Alrigh' alrigh'

Yet again, wind didn't live up to the forecast and it was up n' down the whole session, from being unable to relaunch the kite to being worried about being over-powered...

The wind situation was clear when I arrived at the lake; few whitecaps or trees moving around violently. Never mind, I've got a foil. With a bent fuselage.

It was overcast and snowing, so I wrapped up in the whale scrot and jammed the helmet on my hooded head. I went with the SB 14 cos I wanted to try a lower AR kite, but noticed in the session how it made nicer power when turning, and didn't get soggy at the bottom in lightest wind. Hmm...

Great riding today--when the wind was up. Bit of fighting to get up on the foil when it was light but goddam, I could barely keep the kite in the sky. In fact, at one time I couldn't relaunch it til the wind picked up.

Managed a couple of gybes on the foil, but sunk as I can't ride toeside. S-turns on my good side go well enough that I can get into the shallows near the beach on the foil, then bail.

So, good speed and height control, although my goofy lags behind by a session or two.

Sun came out so I got a bit pickled in the suit...

It's a good news, bad news kinda thing

Sun's out, wind like yesterday but a work day so I got the lake to myself. Cold though, and my gears still wet so I go with the 6/5/4 suit. Ugh.

Got to the beach with the Duke, Fun Foil, and 10m XB but it was howling so I went back for the 7m kiddie's toy. So small, thin, tiny, far away from the bar!

Was fine for a bit, then the wind dropped so I was working it hard. Not so bad, I could get consistent pull out of it that way, but it was hardwork.

Went back in for the 10m. That was better, had some good foiling runs and tried some gybes and S-turns, which was fun. Got to surf a wave accidentally too, until I ran out of speed and pull and sank.

Nailed the bottom HARD at speed, twice...fuselage is bent again. But I got some epically nice rides after that, long foils at constant speed and carving turns.... Huh.

So, plan B rev. 2: ride it as-is until I can foil consistently without slamming into the bottom, then cut it down for the extended fuselage. Tempted to get some aluminum stock and shift the mast mount point too... we'll call that plan C.

There was something else I meant to add, but have forgotten. Oh well.

Lotsa wind but not much riding

Went out with the 10 and the TT for a few jumps, but blimey, wind is bit.... Came up earlier than it should have so that's better than not but it's very bloody gusty, but strong, and the waves...made foiling tough, as I couldn't maintain speed or power easily and had to contend with decent (for the lake) sized waves. Boing, boing.

Impressed "that guy" by gybing. He can't at all so I'm cool.

Attempting to ride the TT at the end of the session ho ho ho...

Getting better. 6 hours in. . . .

Should have been a cracking forecast but it was crappy. Took the 15 and 21 to the beach but chickened out because the wind was up. Got the 16m XB . . . dude it su-uuucks! Too slow to be useful in the light wind, too much power when the wind picked up, which of course it did. Had fits trying to get up the beach and keep the kite in the sky. Then the wind cranked up. . . .

Got the 10m but of course, the wind dropped. Got to see what it was like riding a fast, small kite and trying to build apparent wind. Hard!

Went back on the 16 and had a nice time for a while, good long runs with smooth foiling, then the wind dropped right off and I gave up on the whole thing.

Did get to try with the rear foot unstrapped, as the screw worked itself out. Not sure I like it.

Good news, the fuse has stopped bending despite how many times I nailed the bottom! Oh myyy.

Suddenly clicked

Got some long tacks running off upwind, with some very long runs flying the foil, standing tall and steady. Woohoo! Goofy feels horrible, out of control and twitchy, but actually getting longer runs on the foil that side. Had a play with transitions and did some accidental S-turns. Good day!

Not sure I like the SB with the foil . . . the XBs are better.