First 5.4 session at home in 2 years

My 47.5 km windsurfing track.
Some nice wave rides upper left corner.

What an amazing session. The wind was predicted to be strong across Ontario. When I got to the cottage it was already blowing but I waited a bit for the predicted late afternoon increase.

I took out my new Fanatic Free Wave 116‎ that I purchased back in January when I decided to join the AWT for 2015. It had been hanging up on the wall at Boardsports looking very lonely.

Vanessa got to ride it once in May but I haven't had a day where I could short board ‎yet this year.

My wind meter said 17-22 knots and I took a chance and rigged the 5.4. The ‎board and sail felt very light in my hands as I positioned myself to take off. Sure enough, everything was rigged nicely and I felt very comfortable even on my first run out. (Hard to believe I didn't sail it at all in 2014 - I'm happy to have this blog to be able to check things like that...)

My speeds for the 2 hours.
From time 35-50 I was on the kids' JP Young Gun.

I was grinning from ear to ‎as I sailed some of my favourite waves and picked lines through the shoals. The waves here don't really break, but as the swells get closer to some of the rocks they back up and become ride-able and make for fun jibes. The wind had a few lulls but was definitely increasing.

I switched boards for a few minutes and rode the kids' JP Young Gun. It is a very different board. Solid and less slapping in the chop. I got it going easily, but with the ‎back foot strap so far forward (set for my daughter) my feet felt like I was balancing precariously. I was able to tack it easily though. From my speed chart there wasn't much difference in actual GPS recorded speeds.

First time out on the new Fanatic Free Wave 116

I got back on the ‎FreeWave 116 and started having even more fun. I almost got a the sail to come back to me on a planing duck tack! Nailed several downwind 360s and every duck jibe I attempted.

The board is very light and fees like it enjoys jumping and loves jibing - more than the Skate 108 in my memory. I look forward to sailing them back to back some time.

I ended up‎ sailing 47.5 km. Top speed as I came into the flat water and headed downwind was 50 km/h! Amazingly I didn't see a single boat out even though it is still August. With the warm wind and nice warm water I really think August sailing up here is my favourite spot in the whole world.

It feels so great when you pick the right sail for a full 2 hour session and it works perfectly on a completely new board. I'm now sure that I'll be happy taking the FW 116 board to the AWT event in Hatteras. I might even take it to Maui.