Short Sunday foil sessions

The wind was averaging 9 and barely touched 13 knots, but that was enough to get me going for a few early afternoon foil runs.

Then it was time to hang out with Timo in the sail locker while everyone else went snorkelling.

Timo hanging out with great uncle Carl in the windsurf locker

I got in another late afternoon foil, with my new improved bent leg pumping technique. Also, my runs are feeling smoother after changing the foil position. Interesting to see what a little change in foil position makes. The Slingshot switch fuse (see blog post here)

Managed to be out the two times
in the day where winds hit 13 knots!

Foiling out of the fog

When I arrived at the Launch Pad, the wind was 9-13 knots but it was foggy. Kind of neat seeing the mist drifting across the water. I had been stiff and sore all morning after 3 straight days of windsurfing, but my muscles were starting to loosen up throughout the afternoon.

I took the Stingray 140 foil with the old NP V6 6.5. I planed on the first several runs heading upwind. Vanessa, Len and a sleepy Timo were in he boat taking some photos and video. The consensus is that my pumping technique looks awkward with my legs too straight. Video on that to follow. But I was having fun and feeling more and more comfortable on my 7th day on the new board.

At 6pm I went out for another quick foil. The wind was touching 14 knots - the maximum for the day. I think that moving the foil backward using the 2nd position on the Slingshot switch fuse helped my stance and even pumping ability.

Max 14 knots - perfect for the foil

Ridiculously fun foiling

Last year in Bonaire we watched a wonderfully innovative windsurf foiler named Balz Müller; his nickname is Radiculo. His style and flow and crazy jumps and tricks are incredible. Click to check out this video!

Today I had my first day where I felt a tiny bit of that foil flow and maybe even a bit of style. I headed out for a 5pm session and the wind had shut off. Glassy. But then, 10 minutes after I arrived at the launch pad I watched the SW wind line arrive and suddenly it was 14 knots gusting to 18.

I tried something I've never done. The windsurf foil with my tiny 4.8 Idol sail in high wind. It was so windy it was easy to get foiling, but with such a small sail, it was easy to turn off the wind too. I did so many up and down wind runs, and then some runs where I just surfed from close to broad reach using my toes and heels to carve the board. The 6th session on my new Stingray 140 foilboard, and I'm loving it. (I didn't use the back footstrap much though, I'm going to try moving the foil back by reversing the slingshot fuselage.)

I got even closer to getting a foil jibe, and then tried two carving 360s. SO COOL! I actually flowed down through the carving 360 back up into the wind and while I dropped off the foil, I sailed out of both of them. It was a super fun 18 km, 75 minute session.

Lots of squiggly lines. And two 360s in there somewhere.

Lower foil speed equals more fun?

As I was putting away my gear, Len arrived, ready to windsurf. He went out on the Techno 148 with Vanessa's 5.7 Firefly. He had some good planing runs until the wind dropped and was generally loving the water and being free after the last day of school. Yeah summertime!

Happy last day of school!

Sorry I didn't get any planing shots...

Windsurfing between conference calls

This work from anywhere thing is pretty good. I managed to get a lunch hour session in with Vanessa, and then a late afternoon session where I could just hand the board off to Len.

My first session saw me getting Vanessa's 5.7 Firefly ready for her. I sailed it up to the point on the Skate 108 for the handoff. It was perfect for the 18-22 knot SW winds. Jenny was having fun with Timo, and Vanessa was out shredding like a superMom. I joined Vanessa on the FreeWave 116 (having replaced the wave fin with a more normal 34cm fin) and the Idol 5.6. It was super fun shredding together and then making it back in time for Jen's conference call. I packed up the gear and got ready for my next call while Timo fell asleep in the boat.

Vanessa out ripping up the Bay!

Timo having fun in the sail loft!

At 4pm, all my calls were done and I headed out on the Skate 108 with the Idol 4.8. Winds were a bit stronger, 19-23, still from the SW. It was a classic blue sky bay day with cumulus clouds on the north and east shores of the Georgian Bay. Sometimes I had to pump to get onto a plane, but got catapulted twice in gusts. I managed an un-elegant planing duck tack, and then came in to give the board (with too tight footstraps) to Len. He was nicely powered on the 5.7 for his session.

Perfect SW bay day

I did fall on a lot of my transitions...

Len ripping it up too!

Looking forward to many more days like this one. So nice when the water is warm and the wind is strong!

Windsurfing with one eye closed

Another lunch time windsurf session. After my morning calls and emails were done, I headed out to the Launch Pad for a lunch session. The west wind was averaging 22 knots, so I went with the Skate 108 and the 4.7 Duke.

The weather was quite stormy, with long sheets of rain. I could be at one end of a run, and see the transition to rain just a few hundred metres away. When I'd reach the rain, I was windsurfing with one eye closed, as I had forgotten my sunglasses. I also forgot sunscreen but there weren't any sunny moments.

I windsurfed for around 2 hours and the wind was building the whole time. I would head all the way south toward the Henvey Inlet, and then back up to Puddick Island - a good 3 km long run. There were some wind shadows but generally the runs were pretty consistent. I found some nice waves, but also some very confused chop in certain areas.

After falling a few times and a lame Vulcan attempt, I decided to come and swap for the Axxis 272 I had left at the tip of the island.

Axxis 272 ready for action!

It was interesting to windsurf on that board again. After my slog and swim on it a few weeks ago, and one session in 2018, I haven't used that board in a decade. It is so long and skinny. Feels like it is going to flip over on me at any time. Jibing was easier than I expected - but time to redo the non-skid on the board. Ankles hang over the water so my wetsuit legs kept filling up with water!

By the time I was done the winds were hitting 30 knots. Time for a smaller board or sail but I was spent. Air was 14c and the water 21c. Not cold at all compared to just a few weeks ago.

Max for the day 30 knots, averaging 22+

No GPS trail as it didn't download with the new APProSail App I'm trying. Max speed was 44.2 km/h on the Skate, and I'm surprised I didn't beat that speed on the Axxis 272.

I figure I did 40 km in around 2.5 hours. Need to work on my stamina, I think I'm gonna be tired and sore tomorrow.

Father's day session

After a heatwave and windless Saturday, father's day Sunday had a nice south wind blowing. Wind meter was reading 13 with max 18 gusts. Water was 23c and the wind was warm. For the first time this year, I was sweating in my short sleeve, long leg wetsuit.

I decided to try the Techno 148 with a fin instead of the foil for the first time in years with the 7.0 NP V6. I did get planing twice which felt very nice, but it wasn't quite enough, and the wind then tapered off a bit. Maybe it was because of the broken battens (which I easily fixed later).

I parked the Techno and headed back to try the foil. My GPS says it takes around 6 minutes to walk the island and 4 minutes to get the foil board setup.

I was definitely feeling like a geeky father with my life jacket and hat to protect from the sun.

I had my most in control and comfortable foil rides yet. Several 1 km runs that ended due to lulls, not control issues. But without a solid (seems like I almost need 15 knots?) gust, I couldn't get going again without an almost exhausting amount of pumping. Here is a photo as I returned.

Happy geeky dad!

16 km total distance

Fin first, then foil

After my session we had a nice father's day burger lunch on the island. Hoping for a few good after work sessions this week.

Bearly planing session?

Monday afternoon after work. Windy predicted 8 knots. And my newly located wind meter was reading 8 knots current and average, max gust 11 knots.

So I headed out on the Stingray 140 with the NP V6 6.5 and 76 cm slingshot foil.

I barely planed. I did pump up onto the foil for one brief moment, but couldn't keep it going. Need to work on my pumping skills and overall fitness if I'm going out in 8-11 knot winds.

Later I saw bears and got a photo of one. Does that mean I bearly planed? I'm guessing I will still count this as a session when I look back to tally up my year totals.

Nice bear on the way home

Exploring the islands - very high water

One very short session on the foil during 50 minutes on the water

Sunny Sunday 10k foil

After a wonderful boat ride to the Bustard island lighthouses with Timo and a picnic in the Gun Barrel, we relocated to the Launch Pad. The gentle NE wind had just switched to SW 10-12 knots.

I headed out for my 4th session on the Stingray 140, this time with the 6.5 NP V6. It was awesome. I've become much more comfortable with the board, and was able to glide more than half way through a few jibe attempts.

I did remember to check and tighten the tuttle box screws, the rear one was already loose.

Overall 10 km with a few 1/2 and one 1 km long runs.

Amazing that a day with 3 knot winds predicted turns out to be so much fun. Rigged gear and the windsurf foil is a game changer in terms of the number of days that are viable for getting some speed out on the water.

Comfortable on the new foil board!

Exciting 3rd day on my new foil board. The cold morning north wind shifted to west and we all headed out to the Launch Pad. Vanessa had her good session the day before, so it was Len's turn to go out on the Techno and her 5.7 sail while baby Timo watched his other windsurfing parent.

I was on the new Fanatic Stingray 140 and the Idol 5.6 sail on my Slingshot 76 foil wing. Wind was west at 10-12 knots. It was nice to have company out on the water and Len was enjoying the sun and  wind and clear (not salty) water.

As the wind was steady and it was my 3rd session on the new board, I felt much more comfortable than the first two times trying the Stingray. I still only like the rear footstrap for heading upwind, even with the straps on the inner setting. Having my back foot in the centre of the board is much more comfortable for cruising, especially when going downwind. The board has nice nose rocker and even the odd overfoil doesn't result in a catapult.

Len from Bonaire and Carl from Canada at the Launch Pad

Len heading out - he got one planing run!

The map (2 versions, same data) shows how easy it is to go up and downwind. I think that a full foil jibe might be months or even weeks away - previously I thought it would be years! I managed to get a couple of jibes where I was still on the foil when switching my feet, and then splashed down but continued out of the jibe with some power. 

The 5.6 Idol was a different feeling from the 6.5 V6 cambered sail. Much more responsive and then also easier to uphaul. I'm excited to try a downwind carving 360?

Garmin GPS uploaded to Google Earth - fun up and downwind

Garmin GPS Here map - fun up and downwind

Vanessa got some footage of one of my first jibe attempts of the day - later ones were a bit better.

3rd day on the new wider windfoil board from Canadian Guy on Vimeo.

Looking forward to getting more time on this new foil board!

Short Friday afternoon happy hour

The wind had been steady all day from the west so after work calls I headed out to the Launch Pad. It was showing 22 knots on the wind meter and felt steady and windier than the day before so I took the 116 Freestyle Wave and the 4.7 Duke. I'd considered taking a sinker board and glad I didn't.

I was mostly powered, and pumped onto a plane most runs. It took me a long time to get upwind for some slightly longer runs. I think it is time to try using the board with outside straps and a non-wave fin. 

I went for 40 minutes in the 12c wind without getting my hair wet. Exciting to be the first time this year using the 4.7, so that makes this the windiest session so far. After around 50 minutes I decided to come in and try the 5.4 Duke. By the time I'd changed sails the wind had dropped more and I only got planing a few times and couldn't make any upwind ground at all. It sure is nice to be able to go over almost every shoal or shallow spot I've avoided for many of the last 40 years.

Slogging later in the session.
Thanks Nadia for the photo!

At the end of the hour, my 3/2 wetsuit was still dry on the inside, but the air was so cold I'm glad I'd worn my neoprene Santa hat.

Wind direct from the west.

Some good runs on the 4.7 and later on 5.4
Heart rate quite variable, or just strange when the sensor
gets wet?

Interesting clouds on the way back into the harbour.

It felt good to get another shortboard session, but my body is a bit sore from yesterday! A beer and Friday night online buddies poker session will be good. Looking maybe frost overnight and north winds tomorrow.

June is actually a pretty good month for WSW and West winds, but July and August promise even more windy days.

56k session and a milestone for Vanessa!

We woke up to big winds, high water and our dock off its pins. We fixed that and I had a bunch of work and charity calls. After lunch, it was time to head out to the Launch Pad.

I scored a huge 2.5 hour session. 56 km on the Skate 108 board and 5.6 Idol! Wind was nice and consistent out of the south west. Air was 13c, water around 15c. I was good in my 4/3 wetsuit.

I worked my way all the way upwind to visit friends who texted Jen that I was ok. I tried my spot GPS but it doesn't seem to be working. Add that to the list of projects for the next few days.

New record high gusts - 34 knots

Planing 67% of the time. Max speed 47.8 km/h

After I was done and scarfed some yummy freeze dried camping food, Vanessa, Len and Timo came out. Vanessa got a great session too, first puttering on the Viper, then ripping on the Techno 148. Her newly repaired sail is working well!

Vanessa coming in on the Viper

All smiles

Vanessa ripping on the Techno

Awesome to see the new mom ripping

I even got a bit of video of Vanessa, after the wind had shifted to more southerly. This was her first time planing after becoming a mom 5 months ago.

Vanessa rocking the techno on Georgian Bay from Canadian Guy on Vimeo.

Looking forward to some more windy and warmer south / southwest days and going on a blast out to the Bustard islands some time.