Dawn Patrol - 11/1/2026

On the way in from yesterday's session, I noticed the surfers on the inside were getting some really good waves.

I figured with similar conditions this morning, I should try and get some rides on one (of probably too many) shortboards.

Enter the Firewire Cymatic -

And the Kohola thrusters were still in place - so those were the fins I used.

The waves were slightly smaller than yesterday - but there were still head high rides to be had.

Of the five waves I rode, three of them involved multiple powerful turns.

And that is the sole reason I still have my shortboards - the feeling from pulling off a hard top turn and flowing through into the follow up bottom turn - keeps me coming back for more!!! 

PF:11/W:3/PW:133/FD:77/S:29

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 10/31/2026

350kJ on the Surfline forecast.  2.5' high tide.

And no wind -

With the larger surf and the weekend crowd, I figured it would be best to Foil Drive.

And knowing the full tide would somewhat dampen the intensity of the surf, I figured I'd try something different - the HA Ultra 750/UGlide 41

I couldn't remember if the forward most marks were for the Ultra 750, or if I had worked out that the Silk 850 and the Ultra 750 shared the same mounting point.

I started out using the forward marks - but after the first few waves I brought it back in the slots (to the Silk 850 marks).  I could more easily control the foil after the adjustment. 

I kept moving to the right towards 5-O's

The waves were heavier out there and the chop that was on the inside cleaned up nicely.

The waves were well overhead - I had some really challenging rides (adjusting to the nuances of the Ultra 750)

16 rides and no getting smashed - good score!

Not sure I hit 29.5mph....

PF:11/W:3/PW:133/FD:77/S:28

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 10/24/2026

Dawn patrolled PVs this morning.

There was a northerly wind - so the waves were groomed.

And when the sets came in - they had some energy

Norm and Stu were out on Foil Drives.

Lance and Nick were on SUPs.

I brought out the same gear as yesterday.  The foil position for the Silk 1050 is perfect.

The plan was to run one battery - then go in and put Nick's foil on the board and let him run.

The waves were just overhead.  The swell was coming from the SW and the rights were firing at what I came to found was called "Tree" (the break to the left of PVs - it's what Pat Caldwell calls it).

Nick didn't want to leave Lance's board out alone, so he asked just to get a few runs on the battery I had in place.

He caught 3.5 (one double dip) waves and we swapped back.  I even caught a wave on the SUP 

he was using (haven't done that in years...)

12 rides on the first battery

I followed Norm in because I wanted to trail him going back out.

Which I did (and I also took the time on the way back in to do some soundings to find the potential high spots.

The waves didn't seem to have the same energy over the course of the second battery.  And Stu got his heel cut open (from the foil).

11 rides that second battery.

It was great being out on the water with Lance and Nick again!

Super fun session!!!

PF:11/W:3/PW:131/FD:75/S:27

Dawn Patrol - 10/23/2026

Nick is back on Oahu, if only for a day and a half.

Lance and I met up with him this morning to dawn patrol Fours

Wind was almost calm so the conditions were nice.

The swell was waist and below for the most part - but every now and then a chest high set came through.

My board of choice today was the Viking!!!!

Good times catching up with Nick and Lance!!!  And sneaking in some fun right sliders!

Unfortunately I did scratch up the right upper rail on a sign I didn't see.  Cosmetic issue that I'll correct next time I have a ding repair session.

PF:11/W:3/PW:131/FD:73/S:27

Dawn Patrol - 10/12/2026

The surf was just below the closeout size - 

No wind (but it wasn't entirely glassy)

Nice higher tide to dull the edge to the bigger surf.

I brought out the J Splee Big Fish

And I tried out the Neal Purchase tiny canard fins in front of the Futures Rasta Reverse 3/2 Vectors

Lots of energy still coming in - and I could see the outside breaks throwing lip (breaks outside of Campgrounds).  I stayed on the inside of the main break in front of the shack.

I caught a handful of waves (paddling in is HARD) - going right is pure joy!!!

Got to crank some good top and bottom turns (but still haven't unlocked the over rotation move that comes so easy with the Boogie Fish).

I'm glad I surfed today - and I'm even more glad to say I can still surf surfboards!!!

PF:11/W:3/PW:125/FD:71/S:26

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 10/3/2026

It has been 6 days since I had been in the water - between the flu I am now shedding and the impacts of Hurricane Nolo, it has been a rough 6 days.

This morning the conditions actually cleared up - both on my flu and the surf.  Nice rising tide.  Light side on winds.  And decent surf every 15 minutes or so.

No.41 with the AFS UHM 75 Skinny mast, Enduro 900, Mako Pro 130 on the standard fuselage.

Looking at this stabilizer, it looks like it would be the best of both the Mako Carve 130 and the HA38

Oddy enough, it is something totally different.

Normally after not doing a specific activity for a bit I need an adjustment period - usually three waves or so then I get back my muscle memory.  With the 5cm shorter mast and the different stabilizer, I ended up breaching throughout the session - more earlier than later.

There were some really good rides this morning - you just had to be patient.

21 rides - with a few of these ending in breaches as previously discussed 

The wind comes back tomorrow - I'm planning to parawing tomorrow with the PPC Orbit!!!!

PF:11/W:3/PW:122/FD:66/S:25

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 9/13/2026

Conditions were cleaner this morning - but the waves were smaller and less frequent.

Same equipment

Much better results compared to yesterday - I decided to stay closer in and pick waves on whether they were already standing up or not.  This definitely yielded more rides with better quality.  I probably pissed off a lot of the surfers just sitting around - but we all make our choices on how we ride waves...

Similar picture to yesterday - lots of circular tracks from all the hard carving going on.

I am totally convinced that I am a rear footed surfer-foiler.  Maintaining balance going through all these turns and carves has been falling on my back foot.  I know because I have been paying attention diring these past two sessions, and I can also feel the build up in my right knee.

Next time I take this setup out, I will try moving the mast forward a notch to see if I can get more pressure over to my front foot. 

22 rides - with a couple of double dips in there somewhere

Looks like the wind will start to come back on Tuesday (so time to parawing again).  I'll likely take a rest day tomorrow (or maybe try surfing the Gherkin???)

PF:11/W:3/PW:107/FD:65/S:25

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 9/12/2026

Dawn patrolled this morning - smaller waves, no wind and a decent high (rising) tide

Foil crew -

Decided to mix things up a bit today - originally was going to take the Ghekin out, but knowing the wave energy was dropping off, I didn't want to have to fight on the inside to get waves and switched over to No.41, the AFS Enduro 900/Mako Carve 130 bolted on to the 80cm UHM mast.  Blue props - better in less energetic conditions.

Getting up to speed, this setup felt less sticky (less drag with the trench cover taped on).

With the glassy conditions, after an hour and a half I actually came in with 50% battery - when the tide peaked, the waves got tiny - I figured I got my share.

From the GPS track, you can see the carving I was able to do this morning - so much fun!!!

14 long rides - 

Will likely do the same thing tomorrow morning (wave energy will drop off a little more)

PF:11/W:3/PW:107/FD:64/S:25

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 9/6/2026

Hurricane Lowell is starting to make it's turn to the north.  I figured it would be a good day to get a Foil Drive session in (before the surf gets unruly).

Dawn patrol saw a pretty low tide (0.3'), super light wind and head high swell on the sets.

No.43 with the AFS UHM 80cm mast, Silk 850/Usurf 135

I did want to start experimenting with the motor pod located further down the mast - this is the result with the next slightly longer motor cable.

Getting out past the breakers sucked a little - 

And there was a little warble in the water.

Dennis and Noel were out on Foil Drive.  Rick and Makana were out prone.

I did get several good rides - but then that warble turned into me taking off and losing it.  Four times straight.

I turned the board over to see what was wrong - the rear stabilizer was really loose.  Time to go in.

With the rear stabilizer issue, I only got eleven rides - 

I may try to get an evening session in seeing as how this one was cut short.

PF:11/W:3/PW:106/FD:62/S:25