Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 7/27/2025

Dawn patrol this morning with the crew - Norm, Stu, Bill from Hickam and Roland.

Wind was really light.  Swell was intermittent.

I switched out No.40 for No.41 and covered the forward section of the trench (which over the previous outings I sensed was causing less than optimal performance; void = low pressure area = changing water flow patterns).

I covered the void and crossed my fingers the duct tape would hold.

Yes - Roland left WPB.

This was a really fun session - foiling among a crew you know, having the break to yourselves, and glassy conditions.

The clusters are the distinct breaks in the PV area.  The one closest to CG is the heaviest wave in this SW shore area - although it's wasn't pounding today (small waves).

27 rides - with a three-peat and multiple double dips mixed in.

Having covered the front end of the trench made a tremendous difference in the performance of No.41  What had previously been a lament in the amount of work placed into something that was not delivering penultimate results, turned 180 with a stiff sheet of plastic and some duct tape.

I think this is the only board I'm going to want to Foil Drive from now on.

The shorter overall length make turning/banking feel more intuitive.  And the thinner area under my back foot (because of the trench) also enhances control. 

 

Now that the suction issue has been resolved, this board is just plain crazy!

W:51/FD:97/PW:18/S:4

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 7/26/2025

Dawn patrolled Hickam.

Glassy for longer, but smaller less frequent waves compared to yesterday.

If you were patient, there were head high breakers to be had.

Same gear as yesterday.  This stuff just inspires so much confidence - I let go and just hang on as this equipment takes me to different levels of stoke!!!

Longer session this morning on the HO battery.

Lots of low energy riding - good for practicing how to milk the most out of what is given to you.  But every now and then, especially earlier in the session - bigger, juicier rides materialized.

As the surf started to disappear at Firsts, Bill and I headed to the outside of Seconds.  I grabbed a big one and stayed in the pocket (going right) for the entire ride.

28 rides - with several double dips

Fun session!!!

W:51/FD:96/PW:18/S:4

Foil Drive Session - 7/25/2025

First session since getting back.

Hickam was breaking nicely and the wind was manageable.

Bill and Phil were out when I got there (I dropped stuff at work and got gas for the truck).

Same gear - on No.40 (didn't get the prospective void cover made yet for No.41)

This session was really fun!

Head high waves on the sets - long lines to carve!

Cool pattern today - mostly left runs with tight turns back and forth on the sections.

20 rides today!!!  I know I was gone only 10 days, but man I really missed this!!!

W:51/FD:95/PW:18/S:4

Unboxing the BRM Paia 6.1 Dual Skin Parawing

Yesterday I received the BRM Paia 6.1 Dual Skin parawing

This is double the material, at least double the wind range as the single skin parawings.

And it flies differently - 

I'm definitely going to have to get used to this one.

And I also put up the Maliko 5.1 to note the differences.  I actually flew both twice to get the feeling of flying each a little more engrained.

For now the single skin parawing is easier (more intuitive) to fly.  But the wind was a bit on the light and inconsistent side.

More to follow

East Coast Visit (with Noe and the BRM Maliko 5.1)

I spent the past couple of weeks back on the East Coast.  Half for work and half for visiting my Dad.

I didn't bring ocean going stuff - I had looked at the forecast and it was not calling for much if anything (except for Cape Hatteras - but I didn't have the time to swing by this trip - plus it is the middle of the summer mad rush....)

This was the North End of Virginia Beach - tiny surf.

Mermaid's purse.

One thing that was new - there is a Wegman's in Virginia Beach now!!!  I wish I had a kitchen in my hotel... pan fried crab cakes...

This was South Gate on Dam Neck - one of my favorite VaBch surf spots!

And then I had a ground handling/adjusting session with the BRM Maliko 5.1 parawing.

I'd fly it, adjust the bridle positions, fly it, adjust, then start over.  The end spots are slightly different than the 4.0 bar mods, but the size differences alone warrant those.

Then Noe arrived!!!  She checked out Old Dominion University and once I was done with the work trip, we also checked out Duke University.

This was the Buc-ee's in Florence, South Carolina - "Fresh Brisket on the Floor!!!"

This was at the biggest tourist trap known to mankind - South of the Border in South Carolina!!!

This place used to be open 24/7/365.  Now they close at 8pm.

We eventually got down to Jacksonville, Florida.

Here I am flying the 5.1 at Mayport Beach.  This is near the spot where I learned to surf.

Ground handling the parawing is pretty fun in itself.  Definitely helps to develop muscle memory for flying it on the water.

At Lolo's house!

The rest of the trip was eating - this is Seafood Kitchen

This was at a place that my Mom liked going to - Cap'n D's

And this is another one of my parent's favorites - Sonny's Real Pit BBQ

This Marbled Beef Brisket was so decadent...

And my Dad really likes the St Louis Sweet and Savory ribs

Good trip back to the East Coast!

Morning Foil Drive Session - 7/13/2025

This was Sunday's dawn patrol.

A little more wind on the water than Saturday.  Waves were also a tad smaller.

Same gear -

A little later than a dawn patrol.  At first I wasn't going to go - but La was out the door and I was already packed for my trip so what the heck!

First wave I caught turned into a double dip.  And there were more behind it.

The swell angle really accentuated the peak when going right - so much fun to whack the hook and bounce off the left.

15 rides

This is my last session for a bit - headed to the east coast for work and to visit my dad.

W:51/FD:94/PW:18/S:4

Garage Works - 7/12/2025

Long story, but I got my BRM Maliko (v1) 5.1 back -

And I went ahead and got it fitted to the Carbon-EVA bar - feels so good in hand!

But I also set it up for the 2-1 purchase retract.

Easy enough to get it put together -

And after swapping out the small ring I originally bought for one of the rings I salvaged from the windsurfing sails La cut apart, it worked flawlessly.

But without the benefit of steady winds to test the balance of the bridle lines, I wasn't able to get the level of control I wanted from this setup.

I got it changed back to direct connection to the bar.

I'll work on getting the bridle lines balanced and getting a better understanding of how the B line settings work.  

And also getting a harness line setup (I'm picking up a new chest harness that I think may work better for parawinging).