My son the foiler

It feels great when the wind builds just as predicted and I get everything lined up perfectly. I managed to get a beginner out again on a 3.5 for his longest session ever, get some drone footage of my wife and son sailing, get a foil session myself and then watched Phillip have his first foil session. And to cap it off, I had a nice steak dinner at our neighbours who were thanking me for being helpful fixing their dock earlier in the season. Here are the details and photos:

Launch Pad class in session - last time this year?

My boys had their friend Maxx up for the weekend and he wanted to have a 3rd try at windsurfing. So I set up the "class in session" flags at the Launch Pad for what I'm thinking is the last beginner day of the year. I checked my blog to see what equipment he was on last year, and sent him out with the 3.5 Chinook sail and Viper 80 again. He didn't really need much time on the simulator, and even on his first runs he was doing so well I let him start holding the boom with both hands.

Great form Maxx

Both hands on the boom now

Maxx heading out to explore the Bay

Maxx was enjoying having complete control of the windsurfer and decided to explore Georgian Bay. I zoomed back to get a life jacket and he was off - heading past Dokis island, over 2 km away. The wind slowly built from 6 - 8 knots and he was having fun going faster and faster. He found the swells out there challenging and came back happy but tired.

Max returning!

Maxx from the air

Nice smile!

The wind built a bit more and soon my sister's little sailboat was rigged and ready for Jen and Phillip to head out. They had a nice mother son sail and I got some shots and video from the drone.

The Launch Pad

Next I had a super short foil session on the 7.0 NP V6 and the Slingshot 76 cm foil. I had a bit of work to change it back from Len's Techno session. The south wind was just enough to pump to get on the foil, but got out just in time to foil past the little sailboat and maybe pique Phillips interest in foiling even a bit more.

My short foil session

Then I converted the foil back for the Techno and Phil's first foil session. I put him on the 24 inch medium beginner mast and 76 cm front wing. He headed out with the 6.5 in the 10-15 knot winds.

Phillip heading out for his first foil session

Phillip tacked upwind and when he finally had a long reach he got up on the foil. I was so excited. He went back and forth several times, getting up regularly. He was using the front footstraps which helped, but a bit more wind would have been even better for his first day. That being said, the wind was likely ok, as he didn't have a harness, which I think is good advice for the first few foil sessions. A few minor falls, and soon he was heading back - tired from the 2 previous days of windsurfing. 

Long distance foil shot

And another proof of Phil's foiling skill

I'm super excited for Phil for trying the foil and proud of him doing so well as my second foil student. I regret not having gotten out on the Seadoo for some better pictures but I do think he will be foiling a lot in the coming years. He was pretty stoked by how amazing it feels to float above the water.

The smile says it all. The newest addition to "loyal to the foil" society returns!

Another steak dinner, this time all prepared by our neighbours, and I was ready for bed. Gale winds forecast for Labour Day Monday!