Tuesday April 5           

Paradise in the morning here, clear blue skies, a slight haze in the air indicating the strong wind to come. The hammock was again my early morning bed, and I listened to the birds singing the praises of the tropical garden all around me. Plenty of swishing palms, and a steady breeze already at 7am! Gonna blow hard today!

I spent some time relaxing, and then joined Connie and friends for some breakfast. Some of the crowd was flying back to Europe today, and we joined them for a final breakfast and some sad goodbyes, promises of meeting again next year! The food was supreme, and Del Valle made us some fresh omelets to feast upon! Another perfect start to the day!

After some laptop play, it was time to get to the beach. I arrived to see that Wicho had brought the hair trimmer, and it was time for a new hair-doo! Alex and Wicho trimmed off the growth, and even made a rad ‘V’ design on the back! Como El Yaque Punk style! Pic below. Nice and cool again!

I saw the wind was a nuking, and made out to the shallows for some more photos! Everyone was fully wound-up and sailing 4’s and 5’s, so many a nice photo was taken! I did notice the fogging issues have resurfaced my desiccant packs must be getting full of moisture. Had to toss several nice pictures, due to the obscured lens! Hate when that happens! I did manage some nice shots anyway, just not as many as I would have liked, see photo gallery here.

After some photography fun, it was time to ride! Connie had been out already, and had ridden a 2 hour session on a 4.7M along with a 91L JP, then a 77Lt after it came up even more! I matched a 5.0M with a 91Lt and made my way to the water. In one run, I realized it was too much, and came back in to trade for an 84Lt and the 4.7M!! It was super windy on the water, and amazing how much power was to be had!

I was so happy to be in some of the most amazing swell and chop yet this season! Some amazing nice wave faces to fly off of! The jumps were so amazing for a 4.7M sail! I could not believe the height and distance on a couple of them! So much time in the air, you have time to think! I got one super long downwind gust ride that was such a rush, as the peak was reached, I got to hang at apogee for a second, then the main gust hit, and pushed me at the same height, downwind some 50 ft or so! Such a tickle-belly feeling to be weightless for such a long time! Totally digging the ride!

Now toast, and the joints screaming for Advil, I made my way back in around 4:45pm, another full afternoon session! Time for happy hour on the beach! We again socialized with a few beers and kaiparinas, watching the after hours sailors enjoying the wind and waves. Lovely finish to the days light!

We agreed on La Terraza at the beach hotel for dinner, and gathered with some friends for a great meal, plenty of appetizers and tasty pasta, chicken, and beef! Soon we were all full, but tired after the big day of wind and sailing and went back to our beds for an early end to the day. I swung in the hammock to finish the day, enjoying the still steady breeze, as I dozed off…. Thinking…. Ahhh what a good life!