Out on the new Hot Pink GPS 2013. 

Feel really light, a touch more technical to use, same as the old ones to rig (quick and easy). Definitely more responsive which is what makes them a bit more technical. With these you cannot just let the wind take you to high speeds, you need to read the water better.

If you would like to try one my number is in the local mens toilets now. Never had so many kitesurfers say hello to me in one session, not sure why ;-)

Thanks to Tris and everyone who came to Sunrise Sunset and dontated their time and money to a great cause.

6.4m X15 all day but swapping between the iSonic 101 and Warp SL56 (80ltr) and trying all the fins I have for them.

Sun all day and good wind.

2 categories

Last minute decision to go to Southend, think I should of joined Norman at my local pit instead.

Very light winds with more kiters than Ive ever seen here before, east course was uber flat and would of been epic with more wind, why is it that when the tide gets the sand bar the wind increases 10 knots...does it every time.

Still a good session and nice to sail somewhere other than Hayling.

La Franqui next week.. can't wait.

 

Perfect Conditions today for Formula with a lovely wind angle at the lake, and a decent forecast all day, plus I had the Evo back and a nice X7 to rig it on. Unfortunately I only had a small one hour window in the morning, and was on the water at about 7.30am and off by about 8.20, due to the fact I had to run school cricket for the second Saturday in a row :-(

The wind was picking up nicely and as mentioned the angle was great. I didn't rig the sail with much downhaul and wasn't getting the acceleration I should have but still had a decent short session.

Really looking forward to taking this set out on a good course with strong wind and a perfectly rigged sail!!

2 categories

Went on a downwinder with Tris to Overcoombe set off nicely powered up for the adventure on a Falcon 90 with a 6.3 Simmer SCR.

Normally getting through the North entrance of Portland harbour can be quite awkward but today with a SSW it was quite easy on starboard tack, its a very surreal feeling when get through entrance the water becomes very calm and quiet compared to the confused chop thrashing around the entrance. After arriving at Overcoombe we had a drink thinking the tack back up wind wouldn't be to bad and with wind angle getting back through the entrance would be ok.

Oh my god  how wrong were we when we left the wind was gusting around 27 knots but it was filling in quick and after looking at the data it was gusting upto 37 knots! With a 7.2 Km tack upwind as the crow flies halve in open sea it didn't look good and it wasn't. After setting off i soon came to realise this could turn out very bad sailing out at one point just under 3 Km out into the bay with 4 to 6 foot swell/chop coming at us with it gusting a gale 8.

Eventually we arrived near the harbour wall which was a relief to get some shelter from the sea pounding at us with no emotion what so ever, as i was the so called experienced one at this journey i was leading Tris to try and get us back in the harbour the wind had shifted a tad and made it square to the North entrance making it very awkward with the wind shadow. I had a quick look at the East entrance but there would be no chance,so back through the North entrance it was now i knew we only had one shot at this because the confused chop was around 4 foot high and any mistake would mean your kit would be destroyed on the wall.  So we went fo it and it was like sailing over rocks chop was hitting the boards with such force you would be thrown in the air if you took your finger off the button, so we then had to turn and not lose it which would end in tears. Thankfully we both manged to make it and then with relief the further up wind we travelled the flatter it got and easier it seamed to feel, eventually we made it back to the OTC. Triumphant but also with a new respect for mother nature and her wicked ways.

As the crow flies it is 14.4km there and back i tavelled 22.5km downwind and strangely 22.5km back upwind.  

lovely couple of hours with 105 falcon/6.4 x-15. The mile had a gybe in it strangely faster than my alpha.