sboardcrazy (25274km):
1858 days ago 15-18kts ENE then 20kts plus NE Coal Point, NSW, AU
5.8m KA Kult - Windtech 85ltre Magic bullit - 23cm makani centre fin
then 4.8m Sailworks Hucker
Finally a decent go on the Windtech! I didn't really enjoy the first bit as I hate the modified Kult and there wasn't quite enough wind.
Usually as the wind and chop fills in at Coal I get into survival mode on the slalom gear. The cammed sails are usually ok but the boards get too hyperactive for the chop . This time the sails were giving me grief ( mainly the 5.8m ) and the board was great!
I couldn't get comfortable with the sail . I think the harness lines were in the wrong place and too long and i don't really know how to sail those types of sails upwind. I know my OD's..Pity I can't use the cammed sails with the windtech then I'd only have to get used to the board..
Started out with a bit of tail flex I'd use in the 25 -30kts session. After one unerpowered run I decided to lock the rocker flatter to help with early planing. I think it had picked up a little but the tail change definitely helped with the planing!
I was coming in and fiddling with the sail and also gave the board more rocker as the wind came in by screwing up the tail screw and locking it in. I was getting a bit maxed out with the 5.8m so I changed to the 4.8m Hucker .It was heaps better! It's probably more within the boards specs too.
I probably could have changed back to the stock windtech 20cm centre fin but I didn't. I think I will next time as I think it goes upwind better with the stock fin. I was working each run and managed to get back to the launch and as the wind kicked in I got better even though the wind had turned more NE and offshore.
It's a pity Coal is sheltered at the launch as I would have liked to fiddle more on the shore with the harness line setup.
I tried more gybes today. I did one I was really pleased with (not planing exit but nice and tidy ) plus a few where I rounded up after but the board is so well behaved I just put my foot in front of the mast and bore off again. I'm not thinking of it as much different now although it does feel pretty narrow when I place my feet to turn into the gybe..
At the end it kicked in 20kts plus. Usually I'm getting brown pants with the slalomboard but I was just wanting more wind and swell! I had a bit of a go playing on the 'wave' faces..Last run I'd got upwind nicely and bore off over the backs of the waves into shore. What a buzz! About an 8 yodell run..
Pity I was tired . That's still quite a good distance for me at Coal especially in windier conditions. That board is really comfy and eats chop for breakfast. I would have hated it on my slalom gear!
I can hardly wait for 20-25kts plus now.. I used to pack up my toys and retreat to more sheltered Marmong before..
Craig , Andrew , Ian , Gert , Tony and I on slappers and a visit by Lyd's on the foil early on.
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