Evening Parawing Session - 9/3/2025

Wind was up when I got to the beach.

But I literally watched the wind evaporate as I was just getting to deep water to flip the foil over.

No.34 and the AFS Enduro 1300/HA43

When I first got a look at the conditions, I thought I had brought too big a parawing (Maliko 5.1).

But shortly after, the lulls were super deep.

I got up on foil. made some turns and then the wind was done.

I paddled back upwind and waited for steadier wind.  I did get up again - and managed to get myself even further out.

I had to paddle in and beached at the far cottages.

Wind was coming in from the SE - thermals

And the drop off -

The last spike in speed on the chart is me catching my first prone foiling wave on this board.

There were four monk seals chilling on the beach today.  This pair at Fenceline, and a second pair at the twin cabins.

Even though I got stuck in a trap, there were a lot of good things at WP today.

W:56/FD:111/PW:30/S:7

Evening Surf Session - 9/2/2025

Thermals kicked in around 1pm and stuck around until 4:30pm.  The direction was pretty much onshore - the one direction that really doesn't work well for windsports.  Mix that in with surfers in the lineup and that's a recipe for a lot of stink eye.

Instead of heading out right away, I helped La with some things around the house, while I waited for the wind to drop off.

And I actually didn't feel like Foil Drive-ing (and setting up the system). 

I opted to surf!

And I figured it would be a good day to get a real feel for the Tappy Quads.

I caught a couple of handful of waves - three pretty good ones and the rest were shorter two maneuver rides.

These fins were sublime - they worked, but didn't really standout and scream at you.  There held when they needed to, and released when you wanted them to.  But that's pretty much anything Japanese right?  They perform and do what they are supposed to without being flashy or dramatic.

These are a good fun alternative to the myriad of twin fin sets I've been using.  I think the next fin setup I use will be the Tappy Twins with and without the Tappy Trailer. 

It's really good to mix things up every now and then.

W:56/FD:111/PW:29/S:7

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 9/1/2025

The swell still had some sets coming through, but definitely fading.

The tide was flooding and there was some slight texture on the water this morning (some light wind).  But nothing too bad - still nice conditions.

I changed things up a bit.  No.41 with the AFS Silk 850/HA40.

I set it up with similar spacing that is on No.40

I also tried out a low residue duct tape to hold the ABS sheeting in place to cover the trench.

Norm was the next to arrive.  Jill, Stu, Derek and eventually Marvin were out also.

This was the first time I've had the AFS Silk 850 rigged to No.41

This foil never ceases to amaze me!  Turns were super tight and you can bank (roll, yaw and pitch all at the same time) so nicely -

I took a wave really early inside to make sure the setting didn't have too much front foot pressure - I prefer a progressive liftoff so I can control what's going on when on a steeper wave.

There was one wave (at 33 minutes) - big set wave - I took off but going down the face I had too much speed and my feet were slightly off optimal position - so I bailed.  This is what I am referring to - but for all the other rides I had, which were around head high, this wasn't an issue.

Lots of curves in the GPS tracks - straight from the slashing capabilities of the Silk 850.

There was a hint of excess front foot pressure - but I think I want to swap out the HA40 rear stabilizer for the Silk 42.  I think this will solve the excess initial lift and also increase the already radical banking capability of the front foil.

15 rides today

Super fun session!

W:56/FD:111/PW:29/S:6

Garage Works - 8/31/2025

I got Marlon's foil board repair completed this afternoon.

Sanded to 400, no spray to keep with the distressed look.

And then I headed deep into the garage to start the rocker cuts on No.42

Electric planer and shop vac -

I've been studying some of the leading DW SUP foiling boards and I am trying to take the design points from those to make this parawing specific board.

The desired characteristics are the same - a board that returns energy directed forward when you pump the board/foil.  It also has to have sufficient volume to convert that energy efficiently in less wind (this is Oahu, not Maui).

This last photo is oriented with the bottom deck pointed upwards, nose to the left.

I'll use the surform and dragonskin next.

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 8/31/2025

Some sets still coming through.  I got into several overhead waves (SO MUCH FUN!!!)

Wind was dead - sheet glass at times.  This is when the battery goes on forever...

I brought the Silk 850 - but in the end I just ran the Enduro 900

This was all from one HO battery!!!

The three peaks of PV -

Norm, Stu, Jen (I think that's her name - Paul Cooper's better half), one Lift eFoiler, and eventually Marvin were all out.

Hard to tell exactly how many rides I got.  I know I got left behind on a couple.  And I botched at least one takeoff.  I'm gonna call this count 20 rides.

The forecast for tomorrow is calling for similar conditions.

W:56/FD:110/PW:29/S:6

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 8/30/2025

Still a little lumpy - but the size jumped up.

Same gear as the previous days.

I met Brent this morning.  Unifoil P170 foiler (that is a fun foil).

Lots of long rides.  I had a few get away from me - the bigger swells travel faster.

And I wasn't prepared for the size on a couple of waves - got steep fast so I aborted.

I think I could have easily used the Silk 650 today (and I might tomorrow).

I count 11 rides in an hour and a half.

Fun session!

W:56/FD:109/PW:29/S:6

Evening Foil Drive Session - 8/29/2025

Monk seal hanging out again.

Wind would gust into the rideable range - but the lulls were mostly what was present - TRAP!

The waves did get bigger than Thursday, but with the wind it had some chop on it.

Same as the previous day.

Honestly I think I could have winged - but I didn't want to have to deal with getting the wing through the surf zone.

I was able to get waves at Fenceline and over at the Cabins.  Roland came out 40 minutes into my regular Max battery duration.

18 rides

Super fun session!

W:56/FD:108/PW:29/S:6

Evening Foil Session - 8/28/2025

Large gathering of the WP crew today - Roland, Prayot, Duke, Gary, Norm, Koa, Stu and myself.

The wind forecast called for annoying level winds - but it was actually strong enough to parawing.

Gary had just bought the 5.5 m2 BRM Kanaha that was on FBM.  I gave him a basics lesson and suggested that he try and fly it on land a lot before going out on the water.  Ground handling is never a waste of time.  It felt similar to the Maliko 5.1 -

After yesterday I didn't want to risk getting stranded again, plus I wanted to get back out on the Enduro 900 - so Foil Drive-ing was the call.

It was choppy.  With the annoying level winds, that was to be expected.

I got a bunch of really fun rides.  It took a few waves to get accustomed to the Enduro 900 again, but once I did, the ripping began again!

I count 18 rides (with a couple of missed waves).

Awesome session!

W:56/FD:107/PW:29/S:6

Garage Works - 8/27/2025

I sanded the last epoxy/carbon add to bulk up the rake on the tip.

Better now than when I got it!!!

The tip is more solid (that is one of the criticisms I have of AFS front foils - the wing tips are fragile...)

It's already been out on the water!!!

Parawing Session - 8/27/2025

There was wind while I was setting up - and it was windy enough as I was paddling out.  I even got up on foil - but the entire session felt more like a survival session and not anything like yesterday.

Everything was the same gear wise as yesterday, except for switching out the lower foil set out for the Enduro 1100/HA40 on the Standard fuselage.

First off - when there was wind, the Enduro 1100 is wonderful.  Gets up almost as easily as the Enduro 1300 - but a lot faster and smoother.

The unfortunate thing about the Enduro 1100 is there are times when I am foiling WPB that I can use the extra low end of the 1300.

Today was definitely one of them.

I got up several times - but the wind came in bands and if you were outside of it, you dropped off foil.

I got greedy when I saw Marvin and Robby out on FD.  I figured I could get a tow back in if I needed it, so after actually getting close to the launch point, I headed back out to get another run in.

The unfortunate thing was I never got back up on foil and I drifted way out towards Campgrounds.

The meter readings are usually about 5 mph slower that what's at the beach.  But that means it was still below 15 mph.

If anything, I got in a bunch of light wind starting practice.  Five starts - not bad.

I'm actually not sure if things would have been different with the Enduro 1300 - it was pretty light out there.

Tomorrow will be a Foil Drive day -

W:56/FD:106/PW:29/S:6