Good morning!
This week’s report is brought to you by Gath Helmets. I’m going to be frank. I’m sick of people dying while windsurfing and kiting. Most of those deaths happen because people get knocked on the head, pass out, and drown. Don’t be a statistic. Get a helmet. Check out some of the cool styles from Gath here.Gath helmets are thin, light and close-fitting. You’ll barely notice they’re on, until you smack your head (or someone runs into your head) and you realize you’re still alive. I’ve been wearing my Gath for years, and I’m still around. I probably shouldn’t be, the way I sail. Buy one. One of the people on the email list is going to win their choice of a free Gath helmet this week. That’s a sweet prize, I think. (and if you’re not on the list, subscribe by clicking the donate button below for a suggested $10 donation.)
First, I want to say thanks to Chris (no, I don’t know his last name) for giving me the final tally for the windy streak. He says we had 19 days in a row of sailable west wind, with at least 5 days of sailable easterlies before that, before this round of easterlies kicked in. We’re starting a new streak today, with east winds from Home Valley down to Rooster Rock.
With an upper level low over the ocean due west of Oregon, gradients are a little stronger this morning. We’ll see 18-22 today near Stevenson, and possibly down at Rooster as well. As always, get the easterlies early before they get gusty in the afternoon. If you’re going to be kiting or windsurfing in near Cascade Locks today, be prepared for lots of sailboat traffic for the alternate course for the Double Damned race.
Tomorrow looks less windy, with 15-18 mph easterlies, dying early in the afternoon. The wind looks very light Monday, as temperatures climb near 100 degrees, but westerlies and cooler weather should return on Tuesday.
Coming up this afternoon, it’s the King of the Hook longboard freestyle contest at the Hook in Hood River. Come check out some longboard moves, along with some crazy costumes. If you don’t have a longboard, that’s okay, because Big Winds is providing free demo boards for competitors. There are tons of prizes, including gift certificates to Mike’s Ice Cream. Registration is free, and starts at 5pm. If you don’t windsurf, come down and check it out, because it’s quite a show.
Don’t forget that there’s a welcome home party for Mike Jacoby tonight at his house in Underwood from 6-7pm.
And finally, tonight at dusk, there’s the free, outdoor movie in Jackson Park. This week it’s ‘Return of the Jedi’. That’s a movie that will appeal to everyone, so I expect to see all of you there this evening!
And finally, on Sunday, there’s a bikini car wash at the British Pub at 1pm to pay for Claire’s stolen 5 meter gray Slingshot Fuel. If you stole the kite, you can drop it off at 2nd Wind, no questions asked. The rest of you, get your car washed on Sunday!
Boaters, the White Salmon’s right around 2 feet and the Klickitat’s at 850cfs.
Have a great day today!
Temira
p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list ‘til May 2011, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors.