“This shows how high the windward side of the canal is when the water levels are low. The wind shadow is one of the reasons riders sail down the middle of the course; as well as the shallower water near the windward bank. The canal is not tidal, but they do use a big tide to fill it in when the water runs low. When the water is low, there are fingers of sand coming out from the windward bank, which if you get too close to can catch your fin and send you over the handlebars.”