Boombas with "plenty of wind" Flex. is107, 7K, 33WS

There was plenty of wind on the drive down, I was thinking maybe I should have packed some smaller gear, but as I turned off the freeway there was a disconcerting lack of movement in the trees. 

There was an unbelievable number of swans lining the shores of Roberts Bay. Hundreds, if not thousands of them. 

Wind meter read 10 - 12 kn before rigging. Flex set off and chugged at first and then got planing. I followed about 20 minutes later and got planing quickly.  After about 0.9 of a nm I thought "I might get a decent nm here," and I was anticipating a nice gybe at the end of it, then the wind suddenly dropped to nothing. My feet were jammed in the footstraps (new board) and I couldn't release them fast enough to avaid being dumped in the water.

I did get back on, planed back toward the carpark and had another try at a nm, slower this time, and at around the same spot, the wind died and I was dumped in again. 

Expecting a gust to come along so I could waterstart, I stood around in the chest deep water for a bit, and when no gust was forthcoming I started to walk back, expecting the wind to improve as I did. It didn't. Flex was planing and came out to check on me, I was just hoping he wouldn't stop because he would have had problems getting going too - at least he had an uphaul rope. I considered putting one on but that board has so little volume in front of the mast I doubt it is possible to uphaul on it without sinking the nose. That may have been preferable to a long wade however. At least the water wasn't cold, which was a plus because I had forgotten to pack a wetsuit. Didn't need one.

I had waded about one quarter of the way back when the wind picked up enough to lift me onto the board. I then planed/ chugged around until I managed to get upwind enough to get back to the car.

Not quite the session I was hoping for but not the worst I have had either. At least it was warm and the company was good. Was good to see so many swans too!