Getting ready for Maui AWT

I'm excited that my wife is joining me for my 6th AWT event.

Aloha Classic 2015

I went to my first AWT event in Maui in 2013 with some good windsurfing buddies.

I then made more friends in Cape Verde and Santa Cruz and was thrilled to bring 4 family members to Baja and my sister to Hatteras.

My 116 litre Fanatic freewave board is packed in case the wind is light. I'm flying Westjet since Air Canada doesn't allow windsurfing boards (or anything over 200 cm).

We're staying with windsurfing friends for the first week on the north shore, and then we'll stay with my Canadian university buddy in Wailea the second week.

I was asked what my goals are for the event. Very simple:

• To have a great vacation with my wife.
• To catch 2 waves in each of my 4 heats, 
• To have one good photo taken of me on a wave at Ho'okipa
• I also want to get in some great sessions on the days when I'm not watching the pros sail. 
• And not get injured.
• If I don't break any gear, that will be a bonus.

Opening night registration is Tuesday Oct 27th!

BIC Astro Rock throwback Sunday

Board speeds in km/h with sail sizes

The wind was subsiding but we still had a few hours left in the forecast by the time we'd finished breakfast. Len decided to join me as he hadn't windsurfed much at all in the last two years. 

We took two boats and way too much gear. But I wanted to try out my old Astro Rock ‎which I haven't used in years. My recollection was that it was a super easy board to ride and jibe. 

We started out with Len on the 7.0 and Techno. I rigged the 6.2 and Skate 108 bit that was not enough board or sail for me. 

My niece Vanessa came out ‎to join us. I was glad she came - and brought even more gear!

Vanessa tried the 6.2 and the Skate 108 and had a few runs and some long cold waterstart attempts. Len gave her the 7.0 and Techno which was working very well in the 12-15 knot wind.

I rigged the 9.0 and the Ray 122 and had a few fast runs but found the ‎setup heavy and tiring. Especially compared to the Skate and 5.4 in twice the wind the day before. 

So I decided to try the Astro Rock. At 125 Litres it is actually bigger than the Ray in volume, but much longer and narrower. It doesn't let you pump it onto a plane like modern boards. I could feel the 6.2 trying to get it going but the board wouldn't pop or release up from the water. The speed progression is much more sow and linear like the Kona.

  

Len showing off!

I put the 6.2 ‎on the Techno 148 so I could compare the early planing ability of both. Sure enough I could get the Techno planing, even with just the 6.2‎.   

I then put the 7.0 on the Techno and found that to be a tie with the 6.2 on the Techno as the most comfortable setup of the day. While the cambered 7.0 V6 doesn't let you pump and pop like the 6.2 Duke , it has more surface area to get going and then goes slightly faster. 

Len starting up nicely

So the winning board of the day was the Techno. Len said it was the best day of windsurfing he's had in the two years he's been in Canada. 

I packed up the gear and put it into storage for the winter. Next windsurfing adventure will be in Maui for the AWT ‎Aloha Classic. 

Vanessa on a good run!

All smiles

The board test

Canadian Thanksgiving Saturday

The wind forecast was solid and I headed out in the late afternoon once the temperature had risen into double digits. The morning low 2c temperature was due to a north wind that nicely switched to southwest and warmed up as expected.

I was on the Fanatic Skate 108 and rigged the 5.4. It was the perfect combination. Only the 2nd time this year that I had enough wind to rig something that small.

My tracks in the SW wind

I didn't try many tricks for the first hour or so as I didn't want to spend too much time in the cold water. When I did fall for the first time around 30 minutes into my session it did give me a head freeze when I got going again and my wet head got even more chilled in the wind.

I had some great wave rides and laughed out loud at a few duck jibes that I made. I was carving some sweet jibes and planing out the other side. There are some smooth arcs in the tracks on the map.

I did try a vulcan and duck tack toward the end of the session - both were fails. But I nailed a nice carving 360 as I returned to shore. A bit cold but a very good session in all.

The wind built in the afternoon as predicted

The wind kept building all night and I fell asleep very soundly.

Air 11c
Water 14c

Time 1:35
Total distance 40.4 km
Max speed, 46.2 km/h