Adventure Island - sail mode

This was yesterday, May 3rd, at Berryessa on the main lake - catching the last wind of the day. Unfortunately, the wind dropped off rapidly and I ended up pedaling WAY back to Capell Cove. It was a haul - even with the pedals. 



Messing around doing too much sailing cost me fishing time up the creek arm. They were biting the second I tied up. In about 5 minutes it was all over. Too bad. That's the down side of sailing. It's addictive when the wind is great. This trip I got way out there on the main lake and couldn't get back in time for the prime sunset bite. At least that's my excuse anyway   

For anyone considering an AI, be warned. Leave that sail at home! Oh, here's the fish...




     

can a guy sail one of those things without the outriggers?

Jack,

I think some have tried. Don't know their fate 

If the winds were light, you could probably make a go of it. Or if you were downwind sailing - might be like walking a balancing beam.

The sail is over 15 feet tall. Needs a wide base. I don't know what kind of forces the outriggers take, but it's a lot. I believe they are designed to help direct a downward force into forward momentum.

All I know is that the second the wind picks up the kayak responds like right now. No delay. On the film, you can hear that wind noise increase at just about the same time the bow spray picks up. You know it while sitting there by listening to the sail and you instinctively grab an extra handful of kayak before it really takes off on a run. Without the outriggers, I think much of the force would be sideways and uncontrollable. The boat would lean badly like a top heavy cork.

Cheers

Thanks for taking us all on a joy ride Karl. I'm sure it is a load of fun. Someday...

Jedmo

Jedmo,

If we're ever fishing in the same place again and I have all the sail stuff hooked up, you're certainly welcome to take a turn in the AI if you want to.

Takes about a 5 minute pep talk and you're off and running. I've experienced most sailing calamities myself already, so I can tell you what not to do etc. The list isn't long. The boat is quite forgiving.

Plan on getting a seat full of water if it's windy. AI wet butt 

 

Thanks for the offer Karl. I may take you up on it someday.

Jedmo

I can understand how much fun you are having sailing.  Looking forward to sail with you someday. 

Rey

Rey,

That run back after the tack in the video was way too much fun! She just wanted to go in that open, rolling big chop. I was just along for the ride. I was kind of fighting it a little in the first part of the video. I could feel the potential speed, but was mainly concerned with that buoy ahead. Thought there might be a shallow reef or something. It's amazing what a slight correction to heading does for your speed on these sailing yaks.

Berryessa always seems to have some kind of windy cut or bank to work. Even when much of the lake is flat.

Yep, I can't wait until the AI crew get together for a sail. Wish I lived closer to the Bay though.

Are you getting out much with your AI? Where do you sail/fish?

Karl
   

Karl,

Have not gone out much to sail with the AI.  Fish more with it for RF's at SC and Monterey and for Hali's at ARW.  I've taken it out several times at Del Valle here in Livermore.  Not much room to maneuver there though except near the dam.  I took it to Monterey several months ago but had issues with the sail not furling properly.  Could not figure out what was wrong till I got home.  I'm still a rookie at sailing and really need to go out more and get more confident when the winds picks up.  Yeah, we need to setup a AI hookup soon. 

Rey

Rey,

I've probably had similar issues along the same line. Gold cord comes out of the cleat. I try to thread it back through the cleat hole and pull the rope and only 2/3rds of the sail reels up on the pole. Stuff like that. Or you end up a whole bunch of black rope everywhere and you don't know how it happened...

I've sat out there in the middle of a lake trying to figure it out. Frustrating. And it's hard to think clearly on a moving boat with sail issues. Makes it hard to fix your problem when there is wind to battle as you're messing with the ropes.

As far as confidence, I lost mine a little while back after I almost flipped the boat in a big side wind gust. Got so I was thinking too much every time the wind picked up. My confidence is back now. If things start getting rowdy out there, I just remember to point into the wind to slow it down fast. I'm still not good at reefing the sail in when the winds really start blasting. That will come with time. It's just not automatic at this point.
 

I'm sitting here trying to figure out where to "fish' today on the AI....your video gets me all jazzed

Nice vids.  They're better than pics for conveying the total experience.

Thanks guys,

The fishing is too good at Berryessa now. I'm just going in Adventure kayak mode lately and my sailing skills are now getting rusty! I was definitely grinning that day on Berry. Perfect wind. Not too crazy, not too slow. See if I can adjust to the salt...

I saw a 60 degree water temperature on the buoy reports (Buoy 26) the other day. Hmmm....

Good fishing fellow AI'ers!