Garage Works - 11/4/2024

As with most recent Mondays, I took the day off from foiling/water time and took a short nap in the afternoon.

Then I hit the garage to get some of the projects further along -

I started with the SK8 950 repair.  I sanded the excess carbon and epoxy off to see where I was at.

You can see the little clear "hook" or cutout - that still needs to be filled, so more carbon and epoxy...

The extra layers will also help strengthen the wingtip so no big deals.

Slow and steady is the best way to fix a broken wing tip.

I'll sand this down again tomorrow and get it faired in.  If it goes well, I can use the solid paint marker and get it filled in and wet sanded.

And I got the center line filled in on Greg's board.  That's after sanding the excess epoxy from yesterday off the center line delamination repair.

This fill will help even out the unevenness between the two sides (and how they took the epoxy differently based on the condition of the foam). 

Tomorrow I'll sand this to get it flatter - then I'll put some rail tape over it to help make sure it doesn't ever open up unexpectedly.

I'll also sand the bottom fills and see if I can get rail tape over the nose and tail repair areas.

Dawn Patrol - 11/3/2024

I decided to Foil Drive this morning at WPB - Marlon indicated he was excited to use the Takuma foils  so I changed plans (Hickam).

There were fun sized waves still coming through.  Dean and Noel were out - 

I believe this is No.18 that Marlon is riding - and he was out on the Takuma Kujira 1210 (haven't said that in a minute...) 

I had the same gear out - I really love this setup (and the Spitfire 900 when it gets bigger).  No.34 just works so well to get up quick.  And it still turns super hard without touching - what more could you ask for?

I actually burned through half my battery in 30 minutes - the waves were that good (for Foil Drive-ing - the poor longboarders were just sitting around and fighting for the scraps_.

So many carves.... so much fun!!!!

I even got a few double dips buried in the track somewhere.

17 waves in the first hour - ridiculous!!!!  20 overall for today - no room for complaint.

Marlon said he caught several, and he was even starting to make turns!

And today was the first day winging/foiling didn't tax me (no blood drawn, no smashed foil, no torn wing - even keel today).  I like to think it might have been the plastic bag I picked up and put in the trash.  Whatever the factor - I'm glad I didn't have to pay today (for once). 

W:135/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:19

Garage Works - 11/2/2024

Here is the Ezzy all repaired (thanks La!!!)

That was fixed yesterday.

Today I reminded Marlon the Takuma foils are his now.  To make me feel better about him taking these out and using them without me around, I rounded off the shark teeth winglets.  I should have done this when I got these foils - now they are less likely to cut...

And I showed him how to set up the foil on the board - including the foil angle of incidence.

Then I went ahead and prepared the crushed wingtip on the SK8 950 for the carbon patch lamination.

I'll start laminating the different layers on to the wing tip tomorrow (when I also place epoxy into the longboard I'm fixing for Greg).

I don't mind doing this for other people - but I get frustrated when I have to do it on my own foils.

Wing Foiling Session - 11/2/2024

The trades were forecasted to back down for a bit - but there was ridable wind forecasted for Kailua this morning.

Rex, Martin and Sandra were there - good sign

I went big on everything except the board (had No.36, but probably should have had No.34)

North Mode Pro 6.8 and the F One Eagle 1090.

It took me 30 minutes to get up on foil - but once I did I was able to stay up for all but one fall.

On my last 5.0 mile split, I got the run in under 20 minutes.  Were it not for the slow start, my average speed would have been closer to 15 mph.

Lots of carving today!  The waves weren't huge, but they were still fun.

I also got a ton of tacks in on the inside.

This was definitely the low end of everything -

Not bad for a light wind session

W:135/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 11/1/2024

Got in an afternoon winging session.  Wind was nice and strong.  There were still some waves coming through.

Same board - but back on the SK8 950/C200

And pumped up the North Nova Pro 5.0 (such a good wing in the waves).

When I got to the beach, there were whitecaps.  But I didn't trust them to stay up, and that's why I setup the medium sized gear.

I stayed out just over an hour - and the wind collapsed just after I got in.

I was ripping today (if I do say so myself).  Big difference over yesterday - but I think the wind was a bit stronger and more direct today.

The waves were still super fun - so many carves!!!

It was good until it wasn't.

Eli, Roland, Zach and Kalani were all out.

Eli and Zach headed in right after I did - I could feel the pressure drop off.

Roland and Kalani didn't head in

I was up on foil for most of the session.

When I was at the shower I noticed this - a pretty good ding on the SK8 950.  Man am I ever paying dues right now... 

W:134/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/31/2024

I picked up another prototype wing from Donnel.  I hit the beach straight from work to get the wind while it was up.

Good conditions while I was setting up - but in typical fashion, the wind dropped when I paddled out.

I thought the wind would be nuking so in order to counter the power in a larger wing (testing another 5.0) I set up the F One SK8 750/C195

And here is the prototype -

This wing is the most technical I have flown to date.

It luffs really well - but it does get locked in (granted the wind got pretty strong at times and the extra speed I picked up from the larger waves would affect the wing generating more lift).

This seemed like the blue 5.5 wings I previously tested - where once I was up on foil, the wing would always provide enough power to move; but it doesn't generate brute force to get you up out of the water quickly - this requires a lot of finesse)  

After a bad start to the session (when the wind died down and I drifted into the dead wind zone). I got up and stayed up for a bit.  I picked up some really good waves - head high while on foil.

Eventually during the session, one of these waves wrecked me and put the foil into the wing...

Nice pattern on the track 

You can see gaps in the wind here -

And in here

Despite these issues, this was a fun session!

W:133/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/30/2024

I thought the winds would stronger today - they weren't.  Still good wind, just not nuking.

The tide was good and high, and there were still waves coming through.

Same board/foil - but anticipating the stronger winds, I pumped up the Mode Pro 4.8

I also opted to use the Ion/Wingman chest harness.

I forgot my Garmin watch at home so I used Strava on my phone to track the session stats.

I wanted to run to Costco to grab some groceries, so I had a shorter session today.  Also with the smaller wing (this 4.8 really behaves more like a 4.2), I didn't want to risk getting caught outside when the wind slacked.

Lots of squiggly lines on the tracks today - which means lots of carving!

The waves were working nicely with the tide - they were standing up and running the distance.  Made from really fun rides!!!

I guess looking at this chart you could say the wind was more consistent today (less gusty), but overall it wasn't blowing as hard as it was yesterday.

I got tacks in both sides (in and out) - and ended up recovering from some sloppy inside tacks.  So maneuver wise today was pretty good.

Tomorrow is supposed to be nuking - we'll see.  That and Donnel has a new Ezzy 5.0 he is asking if I want to test (oh yeah!).

W:132/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/29/2024

The wind came back today!!!  I rigged for good conditions, but we ended up with nuking winds!!!

Nice high tide and some fun waves still rolling in -

I pumped up the North Nova Pro 5.0 - but truthfully save a few lulls (one of which I went down on even with the 5.0) I could have easily used a 4.2 or smaller.

And going for a change today, I set up No.36 with the SK8 950/C200

Typical tradewind day - ENE winds.  Good direction for nailing outbound tacks onto waves - of which this picture is a screen shot from Roland's video taking this afternoon.

Apex of an outbound tack onto a wave 

For most of the session the 5.0 was slightly overpowered - I was thinking I should have pumped up the Mode Pro 4.8

Decent stats today - 

With the strength of the wind, I was able to drop back towards Cabins and take advantage of the waves breaking over there.

You can see on the chart that I pretty much left the waves before hitting the inside (where the surfers were lined up).

Of note - I did get two goofy footed jibes in (back to back at that) today.  I thought Roland got video of that, but he didn't (or didn't send that one).

With the power in the wind, I think I could have easily used the Ezzy 4.0 and the SK8 750/C195

Tomorrow should be close to today's conditions.  And Thursday is now the nuking day.

I think I'll use the above equipment tomorrow and drop down to the Reedin SW2 3.6 on Thursday.

W:131/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19