Bonaire windsurfing Dec. 7 & 8 2008
I sailed Sunday and Monday.
Sunday I had to get my gear together so I got a late start but was on a 5.7, 100% planing and sometimes overpowered.
Monday I was on my 5.7, too, but only planing 70% of the time. Nice day, though. I’m worn out already.
Back in Bonaire
I arrived back in Bonaire Monday night, February 25. It’s been windy ever since. I have sailed mostly on my 5.7, sometimes smaller. The wind didn’t stop all week. I’ve been getting my vulcans and trying spocks. Love the Chilli! Looks like the wind will die down this week, though.
I’m in D.R. now
Sunday the 10th was another great 5.0 to 5.7 Bonaire day. I had a good morning trying new tricks. I spent the afternoon packing up for a 2 week trip to the Dominican Republic. I am here now and it looks windy this morning so I’m going out! It’s a surprise, I wasn’t expecting wind.
Before we left Sunday we saw a contingent of NY sailors arriving at Jibe City. All the regulars, including Mike Burns. Hope they’re still there when I return.
We had a layover in San Juan, Puerto Rico, so we took a quick taxi tour of the old town and forts.
Great wind in Bonaire
Thursday, Friday and Saturday were windy, I’ve been sailing on a 5.0 or 5.7 and been overpowered some of the time. I’ve been having a great time doing vulcans and trying flakas, free willys and shove-its, now, too.
Friday we caught some pictures of Bjorn Saragoza (Jurgen’s brother) throwing some tricks.
Jim watching the pro kids.
Saturday a huge cruise ship was in port, the Queen Mary 2. It holds about 5,000 passengers. You can see how small it makes everything around it look, it makes the island look like a play toy.
Good wind since Tuesday
Sunday and Monday were NO wind days. Monday morning Kathy went on a bike ride on the southern loop of the island.
Here she is just before getting to the salt pier where ships get loaded with the salt.
The salt mine and stockpiles on an exceedingly calm day.
Here’s Kathy just after going under the conveyor.
I already posted for Tuesday, my first vulcans!
Here is Jurgen (he is a son of Constantino ‘Patoen’ Saragoza , one of the owners of Bonaire Windsurf Place) showing off with a gekko. He’s talented and cute. This was yesterday, Wednesday.
Wednesday I sailed on a 5.7 sail. At times a 5.0 would have worked but I didn’t change sails. I had a great day, quite a few willy skippers and many vulcan attempts but none completed. I also hurt my ankle slightly so I took a day off on Wednesday to let it rest. It was a windy day, too. Darn!
Vulcan success!!!!!!
Today promised wind and what a day it was for me! I began the day with my 6.5 but within 45 minutes got blown off the water. I went to my 5.7 and came real close to doing a vulcan the first hour and a half. In the afternoon I nailed my first two vulcans! 
I’m starting to LOVE this Chilli board, the F2 Chilli 107. At 53, I feel pretty good about doing the vulcan. I know now that it IS possible for someone over 50 to do the move. What a successful day!
Bonus Day
Thursday was a bonus day. It was only supposed to blow in the morning but it blew hard enough all day for me to be on my 5.7 and having fun. I’m getting closer on the vulcan – Kiri sailed with me and helped me with some tips. It was cloudy most of the day but I still didn’t need a wetsuit. Life is Good
Friday and Saturday were very low – the wind was almost nonexistent.
The weird thing was that the wind was coming from the ENE which I hadn’t seen before.
The blades on the windmill are usually facing parallel to where i’m standing taking the photo.
Low wind in Bonaire
Yesterday I went out early:
on my 6.5 and I only sailed about one hour. I got tired of pumping. I heard the wind came up a little in the afternoon but I missed it.
Monday I got a good hour of sailing late in the day when we had a surprise wind hit. Tuesday I didn’t even go out to the bay.
Beginning of Carnival in Bonaire
I had fun sailing on my 5.7 for about 2 1/2 hours this morning. I got out early, while Kathy was on her bike ride. In the low wind I was working on my lee-side escape; for the Free Willy and 560 moves.
Today was the kid’s parade for Carnival. The adult’s parade is next Sunday. Kaya Grandi was packed with spectators. The parade consisted of about 5 floats and each had EXTREMELY loud music playing. The kids were cute and it was fun to experience the whole scene.
Sunday, January 26
I had fun on the 5.7, 70% planing, in the morning. The afternoon was calm. The forecast for the upcoming week is not good but last week was great!
