2023-11-09 First Foiling Day

 2023-11-09 First Foiling Day

Louise and I slept in until after 8:00.  I made fried eggs and toast for breakfast.

The forecast was for wind, but probably later in the afternoon.

We brought down our foils, and Charles helped us set up our boards with foot straps.

By 10:00ish the wind was starting to blow.  Louise went out on a 5.0 Wing and went back and forth without difficulty, but didn't get going.  Charles took out her rig and we moved the Foil forward to 3cm ahead of the markings to get the weight centered.  Charles says our 999 rig will be a great setup for Louise.  She was on a 120 Litre board.

We decided to wait a bit for the wind to build.

I went out on a 6M Cabrina Mantis, and couldn't get it to work.  It felt like I had an anchor.  I actually got off the board to make sure I hadn't left my fin covers on.  It seemed like I should have enough, but I just couldn't get it to work.  I was wearing myself out pumping, so I came back in.  Charles took my board our briefly, and said it was really well balanced.

Louise and I both went out on a second session a bit later in the day.  Louise is so close to getting on the foil..  She has no difficulty going out and back and is staying upwind easilly.

I slogged out, but then got going in a gust.  Unfortunately I blew my jibe.  On the way back I got going again and had a pretty good session before I dropped off a plane.  I couldn't get back up, so I came back to shore.  I am thinking it may have been the wing, and that I might have been better on the 5.5 Slingshot.  I kept getting the wing tip in the water.   They also have a 6m Cabrina Vision, which may be similar to my 8m and might be a better way to go.  Next time.

When I was putting my rig away, I noticed that I had forgotten to tighten down the four bolts holding on the base - it was wiggling slightly.  Dumb, and lucky things didn't literally fall apart.  I'm not sure if that was part of my problem or not.

Before heading up, I spent some time with Tristin on the beach with a wing.  He was shoring me how to tack, and also a different way to manage the wing in a jibe.  I also tried some wing drops behind my back for a tack, but found that it doesn't work unless you somehow get your arm leash over your head ahead of time.  As always, not as easy as it looks.

Louise and I cleaned up and then went to the Party Palace for a pre-dinner drink.  The French family were there, Alexia and Amon and their boys Emanual and Lulu.  We went to dinner with them to the Sushi restaurant.  It was very nice but a bit expensive.  Louise and I had different rice bowls.  The family had all kinds of sushi and different things.  It was a nice meal and great conversation!

We got back to Pro Windsurf around 9:00.  Louise and I went back to the Party Palace, but no one was there.  We stayed for a little bit, but not long.  Early to bed again - Past "Baja Midnight".