Magic Windsurfers Sailing Reports page

Sailing Reports

	Date	Report and Photos or Video clips
#38	Sunday, October 26, 2008	We showed up at the lake around 2:30. The wind kicked in really good, 25 to 35 with a peak of 40 mph. Both Mark and I had sails that were too big (5.2 and 4.7). We both could have gone down a size. For a brief time the temperature hit about 70^o but was down to 62^o when we left at 5:30. We had nice smooth water but the water is much colder now. Three sailors and one dangler. The dangler is starting to get some serious hang time. Jim watching the antelope on the slope. Photo by Marc D. click here to see album from October 25, 2008.
#37	Tuesday, October 7, 2008	I showed up at Magic a little after 3:00. The wind was still up and down a lot. I hit the water around 3:45 on a 6.5. After about 1/2 hour I was powered up 95% of the time. I got overpowered towards the end, about 5:30. No gloves or hat, temperature was around 68^o, chill factor 61^o. It was mostly sunny, 2 windsurfers and 2 kiters playing around. There were lots of fishermen on the bank and one boat. The lake's up high enough to launch on the East side with a windsurfer now. Marc D. took the following photos: Chris G. getting ready to launch Jim W. and Chris G. Jim W. Chris G.
#36	Monday, Sept. 22, 2008	Marc and I sailed for about 2-1/2 hours. It was sunny but cold, around 61^o when we arrived and about 58^o when we left. Marc had a 4.7 rigged, I was on a 5.2. We had some lulls in between the gusts. Planing about 75% to 80% of the time. Bob launched from the east side with his kite but it's still not deep enough there for a windsurfer. The water has come up 1 to 2 feet since they shut off the canal and river. click here to see Marc's excellent sequence of Bob P's kiting jump
#35	Wed., Sept. 10, 1008	It was 78^o and sunny when I showed up about 4:00. The lake is not as bad as I was led to believe by Chris' report. It is very low and I saw one stump, barely above the water line. It was the B.D. stump, the one that folded him years ago. I sailed on my 5.7 for 2-1/2 hours steady on nice smooth water. 2 kiters, one on a 9 m and the other on an 11 m. I was able to park out on the point in the middle of the lake. The wind was 20, gusting to 30. click here to see photo album (5 photos)
#34	Thurs., Sept. 4, 2008	Report from Chris C: I arrived to Magic at 4:30 to a good southwesterly and not a soul in sight. Launched from the Myrtle Point boat ramp on a 9M kite and stayed powered up for a full 2 hrs. A little variable at times, but the flat water in front of the boat ramp made up for any funny business elsewhere. Couldn’t understand why no one else was out playing until I slashed a turn towards the north end of the lake and kicked up a spray of mud followed by a great crash in about 6 inches of water and 2 feet of gunk. Natures camouflage aside, it was a fun solo session.~Chris C.
#33	Wed., August 27, 2008	Magic goes big. I hit the water at 3:40 on a 5.2 and came right back after one reach to put on a 4.2. Out in what little canal is left there was some good swell. Stayed powered and overpowered until 6:30. Sunny, 75^o, 28mph gusting to 37. Peak wind was 46mph. Chill factor 70^o. We had smoke on the water and smoke in the air. Click on the photo to see the slideshow of Marc's great photos, capturing the action.
#32	Tuesday, August 26, 2008	I went to the East side. Big Mistake. The wind was coming from the south-southwest. i had to make 8 reaches to get to Myrtle Point in the smooooooottthhhhhh water. I was over-powered on my 5.7 for the first hour. Marc had on his 4.7. I think the wind backed off around 5:15. It was 74^o and sunny. Chris G. came down around 4:30 with his kite. Doug and Wayne sailed after the conditions went bad. Photo by Marc D.
#31	Monday, August 25, 2008	Today's forecast didn't pan out well. I talked Marc into going down to Magic on a gamble. We rigged 6.5's and hung out until 3:45. The sailing was good during the windy time, nice smooth water, temp. 92 and sunny. There were two other sailors, too. East side will be a bad launch by next week. Mark and I sailed out of the Myrtle Point boat ramp.
#30	Thursday, August 21, 2008	As the front came through Idaho the wind kicked in just as the forecast predicted. The west side boat ramp is on it's last leg and by the middle of next week Myrtle Point will be the only boat ramp. Wind peaked around 3:50 pm at 39 mph. I used a 5.2 sail. The wind in the gusts had a lot of pop in it. I got slammed, spanked, slapped, folded, jacked up and spit out. I saw 5 windsurfers and 2 Dingle Danglers. Temperature was mid 70's, mostly sunny. Wind, 17mph gusting in the 30's. Sailed the upper part of the lake and didn't have that sewer smell.
#29	Saturday, August 2, 2008	Saturday was sunny and 85^o. 16 mpg, gusting to 28. I used a 5.7 and the wind started backing off right after I hit the water. A 6.5 would have been a better choice. I sailed from 5:00 until 6:30. There were 3 sailors at Magic while I was there.	this is why Jim doesn't take many photos Marc D. sailing out of focus and out of the frame
#28	Wed, July 30, 2008	Chris tunes his strings while Mark streaks by
		BT and Mark W.
		Chris C.
		Chris C.
		Report and pictures from Marc D.: Early afternoon had the strongest and gustiest winds of the day while Mark W., BT and I were out. I was on a 4.7 (just right for me) The other guys, a little bigger. When the kiters (Chris, Chris, Justin, Bob) showed up it was fading but steadier. By the time Doug and Matt arrived, it was dropping faster than they could re-rig but they managed to get a few rides in. April sailed from the East side and got stuck in the dead zone. Chris G. scored lots of karma points by rescuing her. Note received late Thursday from Mark W.: Hats off to Chris G for rescuing a windsurfer. He gave up a good hour of tea bagging for one of our own, THANKS CHRIS
		Bob
		Chris off to save April
		Matt and Bob
		Mark W.
		Chris G.
#27	Sunday, July 27, 2008	report received from Chris G: Arrived at the lake around 4:00 to find Mark there with gusty up and down wind. Went with the 14m kite and should have stayed on the beach. It was truly tragic magic, over powered to no wind finally the kite fell from the sky rolled three times and I did the swim thing. Justin rescued me in the inflatable. Maybe Wed. will be better. Three kiters and one windsurfer plus a mystery windsurfer out of eastside (April?) Chris G
#26	Friday, July 18, 2008	Sunny with 5.5 conditions. Started sailing about 4:00. The wind filled in better about 5:30. There were 4 windsurfers and 2 kiters. The lake is dropping fast now.
#25	Wed, July 16, 2008
		Just received a report and photos from Chris C.: Wednesday, July 16^th: Showed up at 5:00 to less than ideal wind. Rigged my 15M kite and headed out. Did a downwinder to the boat ramp and barely got back to shore. Justin showed up and just like “magic” the wind turned on around 7:00 and we enjoyed a 1-1/2hr session down to Myrtle Point both on 15M kites. Wind was up and down, but more up than anything else. Good times. ~Chris C.

#24	Monday, July 14, 2008	Chris G. and Jim
		The wind was inconsistent but we had some good pulls. Not as good as it was on Sunday. Kiters (three kiters today) had a tough time with the conditions. 6.5, sunny, 92^o. Thanks to Marc D. for the photos.
		Jim
		Jim
#23	July 13, 2008	We got down to Magic at around 4:00 or 4:30 and hung out for about 1/2 hour talking with Justin, another new kiter at the lake. The wind finally started blowing with long lulls in between. I rigged 6.5 and Marc put on a 5.5. Marc, after only 3 1/2 months out of hip replacement, was laying down duck jibes and doing helicopters. Didn't kick in good until about 6:15 to 6:30. The last hour that Marc and I were on the water I was planing 80% of the time. Now that Marc's back we've got some great photos:
		Jim launching Justin's kite
		Justin
		Jim
#22	Thursday, July 10, 2008	The wind blew from 3:00 until 9:00. The words for the day were punchy and hot. The temperature was in the 90's. There were 4 sailors and 3 kiters that I saw. One of the kiters launched off of the east side.	BT on the water
		John and kite
		Chris G and Chris C - kiters
#21	Sunday, July 6, 2008	Report from Chris G.: Arrived late (5:30) after a hike into Baker Lake with the family. Wind was up and down 12 to 20 with big holes similar to Saturday. Hung out and was about to leave at 6:30 when it filled in nice at 16 gusting to 26. Rigged a 14M kite and had a good time till 8:30 when it died off a bit. It’s more fun when others are around. Thursday looks the best this week but could be sailable late today, tomorrow and Friday on 6.0 gear Chris G
#20	Saturday, July 5, 2008	2:30 ~ Boy, the wind was more down than up at first. I was only planing about 30% of the time. Wayne showed about 4:30 or 5:00 and we hit the water for an hour and then some high clouds rolled in. I thought it would kill the wind but it filled in good for the last hour. We were planing 80%. I went better than Wayne, he only had a 5.2 and 90 L board. I was on a 6.5 and 105 L board. 14 gusting to 28.
#19	Friday, July 4, 2008	The California smoke was back with light winds, 12-15 mph with gusts of 28-30. Planing about 40% of the time. Three sailors were out and one kite was out, down by Myrtle Point. 6.5 sail.
#18	Thursday, June 26, 2008	18 to 20, gusts in the 30's and sunny. Best day of the year so far. 4 sailors and 2 kiters. One kiter had to swim in from a botched jump. I was on a 5.7, 98% planing. Thanks to Chris C. for this picture of Jim: (sorry this is a late report - webmaster was out of town for a week)
#17	Monday, June 23, 2008	I just received a report from Chris C: I got to the lake around 5:15. The wind was light. Rigged my 15M kite and hung out for a while waiting, moving logs and basically jonesing. Wind picked up a little so I decided to do out and back laps. After a few I missed my bus stop and ended up doing a down winder to the Myrtle Point boat ramp area. Missed that bus stop too and ended up going through the spit into the slough. As I contemplated my walk back the wind kicked in steady and I got about 1-1/2hrs of powered up riding. My dream of catching a boat ride back to the truck never came through and I walked back to the truck. Session was worth the hoofing. Chris C
#16	Sunday, June 22, 2008	I waited for the wind to pick up but it never was worth the drive. Here is a report from Chris G. about his experience at Magic Sunday: So was at the lake today with the boat. Saw two windsurfers, one near east side on 20yr old gear and Matt on west side and he almost got on a plane. Also saw two kiters over on the way to Lava Point. It was a Baaaadddd place to launch: tree in the way Dead off shore and a big wind shadow. One made it to the water and did a downwinder to near the west side boat ramp the others kite fell out of the sky before he got in the water.A better launch for those guys would be just south of Mertle point, nice and protected with a good landing and easy walk back. C
#15	Wed., June 18, 2008	I was biking and missed sailing again - I didn't think it was windy enough. I just got a report from Chris G. He was kiting on a 14 m kite from about 5:30, when the wind kicked in, until 8:00. He said it was the steadiest wind so far this year, sunny and 80^o. Doug was sailing from the east side on a 6.0 or 6.5. There was also a "mystery" kiter out but Chris couldn't identify him.
#14	Tuesday, June 17, 2008	Chris G. and I sailed at Magic from about 5:00-7:30. At first it was up and down, more down than up. I went out on too small of a sail and was only planing about 30%. A 6.5 would have worked better. Chris was planing 99% on his 14 m kite. at 7:30 the wind was 18 and steady, peak for day of 29.
#13	Saturday, June 14, 2008	I was in Boise for a 62 mile bike ride and missed Saturday's session at Magic. I also visited Carl W. and we went out to Lucky Peak early Sunday - but got skunked. Here is Chris G.'s report on Saturday: Sailing report for Sat the 14th Arrived around 1:30 to find mister Webb and his sidekick Muscles Matt already there. Doug was rigging a new 6. something and Muscles was rigging a 7.2 , looked like 5.8 to me. I pumped up the 9M and went out to very gusty but doable wind. Doug I think came in and went down a size but Matt hung on. After an hour or so it got to holey for a kite so I rigged a 5.8 and blasted around totally wound out 80% of the time or sinking 20% of the time. John M was out at this time on a new 5.8 Ezzy. Wayne showed up late and went out on a 5.2, it looked steadier so I went out on the kite again and had a much steadier session, still blowing good when we left at 8:00. So 5 sailors counting me and 1 kiter counting me. At 80 + degrees I would have thought more people would show up. Chris G
#12	Monday, June 9, 2008	I got down to Magic at 4:30. It was 18, gusting to 30 but very hole-y. It was also warmer - 70^o. This spring that's what warm is! The new kiter, Chris C. showed up and both of us rigged too small. It looked like it would clear up and start blowing. It did clear but the wind didn't live up to it's end of the bargain. We got in 1-1/2 hours of sailing. By 7:00 or 7:30 it had shut down.
#11	Saturday, June 7, 2008	I showed up at Magic at 1:30, the only sailor there. There were loads of fishermen, I think it was the free fishing day for the state of Idaho. I went with a 5.7 and was slogging 30% of the time until about 3:00. There was a huge gust at first then it filled in for 5.0 sailing. Chris G. showed up about 3:30 and rigged his 9 m kite. There was a 15 minute lull in the wind as me, Chris and buggy-kiter-man Jeff discussed worldly matters. Then, BANG! It hit hard and totally filled in. I was over-powered on the 5.7 80% of the time. Most all of the fishermen left then. Sunny, 61^o, 24mph gusting to 36. Peak wind at 4:40 was 44 mph. Chill 47^o. Sailed until 4:55 and it was still blowing good when I left.
#10	Friday, June 6, 2008	Report from Chris G.: "Where's weenie boy?" Got there about 4:00 to see Kiter Bob rigging and Mark leaving. Bob went out on a 9M kite and was going good so I rigged a 9M also even though it was cold. Chris, the other Chris, showed up and rigged also. AND even a windsurfer went out. Matt rigged a 5.2 I think and was lit the whole time. So three kiters and one windsurfer; where are those weenie windsurfers? Pretty soon it will be kiters only on west side and windsurfers will have to go to eastside. I forgot to mention it was a bit gusty. Chris at 4:14 the wind was 26mph gusting to 42. Peak of 47mph. Temp 60^o, windchill 47^o.
#9	Thursday, June 5, 2008	I arrived around 4:30 to find Chris G. kiting on a 14 m kite. It was really up and down but Chris was making it work. I rigged a 5.7 thinking it might come up because it was clearing up to the west. I was powered up only about 60% at first. The wind was coming out of the south and then died. We stopped for a break and Chris had to go. Right when he left the wind went WNW and kicked in good for my 5.7. After about 45 minutes to an hour I was sailing sheeted out about half the time. I stopped at 7:50 and checked the windline. It was 19mph G32, 61^o with a 49^o chill factor and peak wind of 36mph at 7:32. One boat, one kiter and one windsurfer.
#8	Monday, June 2, 2008	Doug W. going to rescue of Chris' lost kite	Great news, the lake is still rising. I had perfect timing today - I got there just as the clouds pushed out. Rigged a 6.5 and right when I took off at 4:15 the wind kicked in a lot more. I made 4 reaches and rigged a 5.7 and had a good hour 100% powered up. Chris C., the kiter, hit the water next. The wind started backing off around 5:45 to 6:00. Then Doug W. and Matt W. came out from the east side on 7.0's Those guys and Chris were staying powered up 95% to 100% of the time. I was too lazy to switch back to my 6.5. I got off the water a little before 7:00 and was talking with Doug when Chris (not Bob) lost his new kite. Doug went to help out but it was too late so the kite was heading to no mans land halfway between eastside and the dam, right for the big rocks. Check out the pictures in this album. I hope Chris got his kite. UPDATE from Chris: I drove like Dukes of Hazard and then ran across the shore and got to my kite moments after it stopped at the shore. It was a race as the wind slowed and I could see it drifting. Got back to my truck at 9:15.
#7	Monday, May 19, 2008	Conditions Monday: High overcast, blowing 15 to 17 with gusts to 24 at 4:00. Chris G. was using his 14 m kite and powered 100% of the time. I used my 5.7, powered about 70% of the time. Had 1 and 1/2 kiters and 3 windsurfers. Doug W. and Matt W. were on 7.0's and looked to be powered 95 to 100% of the time. The sun started coming out after 5:30. The 1/2 kiter had an Ironman swim, better luck next time.
#6	Sunday, May 18, 2008	Doug W	Chris G.-kite displacement
		Magic goes off with surprising springtime temperature in the low 80's. I got there about 3:00. It was sunny, wind 22 gusting to 35. There was a peak of 40 around 1:30. There were 5 windsurfers and 3 kiters. I started out on one reach with a 5.2 and came right back in and put on a 4.2. It worked well for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then I started slogging too much after some clouds rolled in. The clouds eventually moved out and the wind came back pretty good for a 5.2 sail or 9m kite. Sailed until 7:00 and it was still blowing when I left. click here for larger photos.
		Jimmy S. and Mark W.	Mark W.
		Mark W.	Chris G.-6 X more area
		Chris G.	Jimmy S.
	Tuesday, May 13, 2008	Report from Chris C. :Tuesday May 13, 2008 Got out to Myrtle Point around 6pm. Wind was shifting from west to southwest and blowing relatively strong. Went out for about an hour on a 9M kite and had a blast by the launch ramp, but winds got fluky and strong so I called it quits. Big thanks to Jeff Blaze who helped me land my kite after 15 minutes of unsuccessful self-landing. Jeff was screaming on his buggy from West Magic to the Dam before I got there and was still going strong at 7:30 when I left. ~Chris C
#5	Sunday, May 11, 2008	Sunday started out sunny at 2:00. The wind was 21 gusting to 34, the temp. was only 63. This was my worst session so far this year. Planing only about 40% to 50% of the time. There were four or five minute gaps between intense gusts. It was all I could do to hang on to my 5.0 when they hit. After an hour or so the clouds rolled in and shut the wind way down. The fishermen were catching very few fish.
#4	Thurs., May 8, 2008	Good wind but cooler temperature. 21mph gusting to 32, 60^o, wind chill 49^o. High overcast cloud layer. I sailed for 1 hour and fifteen minutes. Fell in too many times and started to get cold. Sailed on a 5.0 today. I just received a report from Chris C. about his experience Thursday: Thursday May 8^th I passed Jimmy on the road a little after 6 pm. Got to Myrtle Point [road was dry, but didn’t dare to go off it] with a fairly steady offshore wind. Rigged a 9M kite while watching Blake “light” it up on his buggy with what looked to be an 8 or 10M. Got out on the water and enjoyed a glassy session perfectly powered for about an hour before getting cold. –Chris C “The New Guy”
#3	Wed., May 7, 2008	Arrived at about 4:15 to sunny skies, temp. 63^o. Once again the wind speed was up and down but even stranger:20 g to 34, peak of 37. The wind had a hard time making up it's mind on what direction to blow, SW, W, NW, it was always changing until about 6:00. At 5:45 I was getting over-powered on my 5.7. Sure enough, right when I came in it fills in and blows steady from the west. One fisherman and one kiter on a 3 wheel buggy.
#2	Tues., May 6, 2008	Sunny, 74^o, 17G28, peak 36 mph. I started out with a good 45 minutes pre-sailing warmup. I pulled a Wayne-o-bono at Myrtle Point. There must have been a snow drift here that had just melted. There are no more snow drifts or ice bergs but sticks are starting to show up. I was planing 75% of the time, just like last week - really hole-y with big up and down gusts.

#1	Tuesday, April 29, 2008
		Well, the season opener had some firsts for me. The temperature (68^oand a windchill of 59^o)was good when I called the windline at 1:45. As I drove over the edge down to the water I was surprised at the big snow drifts at the water line. Some were over 3' thick. If it wasn't for the air temperature and my new gloves and warm booties I would have said NO WAY, standing true to my wuss image. The wind was 16mph gusting to 32. Once on the water and fighting to get everything adjusted the wind gusts got more intense. I got flattened in one gust on my over-sheeted 5.7 which made for a shocker in the face. But the big shocker of the day were the 3 ice bergs I passed and had to dodge. My immediate thought, of course, was the fall of the Titanic. I don't know if I can claim it, is this a first for windsurfing on Magic?