Pelican Point, WA, AU

Trying out the new Rocket 105, with Koncept 6.6m. Tried the 34 pointer that comes with the board which is quite good, then a JP 31 weedy which felt very good. Wind gusty.

It has more rocker than my RRD 98, which helps in the chop. I also discovered that it gybes a lot faster because the waterline, when banked over, is more curved. All it needs now is this old sailor to get his footwork suitably fast. A good challenge; beats memory games for keeping the mind (and body) active.

1 categories

Peli Point, WA, AU. A quick session around 3. It was dodgems out there today with the yachts and the chop. A few nice gusts here and there, but a few holes too.. Would have been great at 4:30-5 when it would have no doubt flattened out, but had to dash for cooking duties. A nice blast

Iso 90, RB 7.0, T43 34cm

Coodanup, WA, AU

7.0 overdrive, 125 Rocket, 23 delta, then a quick sail at the end on the Xfire 90.

3 categories

Coodanup, Fangy's

Sweet team session - wind was around 18 knots most of the afternoon, increased to about 20 knots at 6pm.

Found the 22 Delta a bit big for the board and a bit draggy - 20 would be perfect.

Fun dragging with Stroppo

Mistral 91, Koncept 7m, Delta 22

Coodanup, WA, AU M91, 6.4K, 17 delta, then 23 Pepeweed

Yay! Yay! Yay! Finally an alpha over 17 knots that was inside the required radius. Whoo Hoo. That has been a long time coming. I feel so happy I could almost dance around the table. I'd better check it on real speed... yes, 17.498. Whoo Hooo! For someone who has tried and tried and tried at gybing for SOOO long, this is VERY exciting! I don't think I could be happier if I'd just done 36 knots. Ooooh, and there were a number over 18 knots but too wide... very promising... and a top 5 distance today too - more about that in a moment.

Having said that, I really struggled today. My delta fin was too small for the M91 and the 6.4 and I really struggled to get upwind. I really wanted to practice alphas but I was finding it so hard to get upwind that I was losing a lot of ground by gybing. I slogged back and forth and went sideways a lot and eventually gave up on getting to the top of the bay for the nm run home. I have never spun out so much, but I have to admit the delta was fairly easy to get gripping again. No inglorious dismounts occurred. I think I even made all my gybes today. Eventually I gave up on going upwind and made a long downwind run home. Once there I swapped fins with Leon, who had finished by then (and had been totally screaming upwind all day). Out for another few runs to see if a bigger fin helped. HUGE difference in going up wind, but I was feeling a bit tired by this time so I decided to call it a day.  Now, about the top 5 distance. Most days when I sail at Mandurah when I check my distance at the end of the day it is 28nm. It doesn't matter if I stop because I am tired, because it is getting late, because the sun is low in the sky or because I just can't be bothered, it is usually 28 nm - which happens to be just below my top 5 distance. Today when I stopped, I thought "I wonder if I've done 28 nm again?". 30 nm - Whoo Hoo! I passed the bogey number and got a top 5 distance. But guess what my distance was when I came in and changed fins? - 28 nm! Good thing I put in those extra few runs.

2 sec was from my one downwind run. Couldn't get upwind enough for more!

Thanks Stroppo for the alpha tips. I might have been able to do better if I had been able to get upwind a bit better...

Coodanup. was light to start with, but filled in. Got a tad overpower for the 7.4 loft off the wind. Change the Delta for a 28 weed fin when tide came up.

Clipped a Ray (well think it was ) busted a harness line, could not see him after the dismount, so not sure, but not that I was keen to meet up with a grumpy Ray anyway

Finely got to meet team mate Lezz after all this time

Bunch of Pinnas down there, lead by the Captain, backing Bono at Shark Bay

Long day at the Dutchies office. Had hoped for more swell but by early afternoon the tide was too high for anything epic. Still some reasonable lumps later on if you had the timing.

Had to meet with Mr Rider to try his latest creation but he couldn't make it until 4.30+ Interesting sailing boards back to back. The latest creation is even earlier planing and still turns nicely for a big board. Picked up some more education on how to sail an onshore wave. Got to work on my clew first, switch stance sailing! The wind really picked up and sailing 5.4 /100L combo was hard going but there was nothing in it in our drags out to sea.

Great to see Jonah on the water. Didn't get to ask whether it was against doctors orders but he was looping well as usual!

Claude's first foray in to the waves for many years didn't start well with a mast snapping just off the beach and requiring a swim back. After a return from the shop he was sailing with typical "the machine" like determination with jump gybe and loop attempts. He finished the day with an impressive war wound across the nose.

I don't normally sail Dutchies late but it was strange how all the kiters and most of the windsurfers disappeared leaving plenty of room.

Would have been more distance but the battery ran out! Wasn't expecting to be out there that long!

Loft Purelip 5.4, Rider 100/ 110

2 categories

Coodanup, WA, AU My first time sailing there. It was unstable at the start but after my break the wind was good.

I used really old slalom board Axxis 278. It is harder to gybe thanmy usual b&j boards but after 1 hour I re learned and had no problem. I expected better speed but the it was not that strong after all.

I got the sail JJ.

Axixs 278, 7.5 easy, 26 JP weed. I touched the bottom few times. I need a delta.

Thanks for great company. It makes all the difference. Good alpha Anita. I was just exploring the place and my 20 hour must have come when I enjoyed it so much I forgot to rest.

Francois Peron National Park, WA, AU