Wing Foiling Session - 4/30/2023

The wind was blowing at my house and La was still working on her project, so I headed to the beach to see if I could get some winging in.

Roland was out, but just bobbing outside the breaking surf line.  There were white caps outside, but he seemed to be stuck in no wind zone.

Eddy has his gear setup and he headed out as I finished pumping up my wing.  I 

had decided to use the RS 6.1 - insurance.

I bolted on the Eagle 1090 - light wind, strong wind - this is a do it all winging foil.

I ended up bobbing around for over 30 minutes before a gust strong enough to get me on foil came along.  The rest of the session was like that - up and down.  The clouds were thick overhead and that stopped the thermals from fully developing.

I did get to ride a couple of waves - so the session was still fun.

Light winds - similar to yesterday though - makes me wonder if I would have gotten up faster with No.30

My rides almost lined up with the wind chart.

Despite the challenging conditions - this was still fun!!!

W:37/F:30/S:26

Dawn Patrol - 4/30/2023

I was late to the dawn patrol - got there about 6 am (and the sun is way up by that time).  The tide was low - but there were waves breaking outside.

Dennis and Kalani were sitting at the pavilion -  Kalani was waiting for the wind - I told him I had to get the Safety Check done on my truck, so I'd be back to wing later.

I brought out my new favorite prone foil - the Uni Progression 170 (with the thin flexing rear stabilizer I made).

I caught six waves in an hour - each was a triple and I had multiple hard carving turns.  For most of the rides, I did zero pumping - this front foil is amazing!!!!

On one paddle back out, I hit bottom - it was the rear stabilizer that hit. When I got home, I wet sanded the bump out - my OCD can stop fretting about that now.

Super fun session!!!

W:36/F:30/S:26

Wing Foiling Session - 4/29/2023

The wind made it's return today.  It was still supposed to be on the light side, but that's what I was hoping for in order to test out the winging capabilities of No.30.

I forgot my watch so I don't have statistics for this session.  I can say that this board does take off a bit easier than conventional wing foiling boards - narrower helps out a lot in this aspect.

I had long stretches up on foil.  I was able to get heel-to-toe tacks in and over half were dry, and jibes felt good leaning into them.

This is a really fun wing board.

The wind was on the light side - 4.7 for this strength and getting started - successful design criteria.

W:36/F:29/S:26

Dawn Patrol - 4/29/2023

I brought the TJ Everyday and No.30 out this morning - depending on the conditions, I'd have options.

There were some small waves that were breaking on the outside - I setup the foilboard (despite the 0.0' low tide).

This being the first time I had No.30 out in the water, I figured I use the ART1099/460F combo.

The board paddled foil up nicely.  It also paddles with speed with the foil down.

I caught several waves that had not yet broken (so that design objective was met) - but when I got up on them, the foil would throw me.  I adjusted the foil back a few times, until I couldn't go any further back.

Kalani showed up in the break and I let him try out the board (while I used his normal setup).  He immediately caught a wave and pumped way back out.  Then he caught another and did huge circles around the Cabins break.  At least I know the board works....

I caught a wave with Kalani's board/foil - for me his setup was really front foot oriented (I had to weigh the nose down to balance it out) - but his setup glided nicely.

I had to get home to take La's parents to the airport.  As I paddled the board upside down across the shallower spots, I picked up a wave and got pushed in a considerable distance (which never happens on my normal setup).

Lesson learned from today - use a smaller foil for this board.  Also - tell dip-shits that hog the shower to get the hell out of the way and not socialize at the showers.

Next up... wing session???

W:35/F:29/S:26

Garage Works - 4/28/2023

I got home from work and was super tired (long week at work).  I took a short nap, then remembered I wanted to get No.30 finished up so I can try it out this weekend.

I ran it through the normal sanding regime - 40-80-120-180-220-400(ws).

Here's the finished product pre clear coat.

I'm happy with how this one came out!

I also sanded No.31 - but I could see a few pinholes that I need to fill around the vent plug and towards  the tail of the top deck.

I did go ahead and spray clear coat on the bottom and sides.  I'll get the small amount of epoxy on the deck tonight, then I'll do the final sanding tomorrow.

Then I went ahead and got No.30 all decked out.  Here it is with the deckpads installed, the leash cords on (and it is kinda setup to function as a handle... I'll have to dial this in more), and the vent plug in place.

Tomorrow before lunch there should be some light wind to go and test this out for winging out at Hickam.  I'm still debating if I want to bring this out on the dawn patrol and try to prone foil it... the tide is low at 0' and there are waves - might be a better longboarding day...

Garage Works - 4/26/2023

I got home and broke out the sander.  I got the excess epoxy sanded off from around the plugs I installed on No.30.

There were some pin holes from air bubbles that got entrained in the plug fills.  I filled those and will sand those flat tomorrow.

I also sanded the excess fill coat off No.31

It didn't go as fast as I thought it would - but I did get it done.  I also drilled out the holes for the vent and leash plug.  Before I headed out to the beach, I got the leash plug installed (that gave plenty of time for the epoxy to harden while the board was vertical).

Post foiling session I got the vent plug installed and I placed some epoxy on a few low spots I found while sanding the top deck.

Tomorrow I will go through the sanding regime, label the boards, maybe place a few paint accent marks, then spray clear coat.  If I can get that far, these boards will be ready to take to the ocean this weekend!!!

Evening Session - 4/26/2023

I wanted to wash the sanding dust off me - so I grabbed Marlon and we headed out to WPB.

Marlon surfed with Lani for 30 minutes, then came in to fly his drone.

I brought out the new staple - 4'8"/Project Cedrus Mast/Unifoil Progression 170/the flex rear stabilizer.

The gear delivered!!!  This setup is so effortless to foil... almost no pumping while on the wave, and when you find the sweet spot, pumping back out is not laborious.

Roland and Marvin were also out.  Had to weave in between a bunch of kooks, but today was really fun!

W:35/F:28/S:26

Garage Works - 4/25/2023

This work was actually from yesterday - I got the final fill coat on the bottom deck of No.31

The epoxy hardened nicely.  I'll sand this tomorrow.

This is what I worked on today - sanding the excess fill off of No.30

I was also able to drill the holes for the plugs and got two leash cups and one vent epoxied in.

This sanding job came out nice - 

Here is a picture of the plugs all set in.

I'll go through the final sanding on this one tomorrow 

Garage Works - 4/23/2023

I sanded No.31 this morning.  The sanding went really well.

I exposed a few places that needed a fill so I added some epoxy.  I also layered more over the decals so final sanding should go smoothly.

I took a break because Noe had a performance this afternoon.  After we got back, I mowed the lawn, did some laundry, templated a new full deck pad I recently got (so I can replicated it), and then I mixed 4.2 ounces of epoxy to put another fill coat on the top deck of No.31 and some additional layering over the decals on the top deck of No.30.

I foresee a lot of sanding in my future...

I'll get the bottom deck fill coated tomorrow.

I also got in the plastic syringes to inject epoxy in the delamination sections of Kalani's SUP foling board.

I should be able to get these two boards wet by this weekend.

Dawn Patrol - 4/23/2023

Dawn patrol this morning saw light and variable winds, a 0.6' tide, and a much cleaner swell than yesterday.

Kaylani came out to take pictures.

Based on the issues yesterday, I switched out the Progression 170 for the Vyper 170.

The swell was still hitting slightly overhead on the sets.  Marlon caught a bunch of good waves.

I love these steeper drops on foil.  And the subsequent bottom turn.  And lining up the run.  I don't like breaching the stabilizer and face planting.  I have to remember to use the longer mast when the waves come up.

W:35/F:27/S:26

Evening Session - 4/22/2023

Marlon and Noe were both napping while I was in the garage.  Eventually Marlon woke up and he wanted to head to the beach.  I had a bunch of foam dust all over me so I went along.

I used the same setup as yesterday.

The waves were much bigger than yesterday.  When I took off on some of the head high + waves, the speed I would reach was limiting and the foil behaved weird.  This isn't a surprise - foils that do well in smaller surf don't usually do well in larger surf.

I did catch several - but I wrecked on a bunch.  I wrecked like I haven't wrecked in a long time.  Were it not for the waves being overhead, I would have been cursing and yelling "look at me - I'm a kook!!!"

Marlon caught a bunch of good ones - but even he looked like he was challenged by the conditions today.  I'm not sure the chop was from the high tide reflecting the energy back out, the onshore winds, or the new swell sloppiness.

Dawn patrol tomorrow!

W:35/F:26/S:26

Garage Works - 4/22/2023

After getting back from Kailua and eating the Agnes malasadas, I worked in the garage for a bit.

I got the bottom deck fill coat on.  I even got a second layer of epoxy over the decals (so I can sand over them).

I kept an eye on the epoxy while it hardened - and then I turned my attention to Kalani's SUP Foiling board.  The boxes were moving and the deck has some delaminations.

Cracked HD foam...

After a lot of routing, I got all the bad stuff out.  The new reinforcement block now fits.  I'll put this job on hold until I get the syringe I ordered.  That will help me get epoxy into the delaminated spots.

Wing Foiling Session - 4/22/2023

I hit Kailua this morning hoping to snag some wind.  The forecasts were correct - there was just enough wind to get up on foil.  Probably blowing 10 to 15.  There was a kite foiler out with an 11m RAM kite.  This guy was setting up and 11m, but then changed his mind to put up a bigger kite.

Rex had already pumped up a Duotone Unit 6.0, and setup up a 75l board with his Eagle 990.

I rigged big - the RS 6.1, the WWFB and the Eagle 1090 (which has become my light wind foil).

I got in almost 14 miles in an hour.  There were some really small waves, but I was just happy to be able to get up on foil and ride.

I was comfortably powered on the 6.1

At a few points, Rex and I were in close proximity to each other - and he would over take me.  I'm not sure if it was the Eagle 990, or the F One Mast - but he was faster.

I'm so glad I winged this morning!

W:35/F:25/S:26

Garage Works - 4/21/2023

After I got back home, I started sanding No.30.  I got the high points leveled out and identified the low spots.

After sanding the top and the bottom, I cleaned up the dust from the board and got the decals on both decks.

And after dinner I went ahead and got the second fill coat put on to the top deck.  I used 7.7 ounces for the first pour, then followed it up with 2.8 ounces for the last bit that still needed a coating.

The albatross decal was lifting a hair - but I got it weighted down with a grinding bit.

Tomorrow I'll touch up any spots on the top deck that are still low and also around the decals (so I have sanding room).  Then when that hardens, I'll flip the board and get the bottom deck fill coat on.

This fill coat went on pretty thin - so I'll be able to lightly sand the area where I'll install the vent and the leash plug and get those installed when I'm touching up the top deck.

I think I could be going through the final sanding on Sunday.  I'll let the board rest so the epoxy can settle, then I'll get this in the water sometime next week.