At last...

a great day. No, I still haven't completed a full planing jibe but am getting closer and closer. Now I am getting onto the new jibe, clew first on a plane (sometimes). No song for today, but this little video should suffice (I apologize that I haven't learned how to add music yet, but I was able to edit it down to three minutes):


Tanner Park, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010 from Dennis Grunbeck on Vimeo.


Anyway, here's a little update. This past Thursday, Sept. 2, was the first day back to work for this year. So, naturally, there was some wind. I was able to get down to Tanner and start sailing some time after 3 PM. Sailed for about an hour and a half in perfect SW 5.5/102 conditions with Jim M. Took Friday off, supposed to have been a big hurricane, but it pretty much "Earled out" (aka "petered out"). I am sure loads of real windsurfers got some sailing in that day.

Yesterday, Saturday, the wind was from the West, not ideal for Tanner, but went there anyway. I was twitching all morning while looking at meters. The forecast was for 20-30 or something. I was so anxious, called Jim M, decided on Tanner. Well, it was really, really gusty, something like 11-31 knots. I went out on the Naish 85 Wave with 4.7, first time out on that board. I bought it used and thought it would be good for higher winds. It was hard to get it on a plane and the gusty wind really frustrated me and I didn't have a great day sailing. But, I did sail on 85 liter for the first time. However, Dave K and Scott seemed to be having a great time with their 5.3's, albeit way overpowered in the gusts. Curt E, Cecil, and Jim M were also in attendance. Another guy, Steve I think, showed up later on and he looked like he had a good time also. I guess I need more experience on smaller boards.

On to today. I ran down to the beach  (Tanner, again) as fast as I could, but with a newspaper as I was figuring that I would have to wait for wind. Nope. Wrong. Good thing. Curt E, Dave K, Cecil, and Jim M. were already there. Rigged 5.5/102 (my current fav. combo), the wind was more South than yesterday, but still almost perfectly sideshore, real low tide, but still pretty flat (see video above). It was a halcyon day. I know I've said that in a few places about today, but it's true. A gorgeous day, great breeze (a bit up and down, and started to die around 4:30 - 5:00 PM0, but all in all my fav conditions, fav board, etc. I had a grat time sailing today and feel super comfortable on the RRD FSW 102 C/K (I've called it an LTD before, but in 2007 the light weight versions were called C/K's - for carbon/kevlar). Turns really easily, planes easily ( I can now pump myself onto a plane), and just too much fun. Except............I've now used my GPS speed thing with this board and sail combo four times and 25, 26, 25, 25 (mph). Does the board have a speed limit or is it me? After a break today, I set out and went faster than I had all day (I think), but had turned off the GPS and had forgot to turn it back on. Oh well, maybe next time.

Jibing: as I stated above, getting better, esp. in these easier conditions. One thing I've learned is that if I do the sail flip boom to boom, with the boom shaka and underhanded grab, and throw mast to windward as I am looking ahead, then I almost always complete the jibe, just not on a plane. Also, I've learned to do the step a bit earlier than I have been and have been experimenting with how sharply I can turn this board (really sharp).

Until next time...............