Foil Drive-ing 6/10/2026

We are in between swells at the moment.  This weekend is supposed to be big again.  But for the meantime, there were chest high waves on the sets, a decent mid tide and low wind for the pau hana session today.

And it was a perfect day to dial in the Cabrinha Whippit/Tweaker 390 + 140 rear stabilizer.

Foil Drive Max onboard No.43

I used the wing bolts to make sure I could get the mast position dialed in.

I adjusted the foil to go further forward after each of the first three waves.  I got it in a spot where it felt comfortable, but through all the rides I noted I was really using my rear foot and the setup was pretty pitch sensitive.

Tomorrow I will likely swap out the rear stabilizer for the Union 160 - seeing if that reduces the pitch sensitivity.

What I loved about this foil was how well it carved.  And I'm not sure if it was designed this way, but with the rear foot bias, this foil felt way more like surfing a shortboard than any other foil I've used.  The Silk 850 carves even harder, but it feels distinctly like foiling.  I feel like I can push the Silk 850 harder, and that it is more balanced - but this reinforces my decision to get the Cabrinha Union based foils - they are different than their contemporaries - and because of that they do not really overlap. 

The Foil Drive itself felt a little sluggish today.  Not sure if it was the chop or the unit settings, but something was off.

It may have been the full-bodied motor mount (maybe I was feeling the drag???).

This is definitely a better way to get to know a new foil (unlike the last "wing" outing I had).

As I mentioned earlier, I'll move to try the 160 monobloc rear stab next - but I definitely want to try the other shims on the modular 140 rear stab also.

If you look closely at some of the tracks below, you can see some pretty curvy shortboard surfing lines -

18 rides (with a few others where I didn't pick up the wave).

Prayot and Duke paddled out on their DW SUP foil boards. Kalani and Roland chilled in the parking lot discussing the boom box build, and then ground handling the PW Derek loaned/gave Roland.

Fun session!!!

PF:8/W:3/PW:60/FD:42/S:18

Parawing Session - 6/8/2026

I was going to rest today, but the wind started blowing around the house - I figured I'd at least check it out.

Robby was in the parking lot - working on a call he got, and not really looking like he was going to be able to head out.

The wind line was further out - and it looked doable.

BRM S3 5.3 and the Cab setup on No.34

The wind actually sucked.

I was hard pressed to connect my runs because the wind would not allow me to jibe.

The whole session was really just trying to get up on foil (which I probably did because of the S3)

At least I didn't have to paddl back in.

Trap wind - the gusts make it look doable, but the wind really isn't there

It was still good to get the work day off with time in the water.

Might be time for FD -

PF:8/W:3/PW:60/FD:41/S:18

Parawing Dawn Patrol - 6/7/2026

The forecast for Kailua led me to head back this morning - better than most other spots for parawinging.

But driving through the H3 tunnel, there was thick cloud cover on the freeway, which meant the wind was going to be less than stellar at the beach park.

Yesterday was better -

With the breaching yesterday, I decided to try out the Evolution Cedrus Surf 77.5cm mast - when measured against the other masts I've been frequently using, this is actually the longest.

With the small variance in mast height, I'm thinking it is less the mast height and more the particular situation that led to the breaching.

I went ahead and setup the Cedrus today to see how it differed.  Otherwise everything else was the same as yesterday

With the wind down a notch from yesterday (despite the forecast that called for much stronger winds), I did not bring out the S3 5.3 - I did have the S3 4.2, so today was a test of it's lower end and how to get up in less than ideal conditions

The wind was flukey the whole session.

It was ok at first but then fluttered just above 4.2 doable range.  Then a giant squall came through and made me glad I had the 4.2

The wind then shifted to the north and I could not for the life of me get up.  I was downstream of the higher pressure area (you could see if blowing about a hundred feet north) and just bobbed around.

Eventually a solid gust came through and I got up headed in towards the beach, did a quick jibe in the surf and headed out only to BREACH.

I drifted for a bit again - eventually repeating the pattern but this time I got out into the cleaner, more consistent wind (which had started to blow normal again) and I was able to make it back to the launch. 

I didn't catch many clean riding waves.  They weren't as big as yesterday and the wind was really swirly.

The Waimanalo meter at Bellows is down and the site I pulled this from does not have the higher resolution.  It did not pick up the northerly shift.

I did manage to complete three tacks near the launch (so heel side).  I did not foil out of them, but I did pump the parawing to keep going on two of them.  Progress!

The forecast looks like there will be wind this week and the weekend will see slack wind (so Foil Drive time again)

PF:8/W:3/PW:59/FD:41/S:18

Garage Works - 6/6/2026

I advised the guy I'm repairing the kites/wing that the kite was holding air, but that considering the state of the other valves, it might be worth it to go ahead and glue up the last two valves that were holding air.

He said yes please go ahead and fix everything.

I pulled the bladders and the valves were half on - half off.  The strut sleeves these came from are small diameter and when pressurized, there really isn't room to move - so these were compressed to hold the air.

But as a kite flexes in flight, you never know.

I got them glued up this afternoon.  I'll get them installed tomorrow after I get back from the dawn patrol.  I'll also change the one pump tubes and get the valves zip tied.

Then I'll pressure test the whole kite again.

This one should be done after that.  I'll move on to glueing up the Cabrinha Apollo strut valves while I wait for the leading edge valves that I ordered to get delivered.

Parawing Session - 6/6/2026

Dawn patrolled Kailua -

Wind was definitely up!

From the beach the waves at Jump City didn't look too big.

Setup the Cabrinha Prestige!

And I wanted to give the Larrabee Stash Belt a try with using a smaller parawing - BRM S3 4.2

Kalani came over to do the dawn patrol also.

Jump City was actually pretty good - all the riding was geared towards riding those waves (triangle course).

I picked up a few just over head waves, but most were chest high.  Long rides with the parawing retracted.

Most of the redeployments were drama free (credit to the S3 design).

I did try tacking at the Park buoys - but the wind was gusty and I got it around (but didn't sail out).

This was the MCBH meter - Kailua was higher by about 5mph.  For this first outing with the BRM S3 4.2, the wind range tested the low and high ends.  There was a lull where I had to wait it out, but for the rest of the session the parawing powered well based on what wind was there.

I did breach three times riding waves - I may have to use the prestige with the Cedrus mast to gain a little more mast height.

You can see where I breached, where the lull was and even the rides (speed spikes) - such a cool way to look at the chart!

Super fun session!!!

Will probably go back tomorrow morning (using the smaller Maliko parawings and the Cedrus mast).

PF:8/W:3/PW:58/FD:41/S:18

Parawing Session - 6/5/2026

Did a downwind run from WP -

down to PVs

Norm and Stu used wings (Norm used a 4.0m - Stu on a 5.0)

I used No.34 with the AFS Enduro 1100/Mako Carve Pro

Power provided by the BRM S3 5.3

Initially I thought the 5.3 would be too much PW for the wind that was blowing through.  It actually was just a bit above perfect for most of the session.

And the surf hadn't quite settled as much as the forecast said it would - still some head high sets running through the course.

The wind angle was more into the wave trains - that makes retracting the parawing tough.  I mainly rode swell while drifting the parawing.

I wondered if the 4.2 would have worked in the wind present.  This graph is the wind over at Hickam - it would be 3 to 5 mph less over at WP.

Honestly I was still a little iffy from the Tuesday session out at PVs.  I stuck to simple jibes to make sure I didn't come off foil (not wanting to experience the current drag again).

Kalani also set out to do the DW run, but 1/3 the way down his rear lines pigtail connector broke.  He turned back and made it back to WP.

Norm had a hard time starting - but once he got up on foil he was able to stay up.

It was a good run, but I need to shake this ghost...

PF:8/W:3/PW:57/FD:41/S:18

Garage Works - 6/4/2026

And after getting back home, I inserted the repaired center strut bladder, got the inflation tudes back on then set about to pressure test the kite.

The strut bladder held, but the main fill valve sounded like it was bleeding by.

I went ahead and used a valve trap on this one.

All fixed!!!

I'll contact the owner and let him know the first two are completed.

Parawing Session - 6/4/2026

After work I picked Stu up and we hit Hickam.

The wind would fill in, hang out and then drop off. When it was on, it was nice and strong.

I bolted on the Prestige 905/160

And I took the BRM S3 5.3 out using the Larrabee stash belt/pouch.  There was a little more room in this pouch than I had initially thought.

Today I just wanted to go out and rebuild my confidence - after yesterday, I really didn't feel like taking too many risky challemges.

I mostly practiced my transitions - down loop jibe, regular jibes, and tacks both ways.

I also tried speed run on the inward tack.

s

Typical Hickam wind - way up.... way down.

I did confine myself to the inside - but I didn't think any less of the exercises I was running.

And when it lulled - it was really light.

Stu did a series of jibes so he checked off an objective.  He did drift downwind at one point - but he picked up a gust and ultimately didn't have to paddle in.  Winner winner, chicken dinner!!!!

PF:8/W:3/PW:56/FD:41/S:18

Garage Works - 6/3/2026

This was the valve I glued on two evenings ago - nice and tight repair!

I got the leading edge bladder reinstalled with Marlon's help.

And it held pressure....

Until I heard a slight leak from the center strut...

I pulled that bladder -

And got the valve glued up.

It's been glued together - I'll let it cure for a day and get it back in the strut sleeve.

At this rate I should probably just glue the last two strut valves and then this kite should last another several years.