1 categories

Glory Holes, Australind, WA, AU   ISO76/X15 5.8m2/C3Slingshot 23cm

Sailing with Bender at Leschenault.  Really enjoyed my sail today - good wind and Ben gave me a go of his slingshot fin:  LOVE IT!!  felt so much more in control over the chop then I have recently with my 28cm weedy. No problem getting upwind either - Definitely on my shopping list.

Happy camper 

3 categories

The pond sorted the men from the sheep today. Unfortunately I have ended up going Baa Baa alot. I hit the drink for the first time in forever on the old F2 105log, just as everyone was getting out. (Courtesy of being a most gracious host to my Sunday guests). I had Basil and some pretty strong wind for company but not quite enough water. As a result I started popping on my cardigan and slippers pretty early on. I had my Delta18speed superglued in the slot, but when I touched bottom in what I thought was the deeper part of the pond, I was left with a sphincter moment that would crack walnuts. Elmo's off, along with my own were still a bit too fresh in the memory. I spent the rest of the short session trying to find a spot where I could safely have a crack but wherever I went the real estate was keen to say hello. So probably there were some better numbers to be had, just not by someone lacking in testicular fortitude looking very much like me..

The one thing I was super suprised about was my alpha. This is the second best I have ever done and it was so easy on the my little board. I wasn't even trying to do an alpha of any note. I was having a go trying to perfect the skid gybe turn by getting the Delta out of the water and skidding the board around more so on the rail with out losing it. Some of them were a bit wobbly, one resulted in digging in the rail and left me executing a lovely somersault over the handlebars, but obviously one of them when pretty well. Of course at that very moment, despite the horrible weather, there were two tourists getting smashed in the wind standing on the observation platform. Hopefully they felt rewarded.

Thanks to Mike and Pas for hanging around, even when the Cap'n was obviously in a bit of pain - he can tell you why. Great to meet Lunny and I was stoked to see the smile on JJ's face from an awesome PB,  even after a world class berg smashing attempt that left him a little worse off.

Top Ten Fangy day for most of the kids having a play today and that good enough for me.

5 categories

Another great sail in the laggon!!! PB for the 48cm board, only ever got 36s on it before now, and with Keefs 17cm 50d delta, 5.0 koncept sail.

Yoyo was already half rigged when Pas and I arrived around 10 am, then JJ and Luny arrived.

Wind wasn't very strong, but was forecast to pick up very quick, and the tide was forecast to drop quickly as well.

Our delema was what to rig, rig for the expected good wind, and not have enough water to sail in when it arrived, or rig a bit bigger to get a sail in while the water was there.

I went for the last option, and got going reasonably well, getting low 30s, and enjoying Keefs fin, went up wind like a train, and through weed on the surface as if it wasn't there. Only trouble I had was weed forcing it self under the front overhang, every time I went through surface weed. It meant stopping after every run and clearing it. Too far back to base to make it worth while doing something about it.

Wind was a bit "bandy", the best wind seemed to be just before it got really smooth near the bank, so one run I decided to brave the chop when I saw a very tempting band of wind. Wrong desiscion! Started tail walking and everything went pear shaped, ended up tweaking my left ankle. I suppose I really new I should have called it quits then, but it wasn't giving me a hard time, and wind was starting to pick up. So stayed out a bit longer and got a couple of 37s. The I started being too cautious trying to protect my foot, but that obviously wasn't a good idea, started having silly little crashes, so called it a day.

Got in to see Fangy and Basil rigging, Luny and JJ came in a bit later, both with nice PBs, and JJ with a broken mast extension and torn sail.

Derigged, had lunch and waited around to see how well Basil and Fangy went, looks like Basil also has a PB.

By this time my foot was getting pretty sore, so it's now got a compression bandage and ice on it. Strange how something that seems fairly minor when you do it can turn to something very uncomfortable after an hour or so.

   Coodanup lagoon, WA, AU.

A fun sail at the lagoona, thou a bit tiyring, took some efort geting in ther. Met some new fellow speedsters, JJ & Lunny,and now

I now what teem from. Got some nice smooth runs in the weed, but best runs just out of the weed.

     Custom slalom, Avi 4.7 sail,  50/55 18cm superweedy.

  Hay, Fangy, very close with with thouse numbers, ofcoure I was holding back a little, didnt want to risk injury. 

3 categories

Glory Holes, Australind, WA, AU 18-25knt WSW lowish tid with 4-6inch chop with solid 30knt bullets

Iso Speed Special 49, R3 6.2m techtonis Hornet 21cm

Finally a legit speed sail. The combo felt perfect today, didn't feel any tweaks were needed. Hunted the slingshots today. The smooth water made it easy to lock eveything down and go for it. best sesh i've had since March where i cracked the 40knt barrier