17th foil session - 2 runs!

The east wind was shifty and just 0 to 10 knots. After doing some more work on the shed doors I headed out for a quick sail.

The foil and board ready for action in front of the new shed doors.

The old 6.5 was perfect to catch the one gust the came through. I got up on the foil, tacked and then headed back getting up on the foil again. Definitely good having that old sail rigged and ready to go. It felt perfect for foiling!

My 1993 Neil Pryde V6 6.5

I did also get out a few days later for some slow runs back and forth without any real gusts and so I only got on the foil for a few metres in one gust. Here's that speed chart:

My one moment of foiling during a nice light wind sail around the harbour

Slogging with a light sail and a foil beneath you ready to go is actually a pretty nice feeling. You just feel ready to go while enjoying the light wind and clear water and beautiful scenery.

I’m really looking forward to a nice consistent SW wind and a longer session.

Father’s Day drone

I didn’t get up on the foil during my Father’s Day session, but it was still great.

This was the first time my wife took over the controls of the drone and filmed me!

Here is a shot of us while I’m getting ready to go out.

My wife playing with the drone!

For the first time in a decade I rigged up my vintage NP 6.5m V6 that has been one of my favourite sails of all time. Here are some photos of me sailing it in 1993.

Excited to use the new 6.5m V6 Neil Pryde in 1993

Gybing the Astro Rock in 1993!

That 25 year old sail is super light. So fun that I just couldn’t get rid of it and now the low camber induced curve it has I think will lend itself to foiling. Apparently you want a deep draft down low. Stay tuned for the first time I get out on it in more than 7 knots.

In the meantime click the link for my wife’s first drone footage video

My wife's first drone footage video!

First wind foil session of 2018

The wind was very light and gusty from the Northeast. My wife and I were doing some Sunday afternoon spring cleaning and I finally got around to setting up the foil again on my trusty Bic Techno 148. I had taken it apart for the season to avoid some of the corrosion issues I've heard about with the Slingshot foils.

I rigged the 5.4 Duke and headed out to do some light wind exploring and maybe catch a gust. The weather was warm at 20c and the 15c water was very clear and with my polarized glasses on I could see all the shoals in channels that I haven't ever sailed in.

I cruised back and forth and toward the end got some gusts. I did better after I let out the out and downhaul as it was pretty clear that the sail needs more draft for foiling. The longest run was 300m up on the foil. I'm actually going to try out a really old 1990's sail on a soft mast to see how that works next time.

I did just over an hour of windsurfing without using a harness. I wanted to take it easy on my sore rib, but I think next time I'm foiling I definitely will take the waist harness with me.

One good long foil run late in the session.

Map looking west.
The good foil run happened when the gusts came from the northeast.

First 2018 session at home

My post session grin after the first time out this year at home!

The predicted wind

The forecast for Monday afternoon looked good so I headed out after doing a solid morning of work emails.

Indeed the wind had been building and was a solid 25 knots. The temperature was 13c. I rigged the new 4.8 new Idol which I wanted to try out. I did decide on using the 116 Freewave board which would keep me able to uphaul or tack without falling in the cold water! (It was ice a month ago so I wore booties.)

Of course within a few runs the wind had died down. So I rigged the 5.6 Idol and headed out again. And the wind died even more and I could barely plane. Maybe it was the wave board, not being matched for the freestyle sail?

So I went to get my Skate 108 but by the time I was back out at the launch spot, the wind was back up. I went out on the 116 Freewave and was instantly planing. And the wind kept building and building. By the time I was done it was survival sailing on a 5.6 in gusts that measured up to 33 knots. At some points the wind was blowing the tops off the waves! In total only an hour of real sailing, but 3 hours of rigging up and getting set for the season. 48 km/h top speed for the session. And a big grin.

The GPS trail! 

Top speed almost 48 km/h

 

The actual wind chart had a big lull at noon