Sailed at Auckland, Bucklands Beach
Rated a 10 of 10

Wind from the SW (knots)

lulls: 8

average: 20

gusts: 25

Board: Starboard Carve 99 2004 Wood
Sail: NP Zone 5.2 2007
Fin: Drake Freeride 320
Suit: Short sleeve.
Air Temperature: 21 C

Perfect day at the water. Would have rigged a 6.2 because my windmeter gave about 15 knots, with gusts to 20, but a guy said everyone was on a 5ish. I rigged my new NP Zone 5.2 and indeed, fully powered up on a 5.2, glad I bought it a few weeks ago! My jibes went fairly ok, especially in the beginning. Later I got more tired, and also the wind started to blow against the tide, producing very choppy water, which makes jibing also more of an art.

Tried to jump, not sure, but perhaps I got a bit out of the water once. Anyway, was fun.

Crossing over the channel wasn't an issue, halfway I got even in the footstraps, wind was blowing indeed! Back I made a mistake and headed downwind too early, so had to walk a few hundred metres as I didn't want to head out past the moored boats again in the now extremely choppy waters.

Getting in the footstraps was sometimes difficult. Especially with my left foot. Hopefully that improves with time, but that strap was a bit tighter as well, so perhaps I should loosen it a bit. I was also prone to catapults, perhaps the new sail that doesn't handle the gusts as well as the Saber does.