2 categories

Melville Beach, WA, AU

Fun sesh at Melville in an up and down westerly. 

Got down there around 11.15 and JJ was already there, but less than enthused. 

Decided to rig big, cos it looked patchy, and hit the water noonish on the 135 Patrik + 8.4 TR8 + 46 Sting.

Heaps of fun and some super powered up runs on this combo.

Grabbed the M112 + 38 CL SL2 for a few runs, back the breeze backed off and I was struggling to plane on the smaller board.  I was about to switch back to the 135 when a big squall came through, so I went for a fang on the Mistral and got my peak speed and a nice 31.3 10-sec.

It dropped again, so jumped back on the big board and took off for a naughty, but it was a bit square heading down to Majestic, and I wasn't overly powered up, so only managed a 26.5.  Coming back upwind was quicker, and I got the 26.95 heading in to the carpark on starboard.  Some very suss creaking sounds coming from the rig, and I was half expecting the mast or boom to give way.

Pulled up when I got into the shallows and found a sizeable crack in my boom.  At least it didn't catastrophically fail in the middle of the river! 

Stoked to get a sesh in, probably my last for a while as I'm heading to Darwin for work on Sunday, and good to catch up with JJ and Mark. 

112 Xfire, 7.0 overdrive 34 FO

Hard work after so long without sailing. Must do more fittness training when the winds not blowing.

Melville Beach, WA, AU

2 categories

Melville Beach, WA, AU

One of those days where i couldnt get comfy today, but im sure its due to the lengthening of the harness lines. think ive sorted it now though.

Pretty on and off so rigging bit bigger was the go.

Surprised at the end to try a recently aquired Tectonic Falcon 34 on the Isonic 96 with a 7.5 worked ok. Really expected it to give out but it held in quite well. Didnt do the 2 sec peak on that though.

Spent most of the session on the old JP Slalom 134, old overdrive 7.5 and JP weed 42.

3 categories

Melville Beach, WA

A nice breeze with gusts to 25 knots - NM session, used the big kit to get through the lulls.

Top NM was down past Majestics into the channel, also stoked to get a 28 NM coming back the other way to the car park.

Great to see so many out - a fun day . Mark smoking on his new M91

Mistral 137, GPS 8m, CL SL2 38

5 categories

Good team outing today.

First outing on the Mistral SL91. Definitely a keeper!

The Isonic 90 wood 2011 was a great board and very versatile. The fat tail allowed a range of fin / sail sizes yet it was still quick.

The Mistral definitely feels smaller and takes more wind to get planing but the acceleration is blistering! I was pretty underpowered for today's conditions but impressed with the way the board stayed on the plane through the lulls. The longer length definitely makes for a more comfortable ride through the chop and I could tack it at 75kg with a 6.3. 

After some tweaking found that it felt best with the base just forward of centre and speeds agreed although hard to be precise in typically gusty Melville Westerly.

Had one powered up run for a 34+ 10 sec that just felt too easy! The board keeps accelerating through the chop without the scary feel of the wider tail Is90. I used the board with a 29cm pointer and can't wait to give it a spin on flat water and more wind / smaller fin.

Gybing was versatile with a variety of arc options and could really be cranked hard. Looking forward to an alpha mission.

If you are my weight (75kg) and considering a higher wind slalom / speed board you would be hard pushed to find better than Mr Lockwoods design.

Loft Blade 6.3, M SL91, Bandit 29cm 18-20knts with odd patches in the low 20s.

Edit: added in the Kms from a brief flogging at Dutchies this morning which ended in a cut foot and a trashed 5.3! I should know better!

Melville Beach, WA, AU Rocket 125, Straight leading edge, 7.5 easy, Best day in a long time. I was happy JJ tested my rig and came back smiling. I straggled to just survive on his. Foot straps and harness lines were all in the wrong spots for me. I have gone a notch longer to 26cm with my harness lines. That is all I had and Mark was saying 28. Still the best speed I got was on my first run when the rain squall came. My too big fin was slowing me down a bit but wind was not steady, next one down I have is too small so I stayed with it for safety. Tired -  happy and it was not too cold.