Despite a forecast to the contrary, the swell was huge. But with the wind calm, it was just like going up and down rolling hills. Along the way up, Tom's Werner carbon fiber paddle broke while he was doing a forward stroke. I am a big fan of Werner paddles, but I never have the carbon fiber paddles from any company. They just seem too expensive and weak, and the fiberglass paddles don't weigh that much more anyway. Fortunately, Dublin Dave was carrying a spare paddle, and he let Tom borrow it.

Normally the surf landing isn't bad at Treasure Island, but with those huge sets coming in today, it was a bit nasty. The landing is pretty well protected by a reef, and huge waves were breaking over the reef and then breaking again on the beach, which is steep and easy to get washed back down on. Being inside the reef and seeing those huge waves breaking so close was intimidating, but we all make it in. As Dublin Dave was getting out of his kayak, he let the kayak get between him and a large breaking wave, which he saw coming, so he dove over the kayak as it went under him.

On the launch, Dublin Dave had the bad luck of being sucked down the steep beach and into a large breaking wave, which shot him back onto the beach. When he came back out, he noticed his water bottle, which had been clipped to a bungee, had be torn off by the surf, so he landed again to go get it, when most people would've left it.

Since the guys up north have a name for themselves, OFF (which stands for Old Fart Follies), we decided to give ourselves a name down here in Orange County. The name is OCBA, which is pronounced awk-bah. We will let you guys try to guess what the acronym stand for.

    Duane Strosaker