Parawing Session - 9/17/2025

Definitely windier today compared to yesterday.  And there was more east in the wind also.

Tide was high and there were some waves to be had.

The red dot is Koa winging.

I decided to take out the same gear as yesterday.  I wanted to see if the Ka'a with more wind would hold the line.

Things started off well - taking off upwind of Fenceline made a huge difference in being able to stay upwind.  But after a few ins and outs, I started to drift down wind.  I credit this to the reduced strength in the wind, but I'm starting to wonder if it is the parawing.

Looking at this chart you can clearly see when there was wind and when there wasn't.

And you can see me drifting down.  I gotta unlock the Ka'a...

At least I didn't have to paddle as much as I did yesterday.  I'll take the small victories.

Strong correlation between the two charts.

After I got back to shore, I packed up and headed to Pavilions.  I flew the Ka'a again to dry it off.  Then I practiced flying the Flysurfer POW 5.0

This parawing does have some grunt.  I'll likely take it out on to the water on Friday (tomorrow will be too strong if the forecast materializes). 

W:56/FD:115/PW:36/S:8

Parawing Session - 9/16/2025

When I showed up at the parking lot - conditions were pretty good.  Some north in the wind, but it looked slightly stronger than yesterday.

Waves were clean.  Tide was nice and high.

I wanted to see if getting up on No.34 was definitively easier than the Dragonfly.  With the apparent stronger winds, I opted for the BRM Ka'a 4.8 

I'd say this session was me mostly paddling into the wind.

Initially I got up pretty easy.  And flying the PW was pretty effortless.  But then the wind dropped and I drifted down.  I paddled all the way back to Fenceline.

Then I saw some wind and figured I might as well catch a ride in.  Unfortunately, this was the beginning of a squall.  I ended getting up multiple times, but everytime I jibed, I was getting pulled fast downwind (in an offshore wind) and I couldn't make headway into the wind with the 4.8 (too windy).

So I had to paddled in from way outside.  From the chart it looks like 30 minutes of nice riding and 2 hours of paddling.

So based on what little riding I did do - I would say No.34 does get up faster and is easier to pump than the Dragonfly.  I'd also say the reason I don't paddle as much on the Maliko 5.1 is it is right sized for the wind I am in.

PWing isn't easy - but when you are dialed in, it's great!  Too bad the wind is so up and down at WPB... No way to rig with a single PW today - maybe time to carry 2...

W:56/FD:115/PW:35/S:8