Wing Foiling Session - 4/6/2025

Big adventure today - downwind run from Hickam over to Pavilions.  Nick, Matt, Prayot, Roland, Duke and I used wings - Marlon went on his OC-1.

The crew met at Pavilions and loaded into Prayot's and my trucks.

Everyone set up and right before we launched the wind promptly came up.

I setup No.40 with the AFS Enduro 900/HA40 - I wanted to dial in the mast placement.  I ended up setting it back a bolt diameter - and it was perfect.  It felt just like it did on Foil Drive (super maneuverable and progressive lift).

There's a reason a 5 mile run turned into nearly 30 miles...

After launching, everyone gathered at Firsts and rode waves until everyone made it out.  Then we headed across the channel.  I made it over and watched everyone come across - except Marlon.

Prayot and I headed back to find him -

I checked my phone and it looked like Marlon was still back at the end of the runway.  I told Prayot to head down and look for Marlon - and that I was going to head back to Hickam to see if Marlon was back over there.

He wasn't.

Now I was worried.  I called Roland and asked him to keep an eye out.

I landed back at Hickam and didn't see Marlon - so I headed back out.  When I checked my phone again, Marlon's position had changed and it looked like he was at Ewa Beach already.

I bolted and made it to Iroquois - but still hadn't seen Marlon.  I stopped and checked my phone - and it looked like I had passed him.

I started doing a search pattern again but couldn't find him.

By this time I was at Hau Bush - then Marlon finally returned my call - he was already at Pavilions.

From there I booked it downwind.

I managed to get a few waves before I landed.

We're gonna have to rethink how we do these downwinders.  Brighter clothing, maybe radios, a designated lead and tail (who stays behind the slowest person), checkpoints where everyone musters - just to make sure everyone is good to go.

Marlon's version of the story was - I saw you guys head down, then I couldn't see you anymore.  I figured I was on my own so I just kept paddling.  I rode some waves, scared some fish (and a flying fish hit me in the chest after gliding into me), I saw some turtles mating, and didn't huli once!!!

I'm glad he had fun (but I was scared something bad happened).

I'm going to check my posts from where I used the Enduro 900 on Foil Drive... I feel like I can get this foil to go faster, but these last couple of session I haven't been able to break 20mph.

Everyone else said this was a great run (which it was).

W:24/FD:53/PW:1/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 12/14/2023

Another day of north winds - but today they were stronger.

Stronger to the point where I brought out different gear - No.32, the Spitfire 840, 350P, and the SW2 4.7

Shorter session, but some good mileage!

Even more north in the wind than yesterday - but it made for some really fun upwind-downwind runs.  The waves were running east-west, so the downwind runs were really fun.

This chart (from Hickam) was not quite what was present at WPB - it was a hair stronger.

And this should show that today was pretty good!!!

With Koa, Prayot, Roland, Norm and I all out, the wingers pretty much had the place to ourselves!!!

The wind will have more north in it again tomorrow - and the wind speed is supposed to be up again.  Most likely a repeat of today (more fun to be had!!!)

W:120/F:107/S:58

Wing Foiling Session - 8/26/2023

Race day!  Nick and I carpooled and got a spot by the first coconut tree.  Hung out with Arvin and Matt from Hickam.

The wind was way up and way down.  With a full rising tide, getting out was pretty easy (as was landing).

I ended up using the Eagle 1090/DW210 with Kalani's SW2 6.0

I got in three separate runs - first was playing around before the start, second was the race and the last was playing in the surf waiting for more people to get back in.

Way up - then way down.  Made for a crap shoot for what equipment to put up.  Turns out that I rigged big for the lulls, but that did slow me down a bit (both is foil size and wing size).  If I could do it over again right now, I would have setup the Eagle 890 and the SW2 6.0 - to move faster through the water.

Pre-start

Race track - I'm guessing the group stratified based on foil size (the smaller the faster).  I beat a small cluster of guys up to the mark (blinker buoy), but I went for the inside track and I ran smack into a long lull.  The others took the outside track and had wind (and I dropped several spots from this).  I also had some trouble with the dive boat going back to the marina (and not acknowledging that I am a sail vessel and have right of way).

And when I finsihed, there really wasn't anyone in my immediate vicinity.  So I figured I'd just go ride some waves - turned into over 5 miles of waves, but who is counting....

I came in 12th in the Masters group.  Nick came in second from last - but finishing a race like this where he is at experience wise is a pretty awesome accomplishment!!!

Next year - bigger wing and smaller front foil.

W:86/F:81/S:32

Race Day!!!

Roland and I participated in the Voyager x Wetfeet Downwind Challenge race today.  Lots of competitors.

I wasn't sure about the finish line and whether there would be coral heads or not - so I opted for the Takuma Kujira 980/178/Stringy Direct Bolt fuselage on the 100cm Project Cedrus Clydesdale mast.  The wind looked pretty gnarly so I also picked the Reedin SW2 5.2 wing.  

This was the short stint out to the start line.  There were some waves breaking in the area near the channel - I had to sampo a couple of them.

This was a "everyone sit on your board, wings and paddles down" start.  After I got up, I pretty much stayed in the regular foot stance for most of the race.  The long mast really helped - I fell 3x, the first being a lull in the wind, the second was a ventilation, and the third was getting caught in really crossed up chop.  I did switch to goofy as I was closing in on Diamondhead - I figured I had a good line on the finish buoy and could lean over more when I rounded the buoy.

I swear I was going faster than this...

This was the wind at the airport - I think it was blowing much hard between HK and Suis.

The finish line was getting swamped with big sets coming through - timing was everything.  I made it through without incident and even got to ride a wave in - but there were wingers that missed the channel and needed to be pulled off with a jetski assist.

Roland finished the race also.  He didn't use his tall mast, but wished he had.  He switched tactics midstream and just started to ride the swell and flag the wing.

Fun day!!!

W:59/F:57/S:28

Wing Foiling Session - 7/23/2022

For today's outing, Roland and I did the Hawaii Kai - Kaimana downwind run.  Marlon came with us to drop us off at the keyhole along Kalanianaole (near the boat ramp), and then he was able to meet us at Kaimana Beach Park for a pick up.

I put up the same gear I've been using for the past several sessions - No.25, RS 5.1, 1210/178 on the 85cm Cedrus mast.

Super fun session!!!  Today was the fun run and practice for the Bluewater Race tomorrow.

Here is the track from the run and a break down.

The launch was not as bad as I thought it would be.  There were some holes in the wind (and Roland got stuck) - but some broad reaching and I was out at the point.

I don't think Roland had much direct downwind experience, so the I hung back until we got into some steadier winds - never leave your wingman...

The wind hugged the shoreline coming through the passes.  I tried to stick to the wind lanes as much as I could.  Periodically I would keep pulling to the outside to keep the Diamondhead crossing manageable.

That is until we reached Diamondhead... then the surf was too irresistible.  Roland and I probably spent 30 minutes here catching waves - so much fun!!! 

Then one last run outside to get positioned for the run in to Kaimana.

I couldn't see the windsock and headed in to the canoes.  Then I saw the windsock further over to the left.  Tomorrow I'll have to try and get a better site line on the windsock so I don't come short.

This wind graph is from the airport meter so it isn't exactly correct for this run - and we covered a lot of distance so not that it would matter much anyways.

For the race tomorrow, I'm thinking 1210/178 again since that setup has been reliable and fast.  And if the forecast holds true, the wind is supposed to be down a notch, so the RS 6.1

We'll see...  anyways - winging today was so much fun!

W:73/F:61/S:17