming area, rock climbing wall, windsurfing rigging and launch, plus new restrooms.  It’s located just west of the Event Site and the Luhr Jensen building.

The hottest days of the summer have a strangle hold on the wind in the Gorge this week, so hopefully I’ll be back on the beach with demos this weekend.  The southern Oregon coast has been the place to escape the heat and sail.  Check Russ’s blog for some great video and report from his trip to the south coast.  See you on the beach soon.  Gary & Nancy  

Blow’n Smoke here in the Gorge means that the wind is blowing the tops of the waves horizontally up river.  It happens when the wind speeds are averaging near 40 with gusts to 50+.  Few places in our windsurfing world provide sailors an opportunity to test their skills and equipment in these conditions, but isn’t that why sailors come here in the summer?  It can be a rewarding and humbling experience at the same time.

This past weekend, as a cold front approached the Oregon coast from the Pacific Ocean, low marine clouds filled the valleys west of the Cascade Mountains.  Saturday the wind was centered in Hood River and moved east late in the day.  But Sunday with temperatures in the high 90’s over the east side deserts, the pressure gradient was off the charts.  Savvy sailors headed east of Hood River on Sunday for an expected epic day…no one was disappointed.  From Doug’s to 3 Mile Canyon the winds started the day in the low 20’s and steadily increased all day…by 5 pm Arlington was averaging 45.

Sail selection for the demo at Doug’s was simple; just rig the 4 smallest sails Ezzy makes.  It was the perfect day for sailors to test the 2.9, 3.3, 3.5; and the 3.7 Panther was never off the beach after noon.  The answer to the most asked question of the afternoon: “sorry Ezzy doesn’t make a 2.5″.  Shelley (see the last blog post) from Hood River brought out her new quiver of small “Creamy Smooth” Panthers, and rigged one sail for the day: 2.9.  She’s a quick study and had it rigged perfectly in just a few minutes.  She told me that one thing she’s noticed after sailing them is that she’s more relaxed and comfortable on the water, which has increased the length of her sessions. 

Eric doesn’t have a chance to use a 3.3 in Minnesota very often.

I had a chance to reconnect with Eric a long time customer from our days at Windance Rentals.  He lives in Minnesota and spends most of every July sailing the Gorge.  He took out the 3.3 Panther for a long session and returned to enthusiastically report that, “I was perfectly powered on a 3.3…and that has never happened before.  In the past sailing a small sail has always been a struggle…not very relaxing and fun.”  Another sailor to try a small Panther for the first time was George from Utah.  He took out the 2.9 and joined Eric for a late afternoon session in the huge swells and blowing smoke.  By 5 pm the crowds had thinned and in typical “Doug’s fashion”, the wind jumped to the peak of the day.  Half a dozen hard core sailors shared the swells and ramps of a classic Gorge evening.  Eric’s impression of the 2.9 Panther, “This is the first time I haven’t been thrown over the bars on such a small sail…it was so controlled and nice!”  What can I say; it was an interesting and truthful assessment.  There are a couple of things that I would like to pass on about rigging the Panthers for Gorge conditions.  I’m finding that most sailors like the downhaul rigged more towards the high wind setting, then set the outhaul between the middle and longest string (depending on wind strength).  A couple times sailors have come back after the first run and told me the sail felt a little heavy…which it shouldn’t.  But by adding just a 1/4″ to 1/2″ seems to always make the sail feel balanced again.  Adding a little outhaul can make a big difference in performance and give you a balanced feel (David’s goal). 

Utah sailors can rip.  George puts the hammer down with the 2.9.

Great sailing, see ya on the beach soon, Gary

Sunday afternoon at Windfest – Event Site, Hood River

Shelly from Hood River gave David an insightful evaluation of the smallest Panthers.  I think that demo’s work best when a sailor can sail their sail and immediately come to the beach, switch to the same size Ezzy and head back out.  This is what Shelly did with the 2.9.  And when she came back to the beach, her reaction was simple but telling, “creamy butter!”.  Of course David asked her to clarify her reaction.  “They had a smooth and balanced feel on the water.  The power was smooth turning down the face of a swell, and continued after jibing…the power up was very smooth.  They are much more predictable and controlled than my sails.”   David appreciated her feedback and spent several minutes talking with her about tuning the Panther for optimum performance … one of his favorite things to do.  If you’re a high wind sailor the new small Panthers are definitely worth a test ride.  I’ve got them in the demo fleet, so let’s connect in July and August.

Windfest

The Columbia River Windsurfing Association hosts the gathering of manufacturers and sailors at the Hood River Event Site.  The light winds on Saturday provided an opportunity for sailors to check out all the gear, attend clinics, and even get on the water on a SUP.  Little did we know that the mellow wind on Saturday was going to be followed by a perfect Windfest demo day on Sunday.

Ezzy sailor Rolf from Puget Sound shows David Ezzy the adjustable outhaul he designed for his Freeride.  David is always interested in making tuning and rigging easier.

Sunday morning was sunny, warm, and the wind was building.  Anxious sailors were waiting for demo sails when I arrived at 8:30 … you have to love the enthusiasm of early morning sailors.  Starting with the 7.5 Zephyr in the morning and ending with a 3.5 Panther in the afternoon, sailors kept us busy until 5 pm.  The Infinity, Freeride, Freewave, and Wave Panther were all taken to the party.   Even the kids joined in on the fun and put the Ezzy Kids Rig to the test.  It was a great day on the beach and water for the whole family, and with 50 to 60 sails ripping across the Columbia, the sport we all love seemed healthier than ever.  Thanks to David, Tim from Groundswell, and Dave Nunn from Windance for making Windfest the perfect start of the summer season.  Hope to see you at the beach soon.   Gary & Nancy

The next generation Ezzy sailor

Just  part of the learning curve.  Actually mom was on the other end of the safety rope tied to the board.  He was fine and was back on the board in a flash.

DJ gives me the vip tour, actually everyone’s a vip at Jibe City

So what’s the sailing like?  First, forget the wetsuit…a Lycra top for sun protection and shorts is all you need.  The crystal clear warm water is what most sailors from northern latitudes dream about.  Unlike Aruba where the winds are off shore, here there side to side on-shore, which is much safer for the progressing sailor who’s working on staying upwind, getting in the foot straps and harness.  It’s one of the reasons ABK uses Jibe City for several camps and clinics during the year.  The water conditions range from smooth to small chop water that is mostly waist deep for several hundred yards from shore.  An outer reef blocks the bigger waves, which makes for a comfortable and confidence building place to sail…the perfect place to sail with friends and see who’s fastest.  It’s well known by freestyle windsurfers world wide as the perfect venue for learning and tuning your moves.  The Jibe City staff includes some top ranked sailors who are ready to help with gear selection, or sailing tips.

Taking a tour of the bay.

Fortunately there was just enough wind the morning we were there for me to sample the Jibe City hospitality.  A 6.3 SE and a 105 liter board had me skimming above the white sandy bottom.  The water is so clear that it takes a little adjustment to not worry about hitting your fin.  The shallow areas near shore have been roped off so it easy to avoid those areas.  With fish darting back and forth beneath my board and flocks of pink flamingos flying over head, it’s easy to fall in love with Bonaire. 

The shallow areas are well marked, but not the tourists wading in the bay.

Thanks to DJ and his outstanding staff for sharing their Caribbean Paradise.  Jibe City is a first class windsurfing destination with an excellent selection of gear (the new Freeride 3 would be my sail of choice here) and service to match.  There’s even a beachbar on site with great food and refreshments.  If Bonaire sounds inviting, DJ will help you put it together…equipment, accommodations, lessons, clinics:  www.jibecity.com or info@jibecity.com

A perfect place to relieve the stress of traveling.

It’s the Canadian holiday in the Gorge this weekend, with the big swapmeet at Windance on Sunday.  I’ll be at Windance in the mornings so stop by and check out the new sails from Ezzy.  Good sailing, Gary & Nancy

There are still a handful of sailors enjoying the final windy days here in La Ventana.  Most visitors are heading north by mid March, so as the weather and water warms into April, the crowds thin out in the campground and on the water.  It’s relaxing when you know the name of every sailor you see during your session. 

It’s been a windy winter in Baja this year, with some unexpected great days starting in October.  Even though November had more fishing than sailing days, the Norte’s returned in December and continued through March.  An added treat was from mid-February through March, when we had several 4.0 days.  My usual sail size is 4.5 to 5.0 with only a couple days of 4.0 for the season, but this year I was reminded of some great days in the Gorge last summer day after day.  Another bonus of the stronger winds was testing the range and performance of the Panthers in higher winds…they are SWEET!

A special part of sailing in Baja is sharing this wonderful place with other sailors.  Sure, we all love to windsurf, but for us it’s even more fun when you can share good times on and off the water with friends.  Thanks to Dan and Val from Bodega Bay, California for sharing their rigging tarp and front yard with us at the south end of the RV Park this season. 

Dan & Val in their front yard.

We met Dan and Val several summers ago when we ran the rental/demo center at Windance in Hood River.  They were both enthusiastic sailors who had the determined passion that we all had while learning to windsurf.  We helped them select their first quiver of Ezzy sails from over a 120 rental and demo sails at Windance’s Labor Day weekend sale.  A couple quivers and a few years later, they are usually the first on and last off the water on any windy day.  They are living every Windsurfer’s dream.  They are stoked about the new Panthers, and represent the heart of David’s passion for building his sails.  It doesn’t get any better when you’re married to your sailing partner who uses a half meter smaller sail.

Dan and Val have sailed ‘07 and ‘08 Special Edition Waves, so they were eager to try the new Panther and see the differences.  They’ve been sailing the Panthers for the past month, and here are their impressions.  Dan’s thoughts:  “The Panther has a lighter feel while sailing than the SE.  And it’s so smooth to power up after a jibe.  At times on my SE, the batten would pop as I powered up after a jibe…but that’s gone with the Panther, it’s just smooth from one tack to the other.  The Panther still has the power I loved in the SE, and when it’s blowing hard and gusty, the range in the sail is incredible…a quick adjustment of the outhaul is all it takes.”  With a big smile on her face, Val added,” I love the Panther!  It is so smooth and effortless, and rigging is really easy, especially with the outhaul strings…it would be hard to get it wrong.”

Gary, Dan & Val…Panthers rule in La Ventana!

So there’s the latest from the beach in La Ventana.  We’re enjoying our last few days before heading north back to the Gorge next week.  Three hundred new Mexican friends have joined us at the RV Park this weekend for Easter.  It’s a tradition in Mexico to spend Easter at the beach, so it’s always an unforgettable celebration of friends, family, food, and music…with time off to sleep from 5 am to 8 am…then it starts over.  I’ll be doing demos again this summer in the Gorge, so stop by and try the new sails from Ezzy.  If you’re in Hood River on Sunday April 19th, don’t miss the Windance Swap meet.  They will have some great deals on Ezzy sails.  Good sailing, Gary & Nancy

No Explantion Needed!