Wyatt learns to windsurf after work!

Wyatt is one of the nice guys helping our builder Chris with the construction of the new Launch Pad building. (Photos below….)

For several weeks we have been talking about getting a windsurf session after work is done for the day. However it was either weather or just plain exhaustion that had us constantly saying “let’s wait till next week”.

Ultimately Canada Day was the day! What perfect weather. Beautiful southwest wind and sunny skies after the fog dissipated at noon. The crew got most of the windows and doors installed at the Launch Pad and so after work, Wyatt agreed today was his day. We had a quick lesson inside and then walked out to the point and rigged up the 3.2m Duotone Now sail. The 2nd photo below is him practicing the self rescue technique which he didn’t wind up needing.

Wyatt was quite good on the simulator but he was worried he might not see the same success windsurfing on the water. I assured him that my simulator is intentionally more wobbly and sensitive than being on the big Duotone Viper XL board. He was now ready and so I towed him upwind to Diamond Key Lodge where his father was watching from the dock.

I made sure to have him start in his dominant (goofy) right foot forward side and he climbed on the board. He uphauled, and stood in the neutral position for quite a while steering and balancing the sail. He practised a few tennis saves at my request. Then it was time to slice the sail towards him, put two fingers on the boom and slowly extend his front arm - bow and arrow style.

Woo hoo he was off and sailing and his father and I were definitely excited to see that. A few more attempts getting more consistent with letting go with the back two fingers if it wasn’t going perfectly and then it was time to tack. He got most of the way through that first tack attempt and then started back in the next direction. This time he had several starts where he could really feel the acceleration as he sheeted in with the back two fingers.

He made it back-and-forth a couple more times and then steered directly to the point at the Launch Pad. High fives and photos and back to get changed. He said he was surprised at how warm he was in the shorty wetsuit.

I’m thinking he slept well after a full day of construction and then a windsurf lesson. Congratulations Wyatt!

Here are some shots of the Launch Pad construction project Wyatt is helping with: