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

Do you kiteboard too? Which sport is better?

I love talking about windsurfing. So I always get asked if I have tried kitesurfing? Well my first kite lesson was in the Gorge in the mid 1990's. Back then the very wide bar had a spool on it with a hand brake and you let out the two line kite with a disc brake.

Some of the first kite gear. I tried it in the 1990's and stuck with windsurfing!

The kite itself was traction/power kite with hollow (not inflatable) shaped tubes. Like a trainer kite today, it couldn't be relaunched on the water. You needed a buddy in a jetski.

Back in the day you had to let out the kite while on the water

Some guys were true pioneers: Cory Roeseler

The photos above (not of me) give an indication that kiteboarding was at the windsurfing "teak boom tied on a with a rope"equivalent stage of development. 

An original teak boom windsurfer

Or like "bear trap" binding stage of skiing's progress to a safe sport.

Some first generation ski bindings

It was super sketchy and I decided to wait to do more kiting when the gear got better.

By 2006 my kids were very interested in kiting and took a lesson in the gorge. They definitely thought kiting looked cooler than windsurfing.

Kids kite lesson in 2006!

The kiting industry introduced 4 line kites a few years later which could de-power and were much safer. Then I started taking the odd lesson. I recall some good sessions at the Bitter End a decade ago. And the kite gear keeps getting better with 4 lines, inflatable leading edges and adjustable power settings.

I've documented a few of my kite sessions in this blog:

Kiting in Antigua New Years 2017

Kiting in Hatteras November 2017

Kiting in Grenada in 2014

I like kiteboarding and it is a superior sport in many ways. But I still prefer windsurfing. Here's the email response I gave to a friend recently when he asked "Is kiteboarding or windsurfing easier to learn and which is better?"

Windsurfing is much harder to learn. I’d say a good 40 hours on the water with good instruction before you can be hooked in and planing quickly on top of the water back and forth in 15-20 knot winds. Windsurfing does have a huge advantage that you can also have fun just fooling around in very light under 10 knot winds and make it home as you have a floaty board and a sail to steer. While a few people can teach themselves how to windsurf if really motivated, lessons are recommended. A week in Bonaire at an ABK camp will have you on your way to high speed windsurfing. 

Kitesurfing is easier to learn. With around 4 hours of lessons most people are hooked in and planing back and forth across the water. If you snowboard or wakeboard or have ever flown a trainer kite the learning curve is even shorter. The kiteboard gear is also much easier to transport. And you can get going nicely in 10-15 knots of wind which happens more often than the 15+ knots needed to plane on a windsurfer. But if the wind falls below 10 knots, the kite falls in the water and you sink and getting home can be very hard if you are alone. You MUST take a lesson to learn how to kite – google “kitemares” if you need confirmation of that!

Because the launch for kitesurfing is best on a long sandy beach, I only do it on vacations at dedicated kite spots. The launch at my cottage is all granite, so I only own windsurfing gear up there and it remains my favourite of the two. Especially now with foil windsurfing, which makes the 10-15 knot days fun too. The answer here to question #20 partially reveals my thoughts as well:

https://internationalwindsurfingtour.com/featured-rider-carl-spiess/

I hope you enjoy both sports and look forward to any comments.

Bonaire 2018: Weeds, lost luggage and bruises can't stop us from having fun!

Sunday March 4th - Arrival (mostly)

We were very excited by the direct Sunwing flight to Bonaire. In 4.5 hours there is quite a difference from the view of ice near Toronto Windsurfing club and then flying in over Lac Bay. We landed from the north - there was absolutely no wind so the plane could land in the opposite from normal direction.

View over Toronto Windsurfing Club at Cherry Beach

Nice direct flight!

Coming in over Lac Bay from the North - no wind!

Happy to be in Bonaire!

Just missing one bag!

All went well except that we were one of the two travellers who had missing luggage. Luckily our harnesses were in the bag that arrived and the local rep arranged a taxi for us to go collect some vital items on our way to the cozy Sorobon Beach hotel. All good.

Monday March 5th - Back to school

It was so much fun to be back at ABK windsurfing camp at Jibe City. The wind was very light as it had been the past 10 days. We did lectures in the morning and light wind windsurfing skills training in the afternoon. The video session after caught a skeg first upwind 360. The biggest learning moment for me was figuring out how toe pressure can help with keeping the board pointing upwind when ducking the sail switch stance. Hoss tacks are still elusive.

An old memory left in Bonaire 5 years ago! Oma's plate

The start of windsurfing Camp

After school video review with the Master - Andy Brandt 

Tuesday March 6th - Beach cleanup

Sea grass. We woke up in the morning to find that sea grass had blown in overnight. It was so bad that the windsurfing centres all closed and the staff and guests used various tools of differing efficacy to bring the grass to shore. The mood at Jibe and the Hangout Bar was really quite cheerful despite the challenge the grass was presenting. With windsurfing class cancelled for the afternoon I caught up on work emails after my back was done with the sea weed cleanup.

Panorama of the Sargasso Sea Grass

The awesome cleanup effort

Wednesday March 7th - New tricks

After an hour of sea grass beach clean up we started with a full day of school. It felt awkward walking past the huge number of volunteers with our gear but the people at Jibe said they wanted us to go out. Andy had me out by the flag and quickly tuned up my Jibe by telling me to slow down my motions. It worked. Then it was time to work on my upwind 360 which gets better if you spear the sail forward. Cool.

I was on a JP Freestyle 106 and Severe Freek 6.3 and was pumping onto a plane ok. The biggest surprise was when Andy let me use his Skate 100 and North Idol 4.8. I could pump that onto a plane as well! Wow. On my run out I actually got the board sliding and my hands to the boom on my first Vulcan attempt of the year. On the way back I almost got my carving 360 with both feet in the straps! That North Idol is an amazing sail.

I did nail an upwind 360 and then it was lunch time. After lunch I got to watch Jen sail a lot, and she is really ripping and got a nice dry jibe by the end of the day. I did get a one handed carving 360 which felt really nice. Overall a first great day of high wind sailing. BBQ dinner at Sorobon was great.

Lunch at Sorobon

Nice visitor to our porch

Thursday March 8th - Intl Woman's Day: Go Jen!

There were a good number of women in our ABK clinic. Very nice to see. Jen was doing well on the water, in the morning overpowered and a bit underpowered in the afternoon but happy working on her jibes. According to Andy, Jen is sailing without the fear that she once had!

The mostly volunteer crew at Jibe were still doing clean up when we headed out, but now with more help from a front end loader. The sea grass was starting to come back into the bay - almost as quickly as the volunteers could clean it up. Luckily in the afternoon my buddy Rich loaned me a freestyle weed fin so I could actually get going without spinning out. Amazing.

I managed to almost complete a no hand carving 360, then got a 1 hand carving 360 on video and unsuccessfully tried some boomerang and donkey jibes. A solid day feeling great and deserving of another good dinner at Sorobon.

Jen getting better at jibing

And consistent (this is a different run!)

More video analysis at 5:15

Friday March 9th - No Shaka for you

A bit sore but we headed over to Jibe City for our last day of windsurf school. They had already made great progress on clearing the small overnight accumulation of sea grass using the front end loader.

It was super windy. I headed out on the JP Freestyle 106 and a 4.8 and Jen was on a 4.2 but changed that for a 3.3 that was then too small. I was working on shove its / shakas and despite 2 reasonable tries, the other dozen were not so good.

After lunch I was on the 4.8 again and Jen was on a 4.0 in the 26 knot winds. Once I loaned Jen the 106 with the weed fin she was off showing great control in the way higher than normal wind. She did 4 amazing runs that resulted in awesome board speed on her jibe attempts (caught on video).

My afternoon had two vulcan attempts that resulted in landing hooked in which was really painful. My shakas were also going no where. I did then get two vulcans that spun 180 degrees, so that was good at least. I wound up using Jen's 4.0m sail as it was so windy. I could barely step up onto our patio though my legs were so sore.

We had dinner with Rich on his last night in Bonaire to thank him for the awesome loan of the weed fin. That fin really made the last 2 days sessions fun for us and not as frustrating as it was for others.

Jen flying! Nice stance!

Out for another run!

Jen absolutely screaming into a jibe.

My jump jibe attempt.

Happy ABK campers!

Saturday March 10th - Sore and speedy

Jen and I got massages from Saskia at Jibe City and took it easy for the morning. I windsurfed for less than an hour until my thighs were done. I was on a JP Magic Ride 104 which with a weed fin and 4.9 North E-Type was super speedy. I got to the mangroves and back 4 times, planing the whole time except the one run where I didn't get going coming back. I kind of slogged through the dirty current area now flowing out of Lac Bay from the weedy area down by Kontiki beach. It was fun to see a friendly turtle out in the water. And some fun crabs on the way back to our room after dinner.

Lunch at the Hangout Bar

Happy guy

Happy wife

Thanks Saskia!

The crabs on the walk back to the room after dinner

Great memories of the kids playing with these friendly guys!

Sunday March 11th - Photo shoot

I heard that there was a photographer who does freelance shooting on Sundays. So after packing up our room at Sorobon, I headed out for a session. The wind was super strong, likely gusting 30 knots, so I tried a 4.5 North Hero and a JP board with a weed fin. I got a carving one handed 360 and then went in to get a JP Freestyle 100 which was way better for doing tricks. I tried a vulcan and shove it while the photographer was still shooting. The pictures turned out way better than I expected!

We got our rental car and went to the airport where Sunwing did eventually give us our suitcase a week late. We then moved into the Resort Bonaire that I'd booked months ago for just $100 a night. We were the first ever guests in the newly finished room. We did head out to Bobbejan's for some great ribs. On the way home we wound up helping a local dutch couple bump start their old truck.

Downwind 360 with style and a goofy hat

Launching a vulcan

No I didn't land the way too high vulcan attempt.
Bruised / cracked my ribs actually....

About to be a one handed carving 360

Blasting at 40 km/h

Not going to get a Shaka this trip!

A typical day of windsurfing - around 20 km in 1.5 hours
Top speed normally around 40-45 km/h

Our 2nd suitcase did arrive!

Wonderful Bonaire Sunset

Bobbejeans BBQ before:

Bobbejeans BBQ after:

Monday March 12th - Work morning

Jen and I headed to Jibe City late in the afternoon after finishing work emails and a few calls. The wind was still strong but a bit lighter but I could just get my 5.0 Severne Gator going on the 86L JP Freewave which was all set up perfectly. Jen was on a 4.0 and a 96L JP Freewave which wasn't enough to get her planing more than a few times. It was a satisfying session though in that it didn't result in any more bruises.

The newly constructed Resort Bonaire hotel room

Tuesday March 13th - Another work day

After a full morning and early afternoon of emails and calls, we headed to the pharmacy to get Jen some medicine for her bruises. And hour after that we arrived at Jibe for a late day session. Jen decided to skip sailing, I headed out for an hour of sailing. I was on a 5.6 Freek and JP freewave 106. It worked ok and the weed fin was still necessary. I didn't do anything too fancy but chatted with Andy about my Vulcan photos from facebook. Dinner at It Rains Fishes was wonderful!

Wednesday March 14th - Weed city

We got to Jibe in time for a nice lobster salad lunch. Then we headed out for an afternoon session. Jen was on a 4.5 and the 106 Freestyle and had a pretty good session. I was on a 5.2 Freek and a very slippery 106 wave 3 fin freestyle board. I couldn't even jibe it - it was so slippery. The weeds didn't help with us getting in any solid runs either - Jen had one major downwinder trying to free the weeds from her spun out fin! Overall a nice day out on the water together but not one for the record books. However, dinner was an over the top event at Delfin resort. Wow.

Waves and driftwood on the north shore

Nice rental truck

Kite city

The salt ponds

Wonderful dinner at the Delfin resort

Thursday March 15th - Drive through the Park

We got up and headed right to the Washington Slagbaai park. It is around a 45 km dirt road that passes many wonderful natural sights. It was all worth seeing, but the bouncing in the 4x4 truck took its toll on my sore ribs. On the way back we gave a nice local man a ride from Rincon to his work at Harbour Village resort.

Hey Donkey!

Weeds at Playa Chikitu

Big waves at Playa Chikitu

Blowholes on the north coast

Nice day for a driving tour

Liking the views in the park

Flamingos

Boka Slagbaai

Jen ready to windsurf!

When we finally got to Jibe City it was great to see that there were no weeds. None! I decided to take out a dual fin 101 wave board which was a mistake. The 5.6m Freek sail was fine, but the board was slow and impossible to get upwind. I was happy to take over Jen's Freestyle 106 board when she was done for the day. I'm really comfortable on the Freestyle boards. However, I will need a day in a seat harness to give my ribs a day to recover.

After heading home to change, we went back to Jibe for their wonderful Thursday night BBQ on the beach. A very fun and delicious dinner.

Friday March 16 - Seat Harness

After another morning at the apartment doing email, we headed into town to see what Kralendyk is like when a 3,600 passenger ship arrives on this island of 19,000 inhabitants. It was actually a very nice vibe downtown, lively but not too busy.

We headed to Jibe City for a nice lunch and then a 2 hour session on the water. I wore a seat harness which was a great relief to my sore ribs. I was on a 112L RRD firestick and a 6.2m Severne cambered race sail. I hit 48.5 km/h which was fast but actually slower than I expected to get going with a rig like that. Jen was on a 120L Gecko and a 4.9 North e type. She had a nice planing run and hit 25 km/h.

For dinner we ate at the Resort Bonaire for the first time. The chef and staff were 3 of Len's students from years ago and they remembered him fondly and knew he was now in Canada. That was a fun connection to make!

Cocktails on the beach 

Watching Caesar doing his flowstyle freestyle

Dinner at Resort Bonaire with Mr Vonk's students

Saturday March 17th

We headed to Jibe city to have a nice last smoked salmon lunch and settle up our windsurf rental and restaurant bills. We were taking it pretty easy. For dinner we went to the Bistro de Paris that was different from our great memories from 5 years ago when it was on the main road. Perhaps it was that we were melancholy with our wonderful 2 weeks coming to an end.

Goodbye Jibe City and Bonaire

Sunday March 18th

The trip back to Toronto was easy and uneventful. Direct flights are like that. Now I have this blog completed to remember the trip and look forward to next time.