Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 10/25/2026

The north winds were blowing this morning.  It was actually 5.0 strong out at the outside breaks (but it was pretty calm on the inside).

The waves were there, but on the outside where you would have thought it would be top to bottom, the waves weren't standing quite as tall as they could have.  And it was a dropping tide as well - quite the conundrum... 

Based on yesterday's conditions, I opted for the AFS Silk 850/USurf 135

I spent most of my session out at 5-O's.  Brent was SUP Foiling out there and I followed.

My Garmin watch had stopped twice during the session - and I don't know how many waves/rides weren't recorded (at least two, maybe up to five).  That means the rest of this data is incomplete.

In fact you can see one of the "forced data fit" straight line mods the app did.

I did pick off one wave that gave me a ride from 5-O's all the way to where I would pick up waves on the inside (super long).

These charts say nine rides - I think I was closer to 15.

Fun session (but yesterday had much more thrilling rides)

PF:11/W:3/PW:131/FD:76/S:27

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

Evening Foil Drive Session - 10/23/2026

And I got an evening session in on Foil Drive.

Waves were much better than this morning.  But the wind - at times - were actually strong enough to parawing....

Oh well -

No.43 with the AFS Skinny mast (75cm), Silk 1050/Usurf 150

I got in a bunch of really good feeling carves on this combo!!!

I used the adjustable alignment custom wing screw wing nuts.

I could definitely feel less drag going through the water - nice add to the equipment list.

Look at those curves!!!!  The Silk 1050/USurf 150 are magic on smaller waves!!!

16 rides in an hour and a half - not the usual take, but there was a lot of discussion between waves.

Fun session!

PF:11/W:3/PW:131/FD:74/S:27

Evening Foil Drive Session - 10/14/2026

Swell size was smaller than yesterday - but the direction was lined up much better.  Longer walls and periodic bowls to carve up!!!

Tide was a little lower.

And the signs that the wind is returning were showing up (in fact it was parawinging at times).

Norm and Roland were out on FD.  Raf and two others were out on prone.

Same everything as yesterday - except I loaded up the High Output battery.  I love this foil (Whippit 850/Tweaker 160/390) more every session I go out on it.

The tide made the wave shape nicer than yesterday - long walls and lots of carving opportunities.

Tight riding pattern today - nearly the same point to takeoff from.

20 rides - and even with a chunk of time chatting.

Forecasts are lining up for wind to return tomorrow!!!

PF:11/W:3/PW:125/FD:73/S:26

Evening Foil Drive Session - 10/13/2026

The forecast (surfline) was calling for good wind - enough to parawing in, BUT it just seemed too be a little on the lighter side as I was looking at my normal indicators.

Also knowing the tide was on the low side, I figured it best not to parawing.

Instead I setup No.43 with the Cabrinha Whippit 850/Tweaker 160

This front foil (with this rear stabilizer) has taken over as my favorite foil combo for destroying waves.  Small, giant or anywhere in between, this foil can handle and rip!!!

But even as good as it is, it doesn't hold a candle to this (La asked to come to the beach today!)

And with La at the beach, I used the regular Max battery to keep the session at a reasonable timeframe.

Curvy, squiggly lines!!!

I've developed the feel for this foil now and I can lean in and get harder turns out if it.  I think the AFS Silk 850 V1 can still hook into a peak better, but the Whippit is turning out to be faster, more versatile, and easier on my knees.

11 rides - super fun and this foil combo keeps getting better!!!

Probably gonna take a rest day tomorrow knowing the winds should be coming back in a couple of days.

PF:11/W:3/PW:125/FD:72/S:26

Dawn Patrol Foil Drive Session - 10/11/2026

Nice swell hitting town this morning!  Surfline was showing 600 kJ in the swell -

I took Stu on to Hickam and Prayot also came out with his SUP.

Same lower as the past couple of days - just swapped boards to No.40 (wanting speed to pick up the larger waves)

So after today's session, I can say the battery wasn't the difference (I used both and had similar results).  The wing screws did have a contributing factor - having used those first, then switching to the nuts only on the battery swap.

The swap back to the blue shim was probably the larger factor in regaining pitch stability and takeoff ease.  And the swap over to the Tweaker rear stabilizer was what gave me the grip in the turns (which is still weird to me).

Anyways -

You had to wait for the swell, but when it came around... Freight Train!!!!!

The east bowl was firing at Seconds today!!!!

These were taken by Peter the lifeguard - but I caught some bigger ones when he wasn't taking pictures

First run was with the regular Max battery and the wing screws (just in case I needed to adjust - which I did once - the original marks seemed to work just fine).

Drops, carves and pit sitting!!!

11 rides (including the ones pictured) on this first battery

I didn't count this as two separate sessions - since they are pretty close together in time and I really didn't change equipment.

Second battery was the High Output

Even more carves!!!!

10 rides this session - and I caught probably one of the best bowling waves I've ever had at Seconds - double overhead and I stalled to stay just in front of the gaping maw - EPIC!!!!

 

The Whippit was confidence inspiring - except when I was driving through whitewater - little flutters, but not surprising (which is where the Silk dominates)

I'm going to let this session sink in a bit (and shift over to shorter sessions surfing).

PF:11/W:3/PW:125/FD:71/S:25 

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 10/10/2026

Dawn patrol at PVs

Slightly overhead on the sets.

Norm and Stu were also on Foil Drive.

Same setup as yesterday - but I made three changes:

1. High Output battery

2. Streamlined bolts

3. Blue shim on the rear stabilizer

Definitely better performance today - the whole setup felt like surfing a shortboard on a perfect wave!

I'm just not sure which change made the most difference...

The HO battery certainly made an endurance difference.

The curvy tracks show how well the Whippit turns.  I really don't know why I didn't gel more with the foil when I first got it???

But from today's performance, I'd say this turns nicer than even the AFS Silk 850.....

The sets had some time between them, but when they came and you picked the right wave - the rides were phenomenal!!!

20 rides - and they weren't all overhead runners either.  I had several chest and belly sized waves where I could carve equally as well as on the bigger waves.

In regards to getting rid of the looser back end feeling I used to have when riding this foil (and the reason I stopped using it) - I'm thinking the Tweaker rear set is helping.

And check out that top speed!!!

Super fun session!!!

PF:11/W:3/PW:125/FD:70/S:25