Garage Works - 7/25/2021

And before i went winging in the mid afternoon, I was at home with La (who wasn't feeling well).  She did start to feel better so I went to the garage to get more of the projects completed.  I started with fixing the 15" Nico rear stabilizer.

Good as new!

I then moved on to Harris' 420 rear stabilizer.  This one was definitely harder (and is still not done).

I was trying to see if the epoxy and carbon strands would hold.  They didn't, so on goes another layer of carbon.

I took a look at this after the test pot showed the epoxy was hard - definitely stiffer.

I also sanded down the repair on the 5'2" foil board and placed fiberglass patches in place.  I just need to sand and this board is ready to get back in the water.

I also placed epoxy/aerosil on Bryce's board where it still needed fill (the nose and the rail).  Productive day - and Harris' stabilizer and the 5'2" should be done tomorrow.  I'll sand down the repaired areas on Bryce's board and get fiberglass on the repaired areas tomorrow.  I need to clear these projects so I can focus on Kalani's winging board.

Wing Foiling Session - 7/18/2021

Got in a midday wing foiling session at Hickam.  The wind was really good - I pumped up the 5.2 because it seemed like there were some holes in it.  For comparison sake, I basically kept the same setup as yesterday - HS1850, Nico 15" rear stabilizer, 85cm mast, A+ 60cm fuselage.  

The wind actually did what iwindsurf.com and Weather Underground forecasted it to.  If this keeps up, the rest of this week is supposed to be nuking!!!

I recorded the session in two separate chunks - because the wind kept getting stronger, I thought about going in and swapping out the front foil.  I did go in, but only to hydrate.  This first recording shows I was out at Firsts for a really long time.  I caught several that stood up and reeled down the line (pretty much like when I would prone foil Firsts).  The waves got steep a few times and I "tripped" on them.  I didn't get run over by any clean up sets - so it was a great day.

Got in 19.2nm on this run maxing out at 15.6kt - most likely on a wave.

I stayed inside on the second run.  Got in 4.24nm and got to 14.2kt.  This run was about transitioning.  Got in a couple of inbound tacks and outbound jibes (switching back to heel side).

This was Prayot's last Sunday foiling before he moves to Japan.  He had a hard time today - lost a screw from his rear stabilizer and could not get back up on foil.  I'm going to waterproof a T30 allen wrench and keep it inside a plastic bag in my harness pouch.

Doesn't get much better than this!

Wing Foiling Session - 7/17/2021

The forecasts were calling for nuking winds everywhere.  Decided to mix it up for Saturday - headed over to Kailua.  The problem with Kailua on the weekends is the parking - if you want close parking, you have to hit the dawn patrol.  The problem with the dawn patrol at Kailua is the wind usually doesn't fill in until the clouds burn off - and that's not at dawn.

With the marginal winds, I initially pumped up the 6.0 - however I was using the new electric pumps and the strut bladder ended up popping.  I had the setting on 7psi, but now I know to dial it down a bit.  I manually pumped up the 5.2.  I bolted on the HS1850 and the Nico 15" rear stabilizer.

It's a good sign when a flock of Iwa come gliding through!

Despite the up and down wind, I got in 12.7 nm and hit a top speed of 15.9 kt (probably dropping down one of the waves).

The take away for me from this session is technique to get up on foil is huge.  Where I normally would have leaned heavy on the 6.0, I could get going with the 5.2

Roland and Prayot showed up as I was leaving.  Pumping really takes it out of my left forearm.

I had come in once to adjust the foil position.  I was feeling a little bit of back foot pressure.  After pushing the mast up just a hair, the setup was well balanced.  The 15" rear stabilizer has the same lift profile as the 232, but way less drag.