Charlie didn't surf

I didn't really ever surf. Even my first trips to Solosports in Baja had me windsurfing over the waves rather than using the waves to propel me. And I've never been a great surfer. But over time I've gotten better at finding waves when travelling to wave windsurfing destinations.

Maybe my initial lack of focus on waves is that here on northeast Georgian Bay there are only wind swells, no breaking waves. It is rare to ride wind swell waves here on a shortboard. So two weeks ago it was pretty cool finding that I'm finally using the foil to surf down the wind swells. That session was with the 7.0, so today totally SURFING with the 5.6, completely comfortable on the foil was incredible.

Post foil surfing session smile

I headed upwind on the 140 Stingray foil with the 5.6 Idol in 12-16 knot winds. It was generally pump to get on the foil each run, but the upwind angle I can get is pretty cool. I went past Bigsby Island and even explored the little bay where I have great memories of launching on nice bay days for many years. I then worked my way almost all the way to where the Dokis and Keefer island ranges meet at buoy DK4.

On my way back I was really riding the waves (see the dot on the map) and feeling very comfortable. I'd surf down a wave, have the sail go neutral, just a bit of hum from the foil, no wind noise, and then head back across the wind for a moment to gather speed, then turn down another wave. It was surreal, and I felt in complete control. In fact, in the 2 hour session, I never fell in, even saving the one brief overfoil I had between two waves. Even my jibes are continuing to improve, with duck jibes having the best odds of a successful brief touchdown when my feet change sides and then right back up on the foil.

View from the south, wind from the South West

Nice top speed on the flat water of the small craft route

I headed back around Bigsby and on the nice flat water of the small craft route hit 34.5 km/h, just .1 below my top foil speed ever. A few more nice downwind surfing runs and I made it back in time for Zoom call with the Hatteras crew who may come visit the Launch Pad this fall. What a great day. I'm glad I'd cleared my work calendar for the afternoon!

View out towards Mann and Bigsby Islands

The simulator was moving all by itself in the wind!

The foil on the recently repaired dock

Post session wind stats 23c wind and 23c water
I was warm in my shorty!