Owner:
mas
Member
Member#: 2178 Location: Registered: 26-07-2006 Diary Entries: 24
Mood: CARPE DIEM
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27th June 2018
Windsurfing: Felixstowe Dip Wind Direction: NE Wind Stength: 15-19kts Surf / Sea State: Chop / Flattish Air Temperature: cool / warm Sea Temperature: warm Weather: cool then warm Max Speed: 26.72 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 16.3nm (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Only had a couple of hours be4 picking up kiddies from their party so game
on after dropping them off midday. Mike was the lone sailor going well, it
was nippy and the sea dumping on the beach as tide was still high in the
15kts NE wind. Mike on 6.2 said he was just right so 7.8 / 135 for me. 1st
time out on a Goya 7.8 rotational from Goya man Daz, and 1st time hoping to
be powered up on the Goya 135 Bolt. Normally would have rigged 7.8 RRD
firewing 3 cam sail but the sea was bumpy on the outside and the thought of
my last waterstarts efforts made the rotational easy choice. Sail rigged
easy so quickly on the water with Squiz launching same size sail. He planed
straight away way out, but I struggled till I hit the wind band further
out.
I thought it was going to be another non planning day - had 3 or more so
far.
But all was good further out in the rough stuff. Board was flying and best
of all it behaved in the rough water. The kit was sensational, well
behaved. More sailors arrived and it was now warmer. Had a couple more
sorting out the harness line runs when a part of the boom clamp broke.
Lucky I could get the rope round the mast - waterstart and made it back to
swop booms.
The tide was dropping nicely and the sea was getting better so started some
speed runs from kite zone to dip car park, quite broad along the coast then
kick up to the rough stuff to gain high ground. Squiz was doing the same
whilst the freeriders was enjoying their close reaching. Daz beat all the
way from the Manor end a good couple of miles away so prob done many miles
just getting to the dip.
Waves were lumpy further out and finding that elusive gybing wave was hard.
Fell in a few times there - then beat hard up to kite zone then let rip
again. Well pleased with the Bolt board and the Goya Mark pro rotational
sail, as both were easy handling. First runs were top end 25kts before
started hitting a few 26kts on the inside. Felt I could go much faster, if
more wind on the beach. Squiz and others were planning from the beach, but
I still need 50 yards of wasted flat water to get the board going, so still
too heavy, but travelled way down towards fludge so great long runs!, no
need to worry about walk of shame as tide was good. I now have Cam and non
cam kit and cant decide between the 2 types so keeping both in certain
sizes! The rotational is quick to rig, gybe, and is great for waterstarts.
So why don't I just sell the cams? Found the rotationals felt slow for the
board, the pull on my arms was very hard just to get to apparent wind at
speed. The wind gauge showed 15-19kts and am clocking 26kts - but on cam
sails there isn't much pull on my arms at that wind speed. The wing shape
is easier to control than the rotational, whilst on the deck at speed.
The rotational feels less powerful speed wise at the top end of the board
speed as the wing keeps its shape whilst the roti seem lose shape if not
held at the optimum shape it all the time.
The ease of water starting made it certain I will keep them though. I moved
the Bolt straps in until I got used to them but now feel confident to move
them out again. It’s really comfortable inwards but again I could not
lift the windward edge to give it that railed sailing I like.
More tweaking, a 50cm fin for 12kts and 9.2 Phantom, strap outwards should
complete the setup. One thing is for sure the Bolt which is a free race
board is heavily biased to slalom, so def need to be powered up to enjoy
it.
Loads of sailors turned up later to enjoy the perfect low tide conditions
on a NE. Best sail this year.
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