VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

I had these sitting in my inbox, so I just had to post them given today's session(s).


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Article 1: To officially be considered a session one must:

a. perform a minimum 4 full tacks/reaches, (ie. gybe (or crash trying) at least twice)

Article 2: For additional sessions:

To log two sessions on the same day you must satisfy

one of the following criteria:

a. go to another spot
b. take your wetsuit off and get dressed (and then put the wet one back on, especially fun in winter)
c. take gear off the beach/de-rig/clean everything up,

OR

two of the following criteria:

d. leave and return
e. shop
f. cook dinner
g. drink 6 or more beers
h. give birth,

and start again when you realize "hey, it's coming up again"

Article 3: Nitinat is never two sessions because you leave your gear on the beach, don't actually leave, the shopping doesn't count, you don't need to wear a wetsuit, its normal to drink more than 6 beers and if you are cooking dinner while its still windy you should be labeled "pansy" or "wuss".

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Adapted from Kus whom mostly formulated these very important rules.

I can see the Kus influence !!! Don't forget: TIW= Time in water ... TIWS=Time in wet suit ...

That is hilarious! Well written, whoever that was. Great Kussedness too. I was wondering about the propriety of your claiming two sessions at the same venue. They seem like pretty good rules! However, as few kiters post anymore, the rest of us have to make up for the loss of numbers! So maybe article 4 should be:

4. If four or more kiters are present and don't log, then a windsurfer can claim a second session if they have sailed more than 4 hours. However, only the first such entry for the day/venue counts.

Funny, I guess there has to be rules or anarchy would reign. Seems that it should be ok to post when you drive 4 hours to go sailing, rig all your gear, camp for three ( 2 in rain) days, get eaten by noseeums, and get skunked.

Yeah, I just cleaned up the language a bit and made it make sense to the 'reasonable person'.

Hey, I guess if I bring three suits and change into them each time I go, it could be logged as 3 sessions? Amusing banter from the ethics police LOL

No no Chris, Article 2b clearly states you must put the wet wetsuit back on, a new fresh warm one does not count, and thus Udder only logged one session yesterday :-P

Just a simple question.

Why do people post their sessions? it would be interesting to hear some of the reasons.

Penguin wrote:Just a simple question.

Why do people post their sessions? it would be interesting to hear some of the reasons.

1. Dave says it contributes to the site. Its something tangible that can be seen and tracked. Unlike straight 'visit' to pages, it shows that the wind community gives something back to what he created. It may be something advertisers look at. He finds it valuable. I accept that and would post for that reason even without the following reasons;

2. I find my own stats interesting; I like to see that I got my money's worth out of equipment I've bought. It gives me justification to buy more - or not;

3. It very informative to look back at comments from years back both to see my progression (or lack thereof) and the social environment (camping fun, other people's stoke) and remember specific events/sessions I would otherwise forget;

4. I like to read other people's sessions - the kiter's too. It used to be great reading about people learning handle passes, kite loops etc. Or even staying upwind for the first time. You can sense the stoke. We don't seem to see this anymore.

5. If I was ever disabled and couldn't do it anymore, I'd still want to be able to read logs; and to relive my own by reading the old ones.

Why not?

For me, it's an easy way to see at the end of the year the gear I realistically most often use (not hope to use or think I use) as well as the spots I most often sail. This can be helpful in budgeting for gear for the next season. It allows me to see where I've made progress in my sailing and what sorts of things were working for me or not. It's also a way for the community to read about the conditions at various spots and get a sense of the type of sailing happening. I think the logs are a way to keep the stoke and energy up amongst other local sailors via encouragement (or roasting). It's interesting for me to compare the days sailed in one year compared to previous years, and which months tended to offer the best sailing opportunities.

The logs can be a valuable resource for information on sailing on the Island as well as for international spots. There can sometimes be a good laugh or two to be had reading some of the posts.

It seems to me that few people post their sessions, but lots of lurkers read them!

winddoctor wrote:The logs can be a valuable resource for information on sailing on the Island as well as for international spots.

To me, especially as a new sailor, this is the most important reason. Basically it is a record of local knowledge over time. Statistically it can be used to get an idea of how hard it blows, how often and how many people sail a particular spot. Having not been around for very long this gives me an idea of what to expect at certain spots and during certain seasons. Those who log in more detail provide a good idea of how wind direction, tides, and seasons might affect the waves, current, sailability or overall enjoyability of a spot. Some of this information could even be extrapolated in the future to make a decision based on uncertain EC and MM5 forecasts. Like Winddoc said it gives you an idea of how many times you got out that year, where and on what type of gear. Much easier than how I used to mentally try to remember how many times I hit the mountain snowboarding each season.

Everyone always wonders how the epic (or not epic) forecast panned out, and the sailing logs answer those questions proactively.

Logs also answer nagging questions such as the infamous, "should go to IV instead driving to CB today" question and allows you to say na na na na na nah to whoever stayed behind at IV.

If it weren't for the log entries on this site I never would have started sailing at Gordon's, CB, Cook, IV, etc. I'd still only be sailing at Nitinat in the summer. My sailing sessions have doubled thanks to an extended season and my sailing abilitiy has improved thianks to sailing with the local 'experts'.
It's also interesting reading when the wind isn't blowing.

Dave and others put a lot of work into keeping this site up and running for our benefit so we should all contribute in some way whether by posting or donating $.

I agree with Winddoc, and I use the posts to track "what I did" with what gear. Unlike sailing with a GPS (to get speeds etc) the posts I make (and those of others) have both opened up new sailing time/places for me, as well as provided encouragement (and razzing) as things have progressed in my abilities. It also keeps a contact going between us as a wind community, and I feel the log is probably the single most looked at item on the site (for me) after the forcasts.

Cheers,

Chris

PS: I regularly contribute $$ to the site as well....

Hi,

I only get 20 - 25 windsurfing days in per year from April to August mainly due to soccer/skiing in the months from Sept - March. And being land-locked in the 'Wack doesn't help either!

In reviewing my sailing logs over the past 2 years I noticed a lack of use of my 8.5 rig (just used a couple of times). So I sold the entire rig (sail/boom/mast) this year with the $ going in to a Fanatic kids board. That is useful.

Mainly I post as it is so easy......and if I really enjoy reading the other posts from better sailors (ie CB winter days or the Oregon Coast road trip posts are a good read)...then I should post as well.

Keith