Garage Works - 12/8/2022

Got some work done in the garage this evening after getting home from UH.  Pictures are in reverse order.

I sanded down the leash plug on No.25.  Then I sprayed the clear coat on.

Then I wetsanded the rear stabilizer I used today (want to run some testing).

Lastly I sanded down the repair area on the Kujira 1440.

This one turned out really nice!

Wing Foiling Session - 12/3/2022

Some of the forecasts were calling for decent winds today.  Off to WPB to ride the thermals... except that as soon as Kalani and I launched, the wind pretty much died off.  I rigged big - Kujira 1440 and the North Nova Light Wind 8.0 

Definitely got tricked a bunch today - rigging the wind actually looked good - then BAM dropped off.  Also, I thought I saw a stronger wind line on the outside - and I kept chasing it - then I find myself out in front of Campgrounds.  Ughhhhh....

There were some runs of wind where I was able to get up on foil and twice I was able to get back upwind.  On the last few runs, I was actually able to surf the inbound swell.

I'll call this session R&D in to the absolute low end of the NLW8.0

There were some sets that I could have proned...

W:118/F:95/S:40

Wing Foiling Session - 11/24/2022

Thanksgiving morning session.  I brought the winging gear, but given the conditions, I should have brought the Viking.

Offshore wind made for pretty clean conditions - but this being winter, there wasn't much surf coming up from the south.  There is a big swell coming down from the north - and I'm surprised there wasn't much wrapping around to WPB.

This guy had a KT Ginzu board.

Originally I pumped up the 6.1 - but the wind that was forecasted to be present early on did not show.  I had to cook for Thanksgiving so I had limited time.  I asked Marlon to go to the garage and bring the NLW 8.0.

This is the first time I had the 6.1 and the 8.0 together - here is the size difference.

Rounding out my equipment was the WWFB, Kujira 1440 on the 85cm Project Cedrus mast and one of the stabilizers I built last year.

Kalani, Tim and Roland were also set up.  

Although not nuking like it was supposed to, I figured this session would be a good test of the lower limit of my equipment.  I paddled out at Fenceline in really light offshore wind, and drifted over to Cabins.  Eventually a gust came along - probably 10mph and was able to get up on foil.  After a couple of runs, I was back in front of Fenceline.  I made a few more runs, had gotten upwind of Fenceline - by this time I was short on time and headed in.  I managed to pick up a wave and rode it like I ride the inside at Firsts (goofy foot, carving the face like windsurfing).

At least I got in a session.  Roland didn't make it out, but Tim and Kalani were still there when the wind did hit and they said it was nuking - definitely echoed by the chart data.

W:116/F:94/S:38

Wing Foiling Session - 8/13/2022

 The thermals kicked in yesterday afternoon (when the forecast called for nothing).  Despite my arms screaming at me for a solid rest, I was compelled to head out.  Roland and Brian were already out - Roland on his 4.0 Score and Brian out on his 5.2 Score.  The wind didn't look that strong - so I pumped up my RS 6.1 and bolted on the Kujira 1440.  I didn't want to jump or get frustrated trying to get up on the board - so I used the wide wing foiling board - perfect call on everything!!!

There were waves coming in every 15 minutes or so.  This day something else clicked - I was able to luff the RS wing without any issue.  Whenever I had tried to do that before, the wing would start to push down in an ugly way.  Maybe it was the wind direction - maybe it was the wing material breaking in - whatever it was this wing is now one of the top 3 I've ever used!

Marlon was flying the drone for a bit, but he had to leave - at which time I proceeded to catch a monster wave on the outside.  I luffed the wing and rode it going right all the way to the inside of where the surfers were lined up past Fenceline.  I was up high on the foil and the wave was still a few feet overhead.  I only saw three of these sized waves come through - and I got the biggest one.  Luffing was key to being able to ride that wave so long - everything came together for this one (the wave pictured below was not the monster I'm describing - it's just one of the pictures Marlon was able to take while he was there). 

Brian was ripping as usual.  Roland had a harder time with the 4.0 wing.  They said when they got there earlier, the wind was nuking - lots of whitecaps and the trees were pegged.

My watch died halfway through the session - so I don't think any of this data caught the big wave ride.

The wind direct was good for WPB winging - runs were straight in and straight back out with the more easterly pattern.

Yesterday was a magical session that will be burned in my brain forever!

W:85/F:68/S:18

Wing Foiling Session - 8/12/2022

Knowing the waves were headed down in size, and that the wind would be iffy - I headed to Hickam after work.  The mission today was to get the Kujira 1440 dialed in on No.25.  The last time I took this setup out, it didn't feel right.  It was drifty and the foil didn't feel like it was engaging properly.

I set the mast back a little further, and I took off the plastic rear stabilizer shim.  Well - that did the trick!

This setup works perfectly now!

There was a lot of north in the wind today - made for a lot of up wind hauling to get close to the launch point.  Besides trying to dial in the lower set, the other objective I wanted to hit was some inbound, toe to heel tacks.  I tried three times and half landed one.

There were some significant lulls in all of this wind.

For a testing day, the conditions were great.  But with just tiny waves at Firsts and the lulls throughout, I'll credit this day with getting the Stringy direct mount fuselage all dialed in!

This was probably the last day with wind - time to rest my arms....

W:84/F:67/S:18

Wing Foiling Session - 8/8/2022

Hit WPB after work.  Wind was up when I got there, but it had an element of off and on.  To negate that concern, I bolted on the Kujira 1440 and used the RS 5.1.  I also was trying out a direct mount (onto the Cedrus mast) Stringy fuselage.

Marlon also came out - he brought his Seaside but later said it would have been better had he brought his longboard.

Roland and Derek were synchronized foiling.

I was not feeling it today - my left elbow has been giving me a little trouble and taking new gear out to WPB is never really a good idea (Hickam is a better trial and adjust place).  The 1440 didn't feel settled - probably need to adjust the stabilizer AOA... still had fun (when the wind field didn't slack off)

Marlon broke out the drone and started filming - you can see his drone following me in this picture.

It wasn't a bad session - I just felt I was not one with the foil and the elements.

You can see the wind was a little shifty - actually had some north in it.

The wind was on the lighter side of fun - I was out from 5pm to 6pm

And for me this is telling.  I've been able to get this front going faster on different fuselages.  I need to adjust something (like I said earlier I'm going to start with the stabilizer angle).

W:80/F:67/S:18

Wing Foiling Session - 7/15/2022

Afternoon winging session at Hickam after work.  I picked up Kalani at the NEX parking lot and we were setting up around 3pm.  The wind was steadier than it had been, but lighter also.  I opted for the Kujira 1440 and the RS 6.1

Correct call on the gear (finally).

Kalani used his 6.0 SW2 - but should have opted for the bigger front foil.

The tide was really full again so I went over the reef instead of through the channel.  There were some waves coming through - but not from the epic sized swell that is supposed to be on it's way.  

Even though it was on the light side, this has been the best wind all week (ENE and relatively steady).

Most of the knock downs I had were while I was trying to figure out how I had tacked this wing before.  Where it had been super easy before, I was back winding a lot the past few days.  Eventually I re-figured it out (gotta get the front of the wing up higher).

I'm not sure I believe the max speed from the runs today.

This weekend will see a supersized south swell hit and the remnants of Hurricane Darby pass to the south of us (bringing strong winds).

W:66/F:61/S:17

Small Repairs on the 1440

I mixed up a tiny batch of epoxy and sealed the spider crack on the 1440.

I already wetsanded this so it is ready to ride.

Evening Session - 6/16/2022

Yesterday afternoon I was driving home and paying particular attention to signs of wind.  Things were up and down a lot - to the point where I figured I should just prone foil.  What I didn't account for was the lack of surf.  With a full moon high tide, I went anyways.

Kalani and Roland had more faith and they launched their wings.  They were up in the gusts, down and resting during the lulls - pretty impressive actually.  Roland got in a few jumps and both were able to hold their lines and land where they launched.

I used the Kujira 1440 and the 218 rear stabilizer.  These were mounted on the Stringy fuselage.  Really nice ride, and only needed the two small circular shims.  I got three rides and figured I got my share.

Kalani was on his new Reedin SW2 6.0 - pretty powerful wing.  This day was definitely a technical winging day.

And here is one of Roland's many jumps.

W:50/F:60/S:17

Evening Session - 6/10/2022

The wind had been hovering on the fun level for most of the day (while I was at work).  By the time I headed home, I could sense it was waning, and by the time I was packing up the truck, I made the call to just bring my prone setup (4'8" PFB, 75cm Project Cedrus mast, Kujira 1440 and my 14.875" stabilizer on a stock Takuma 2021 fuselage - that is a mouthful...).

When I got there, Roland was breaking out his winging gear.  As I did a surf check, the wind looked worse than Thursday... And the surf had also come down - almost to the point where I didn't paddle out.

Since I was there, and Marlon was launching the A2S, I figured I'd just wash off the work week even if the waves were small.

I ended up catching only one wave - all these pictures came from that single ride.

I almost didn't even catch this... the tide was at 1.3' but it seemed to be shallower than that.

I ended up riding it to the sand pit just west of the fenceline.

The rest of the time I was discussing flakkas with Roland (who made the wise choice of not winging since there was hardly any wind).

W:46/F:59/S:17

Evening Session - 6/5/2022

After knocking out a bunch of errands, Marlon and I hit the beach for a late afternoon session.  Marlon brought his longboard, but opted out since there was a pretty solid sea breeze.  Instead he flew his drone.  I bolted on the 1440 again, but changed out the 17" rear stabilizer for the 14.875" one.

I caught a bunch of really fun waves.  Turning was definitely snappier with the narrower span stabilizer.  

This one was me picking up a second wave after pumping back out (look for the trail)

And this one is me pumping back out.  The 1440 does make this act a whole lot easier.  There was a new south swell pushing through, so plenty of energy to go around (and the crowd dispersed accordingly).

Erik was out again getting more time with the prone setup.

Eddy was out SUP foiling his wing board.  I was talking to him afterwards and he broke his boxes (front and back) - and just like that I took on another repair job. 

W:44/F:58/S:17

Evening Session - 6/4/2022

I pulled a second water session today - was meeting Erik out at WPB to give him some pointers on prone foiling.  While I was waiting, Marvin drove up - he said he wanted to give his new to him 1440 another run.  The waves did come down even more than it had (comparing yesterday to this morning) - made me even think about not going out.

Then Derek H drove up and I said screw it - if he is going out winging in this light wind and small waves, then something good will happen and I should be out there to pick up the scraps.

Here is the 1440/17" rear stab/stock Takuma fuselage on the 75cm Project Cedrus mast.

I pulled the mast back in the tracks and even took off the PPC shim (as I recall riding this setup without the big shim).

And here's Marvin setting up his board/foil.

I caught waves and even had several double and triple dips - but this session was frustrating (too many wavestormers who don't know the surf etiquette).

Oh well - you need small days also (I guess).

W:44/F:57/S:17