Dawn Patrol - 4/27/2024

Rainy morning dawn patrol.

The surface had a lot of texture on it and the waves had some size.  Pretty much the opposite of the forecast.

And I brought the HPS980 thinking there wouldn't be a whole lot of energy in the waves... wrong!

And I'm not absolutely sure but as I was having a hard time getting the foil to lift the board clear of the water, I suspect the velcro straps were working to make the board "sticky".

Despite all that, I still had fun!  And if on my next session I can pop up and clear the board, I'll have learned something (fabric causes drag).  Which would be a darn shame because I'd rather not have to waste tape all the time. 

7 miles on the session - 2.5 hours out and came in with 25% battery.

Rides were kind of all over the place.  When I did clear the board, I did have some long rides.

I count 16 longer rides - which seems about right.  I did throttle up a lot more than that, but for the reasons listed above, I did not catch and ride those waves.

Definitely using the Spitfire and electrical tape tomorrow...

W:53/FD:27/F:4/S:9

Evening Session - 4/11/2024

Marvin picked up a Foil Drive Max, and I told him when he takes it out that I'd like to tag along to make I can answer any questions - I didn't want his experience to be negative.

The wind was actually strong enough to wing and it was onshore - so the surf was on the messy side.

At least the tide was nice and high.

I thought the waves were going to be smaller than they were - I setup the HPS980/400P.  I could have used the Spitfire 960/350P (tomorrow - or I might even use the Vyper 170)

Despite the conditions, I did have a pretty good session.  The only issues were the onshore wind mushing up the waves (which had some size to them - head high in most cases) and the cloudy conditions which I have a hard time detecting contrast when the waves are all one color.

I had some long rides today!  I adjusted the setup to be more forward, and I think I actually got it too forward (but it could have been the waves also).  Not many cranking turns - more long glides.

This was the first time I've been in the water since Sunday - and the first time I've prone Foil Drive (d) in a while.  I botched the first several waves getting used to this again.  But shortly after I was dialed in and catching.

I actually ended up catching 14 in an hour... RIDICULOUS!!! 

Marvin said he wanted to go a smaller board already!!!!  That's Marvin -

W:47/FD:21/F:4/S:9

Dawn Patrol - 3/30/2024

I got a late start on the dawn patrol this morning.  And when I got there, I talked with Andrew and Kalani - making me even later ;P

I setup No.33 with the HPS980/400P and took a guess at the unit/mast positioning based on what I've been getting with the Spitfire 960. 

The waves were small - and they only got smaller.  And then the wind came up making catching waves even harder.

I did get some fun rides at the front half of the session.

Kalani was enjoying the beach and took some videos.

I stayed out almost an hour and a half.  I came in with 35% battery - and I was on the throttle the whole time.  This is pretty typical battery performance.

That jog towards Fenceline was me thinking I could get a mini downwinder.  By that point the waves basically died out.

I'm counting 21 rides - taking out time for the paddle out and back in, that's a ride every 4 minutes.  The front end was where I caught the most rides the quickest - after the midpoint of the session the wave count was blah.

This front foil - rear stabilizer combo has always been a session saver.

It was a fun session, even if it was probably wingable.

W:40/FD:20/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 2/24/2024

Dawn patrol at Kailua!  Conditions were fantastic!

I setup the same gear as yesterday - primarily to get the sand off of it, but also because the wind was up and down and there would be benefit to having the 5.2 up instead of the 4.7 (or in some gusts even the 4.2)

Nice stats!

And there were some really good waves too.  I stayed out just shy of 2 hours, but staying upright in the strong winds and even stronger gusts and side chop took effort.  With the strong wind forecast across the next 10 days (at least), I didn't want to risk injury. 

The peak speeds were had coming down the faces of some of the bomber coming through.

As I was leaving, the winds got even stronger!

I got to talk with Rex on board building trends.  He said he's primarily on the Eagle 790.

I saw several SK8s setup also.  I got my Evolution Cedrus F One adapter in the mail today - tomorrow I think I'll mix it up with one of the F One foils (I have been on an Axis trip recently).

I needed the successes of today to shake off the ending of yesterday's walk of shame...

W:17/FD:13/F:4/S:8

Wing Foiling Session - 2/23/2024

Got to WPB at 3:30. Norm was there, but had popped his wing yesterday - so he was going to prone foil along with his son.  Kalani was there already and just setting up.  

The wind looked good - but the windline was pretty far out.

I setup No.32, the SW2 5.2, the ART999/400P on the Evolution Wind mast.

After paddling out to the wind line, foiling was awesome!!!  There were head high waves breaking on the outside.  Lots of luffing and long rides going right.

The wind was coming in from the ENE at good speed.

Until it stopped.  I kept looking for a gust to get me back up so I could get back to the launch.  That gust never came.  There was a long line of rain clouds and it killed the wind.

Unfortunately I was way outside when the wind died.  The current was actually taking me west.  After drifting past the Cabins, I figured I could make landfall at Campgrounds.  After a hellacious paddle, I finally made it back to land.

It was too dark to walk over the rock ledges along the beack, so I deflated the wing, rolled it up, draped it over my shoulder and put the foil/board over my other shoulder and started walking to the road.  I got halfway back and Kalani met me in his SUV. 

No doubt the wind died off.

I usually can tell when the wind is going to drop off in the afternoon - I got tricked into staying out longer today.  It was definitely a great session on the front side.  And on the back side it was definitely a kick in the nuts.  Days like this are inevitable - and when you get back in one piece with no damaged gear, you get stronger from the experience.

W:16/FD:13/F:4/S:8

Wing Foiling Session - 2/19/2024

I hit Hickam again today - I didn't want to deal with the low tide shenanigans that would have come with winging WPB.

I also wanted to give Jim a chance to try out the boards I use (as he is asking for a custom).

The wind forecasts were divergent - iwindsurf called a drop in wind speed while surfline was saying it would stay up.  When I got there, a whole crew was just coming in and they were saying it was dropping fast.  I figured that was the que to pump up the North Mode Pro 5.5

Board and foil was the same as yesterday - I wanted to see if the board would make a difference in the lighter wind.

And now I can say definitively that I can get up faster in lighter winds with this board.  The wind was up and down - but as gusts would come through, I would point downwind and after pumping both the wing and the foil, I'd be up within 5 board lengths.

At the beginning of my session, the wind was really light.  I was questioning my judgement in even paddling out.  But the wind did fill in, and there were numerous up and down cycles - perfect for testing the light wind capabilities of No.34

Arvin made a break for Firsts so I followed (and so did Bill eventually).  The waves were small, but fun.  I think I caught 2 breakers and the rest rolled on through.

Not sure what happened to the airport anemometer - but that was pretty much when I was out.

I really like the North wing - it has enough low end to get you going and it doesn't blink when the wind picks up.  Time will tell if the canopy material retains its current tension, or start to stretch (like the heavily used Reedins I have)

And after I came in, I ended up committing to Matt to make another No.34 and to Jim for either a No.25 or a No.34 (he still needs to ride No.34 to see if that is what he wants).

Looks like I'll be busy for a bit.

W:15/FD:13/F:4/S:8

Wing Foiling Session - 2/18/2024

Hit Hickam with Kalani today.  The wind was nuking, but the waves were on the small side.

I brought the SW2 4.7 and 4.2 - I should have brought the 3.6.  I pumped up the 4.2 and bolted on the ART999/400P to the Evolution Cedrus mast on No.34

I ended up talking to Jim, Bill and Matt - so I was out on the water for just over an hour.

No.34 did not disappoint - in fact Matt and Arvin asked to take a test drive and they loved it.  Gained speed quickly to engage the front foil, did not lift entering transitions, and felt well balanced was the feedback I got.

I had taken it out to Firsts and managed to snag a couple of rare breaking waves.  I can turn this board as hard as I wanted to - so I think a 6'0" is a good balance in capability and length.  The gem for today was tacking onto the biggest breaker and getting to do several top to bottom turns (riding goofy foot).

Yup - I could have used the 3.6 today!

I had planned on switching out the ART999 for the Spitfire 840 - but when I came in, I let the other guys ride the setup as is.  By the time they were done, I figured I had better go pickup La and Marlon.

Fun session today - and great getting to catch up with Bill, Jim and Matt.

W:14/FD:13/F:4/S:8

Dawn Patrol - 2/11/2024

I woke up with a weird feeling in my neck - turned into a full on muscle spasm, that pretty much went from weird feeling to knock me on the ground in the span of three hours.  I was able to get home, but at that point it hurt badly.

The wind was lighter, the tide slightly higher, and the waves more finicky, but bigger when the right sets came through.

Lots of the regulars out - Dean (who sold me a 325P I want to try out winging with the Spitfire 840), Andrew, Rick, Scott, Kamaka - then Dennis, Kalani, Noel and I were way outside with the Foil Drives.  And welcome to Eddy!  He was out in the waves for the first time with his new Foil Drive Slim.  I got to see him pick up his first really waves with Kalani talking him through the technique.

I thought the waves would have been smaller so I setup the lower energy equipment - HPS980/400P.  I could have easily used the Spitfire 960 again.

The waves were actually really good and there was not much chop in the surface.  I only missed a few - pretty much caught anything I was aiming for. 

Some were actually pretty steep as the rolled into the inside.  These felt like they were coming in from the SW.  I got a couple of repeats, but you had to pick the right waves to even have the opportunity to recycle.

Got 20 waves in two hours.  And that's about the time my neck started to hurt.  If I gave myself a Vulcan neck pinch I go keep going.  I was able to make it in, back to the truck and back home before it just blew up on me and hurt like crazy.

I'll be out of the water for a few days to get healed up.

W:13/FD:12/F:4/S:7

Wing Foiling Session - 2/3/2024

More foil placement testing for No.34 today.  Strong (but gusty) trades again today - and they shifted a notch to the East.  Still not an easy run out and back, but better than yesterday.

With the wind strength, I pumped up the SW2 4.2

I brought out the ART 999/400P and the Spitfire 840/350P to get them dialed in.

I setup the ART 999 first.

With all the new fancy foils out, this foil has fallen out of the limelight - but realistically it is still every bit as relevant today as it was a couple of years back.  It is fast, glides really well, turns (after you learn to shift your weight with it) and even surfs.

I thought I clean the GoPro lens before I went out... obviously I didn't

I actually thought the wind would have been stronger.  I was able to get up and go with the SW2 4.2 - which was probably more the point of the testing runs.  When everything lines up - No.34 pops up quickly.  With the narrower/longer board profile, there is a hesitancy for the board to "plane" initially - and in fact this and No.30 tend to "twist" or round up to the wind.  And then countering that tendency, the board starts to roll a little - all preventing a fast pop up.  But every now and then the board sits still and it takes off with very little run.  I'm going to have to keep working on developing the technique to get up and go.

On the first run, you can see from the track the wind was still shifting.  You can also see the spots where the wind dead zones were (blue clumps)

I think if I got a Skinny rear stabilizer, I could get this top speed up a couple more mph.

I went in for a bit to change out the lower assembly to the Spitfire.  The Ultrashort fuselage I have fits easier on to the Axis adapter than the Advance + Crazyshort fuselage.  I have to wrestle the Crazyshort off the mast - and I may actually stop using it for a bit just to save the wear on the track boxes.  I'll use the Classic Project Cedrus masts when I use the Axis foils on the shorter fuselages.

I placed the Spitfire 840 further up in the boxes and set it at the balance point.  It did get up in this position, but it seemed to be a lazy get up.  Halfway through the session I moved the mast forward a half inch to see if it would make a difference.

It did - the takeoff was a little less lazy (progressive).  I'm starting to think that with a lower aspect ratio, the positioning of the foil is a little less critical.  I have also noticed that with the lower AR foils, there is a sticking point in the takeoff where I almost have to force the nose down, then everything behaves normally.  I don't mind experimenting in the inner harbor at Hickam - but that is the last thing I want to be doing when riding waves. 

I tried to do more toe-heel tacks today - psychologically tacks are easier on trades on the South Shore because that where I do them the most.  I did get a few in, but I'm still 50-50 at best on that tack.  The heel-toe tacks I was 90% today (good to be back at them).

This speed chart is all wrong - I might have gotten that speed on a crash - but not on any particular run.  I think I did get a 20.5 mph reading in there somewhere.

Now that I've got some time winging back under my belt, I'll likely hit Kailua tomorrow.  The waves have been really big there, but with the more Northerly wind direction the runs have been less out and back and more across (need to paddle to get out into the wind line).  Tomorrow is supposed to be even more East.

W:10/FD:10/F:4/S:5