CD and Scott were naysayers. CD (aka Christopher Lord Chimpleton, Duke of All He Surveys) said there was too much wind and the waves too muscular for a good paddle.
Scott (aka Chimply Lord Scotworth, Earl of Kielt) went even further. “I say Nay,” he said.
But I had not wielded a paddle since late August, Jonathan had great expectations of Sunday’s swell, and Jeff was his usual eager self, so after surveying the big beautiful waves rolling into Tiana for about ten minutes, we put boards to water and paddled out. We were maybe 200 yards from shore when we spotted a head-high plus set approaching. Jeff jumped up and down like a little kid…he could not contain his excitement.
It took Jon and Jeff a few tries before they caught their first waves…the offshore blow called for special tactics. Jeff and I watched Jon come down the face of a mighty nine-foot wall of water…it was great fun just to watch.
As for me: I’ve been windsurfing for eighteen years, so if I didn’t sail for a few months I’d get my groove back in a minute or two. I’ve been SUP surfing for one year, and taking two months off meant I forgot much of what little I knew. After 20 minutes of catching nothing I thought “okay, maybe you don’t catch any waves today. At least you’re back out. Enjoy it, watch and learn.” Then I caught a modest five footer going left. Okay, I haven’t completely forgotten how to do this. A little later there was a speedy ride right on seven feet of “Get the heck off before this puppy closes out” (which I did). My third and last wave of the day was a mediocre right by normal standards, but I was more than happy to have caught any of them, and as Lord Chimpleton often says (when he isn’t saying Nay): “The day is so beautiful and the waves so magical, ya just gotta love being alive!”
Can’t say nay to that.
(Top: Jonathan eyes the mackage. Bottom: Jeff salivating at the site. Stylized photos by Christian, who windsurfed the bay side of Tiana yesterday.)
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