Parawing Session - 7/7/2026

It was windy all day today -

Got home and packed up for a strong wind session!

Decided to use the Cabrinha Prestige 905/Union 160 Rear Stabilizer - mounted on to No.34 via the Cabrinha Apex 78cm mast.

Power provided by the BRM S3 4.2

The wind was still weird.  Way up, then way down.  The S3 4.2 was the right size for today - but during some gusts, the S3 3.4 would have been nice.

At least the direction was relatively steady.

Norm launched from PVs and rode upwind to Fenceline.  He rode a bunch but then headed back to avoid getting stuck.

The waves were big - like breaking outside on the 3rd reef big.

I paddled further than I needed to - but I didn't want to deal with launching the parawing in an area where I would have to contend with white water.

The first part of my session was trying to find the safe riding zone - where I could catch and ride waves without getting smashed.

I did catch a few runners with the parawing retracted - one was really long - felt like a monster was chasing me (but I got in some good carves).  

Back half of the session was just trying not to blow away in the strong gusts ripping through.

On the inside, I was down loop jibing more than regular jibing.  I was tempted to try tacking onto a wave - but I figured I should wait for a less big day to reduce the consequences of a botched maneuver.

The down time slots were due to lulls.  But overall I was up more than I was down.  And I didn't get smashed!

I figured I had a good session and should end it on a high note.

Wind will be up for the next several days

PF:8/W:3/PW:71/FD:53/S:20

Garage Works - Parawing Repair - 7/6/2026

Prayot blew the stitches out of his Ozone Pocket Rocket V2 5.0

And I sewed it back up

Flies just like nothing happened!

Parawing Session - 7/5/2026

I went to pick up a second hand Foil Drive High Output rotor - then picked up Kalani and Stu at the NEX parking lot

I brought No.40 - which I'm thinking of taking to the gorge in August.  AFS Enduro 1100/Mako Carve Pro Medium/80cm UHM mast - power provided by the BRM S3 4.2

Another day of crazy winds - up/down - swirly and everything in between.

I spent the first runs trying to get my bearings - wind was not making it easy.

After several runs, and multiple jibes - I went out to Firsts.  The waves were supposed to be pretty sizeable.  I was able to get a few - but no retracting - wind was directly offshore.

I also worked on both tacks - and at the end of the session I was sailing out of the tacks

Crazy wind - but the 4.2 handled nicely

There is plenty of wind on the horizon... just hope it settles out and is less crazy.

PF:8/W:3/PW:70/FD:53/S:20

Garage Works - 7/5/2026

I had a few minutes in the garage to get the new blank templated.

I am going to build a slightly longer version of No.34 - with more nose and tail rocker. 

Not much more tail rocker than what is already on No.34 - but enough to help this board pump on to foil.

If I finish this one ahead of the Gorge trip, I may bring No.34 and have it prepositioned up in the NW.

Parawing Dawn Patrol - 7/4/2026

Forecast favored Kailua - but reality did not match the forecast.

There was texture on the water when I was setting up - but that quickly changed.

And the parking lot was pretty crowded - the 4th of July brings everyone out to the beach.  The "tent'icles were all out and more were coming.  I actually don't like going to most beaches on holidays... too crowded and people are everywhere.

AFS Enduro 1100/Mako Pro Medium on No.34.  BRM S3 5.3 for power - but I actually needed more...

So to start - I didn't get skunked, but I wasn't far from it.

The wind was just below the lower limit of the Enduro 1100 - S3 5.3

I did get up on one gust and was getting along fine on the lower wind level.

I jibed on the outside, caught a wave, retracted the parawing and started riding the wave.  But it was mushing out and when I tried to redeploy the parawing, down I went.

And that was the end of foiling for today.  I spent the rest of the time paddling or hoping the gust was enough.

I did not do the walk of shame - but did have to paddle back.

I don't think the Enduro 1300 would have helped - the wind was just too light.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.  Lately it's been a losing proposition as the wind has been fluky.

Probably a sign to start prone foiling again... 

PF:8/W:3/PW:69/FD:53/S:20

Parawing Session - 7/3/2026

Had the day off today - opted to skip the dawn patrol and wait for the wind to come up.  Prayot said he was going to Hickam at 12.  I kinda thought the wind would be better at 2 - but I had other things to do also, so 12 it was.

There was texture on the water - but just like the past several days, it was up and down (and swirly all around).

Big stuff - AFS Enduro 1300/HA43 on No.34 and the BRM S3 5.3 (today would have been good for a Flysurfer POW V2 5.5...., or the big Triple Seven PT Skin 7.2 that Kalani and Norm have).

Early on the wind was too light.  I was out on the water for a bit before I started recording data - just floating around waiting.

Eventually the wind came up, but it was still up and down.  Prayot made a beeline out to Firsts and Seconds.  I stayed inside because I didn't trust the wind.

More north than east also meant skillful navigation was required to avoid the paddle.

Way up and way down.

I mainly worked on light wind get ups and down loop jibes.  I didn't even try tacks because I didn't want to have to do the work to get back up on foil if I botched it.

More time down and up today - but it's been that way for the last few sessions.

I'm going to hit Kailua on the dawn patrol tomorrow to get around all the parking lot nightmares (Happy 250th Birthday America!!!!) 

PF:8/W:3/PW:68/FD:53/S:20

Evening Foil Drive Session - 7/2/2026

Had debated parawinging, but decided to take a nap.  Woke up then assessed the wind - it was up and down and side offshore.  Figured I should use the Foil Drive.   

I was also thinking the waves would be bigger today than yesterday - so I brought the Silk 850/USurf 135

Norm was already out when I got to the parking lot.  Roland was just about to launch.  And Kalani had finished a 12 mile parawing session.

This was a quick session.

The waves were pretty fun - chest high.  They weren't as punchy as yesterday.

Got 12 rides in 38 minutes

The wind is forecasted to blow, but lately the reality is it isn't nearly as strong as what is predicted.  Gonna need to keep the Foil Drive batteries charged and the parawings close hold.

PF:8/W:3/PW:67/FD:53/S:20

Garage Works (Mobile) 7/1/2026

After parawinging, I fixed the Hybrid 4.3 D line 

Took about 20 minutes to get the 1/4" tubing squeezed in to the back hole.  It was easier to do this one since I had done the 5.7 previously.

Kalani tried the 5.7 today and THANKFULLY the tube did not pop out or move.  

Parawing Session - 7/1/2026

Chest to just overhead waves were breaking at the Plains

High-ish tide

Funky winds.  Prayot was out already when Kalani and I were setting up.

I thought I was bringing out the AFS Enduro 1100 - nope, what I had grabbed was the Enduro 900

I figured what the heck - might as well spend more time on this foil on parawing.

I needed slightly stronger gusts - but getting up onto foil was not too dramatic.

Where this foil shined today was in ripping up the waves when I was able to pick up rides on the bigger waves.  After retracting the parawing, I could carve and ride just like I do on this foil while Foil Drive-ing - this is seriously closing the gap on the foils I could get away with.

The shallow (relative term) spot that triggers the waves to stand up and break that is in front of the shack/tower was working brilliantly today.  The whole break would bowl and I came at it riding left.  That allowed me to retract the parawing more easily and setup for carves, glides and hook gouging!!!

As good as the rides were, the wind was wonky and I hardly picked up redeploys.

And you can see the long blue lines where I had to schlogg my way back out.  Perhaps if I had the Enduro 1100, I could have gotten through some of the dead wind alleys better.

This was the wind at Hickam - so we had it probably 5mph less.  I was definitely at the upper range of the BRM S3 5.3 at times - it was just the takeoffs that perplexed me.

Almos tall of these down periods were from me running into a dead wind zone - which again was baffling when you looked around and saw all the wind signs.

The next few days are shaping up to be similar to today...!!!

PF:8/W:3/PW:67/FD:52/S:20

Garage Works - 6/28/2026

Needed to fix Kalani's Triple Seven PT Hybrid 5.7 again.  The D line pigtail was getting frayed again.  I installed and new one and encased it in vinyl tubing.

NO WAY this is going to get frayed again!

I settled on a template for the new prone foil board

I reshaped the previously broken AFS 80cm UHM mast Stu had smashed.  I'm going to have to place more epoxy slurry and do another round of shaping to get this back to 100%.

And I opened the tracks on this conversion (from tiny prone to tow boogie)

I'll add a fill coat on this, sand some more and sand again.

I also sanded the track area on the big wing board.  I didn't take pictures - but I'm preparing to laminate more carbon to cure the shifty box.

Gonna need to setup my hot wire cutter....

Parawinging Session - 6/28/2026

Lazy Sunday - I didn't get out and about until later today, and water time wasn't until mid afternoon.

The reports showed Hickam to be the best bet.

I wanted to mix things up - No.42 with the AFS Enduro 1100/Mako Carve Pro on the short fuselage and 80cm UHM mast.

Power provided by the BRM S3 5.3m parawing.

The wind was a little up and down - but that was good practice for pumping up onto foil.  Which I had to move the mast up from where I had originally started (balance point).  I still think I can move the foil forward some more.... but it kinda is far up as it is.  No.42 is my version of a light wind board, but I felt like I needed more wind to get up.

With the high tide, I felt like playing around - made three trips out to Firsts to pick up a good wave and ride back in.

Holes....

Holes and the forced pit stops.

Nice low stress session! 

PF:8/W:3/PW:66/FD:52/S:20