Let The Season Begin! Windfest Demo Days- June 27, 28

Even though local sailors and a few early visitors have been sailing the west winds of the Gorge since April, the official start of the summer season is celebrated with Windfest, the weekend before the July 4th holiday.  The week before Windfest David Ezzy was in the Gorge for a week of skiing at Mt Hood in the mornings and joining me for demo’s in the afternoons.  Doug’s beach and Celilo Park provided winds of 25 to 30+ in the late afternoons, which enabled sailors to get out on our smallest sails.  For most sailors survival is the goal when the conditions require a 2.9.  (I doubt that many sailors outside the Gorge even own a sail of 3 meters or less.) 

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.

Bonaire - Caribbean Paradise May 13, 2009

After a winter of sailing in Baja we decided a change in scenery was needed.  I had read the stories in the windsurfing magazines about Aruba and Bonaire, so we decided it was time to explore the southern Caribbean.  The winds in Aruba were light so we didn’t have a chance to sail.  But the winds returned for our stop in Bonaire, where we met Dirk Jan Methorst (DJ), owner of Jibe City.  Jibe City has been a well know sailing destination on Bonaire for many years.  DJ purchased the business from the previous owners two years ago, and is passionate about making Jibe City the best windsurfing destination in the Caribbean.  He’s lived on the island for nine years and has chosen this island paradise to build a successful business and live with his family.

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

Great Season Ends in Baja

Great Season Ends in Baja

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!

Los Barriles Road Trip & Demo - February 18, 2009

Windsurfing’s early days in southern Baja were centered in Los Barriles.  Beginning in the mid 80’s windsurfers discovered that southern Baja was a warm and windy place in the winter months.  It didn’t take long for sailors from southern California to British Columbia to discover that you could drive to great windsurfing rather than fly to Maui or the Caribbean.  And a huge plus was that once you crossed the border, you could camp on the beach and sail from your front yard.

Ezzy Demos Baja Style

Today you’ll find sailors and kiters enjoying the sun and north winds of winter in Los Barriles, but La Ventana is where the majority of wind enthusiasts spend the winter.  The area just north of town is called North Beach with plenty of room for both kiters and windsurfers to play in the swells of the Sea of Cortez.  Los Barriles’s location on the East Cape of Baja provides it with consistent rolling swells generated by several hundred miles of open sea to the north.  Arguably La Ventana has more consistent thermal winds, but the swells are seldom as good as Los Barriles.  Another plus with Los Barriles is much smaller numbers of sailors and kiters, which is not the case in La Ventana as it has grown in popularity.  During the recent KiteFest in La Ventana there were nearly 200 kites and sails on the water during peak windy periods.

Kay Tames the Panther

We were welcomed by a friendly group of Los Barriles sailors as we set up our demos at the south end of the beach near the campground.  We quickly felt at home with several sailors from Hood River and Vancouver Canada, stopping by to check the new Ezzy sails.  A little high overcast was holding the wind down, but most sailors were making it work on 5.2 to 5.5.  Kay was eager to give the 5.2 Panther a workout, and compare it with her non-Ezzy sails.  She lives in Los Barriles, but spends July and August sailing in the Gorge so she’s a serious windsurfer for most of the year.  After a long session she returned to the beach and was eager to share her impression…“this sail is so fun; it’s just awesome!  I usually don’t enjoy sailing anything over a 4.7, but the Panther feels so light compared anything I’ve sailed in this size range.  It would definitely increase the fun factor for me in lighter winds.  What I really noticed was how easily the sail powered up after a jibe…just sheet in and go.”

A Happy Test Sailor; Kay

Jeff from Vancouver also took out the Panther to compare it to his trustworthy vintage 1996 Ezzy 5.4.  When I saw him come in on his 5.4, I thought it would be fun to get his impression of the Panther.  His ‘96 was in great shape which reflects the durability of Ezzy sails.  It was late afternoon and the wind began to back off so his session didn’t last as long as I had hoped.  He’s a good sailor so he made it work as long as he could.  “I loved the sail…it definitely is lighter and feels faster than my 5.4.  It feels different, and after more time on the water I’m sure it would get it dialed, but unfortunately the wind is backing down.”  Maybe David will add his thoughts, but I would expect that there are major refinements in draft location, seam shape, aspect ratio, and materials from ‘96 to 2009.

Jim Tests the Latest Generation Ezzy

It was a great road trip to a place I hadn’t sailed since 1991, and with the new paved road from Los Planes to San Antonio, Los Barriles is just an hour from La Ventana.  If you are coming to La Ventana stop by the south end of the RV Park for a Panther test ride.  Time to head to the beach for another day of full on 4.0 and big swells here in La Ventana; February has been WINDY, good sailing, Gary & Nancy

Baja Winds Welcome The New Year - January 17, 2009

(this post is late due to problems with our satellite internet service)

This is why we come to Baja in the winter; with great wind 11 of the past 12 days, the only complaints are about sore muscles and a few blisters.  Most days have been 4.2 to 4.7 with lighter sailors on 3.5 to 3.7.  The new Panthers have been getting a workout from sailors eager to try David’s newest creation.  Over 25 sailors attended our clinic and we had a great time answering questions ranging from rigging various Ezzy sails to the new Technora cloth in the Panther.

La Ventana sailors are eager to check out the new Panther.

Two weeks ago I read a post on the iwindsurf forum asking “what year Ezzy wave sail is your favorite”.  It was an interesting mix of ideas and opinions from sailors who have owned various years of the SE.  I thought it would be informative to have Ezzy sailors here on the beach try the new Panther and then share their thoughts.  In an effort to keep the sail as the only variable in the test, I had the sailor take out their sail for several runs and then switch to the same size Panther…same board, boom, harness lines, wind, and water conditions.  Here are some thoughts from my real hardcore Baja sailors.

The first sailor out on the Panther 4.7 was Wendy from Penticton, BC, Canada.  She and her husband are on the water for nearly 200 days a year; summer in the Gorge and winters in Baja, they are dedicated hardcore windsurfers.  They’ve been Ezzy sailors for years, so Wendy was comparing her 2003 SE to the new Panther.  Her are her thoughts.  “I’ve never really liked sailing our 4.7, I usually just wait until I can get out the 4.2.  The 4.7 seemed to feel over-powered pretty easily.  But from the first reach the 4.7 Panther felt unreal…it was perfect!  I never felt over powered, and it was easy to waterstart when I missed a jibe.  The ‘03 always seemed heavy when waterstarting, and that’s probably the reason I avoided using it.  The Panther’s power was so balanced and smooth in the turns, I loved it, and it’s time to upgrade our quiver.”

Wendy discouvers that a 4.7 can be FUN!

My second test rider comes to Baja each winter from Shuswap Lake, BC, Canada and is a La Ventana regular.  He chose a perfect 5.2 day to compare his ‘06 Ezzy SE with the new Panther.  The first thing he noticed was… ” the harness lines and boom height was exactly the same on both sails.  Both sails have the smooth power I love in my Ezzys.  The one thing that immediately felt different was that the Panther has a lighter feel and not as much snap after making a jibe.  There is no doubt that its an Ezzy, just lighter and even smoother on the water.”  As much as I talk with sailors about the new Panther, I always tell them “the truth is on the water”…so stop by the south end of the Park on a windy afternoon and try one yourself.

Jim checks the Panther’s tuning with the always helpful JD.