Not much to write about

11 knots of wind.
Barely got planing.
Move along - better luck next time.
Apparently the wind howled the next day, but I was back in the city.

Session notes. At least it was warm.

55.9 km/h, 30 knots = new PB top speed

Wow, I got a 3rd day of windsurfing in a row. And it was so much fun. The session started out with lighter wind and fog but built up to a perfect 15-20 knot SW wind.

I finally stated getting the Ray 122 dialed in and with the 7.0 V8 and 44 cm fin I was getting more confident and going faster and faster as the wind picked up.

I sailed upwind for a while in the rough channel east of Dead Island. Looking at the map it was around 3 km upwind with 5 tacks 10 gybes over 30 km. I then then had some blazing downwind runs ‎where the water is protected by some small islands.

My speeds increasing over the 50 km session
Eventually hitting 55.9 km/h = 30 knots a new personal best

The speed chart shows my top speeds slowly increasing. A quick pit stop at my friends' island for a glass of water and some more suntan lotion and then one last run.

GPS trail showing the tacks back and forth to get upwind
(note map is facing the wind, eg. SW is top)

I was starting to sail with both legs straight which I wasn't comfortable doing the first 5 sessions I've had on this new board. It was on the 2nd last run that I hit 55.9 km/h. (Didn't Sammy Hagar sing "I can't drive 55?"). It could be a data error from the GPS but it did feel like a really fast run. Anyway I'm claiming my new top speed equals 30 knots.

FYI, I don't want to fall going that fast. The impact of the mast hitting the water with my harness still hooked on would be scary - another broken boom or worse. But I have seen videos of pro slalom sailors wiping out at that speed - and they keep coming back for more.

And hitting 30 knots in 20 knots of wind is pretty cool: my speed was 150% of the wind speed.

The fog before the session (I didn't wind up using the Skate 108)

The Ray 122 and 7.0 NP V8 that I did use
Now you can see Dokis and Dead Islands

Missed it today

I woke up quite sore after the 2.5 hour session yesterday. I checked iWindsurf and it was saying the winds should build all day. I was pretty sure I wouldn't need the 9.0 and took it out of the boat. After doing some chores around the cottage at 12:30 I headed out to visit my friend and sail from his place.

At the last minute I did put the 9.0 back in with all the gear as it seemed the wind was dying. Sure enough, the wind was dropping and the 9.0 was my only option.

I tried using my waist harness though for the first time with the 9.0 and found I liked it more than the seat harness. So now I might be retiring my seat harness entirely as I only used it on the big sails. I sailed 9 km and got planing a few times, but seem to have my heli tacks nailed now even with a 9.0 on a 120 litre board.

Here's a shot of the loaded boat and my upwind slogging efforts.

How I get out to where the wind is (or was)

After a slog upwind I got planing 4 times!

A great bay day

Rigged up the 7.0 but there wasn't enough wind. The 9.0 got me going but I was frustrated that I couldn't make any upwind ground. I was using my waist harness but it seems like my front leg is always bent.

Then, after a nice shore lunch with my wife and daughter, the wind had filled in and I was fully lit on the 9.0. I sailed past my wife and daughter as they were heading back and they got this nice shot of me.

Sailing on a fine Georgian Bay day!

Just as I was about to have my last run on the big sail, I spotted my friend Scott out windsurfing. We sailed together for a minute. Then I headed back to my start spot with a nice downwind run with Scott on my tail. I changed to the still rigged 7.0 and chased Scott back to his place.

Sailing now was way more fun. The 7.0 felt so light and I was now using my waist harness. I did my last few runs and could make ground upwind and go wherever I wanted. My gybes even looked good.

55 km in 2.5 hours and toward the end I hit 50 km/h on my last downwind leg on the 7.0 and 122 Ray. At that point my forearms were cramping up and I wound up having to take a 2 minute break and just float in the water.  As I de-rigged a few minutes later one finger on my left hand and my right thumb completely cramped up as well. I wanted to go out for one more run but thought I'd save some strength for tomorrow.

Lots of Gopro footage that I hope to edit some time. In the interim, here's the sailing data that I'll look at again when I'm thinking of great days of sailing on Georgian Bay.

A great bay day - speeds increased as the wind did too!

Windsurfing Lego

For father's day I got a nice present - windsurfing lego!

I got the idea from the latest Windsport magazine. This one was on eBay, now it is on my shelf with various other windsurfing mementos...

My first lego windsurfer!

I was also given Lego's beach house which includes a windsurfer. I'm looking forward to building that some day with some younger future windsurfers. (In German they call people who are learning to windsurf "aufsteigers" - that would translate as up steppers).  Ok, time to get back on the water!

Surprise NE session

I rarely get out in a northeast wind, they are just too gusty. But I wanted to try out the new NP 200-260 carbon boom (replacing the one I broke recently) which now has longer 32" harness lines.

I didn't even plane half the time, but did get to go on a quick walk on one of the islands with my lovely wife who came out by boat to visit me during the session.

I'm looking forward to some steadier southwest winds in the coming weeks. I also need to get my legs in better shape if I'm going to do any longer sessions.

Picking my way through the shoals

Got planing 24 times - top speed 49 km/h

Thanks Jen for the photos

And I'm off....

New windsurfing bucket list item - windskating BERLIN!

Ok, I've done a lot of interesting windsurfing things. But I've got a new one to add to my list. Windskating on an abandoned airport tarmac. This article in the economist got me interested - and I've never been to Berlin, yet.  Maybe I'll bring my little used turfdog.

http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21603043-love-historic-field-and-loathing-mayor-drive-berliners-polls-dont-touch

I'd like to try this someday..