Session Report - Michigan Windsurfing2024-03-29T01:39:50Zhttp://miwindsurfing.com/forum/categories/session-report/listForCategory?categoryId=5427722%3ACategory%3A71&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSuttons Bay windsurfingtag:miwindsurfing.com,2023-07-17:5427722:Topic:1725502023-07-17T20:22:06.754ZKristianhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/Kristian608
<p>We're going to spend a couple days in Suttons' Bay (west side of Traverse Bay) and I was wondering if anyone had experience there? Specifcally if there are any non-obvious good or bad conditions if you're sailing off the town beach there, and also if there are any cool spots nearby to try. Water is colder up there; would I be OK with a 3mm suit or do I need the 5mm? Thanks to anyone who can help!</p>
<p>We're going to spend a couple days in Suttons' Bay (west side of Traverse Bay) and I was wondering if anyone had experience there? Specifcally if there are any non-obvious good or bad conditions if you're sailing off the town beach there, and also if there are any cool spots nearby to try. Water is colder up there; would I be OK with a 3mm suit or do I need the 5mm? Thanks to anyone who can help!</p> Saturday - September 11thtag:miwindsurfing.com,2021-09-09:5427722:Topic:1676182021-09-09T12:54:37.528ZDavid Moreauhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/DavidMoreau
<p>Hello, I recently moved to Battle Creek and am in the process of figuring out windsurfing in Michigan. I am coming from New York state and am accustom to the great lakes, cold weather, and zebra mussels. If the forecast holds, I'd like to get in a session on Lake Michigan this Saturday. Is anyone else planning the same? </p>
<p>I am very close to Gull Lake, are there any decent launch sites there? Ross Township Park seems ideal, but I am under the impression that it will be closing - gates…</p>
<p>Hello, I recently moved to Battle Creek and am in the process of figuring out windsurfing in Michigan. I am coming from New York state and am accustom to the great lakes, cold weather, and zebra mussels. If the forecast holds, I'd like to get in a session on Lake Michigan this Saturday. Is anyone else planning the same? </p>
<p>I am very close to Gull Lake, are there any decent launch sites there? Ross Township Park seems ideal, but I am under the impression that it will be closing - gates locked - soon.</p>
<p>I windsurfed Tiscornia park yesterday and went swimming at Wau-Ke-Na earlier this week. I like the Michigan beaches more than the Lake Ontario. It felt more like I was in the ocean than a gigantic lake.</p> July 24th - Lake Michigantag:miwindsurfing.com,2021-07-25:5427722:Topic:1668012021-07-25T14:07:38.525ZJim O'Donnellhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/JimODonnell
<p>Gave it a go yesterday on the big lake launching from the beach in Glenn. 135L Bic Techno with 50cm fin and 8.1m Neil Pryde Supersonic. </p>
<p>Three attempts. . . three walks of shame. Soooo close to being good. I just needed a few more mph to get over the hump. Heading out I could pump onto a plane in the gusts, bearing off, but couldn't keep it going turning back to a slight upwind bearing. The waves just killed the momentum.</p>
<p>Heading in I could get planing with the help of the…</p>
<p>Gave it a go yesterday on the big lake launching from the beach in Glenn. 135L Bic Techno with 50cm fin and 8.1m Neil Pryde Supersonic. </p>
<p>Three attempts. . . three walks of shame. Soooo close to being good. I just needed a few more mph to get over the hump. Heading out I could pump onto a plane in the gusts, bearing off, but couldn't keep it going turning back to a slight upwind bearing. The waves just killed the momentum.</p>
<p>Heading in I could get planing with the help of the swell, but again couldn't really make any upwind progress. Spent a lot of time in the water waiting for enough wind to waterstart. </p>
<p>On the bright side I got some good practice getting in and out through the shorebreak. And some good exercise.</p>
<p>Next time is going to be great!</p>
<p>Jim</p> Happy Independence Day! 6.3, 105 liters, and a shorty wetsuit on Lake Lansing, what could be better?tag:miwindsurfing.com,2021-07-08:5427722:Topic:1662902021-07-08T23:15:03.021ZLawrence T Hoffhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/LawrenceTHoff
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<p> 5 of us enjoyed the sunshine, warm weather, and hours of planing conditions on Monday (July 5). Unlike last time, however, I didn't see any bald eagles fishing. </p>
<p> Also, it was somewhat bittersweet for me because that may have been my swansong as a Michigan windsurfer. I vividly remember my first session on Lake Lansing after I moved here from NY. My gear was still in transit, but I managed to convince a kind-hearted soul to lend me his gear for a session while he was…</p>
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<p> 5 of us enjoyed the sunshine, warm weather, and hours of planing conditions on Monday (July 5). Unlike last time, however, I didn't see any bald eagles fishing. </p>
<p> Also, it was somewhat bittersweet for me because that may have been my swansong as a Michigan windsurfer. I vividly remember my first session on Lake Lansing after I moved here from NY. My gear was still in transit, but I managed to convince a kind-hearted soul to lend me his gear for a session while he was taking a break. Now, 7 years later, I accepted a job in the Princeton, NJ office of a law firm. I spent last week working in NJ before returning just in time for Monday's session. Now, I am working-from-home here in MI for the next few weeks while I sell my house and get my stuff moved back to the east cost. By the way, if anyone wants a house near Lake Lansing with a pole barn big enough for to fit a 10' windsurfing trailer still attached to a tow vehicle, let me know!</p>
<p> Anyway, I want to take the opportunity to say what a pleasure it has been to meet and to sail with so many of you. I feel like we Lake Lansing sailors developed a tight-knit community. Reflecting back, I feel like I covered a lot of ground here in MI away from Lansing as well, including road trips to Cass Lake, Muskegon, and Caseville. I never made it to Lake Superior, though. Oh well. And if anyone is contemplating an east coast windsurfing trip (e.g. an ABK camp), please don't hesitate to reach out. I am sure that I will continue to monitor this forum from time to time.</p> June 5 - 90 degrees and 6.3 wind - summer is clearly heretag:miwindsurfing.com,2021-06-07:5427722:Topic:1663482021-06-07T16:59:04.463ZLawrence T Hoffhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/LawrenceTHoff
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<p> I wore a full wetsuit, but other sailors were in summer shorties. Summer also means $5 daily parking fee at Lake Lansing. I sailed from 11:30-3:00 with only a short lunch break, so I thought it was money well spent. Plus when I was done sailing for the day, I had a front-row seat watching people try to launch their motor boats in a stiff cross breeze from the ramp on the leeward side of the dock. Boats with bowlines immediately turned 90 degrees to the dock, making boarding…</p>
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<p> I wore a full wetsuit, but other sailors were in summer shorties. Summer also means $5 daily parking fee at Lake Lansing. I sailed from 11:30-3:00 with only a short lunch break, so I thought it was money well spent. Plus when I was done sailing for the day, I had a front-row seat watching people try to launch their motor boats in a stiff cross breeze from the ramp on the leeward side of the dock. Boats with bowlines immediately turned 90 degrees to the dock, making boarding awkward. And many boats did not even have bowlines, leaving people grasping for any handhold to keep the boat from blowing away. None of that deterred others from trying. The queue for the launch ramp backed up beyond the parking lot entrance and onto Lake Drive. Simultaneous with the man-made entertainment, there was a bit of natural entertainment in the form of a bald eagle fishing over the lake and which flew directly over the parking lot, seeming to enjoy the man-made entertainment as much as I did.</p>
<p></p> Happy Thanksgiving to alltag:miwindsurfing.com,2020-11-23:5427722:Topic:1050922020-11-23T15:28:55.567ZLawrence T Hoffhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/LawrenceTHoff
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<p> Last Wednesday, I sailed all afternoon at Muskegon in comfortable temperatures. I started off on a 4.1 and finished on a 5.1. I was joined by a wing foiler, a kite foiler, and a handful of kite surfers. Now, while I write this, my deck is coated with snow. Despite that, I am not quite ready to declare the 2020 season over. However, I can see the handwriting on the wall. The long range forecast includes falling temperatures and no significant wind. In case, this turns out…</p>
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<p> Last Wednesday, I sailed all afternoon at Muskegon in comfortable temperatures. I started off on a 4.1 and finished on a 5.1. I was joined by a wing foiler, a kite foiler, and a handful of kite surfers. Now, while I write this, my deck is coated with snow. Despite that, I am not quite ready to declare the 2020 season over. However, I can see the handwriting on the wall. The long range forecast includes falling temperatures and no significant wind. In case, this turns out to be the end of the season, I would like to thank all the people who made 2020 a fun season for me, and wish you all a great 2021 season!</p> October 6 - Casevilletag:miwindsurfing.com,2020-10-07:5427722:Topic:705782020-10-07T01:04:27.753ZBenjamin Sauterhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/BenjaminSauter
<p>Sunny late season morning session with 20-22 kts. Water and air temperature of around 55 degrees. I definitely appreciate my new drysuit. Hopefully again tomorrow morning...</p>
<p>Sunny late season morning session with 20-22 kts. Water and air temperature of around 55 degrees. I definitely appreciate my new drysuit. Hopefully again tomorrow morning...</p> Muskegon, September 6tag:miwindsurfing.com,2020-09-27:5427722:Topic:636612020-09-27T23:54:23.732ZBenjamin Sauterhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/BenjaminSauter
<p style="text-align: left;">Very nice session on the Sunday of the Labor Day weekend at Muskegon inside the breakwater with southern wind, was on my 100 liter board and 5.2 sail. </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Very nice session on the Sunday of the Labor Day weekend at Muskegon inside the breakwater with southern wind, was on my 100 liter board and 5.2 sail. </p> Caseville, September 27tag:miwindsurfing.com,2020-09-27:5427722:Topic:637612020-09-27T22:23:14.503ZBenjamin Sauterhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/BenjaminSauter
<p>Very nice of the wind to blow 20 to 26 knots this morning and relative warm weather and sun in Caseville!</p>
<p>Very nice of the wind to blow 20 to 26 knots this morning and relative warm weather and sun in Caseville!</p> Finally sailed in board shorts!tag:miwindsurfing.com,2020-08-28:5427722:Topic:610192020-08-28T11:13:35.298ZLawrence T Hoffhttp://miwindsurfing.com/profile/LawrenceTHoff
<p> With September just around the corner, I finally hit the trifecta: water temps I knew were in the upper 70s, air temps in the 90s, and not too much wind chill (only about 15 knots). I had spent much of the summer exploring unfamiliar sailing sites (where I was not sure of water temps) or sailing in stronger wind (e.g., more than 20 knots). But when the wind unexpectedly reached planing conditions on Lake Lansing yesterday, I was confident that board shorts was the call. I counted…</p>
<p> With September just around the corner, I finally hit the trifecta: water temps I knew were in the upper 70s, air temps in the 90s, and not too much wind chill (only about 15 knots). I had spent much of the summer exploring unfamiliar sailing sites (where I was not sure of water temps) or sailing in stronger wind (e.g., more than 20 knots). But when the wind unexpectedly reached planing conditions on Lake Lansing yesterday, I was confident that board shorts was the call. I counted three other windsurfers enjoying the warm weather and surprise wind, all of whom were also wearing board shorts.</p>
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<p> It is hard to imagine that in just a couple months, it'll be time for a dry suit and I'll be thinking about surfer's ear again.</p>
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