More Kiting Pictures because it was that much fun!

The blurry one would have been the 5h!t -

Buzzing Bees

The kids asked to go SUPing again - how could I say no?

They are getting very confident with their skills now and even Noe is starting to stand up and paddle (E Ku I Luna A Hoe!!!!)

They readily shoot out for any reason (especially to say 'hi' to Dad flying by on a kiteboard) and would take turns riding the 6" surf back in.

The funniest thing that happened today? Noe carrying her board to the beach and when she got to the water she didn't even turn around - she kept on going and said 'bye-bye Daddy'

FINALLY!!!!

The wind and my timing converged today -

Usually I see the wind from my office window, and I have to keep on working. Or - I'm not working and the wind is not up. This problem was compounded by the fact I had a 2011 Cabrihna 16m^2 Crossbow, a 2011 CrazyFly Raptor and a recently finished lightwind kiteboard all sitting in the garage staring at me and planting images of perfect conditions and me ripping the heck out of the water with these tools...

Ahhh to go to me happy place...

No need to daydream today - right at 1300 the wind jumped from 8 mph to 11 mph and with that, La launched me and with barely a whitecap in the water (see the picture with the board I made in use - smooth water) I was cruising! The big Crossbow was incredible!!!!

I rotated out the boards and the CrazyFly Raptor was also a winner! The combination of the Raptor, the Crossbow and the wind (by that time 13-16 mph) made for some wicked high jumps - nothing crazy - 12' vertical with 20' across ground.

We stayed most of the day at the beach - I haven't been this sunburnt or this sore for months!!!!

And I can't wipe the smile off my face - it's good to be stoked again!

Another Sailing Day

The forecast for yesterday called for marginal kiting winds so I hooked the boat up. I started telling the kids that we were going sailing and they asked to SUP instead.

I told them that they were going to go sailing and that they would like it - but that I would also bring out their SUPs and they could have fun with them too.

We ended up going to Henderson Point (last spot of land before crossing the Bay of St Louis Bridge here in Southern Mississippi).

Getting the boat down to beach level from the road was not too bad (swung the ramps over) but the drop height looked to be challenging for the return trip.

We got the boat rigged and I took the kids out for a run - 10.7 mph under jib and main alone.

From there, I did another 3 runs shuttling friends back and forth. The wind backed down for the second run, but slowly picked up for the third and forth runs. I used the screacher on the last three runs and by the last run with La, we hit 13.7 mph - there were barely whitecaps on the water.

Meanwhile, the kids on the beach were all over the place on their SUPs. Put them in wetsuits and their fear goes away - they were way offshore at times just buzzing around.

Fun Saturday!!!

The Wind that was not to be

Between work, La running half marathons and just the general lack of wind, we haven't been out to the beach much. Sure the weather has been wonderful (60s to even low 70s), but without surf or wind, the idea of going to the beach just hasn't sunk in.

Also, with limited time left in my hands before we have to pick up and move again, I have been trying to knock out all the board projects I have in the garage (but that is for another post).

Well that nonsense of not going to the beach ended Sunday. We got up and went to the beach. Not really enough wind to make it thrilling - or even worth setting up the sail for - I ended up bulldozing in the tent. And actually, the extra sleep was well appreciated.

And it really ended on Monday - President's Day - the day that we take to remember the 42 other birthdays of those who have led this country - but more importantly, the weekend La and I got married 10 years ago (eloped - Vegas - but that's yet another story).

Back to the topic at hand - beach, no more nonsense, blah blah blah...

So - 2.5 hours before we have to pick up the kids, I pondered over a dubious wind forecast and declare to La "Let's go sailing - I don't see the wind picking up to forecasted strength and I'm pretty sure I'll get skunked if I try to bring the kites". From the pictures it's obvious we went.

Well - not only did the wind not pick up to the forecasted 15 mph, we were lucky in some instances to be even moving (lots of holes in the wind field). We did get into some breezes and topped out at 9.6 mph - averaged out to 4.0 mph.

We had the screecher out on the outbound leg, tacked with all three sails up and got it furled away nicely on the way back in.

Record breakdown speed and away we went. Nice afternoon sailing with La!

Mini Trimarans

Took the small boats out today -

I jumped on the 11'2" and paddled the boats out to a suitable drop off point so the kids could watch them sail in.

They made it and they were pretty stable. Still not enough forward buoyancy.

And between the proas and the trimarans, the proas actually sailed better... I think it is the sail positioning, but BLAH - no more tweaking, more sailing!

53 F temps and very light winds we're enough to get the kids in the water. Nice day!

On another note, I did get the deckpad on the kiteboard - it's actually looking awesome now! The only thing totally stopping me from getting it wet is the lack of wind. And the lack of a logo. I've got one tee'd up, just need to breakout the Posca pens and the rice paper. Stay tuned for that.

Outriggers V2

So the proas from yesterday were cool, but the paternal drive to ensure the kids have cool beach toys made me go back to the drawing board today.

I built the ones from yesterday with a old technique I used when I was a kid - cut the sides and the deck in sheets and tape them together. The ones I used to build were catamarans - about 16" in length (my Dad had access to longer sheets of styrofoam - today I save the foam trays from the fish we buy).

The fact that the buoyancy needed to be shifted forward on the proas prompted me to build new amas. I was just going to change out the amas, but layering the foam for the amas made me think that I could use the same technique on the hull - so I started building the hull(s). At the same time I resigned myself to build trimarans (and gave up on the outrigger/proa designs - for this run anyways).

The one in the middle has a vertical stack for the hull/vaka and the amas. The one in front has a horizontal bias for the vaka and amas. The one in the rear has vertical amas and a horizontal hull. The orientation refers to the way the sheets are taped together and the alignment to the water's surface.

The mast and the struts are bamboo skewers.

These were a blast to build and the kids enjoyed seeing the difference between yesterday's boats and today's.

Not bad for a rainy day project.

I kept the pen in for size reference. I actually like these smaller boats compared to the ones I used to make - easier to transport and store (and Noe says they are cute). How can you argue that?

We'll try to get out to the beach after school one day this week and race them!!!

Dude Buzzing

Marlon asked me to bring his board out today.

He was flying around on the thing like it was a magic carpet

:)

"Jack of All Trades" Board

Light winds today -

Instead of fighting it, I brought the 11'2" out.

So versatile - La paddled it and I was getting upwind with less than 5mph wind. I nailed a bunch of jibes too - bonus points!

It's good to have a board that can do a bunch of different things well.

Hawaiian Proa

I made the kids their own model outrigger sailing canoes. Made them out of styrofoam trays, electrical tape and bamboo skewers. They sailed really well, but they need more forward buoyancy.

They aren't true "proas" becuase they have a directional bias (with a rudder on the back) - real proas "shunt" instead of tack/jibe to move through the wind. Shunting is just going back the other way (hopefully with some ground gained).

The next set I build will have bigger (or at least wider) bows and longer (with a forward bias) amas.

The lower limit of Inflatable Kite Flying

I found it!

I have been SWAMPED at work hence the lack of posting, but despite that - the wind seemed to be pretty good on Saturday afternoon (the day I couldn't go out) and again on Sunday afternoon.

We hit the beach and the anemometer read 11 mph coming out of the SSW (perfect for the 16 Xbow!!!!)

Problem was the tide was super low (I didn't bring the CF thinking there wasn't going to be enough wind - a point I will be correct on - keep reading).

I launch the kite and start wading out to deeper water. I tried getting out 5X only to hit ground 5X.

All the while, the wind starts dying back - until eventually the kite falls out of the sky - of course while I'm standing 100 yards off shore.

Walk of shame (but neat how i"m so far off the beach and still in calf high water).

At least the kids had a great time (Big M and Noe were playing with the Godzilla toys - they were emerging from underground!!!)

I did take the time to set the pigtails to the 'B' setting - direct steering with less depower. Maybe that will correct the hovering effect (or maybe I'm getting old and rusty... - maybe I need to move back to Hawaii......)

Monday Water Time

1. Got the kids out of the house and onto the beach. They played with Godzilla(s) and Gamera and had a great time.

2. I had installed footstrap inserts on the 11'2" (and brought it out with the intentions on windsurfing - wanted to see if carrying the board with the strap and the rig was easier). The wind was dismal so I got a decent paddle in.

3. La tested out our new Medium Sun Shelter (Kelty).

Nice day!

Back Home

I had to go to Vegas for a 2 day conference.

Yeah it was pretty cool, but to tell you the truth - without my family there, it wasn't the same (now that I've got impending orders for a year unaccompanied over my head, time away from La and the kids is even worse).

I did stop by the Bellagio to get our wedding rings cleaned - La and I eloped in Vegas nearly 10 years ago and we got our rings from Tiffany. It was neat that I could go and get them cleaned at the same place we bought them.

I could keep going on about how that they are cleaned and look just like new that we're good to go for another 10 years.... blah blah blah - but I won't - you get the picture.

So - what's the amphibious link here?

The fountain at the Bellagio!

The Discovery Channel did a special on the behind the scenes for the fountain works once and ever since then, every time I see the fountains, it is even neater.

And now that I'm back here in Gulfport, I did manage to get a late afternoon paddle in - 6.7 mph top speed on a runner; 3.9 mph average.

Wind was up BUT

It was COLD (36 F) and rainy.

Strong Whitecaps - Check

Free Sand Blasting - Check

Wicked Sideshore - Check

Warm Tropical, Crystal Clear Water - how are you kidding

I'm not one to turn down a session, but today was an exception (or am I getting soft???). This place ain't Hawaii (but it isn't the mid-Atlantic either - I think I'm turning soft).

Finbox Set

No sense waiting until tomorrow for what you can do today -

I mixed a small batch of epoxy (~2 ounces mixed product) and got the finbox set in place.

As always, with the taped up surround, it made clean up much easier.

Now I get to do more "productive" work tomorrow - grinding, sanding and maybe painting...

It'll be nice to finally get this thing in the water, but I firmly believe "patience" is a virtue. Now I just have to figure out what color to paint it.