Dawn Patrol - 2/9/2025

Similar conditions to yesterday - but a little more chop on the surface, more frequent waves, and a slightly higher tide.

Same gear as yesterday.

Dean, Andrew, Marvin, Dennis were the crew today.

With the slightly bigger size, carving was than much easier - the standing parts of the wave made for whackable targets.

Marvin and Dennis were both on efoil and j-hooking into sections nicely.  I picked up a 20cm cable from Marvin - gonna try using that length when I get the new stator to see if efoiling is easier (like it is for Dennis).

Another day with a set riding pattern

Seventeen rides in just over an hour

Uber fun session!!!

W:9/FD:24/PW:1/S:1

Dawn Patrol - 2/8/2025

The forecasted bump did arrive.  Waves were usually waist high - but every now and then a nice one pulled through.  Tide was medium (and I did touch bottom on the way out).

There was some wind, but it wasn't messing with the quality of the surface conditions.

Most of the foil crew was out - Dennis, Dean, Andrew, Eddy, Charles, Mark, and others.

Same setup as the past multiple FD sessions - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

This was an awesome session.  The conditions were clean enough to takeoff without contending with spray - that makes a huge difference in battery usage efficiency.

Seven miles in 1.3 hours and I still came in with 35%

Serious carving today - but you had to hunt down the pockets.  Unless you were on a bigger wave (of which I probably had 5) - then you just slashed and burned!!!

Definite patterns today! 

Twenty-one waves - speaks volumes to the benefit of clean conditions!

Super fun!!!

W:9/FD:23/PW:1/S:1

Dawn Patrol 2/2/2025

Dawn patrolled WP this morning.  Tide was high (and eventually drowned out the small waves).  Minimal wind.

Norm and Marvin also came out.

Same gear - no surprises.

I did bring the GoPro 12 Black to test out angles and a new floating selfie stick.

Lining up shots was not easy.  And trying to get pics of other people if they are any more than 5' away is not really an option. 

When I FD with Marvin and Norm, I don't get a lot of mileage - they burn through their batteries too fast.  I'm used to foiling with Dennis and Kalani where I have to be thrifty with the throttle to stay out for 2 hours.

When in Rome...

Despite the waves being small, I got plenty of rides in - and there was a pattern (I like it when there are ride patterns).

Those longer rides towards the end of the session were recycles powered by the battery.  I'll call this 15 rides - not bad (and continuing the streak of increasing ride counts)

Fun session this morning!  I think it'll be rest day tomorrow.

W:8/FD:22/PW:1

Dawn Patrol - 2/1/2025

Dawn patrol this morning - waves got smaller...

But the tide was super high and there was no wind.

The WPB Weekend Dawn Patrol crew was out in force - Eddy, Deam, Andrew, Dennis and others were out.

Same gear -

You had to keep your eyes on the horizon to look for ridable waves

The gear I have been using is specialized for these conditions - so I had plenty of rides.

Marvin was out on the Code 850S setup he recently acquired.  Dennis swapped the KT board for an Amundson (and he loved the change) - this was for prone FD.

I'm calling this 22 rides in an hour and a half

Definitely had to work it - but it was still a fun session

W:8/FD:21/PW:1

Evening Session - 1/28/2025

Shifty winds this afternoon = Foil Drive session.

Small waves, medium tide at 0.7'

Marvin and Norm were out also.

Everyone was on their normal gear.

Except I switched to the Magic Hub - just to remember what characteristics it has.  Those would be more torque and less top end speed.  Basically I need to remember this would be best for bigger waves.

Not bad run time - considering I was trying to mix in efoiling between waves.  I still feel more comfortable with my normal mode (lower throttle, prone - then gun it to catch waves).

There were some fun waves mixed in with the small stuff (where you were just trying to keep moving).

A few of these I was able to get some good turns in.

I'll call this 18 rides - but a couple of handful of these were just pickups and pumps. 

Always fun on the Foil Drive!!!

W:8/FD:18/PW:1

Evening Session - 1/26/2025

I went with La to Waimanalo this morning to look at plants that we will likely be purchasing in the near future to redo our yard.  She was also going to go over to KYC to help out with an event - and Marlon wanted to check out the surf shops so he headed out to Kailua.  They did a high 5 to swap me out and then I found myself in a position to get a second session in.

Same gear - I didn't break it down from this morning.

Marvin and Norm were in the parking lot when Marlon and I pulled up.

The waves were still there - and the tide was lower than this morning's session.  This was one of Marlon's pictures!

The wind was a little stronger, and it was blowing offshore so it slowed you down (going right) - but with the lower tide, there was more workable face (which is a relative term - I don't think surfers could have been on these waves).

You can see somewhat of a pattern.  What I like the most was the length of the rides this afternoon

And just when you think you broke a record, you can quickly do it again.  This session was way shorter, but I rode 16 long waves.  It felt like I was in constant motion.

I ended up with a short session because the charge on my remote ran dry.  I think I stretched the charge out over 4 sessions.

Super fun day!!!

W:7/FD:17/PW:1

Dawn Patrol - 1/26/2025

Dawn patrolled this morning with the Foil Drive setup.

Dean was there this morning, and he said it was definitely better this morning than yesterday morning.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it - 

I did check out the app again, and my system now is updated (and it does have the chirp function).

The tide was high this morning - so launching and landing was easy.

I had a time limit this morning so I was pretty heavy on the throttle.

With the smooth surface conditions this morning, long rides were the theme.

Dennis was out on his smaller KT prone foiling.  And he was efoiling (like everyone else - I'm quickly turning into the only person that doesn't regularly do it). 

And the waves were tightly packed together - short period.  That meant tons of rides - in fact I got 18 rides in an hour.  Probably the most rides per unit time that I've gotten to date.

And leaving earlier than I normally would, I don't think I missed much - the waves were starting to back off.  Perfect timing!!!

W:7/FD:16/PW:1

Evening Foil Drive-ing - 1/9/2025

And I pulled a second session today - this time with Norm out at the Bunkers area.

I put the foil setup I used earlier on to No.34

This board comes up to speed so quickly - so dependable!!!

This was the first time I went out in this area.  Norm lead the way, but when he flipped the board over and way pulling the trigger - he got no response from the Foil Drive.

I had motored out and wasn't quite sure where I could safety takeoff - I caught one and headed back over to where Norm was.  We tried a few things, but he still had a dead stick.

He told me to head out and burn through my battery - I told him I'd catch three proper ones and head back.

The point over to the left is where Norm was.

And you can see where I had gradually worked my way out to.  The set waves were actually chest high!

You can see the three solid waves I caught.

When we were back on land, I asked if I actually made it out to Bunkers - Norm said no, that I was riding Jetty's.

Back at his truck, we got the battery out, and back in - and the drive worked again.  Then I asked what his normal process is - he bypassed the unlocking and it would throw him into a programming sequence.  Problem solved!

The reports are showing trades returning tomorrow...  

W:2/FD:6/PW:1

Dawn Patrol - 12/21/2024

Dawn patrolled WPB yesterday - nice conditions early!!!

Eddy was there - Dean and Andrew, and Kalani and Dennis.

Andrew, Dean and Dennis went in earlier than usual - but the waves did die back as the tide got higher.

I had No.34 with the SF960/Skinny 365 out - this combination is super effective in catching lower energy waves.

I'll call this a 20 ride session (!!!!)

With the XL swell hitting the North Shore tomorrow, hopefully there will be some wrap coming through

W:152/PW:2/FD:96/F:5/S:29

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