just an observation

skyhigh · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 58

I've been sailing the Gorge since 83' and the wind has seemed to change. In the 80s and 90s it would blow from morning til nite now it seems the switch can turn off at any time. Ungorge like??

iacmoderator · Joined: 23 Sep 2000 Posts: 19

15 years ago I used to be able to sail in the gorge all day for weeks on end. Now when I sail for more than a few hours I tend to get very sore and need to take a day off. Do you think this is due to global warming?

ericandholly · Joined: 20 Jun 1999 Posts: 292

in the 80's and 90's I used to sail from 8 am until dark. Now I kite from 11 am until 5--June/July/August

Shredder33 · Joined: 13 Jun 2000 Posts: 13

I would bet that all in all the gorge is more choppy on the sides due to silting. Doug's is the best example of this, that place breaks me down. Thinking that the river has only been damed for a few decades, it's easy to think that things are constantly changing on the bottom, it's probable only going to get flatter and choppier. Also ocean currents change and that affects the whole summer, sometime it's really windy sometime it blows every day moderately. in a nut shell every year is different! Makes for an interesting ride. Today was good at the hatch though!

WMP · Joined: 30 May 2000 Posts: 671

hilton08 · Joined: 02 Apr 2000 Posts: 505

The Gorge is still windy.

16 days in a row of West winds over 20 by my calculations.

Gusting over 40 at Doug's right now.

Does anyone else need a day off?

WMP · Joined: 30 May 2000 Posts: 671

There's no question that it's still "windy" here in the Gorge.... the observation of the OP was simply that the wind has "changed". Also came the observation that swell has "changed" as well.

GuyT · Joined: 13 Sep 2002 Posts: 182

Don't know about windsurfing in the 90's, but sure thing, disco music sucked and inspired the worst board graphics ever. Please guys, get rid of that "old school" stuff and fluo wetsuits that we still see around. Wink

The wind, this year? For me, 25 days wind stretch (June 19 to July 13), 2 days break and than another 15 days stretch. Can't complain.

ldhr · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 121

The wind has not changed - your windsurfing equipment has changed.
In the 90's we had gear designed in the gorge by people who lived here everyday.l We had sails and boards specifically designed for the gusty conditions.
We had Hurricanes, Northwaves, Rushwind, Sailworks, Gorge Sails.
Dill, O.O., Cascade, Zephyr, Eric Shroeder, Preister Built, Bailey.
They're all gone now and you're sailing on stuff designed for Japan and Hawaii.
With the new sails you hit a ramp, jump high,,,, and then fall like a rock.
Also - these sails don't have the low-end to glide thru the lulls.
Solution: If you think things were better in the 90's, upgrade your gear to stuff that's designed and built by Gorge sailors.
Rig big and stop whining.