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Wind Tales
Wave Shredder
So there I was stuck at work looking out at a brilliant
blue ski and 60 degrees on a Friday, March 19. I checked
the pressures on the internet just for the heck of it and
found out there was a .17 Easterly between Troutdale and
the Dalles. I was about to call Wind Wizard to get
confirmation, it just didn’t seem right. Since I had
only thought about sailing considering the state of my
wetsuit I wasn’t really thinking seriously about it.
“beep”, I got an email. It was from Wind Wizard
unsolicited. “Dude it’s blowin 4.2 at Rooster
right now! Thinking about an early afternoon sesh?”.
I started warming up to the idea. Well it’s probably
warm outside and as long as I don’t fall in too much
I should be all right. I do have a half day off coming, hmmmmmmmmm, I’m going to do it!
I called Wind Wizard. “Hey man! I was just checking
the pressures when I got your email”.
“Too weird”, he says, “let’s
go”, I said, “well I got this lunch date, and
(blah blah blah) and I can’t go till 1:30”.
“I’ll meet you out there”, I said and
after much convincing he finally agreed, “OK,
I’ll see you out there”.
I bolted out the door, I’M FREE!, I thought. Was I
really going to sail? The waters only 42 degrees how cold
is that? I wonder if I should wear my shorty under my
full? My new booties kinda suck. Calm down, I
thought as my heart raced, you’re going to give
yourself a heart attack.
When I got home I didn’t know what to do. OK I need
my boards, no I need to load my sails first, wait
where’s my wetsuit?, that goes in last. I need food,
water, beer, and …?. After what seemed like way too
long it seemed like I had the necessities. By then it was
going on 1:00 and I knew I was pushing it even though
they said it was supposed to blow all day. Good enough I
thought as I locked the door, I was on my way.
It still seemed unreal. When I woke up I never thought I
was going to sail and now I knew I was even if I froze my
ass off. I knew I would not be denied. When I arrived at
Rooster Rock there were already three sailors out there.
It was sunny, warm and windy. One guy had a 4.7 and said
it was lettin up a little. I decided to err on the big
side and rigged a 5.0.
I launched off the bottom step and I was sailing! I
planed right out into the river and felt the familiar
rush and satisfaction of doing the one thing I love to
do. Even with plenty of wind it was a struggle to keep
from going downstream. Must be out of practice, and the
current, I thought. KAPLOOSH! I went in on a missed jibe
and really found out how cold it was. I could feel the
icy water seeping into the zipper of my wetsuit and
gasped as I freed the water from my sail. Within seconds
I was up and swore to avoid that at all costs. I decided
to go in for a break and see if I could do something
about my new booties that were squeezing my feet till
they ached every time I jammed them into the straps.
Surveying my gear at the car and I see Wind Wizard drive
in. “Hey dude! Wassup?”. I feel a little silly
talking like a boardhead since he’s a lawyer and
I’m a software engineer. “Rig up and let’s
go” I said, as I decided to stay with the booties I
had since nothing seemed better.
After about a half hour it seemed like I was really
working to stay upwind and in fact realized that I was
now downwind. Back and Forth I sailed hoping for a
resurgence of wind but to no avail. Pretty soon I was
aiming for the last staircase. I had no idea what would
happen to me if I didn’t make it since I had never
been downriver that far before. I just hoped that I
wouldn’t fall in again as the memories of the water
temperature haunted me.
Made it, I thought as I reached shore and relief swept
over me. I put my stuff on my head and went up the
stairs. I decided to carry my stuff back since it
didn’t seem that far but still took long enough to
hurt my head and neck. The walk of shame! I thought,
it’s been years! Oh well at least I wasn’t the
only one since one other guy had finished when and where
I did.
When I got to the car Wind Wizard was still there.
“What are you doing?”, I asked. “Going on
a downwinder, wanna go?”. I looked out at the river
and thought of the struggle I’d been through.
“No thanks”, I laughed as he ran down the
stairs with his gear. At least he’s getting wet I
thought as I watched him launch. I sat down and popped a
cold one, this is what it’s all about I thought as I
sat down to bask in the sun. I was a little tired and
thankful that I wasn’t at work staring at the
computer and hating life.
I watched Wind Wizard out on the river. He seemed to be
doing pretty good considering by now it looked at least
5.5 and he was on a 5.0. I probably would be doing that
if I were him, I thought. He disappeared out of sight
down river for a while. I wonder if I should be worried,
I thought and dismissed it as it was too nice to get
up and do something. Finally I saw him trudge up,
“How was it?” I asked. “Awesome!”, he
said and in some way I knew it was true even though it
must have been a struggle. We sat there and enjoyed the
moment and reflected on last years days, of the summer
ahead, and the great sailing days to come. I
couldn’t think of anything better.
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