Friday, April 06, 2007

today's frustration

I had some business to do at noon and so I got to the beach late.

The wind was extremely light. Only Jeff and Svein were out, but they didn't seem to to be catching any waves. Nonetheless, I rigged my sail, grabbed a board and sailed out.

As soon as I hit the water, I saw the the jet ski towing them to another spot at least one mile upwind.
You'll know what happened next reading the email I just sent them (didn't even see them afterwards):

I was launching from the beach just as you guys were being towed to that other upwind spot.
I got out there and tried to sail upwind, but there was no way. I caught one wave in (one wave caught me) and I broke my boom.

The beach photographer caught me while I was riding a reformed wave on the inside holding the sail with the mast and the leech, with the boom hanging off the clew... that may be an interesting shot...

I heard from the jet ski guys that probably they got one or two good shots on super glassy waves... damn, I wish I was out there with you guys!

Hey, are we trying again tomorrow?


Let me add that my right thumb, which I hit yesterday while SUP surfing, is getting more and more swollen as I type...
Well, not all days are great... even for ME!

I got to get over this stupid sense of frustration... I think I need a carpet session...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

why rig when you have a paddle for days like today?

Anonymous said...

I have a few min. before I have to bolt outa here to clock in not a minute past 0644 least I get docked 7 min. pay... that should make you feel better already... the idea of time clocks and accounting for your life in terms of minutes...
Anyway- howzit to you and my other imaginary friend...I wonder what Sharon did yesterday... she didn't post... hope you had a fun day Sharon!!!
So I just had to comment further... I sooo know what you mean by the driving courtesy on Maui... sometimes I go to Maui just to drive around and let people cut in front of me so I can be the receiver of the shaka or wave... I feel so much better about humanity after a few days of that and am ready to move on to other pleasures... In contrast- and not to be negative- just factual... over here noone EVER acknowledges your letting someone cut in favor... And when did things get turned around such that the person ASKING for directions is the one doing the other person the favor? Around here noone EVER even says thanks after you've stopped your train of thought, your bike ride, hike, walk to wherever... and answered their questions about directions...
And I sooo know what you mean about the warm Hawaiian air... sometimes I never even leave the airport parking lot my whole trip there... it just feels so good right there in the parking lot - there is no need to venture on! And what about those roosters? I just love it when they are crossing the street with their little chicks following in line behind them.... my first trip there I took about 200 photos of them... now I just get outa the car and stop traffic until they decide they are ready to cross - sometimes they just want to hang out in the middle of the road for awhile... on the mainland I'd probably get shot for stopping traffic... Also... I get so happy just just driving a couple blocks away from the airport - seeing all the trucks with the surfboards hanging out the back...and the windsurf gear...and kayaks... everyone so believes in having fun! And the sand! I would be happy enough just walking in the sand! But of course being in the water is the ultimate!
Well, a few more weeks and it will warm up and get windy here and I will force myself to windsurf here... Brrr! Waaahhh! Brrr! Although my QUOLI has different parameters because the day doesn't count if by the time you rig up your hands are numb and you decide not to go out after all.
Well, better get on the road so all the angry people can flip me off and honk while I drive the speed limit (vs. way over the speed limit...even though they can just change lanes it makes them feel better to flip me off and honk and tailgate...) Have a great day ya'll!
Eileen

Anonymous said...

Geez Elleen, even mellow folks here will get a little wigged if you stop traffic for chickens. They do manage to take care of themselves when you're not here (though there is the occasional road pizza). Still, nice thought.

I'm headed back to Portland soon and there will be a couple of weeks of recompression, where I learn to drive faster than 45, get irritated when someone in front of me is driving slower than the speed limit (as I interpret it) and never, ever let anyone cut in.

Hey GP, I still want to get together for a more expert version of the board test. Of course with the big swell coming in I suspect you'll be busy with other things.

I saw Laird at Jacques last night while I was having Sushi. He must be back in town without Gabby--he was just out with the guys. That's probably the most reliable indicator that there's some big waves coming.

cammar said...

Meesh, SUP or regular surfing would have been a much better choice. But *board had the SUP photoshoot with the athletes of their team earlier and they were done with it... they didn't call me for that... they got enough good surfers (Brian Talma is great surfer, for example)...
So they had the jet ski with the photographers in the water already and they wanted to try to shoot longboard sailing too... but, as said, I was late and I missed the ride from the jet ski...
But, just the fact that they do call me for the longboard sailing, despite the fact that they have people like Brian Talma, Scott McKercher, Kevin Pritchard, Levi Siver, etc... inflates my ego to astronomic levels.
I'd kill my mom for a photo on a magazine/catalog... how stupid is that?
Damn, got a long way to go before I become and enlightned/unattached person...

Eileen, I get every single word you wrote.
I think the chicken are too funny. They got such a bad timing to cross the road!
Stopping to let the people get in the highway is one of my favorite things to do too. It's a smile and shaka magnet. But I once I did something that gave me a 100% received shaka ratio. I'll have to post that photo again... remind me if I forget, please.
The airport. I've written this many times already. Getting out of the Kahului airport after my Italy trip is another of my favorite feelings. Specially if the trades are blowing, it's like receiving a caresse, a kiss from the island. I usually walk on the sidewalk towards the car rental offices (to get out of the crowd) and just stand there facing the wind with my eyes shut... smiling like an idiot. Well, I'm glad I'm not the only idiot...

Bill, I like your swell indicator... may be more reliable than the buoys...
I'd love to test your other boards too, but as you said the waves could be good enough for me not to want to miss out on the fun at any level (plus I might still have the photoshoot). Let's keep it an open project. Either we meet at the beach or if I feel I call you, or if you feel you call me. Maybe like this in a couple of months we'll get it done... maybe!

Yu-hu, radio rock in Rome is playing Billy Idol's Rebel Yell as I type... getting all pumped for the action...
And right after that, the Sex Pistols version of My way... fucking love those guys....
Allright, and after the Ramone's Blitzkrieg bop, I'm officially ready to rock'n'roll...

Anonymous said...

Sorry about your thumb bubba....MB