The day started the day with light winds so most of us riggeed 8m sails and foils from 1000+ down to 620 for me (smallest front wing). 

Just as the half hour GPS challenge started we had a lull of 5kts but I went out anyway and used the swell to help me up in a gust.

During the next 30min the wind built to a comfortable 15kts... and beyond with most on the foil riders glad to come back to the beach!

I was riding:

• F4 620cm2 front wing, 100cm fuselage and 190 tail wing.
• Phantom IRIS 8.0 Foil Sail
• FMX SLR 91cm Hyperion

With the wind building the call was made to run a Fig8 Slalom. Muz helped set a VERY LONG NM course with the first gybe mark in some relatively flat water. 

For Slalom I was riding:

• F4 420cm2 front wing, 100cm fuselage and 190 tail wing.
• Patrik 6.2m SF Slalom (Fin) & Foil Sail
• FMX SLR 91cm Hyperion

RACE !

Just as Race 1 start sequence got to 1min there was a lull catching a few out. Byron made it to the line a few seconds late on his medium board and 7.8m sail, and I was about 14s late managing to get the small 420 wing flying with just a 6.2m sail, closely followed by Nick on his 8m sail and small slalom board. 

Pushing my foil through the half metre swell I pushed on the upwind leg to the first mark, taking a second or two away from Byron's lead, but he gybed well and powered back towards the slightly downwind mark with good speed. I had to keep pushing as Nick was hot on my heels. No real change for the next two gybes, Byron's lead to great by now and I settled for 2nd with the goal of just getting to the end. Nick told me later that he could close up to me on the downwind gusts, but then in the lulls he would slip back again. 

I think all my top speeds came from this race! 

RACE2

The wind kept building as we started race 2. I crossed the start cm in front of Russel with Byron, Muz, Ric and the rest further behind. I started well, but Byron had good speed and got a few metres ahead of me just as a mega-yacht struggled with the breeze, it's spinaker flying on two ropes dragging the boat to 60 degree lean angle at one point. They stowed the spinaker and tacked right at us! Byron and I took evasive action dipping below the boat which was on Starboard and seemingly heading for their own downwind mark (race?). The wind shadow behind the boat nearly taking us both out! After that I lost my rytheme and the rising swell - now upto a metre! - took me out. 3x crashes and almost everyone passed me. 

RACE3

I should have changed down but didn't have anything rigged on the bearch but Byron did so he grabbed 6.8m sail and 90L small board - his favourite! I started well but the big swell was taking all my attention and I was slow! I made the mark in 3rd but fell on gybe exit (too slow and sunk the new windward rail). I blocked Ric's wind while I waterstarted as he gybed around me but he got away clear. I sailed a safer course rather than straight to the line, and ended the race 5th/last in style!

I could handle the wind strength with the foil/sail I had... but not the 1m swell. Just too much for me, especially with fatiguqe setting in. FIN is definaltely easier in challenging conditions!